Current Affairs 30, June 2017 –  China unveils plans for world’s first pollution-eating ‘Forest City’

NATIONAL

Dr Jitendra Singh launched new training programme ‘COMMIT’:

The Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh launched a new training programme Comprehensive Online Modified Modules on Induction Training (COMMIT) for State Government officials.

The objective of this training programme is to improve the public service delivery mechanism and provide citizen centric administration through capacity building of officials who interact with the citizens on day-to-day basis.

BHEL signed pact with Japanese firm for manufacturing coaches for metro trains:

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has entered into a technology collaboration agreement with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd (KHI) of Japan for manufacturing of stainless steel coaches and bogies for metros.

The agreement covers establishing design, engineering and manufacturing facilities at BHEL using Japanese technology. It will also entitle BHEL for all technology advances and upgrades.

BHEL:

    • BHEL Headquarter: New Delhi
    • CMD: Atul Sobti
    • Founded: 1964

Petya ransom ware attack hits Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai:

The nation’s largest container port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), near Mumbai was hit, along with local manufacturing units of global companies attached by ransomware Petya virus.

Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has maintained the government was on high alert to deal with the developing situation and there was no large-scale impact yet.

President of India inaugurates Bose institute’s unified campus:

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Bose Institute’s Unified Campus at Salt Lake, Kolkata.

The President said that it was indeed a privilege for him to be present on the occasion of inauguration of the unified campus of the prestigious Bose Institute. He stated that almost a century ago, J.C. Bose, dedicated this Institute, the first of its kind in the country fully devoted towards scientific research, to the service of the nation.

President of India attends 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Professor P.C. Mahalanobis:

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee attended the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Professor P.C. Mahalanobis in Kolkata.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that he was happy to attend the celebrations of 125th birth anniversary of Professor P.C. Mahalanobis, the pioneer of applied statistics and the architect of economic planning in our country. Prof. Mahalanobis was a visionary of extraordinary dimension.

President of India’s message on the eve of National Day of Congo:

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended his greetings and felicitations to the Government and people of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the eve of their National Day (June 30, 2017).

In a message to His Excellency Mr. Joseph Kabila Kabange, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the President has said, “On behalf of the Government, the people of India and on my own behalf, I extend my hearty congratulations to you and to the people of Democratic Republic of Congo on the occasion of your National Day.

Democratic Republic of Congo

  • Capital: Kinshasa
  • Currencies: Congolese franc , Zairean Zaire
  • President: Mr. Joseph Kabila

PM Modi inaugurates filling of Aji Dam under Sauni Yojana:

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the filling of Aji Dam near Rajkot under Sauni Yojana. He said that Gujarat has come a long way from the days of the past, when it faced tremendous water shortage and also called for embracing the latest technology in the sphere of water conservation.

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan approved changes in legal metrology rules:

Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan approved amendments in the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules in order to protect consumers from malpractices of under-weight and under-measurement.

The changes include mandatory display of details on products for e-commerce sellers, ban on dual MRPs on pre-packaged products, inclusion of medical devices under the rules and introduction of e-coding for net quantity checking.

The rules shall come in to force with effect from 1st January, 2018.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Implement Energy Efficiency Programmes, Signs MoU with EESL:

    Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under the administration of Ministry of Power, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Energy Services Company, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to implement energy efficiency programmes and scale-up demand side measures in the Gulf country.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Waled Alghreri, Chief Executive Officer, of National Energy Services Company and Mr. Saurabh Kumar, Managing Director of EESL.

Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Railways Lays the Foundation Stone for Five New Halt Stations between Quazigund-Baramulla:

Union Minister for Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu laid the foundation stone for construction of five new halt stations viz. Sangdan, Monghall, Ratnipora, Nadigam & Razwan on the Baramulla-Qazigund Rail Section at a ceremonial program held at Sher-i-Kashmir International, Conference Centre at Srinagar in the presence of Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Minister of J&K.

NALSA Launches Web Application for Free Legal Services to Prisoners:

The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) launched a Web Application for free Legal Services to prisoners and the Legal Services Management System developed through the NIC.

Through the Web Application, the information regarding legal representation of individual prison inmates will be fed by the State Legal Services Authorities and District Legal Services Authorities.

INTERNATIONAL

India becomes 1st country to give to UN Tax Fund with $100000 contribution:

India has contributed $100,000 to a UN fund to help developing countries actively participate in the discussion of tax issues, becoming the first country to make the contribution.

The UN Trust Fund for International Cooperation in Tax Matters (the UN Tax Fund) received its first financial voluntary contribution from India.

The UN Tax Trust Fund aims to support the work of the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters (the UN Tax Committee).

