Today’s Current Affairs 27th – June- 2018 – MyProgressCard

International News

1. Nasser Khan Janjua resigns as Pakistan’s National Security Adviser

• Nasser Khan Janjua, the National Security Adviser (NSA) and retired Lieutenant General of the Pakistan Army resigned.
• The reason for Nasser Khan Janjua’s resignation has not been mentioned.

Image Credit: India TV

• Earlier, he had served as the Quetta corps commander and National Defence University president.

Static/Current implications:

• Capital of Pakistan – Islamabad, Currency – Pakistani rupee

• Prime Minister – Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, President – Mamnoon Hussain

2. World’s Largest Multilateral Naval Exercise RIMPAC began in Hawaii

• 26th edition of 2-month long exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) commenced in Hawaii in the Western Pacific Ocean.
• Navies of 26 countries including India are participating in this exercise, which is scheduled from June 27 to August 27.
• INS Sahyadri, Commanded by Captain Shantanu Jha, has reached the Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, to participate in RIMPAC 2018.

Image Credit:  India News

• Subsequently, the 25th edition of the exercise was attended by INS Satpura in 2016.

National News

3. Sushma Swaraj introduces Passport Seva App

• External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj launched the mPassportSeva Mobile App, which allows the user to apply for a passport, pay and schedule appointments for passport services on mobile phones.

Image Credit: DD News

• On the occasion of the sixth Passport Seva Divas, Swaraj also announced a new scheme to permit people to apply for a passport from anywhere in the country.

4. Committee for Standardization and Indigenization in Metro Rail Systems

• A committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of E.Sreedharan for Standardization and Indigenization in Metro Rail systems.
• The committee is expected to submit its report in 3 months.
• After 3 months, based on specific task of standardization, Dr. Sreedharan could co-opt the relevant expert members for the task for a specified period of time.

5. Vice President launches the book “Human Rights, Values and Cultural Ethos”

• Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has launched the book “Human Rights, Values and Cultural Ethos”.
• It is a collection of essays and lectures written by Dr. R.P. Dhokalia.

Image Credit: 5DariyaNews

• The thrust of the book is on the connection between human rights and the intrinsic and core human values which in turn manifest in the cultural ethos of a society.

6. Oxytocin formulations ban to come into effect from 1st July 2018

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has restricted the manufacture of controversial hormone drug, Oxytocin formulations for domestic use to public sector from 1st July 2018.
• The import of Oxytocin and its formulations is also banned.
• Private manufacturers will not be allowed to manufacture Oxytocin for domestic use.
• Only Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceuticals Ltd (KAPL), a public sector company, will manufacture Oxytocin for domestic use.

Image Credit: India TV

• Oxytocin formulations for domestic consumption will be supplied by KAPL to the registered hospitals and clinics in public and private sector directly.

7. HCL acquires German IT firm H&D International Group

• HCL Technologies has acquired H&D International Group, a German IT and engineering services provider. It will focus on IT and engineering services in Germany and across the world

Image Credit: The Economic Times

• Acquisition of H&D International Group is a part of HCL’s long-term growth plan in Germany.
• H&D’s existing delivery centre in Gifhorn, Germany, will become part of HCL Tech’s global delivery footprint.

8. Sagarmala receives Gold Award at the 52nd Skoch Summit 2018

• The Ministry of Shipping’s ‘Sagarmala’ programme was awarded the Gold Award in infrastructure sector in the 52nd Skoch Summit 2018 that recently ended in New Delhi.
• The award was presented in recognition of the programme’s contribution to India’s socio-economic transformation and in enhancing fast-track growth and infrastructure development.
• The Sagarmala Programme was also awarded the Order of Merit. The Secretary (Shipping) Gopal Krishna shared the award with Minister for Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari.
• The Skoch Awards honour leadership and excellence in promoting socio-economic changes.

9. Exim Bank of India extends $10 million loan facility to Seychelles for healthcare

• The Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) granted a $10 million worth of line of credit (LOC) to Seychelles for healthcare and procurement of goods and projects.

• Earlier, Exim Bank extended a $28 million LOC to Seychelles.
• Exim bank also extended 2 LOCs aggregating $31 million to the Republic of Suriname for upgradation of transmission line network and maintenance of Chetak helicopters.