Cabinet approved MoU between India and Israel on National Campaign for Water Conservation in India:

The Union Cabinet has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Israel on National Campaign for Water Conservation in India. This will benefit the country in conserving water for future generations.

The Ministries agree to jointly work on the water conservation campaign to achieve the following objectives:

  • Put water conservation on the national agenda in India
  • Encouraging every citizen to save water in everyday life
  • Generating awareness about water
  • Promoting Re-use, Recharge and Recycling of water
  • Development of digital tools such as websites, mobile applications on the subject of water conservation.

Israel  

  • Israeli Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Capital of Israel: Jerusalem
  • Currency: Israeli new shekel

Cabinet approved India-US MoU on homeland security:

The Union Cabinet has approved signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoU) between India and the US on homeland security.

The memorandum of cooperation will further strengthen bilateral security relations between India and the US and will also help in coordination and interactions among the six sub-groups that are proposed to be formed under homeland security dialogue between the two countries.

  • US Capital & Currency: Washington D.C & US Dollar
  • US President & Vice President: Donald Trump & Mike Pence

NASA completes milestone toward quieter supersonic X-plane:

NASA has achieved a significant milestone in its effort to make supersonic passenger jet travel over land a real possibility by completing the preliminary design review (PDR) of its Quiet Supersonic Transport or QueSST aircraft design.

QueSST is the initial design stage of NASA’s planned Low Boom Flight Demonstration (LBFD) experimental airplane, otherwise known as an X-plane. NASA was partnered with lead contractor, Lockheed Martin, in February 2016 for the QueSST preliminary design.

NASA:

    • NASA Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United StatesActing Administrator: Robert M.Lightfoot Jr

China unveils plans for world’s first pollution-eating ‘Forest City’:

China unveiled world first pollution eating city plans for Liuzhou Forest City, designed by the Italian firm Stefano Boeri Architetti to be built in southern China.

It will have one million plants and plant life is expected to absorb almost 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide and 57 tons of pollutants per year and produce 900 tons of oxygen a year, while also decreasing the air temperature and providing a new habitat for displaced wildlife.

China:

  • Currency: Renminbi
  • Capital: Beijing
  • Premier: Li Keqiang
  • President: Xi Jinping

Arun Jaitley holds bilateral discussions with President of ADB:

The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley held bilateral discussions with Mr Takehiko Nakao, President, Asian Development Bank (ADB), in Delhi on a wide range of issues pertaining to enhanced cooperation between India and ADB.

  • ADB agreed to enhance the lending operations of the Bank in India from $ 3 billion a year to $ 4 billion per annum.
  • President Nakao also agreed to India’s suggestion to set-up a regional hub in New Delhi for South Asia region.
  • ADB Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines

US to sell $366.2 million C-17 Globemaster aircraft to India:

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of India for Boeing C-17 transport aircraft for $366.2 million.

The number of aircraft was not specified in the approval and C-17 is capable of strategic delivery of up to 170,900 pounds of personnel and/or equipment to main operating bases or forward operating locations.

BUSINESS

Nvidia is the world’s smartest company in 2017:

According to the recently published MIT Technology Review’s annual listing of the 50 smartest small and large companies based on their ability to innovate and execute.

    Nvidia from America is the world’s smartest company in 2017 while Chinese companies Tencent (8th position) and Alibaba (41th position) among the 50 companies in the list. Overall seven Chinese Companies made it to the list.

SPORTS

Kidambi Srikanth climbs up three spots to re-enter top-10 of badminton rankings:

India’s ace Shuttler Kidambi Srikanth broke back into the top-10 at eighth in the latest world rankings.

The 24-year-old from Guntur, who clinched successive titles at Indonesian Open and Australian Open, now has 58,583 points in his kitty.

History Events of the Day

June 29: National Statistics Day

The National Statistics Day, celebrated every year on June 29 to mark the birth anniversary of renowned statistician Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis and also create public awareness among people about the importance of statistics in daily life and in the process of planning and development.

June 29: International Day of tropics

The International Day of the Tropics celebrates the extraordinary diversity of the tropics while highlighting the shared, unique challenges and opportunities nations of the tropics face. It was declared by UN which adopted resolution on 14 June 2016.

It provides an opportunity to take stock of progress across the tropics, to share tropical stories and expertise and to acknowledge the diversity and potential of the region.

June 30: International Asteroid Day

In December 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/71/90, declaring 30 June as International Asteroid Day  in order to “observe each year at the international level the anniversary of the Tunguska impact over Siberia, Russian Federation, on 30 June 1908, and to raise public awareness about the asteroid impact hazard.”

Also Read:

IBPS PO 2017 Planner

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