Image Credit: EENADU India

Static/Current implications:

• Headquarters of Exim bank – Mumbai, Chairman – David Rasquinha

• Capital of Seychelles – Victoria, Currency – Seychellois rupee

10. Centre releases flood relief in Assam: Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jitendra Singh

• The central government sanctioned Rs.340 crore to Assam out of which Rs.101 crore is released by the DoNER and Rs 239 crore is given by the home ministry under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) account.

Image Credit: 5DariyaNews

• This relief is to help flood-related issues including relief, rehabilitation and repair works of damaged infrastructure.

Static/Current implications:

• Capital of Assam – Guwahati, CM – Sarbananda Sonowal , Governor – Jagdish  Mukhi

11. Anant Barua appointed as whole-time member of SEBI

• The Union Government has appointed Anant Barua as whole-time member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Image Credit: The Economic Times

• Barua is currently executive director in SEBI. Prior to this, he worked with Legal Affairs Department (LAD), SEBI. He had been working in LAD since 1992 and also worked with National Fertilizers Ltd. (NFL), Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) and DCM Ltd.

Static/Current implications:

• Headquarters of SEBI – Mumbai, Chairman – Ajay Tyagi

12. US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley visits India

• US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley is on a 2-day visit to India to meet senior Indian government officials, NGO leaders, and the interfaith community to underscore the United States’ shared values and a strong alliance with the people of India.

Image Credit: The Indian Express

• She is the first Indian-American to serve in a Cabinet-level position in any US presidential administration.

13. President launched the Solar Charkha Mission

• President, Ram Nath Kovind launched the Solar Charkha Mission which will cover 50 clusters and employ 400 to 2000 artisans.
• A portal of the Ministry of MSME called Sampark was also unveiled by the President.
• Udyam Sangam is a step forward towards consolidating synergy of all the government initiatives relating to MSME Sector.

14. S Ramesh appointed as Chairman of CBIC

• CBIC member, S Ramesh is appointed the chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) with the status of special secretary to the central government.

Image Credit: EENADU India

• He succeeds Vanaja N Sarna who retired on June 30, 2018.

Static/Current implications:

• Headquarters of CBIC – New Delhi

15. Jai Hind 1-S: World’s lightest satellite

• Four students of Chennai built the world’s lightest and cheapest satellite weighing just 33.39 grams.
• The name of the satellite is Jai Hind 1-S and would be launched in August 2018.
  It analyses data like temperature, UV density and vapour pressure, at various points of the satellite’s upward journey.

Image Credit: Deccan Chronicle

• This will help in research and the better understanding of the environment in outer space.

Static/Current implications:

• Tamil Nadu capital – Chennai, CM – E K Palaniswami, Governor – Banwarilal Purohit

Banking News

16. AIIB’s 4th Annual Meeting 2019 in Luxembourg

• The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)’s 4th annual meeting will be held in Luxembourg in July 2019. Luxembourg is a founding member of AIIB as well as a leading international financial centre and facilitator of investments between Europe and Asia.
• The first AIIB Board of Governors meeting was held in Beijing, China in 2016.
• It is followed by the 2nd meeting in Jeju, South Korea in 2017.

Image Credit: Daily World

• The 3rd was organised in Mumbai, India from June 25-26, 2018 with the theme Mobilizing Finance for Infrastructure: Innovation and Collaboration.

Static/Current implications:

• Capital of Luxembourg – Luxembourg City, Currency – Euro
• Headquarters of AIIB – Beijing, China, President of AIIB – Jin Liqun

Sports News

17. Indian Shooter Saurabh wins gold medal with world record score at ISSF Junior World Cup

• Sixteen-year-old Indian shooter Saurabh Chaudhary set a new world record and won a gold in the 10m air pistol event in the ISSF Junior World Cup in Germany.
• He got 243.7 points in the final.

Image Credit: timesofindia

• The junior world record before this was 242.5 by Chinese shooter Wang Zhehao at the first ISSF Junior World Cup of the year in Sydney.
• The other Indian in the final, Anmol Jain, fell short of the podium, finishing fourth with 199.6.

Important Days

18. Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day – 27 June

• UN declared 27th June as Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day in 2017 to recognize the importance of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in achieving sustainable development goals, promoting innovation, creativity and sustainable work for all.

Image Credit: Eventbrite

• President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the Udyam Sangam-2018 in New Delhi. He said that MSME sector accounts for around 60% employment in India and that there are 6.5 crore MSME units in India providing jobs to more than 11 crore people. He further added that they contribute to more than 10% growth which is higher than heavy industrial units.

Static/Current implications:

• UN headquarters – New York, Secretary-General of the UN – Antonio Guterres