Current Affairs - June 5, 2018 Current Affairs

Minister of State of Railways, Rajen Gohain flagged off a new Antyodaya train named 22841/22842 Santragachi-Chennai Central Antyodaya Express (Weekly) from Kolkata. The coaches of the Antyodaya Express are fully unreserved LHB second class coaches, it also includes Cushioned luggage racks which can serve as seats, Multiple Unit cables at both ends of the coach, Toilet Occupation indication display board, LED Lights.

Kagiso Rabada, the world's number one Test bowler, was named South Africa's Cricketer of the Year. The award came at the end of a 12-month period during which Rabada, 23, was a consistent match-winner and subject of disciplinary hearings. Rabada took 72 wickets at an average of 19.52 in 12 Tests going back to a series in England. Rabada collected a total of six awards, including Test cricketer of the year, one-day international player of the year and players' player of the year.

India's Sanjana Ramesh was awarded the 'Most Valuable Player' (MVP) even as compatriot Vaishnavi Yadav won the 'Girls Grit Award' on the fourth and final day of Basketball Without Borders Asia 2018, which featured 66 campers from 16 countries from the Asia-Pacific region. The camp got underway with the girl's championship game between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx. Coached on the sidelines by Ruth Riley and Sakshi Sheoran, the Lynx defeated the Liberty 20-13.

India is hosting the 3rd Asia Cup International Bridge Championship 2018 in Goa from June 4 and will see participation from countries including Australia, Bangladesh, China, Japan and Korea. The championship will be contested in five categories namely men, women, mixed, super-mixed and senior. Players from Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Singapore and Thailand will be participating in the event. Round robin matches will be played from the June 5-8. Four top teams in each category will progress to the knock-out stage.

The Centre has appointed MK Jain, Managing Director, and CEO of IDBI Bank, as the RBI's Deputy Governor. Jain will fill a position that had been lying vacant since August 2017 after the retirement of SS Mundra. With the appointment of Jain, the Centre has stuck to the tradition of having a commercial banker occupy this post of RBI Deputy Governor (reserved for bankers). The central bank now has four serving RBI Deputy Governors. Jain has been appointed for a term of three years.

Women will be given an opportunity to join the police aide as an upper helping hand to curb increasing crime against women, said Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar who wishes to increase the number of female police officers in the state. CM Manohar Lal Khattar confirmed there are many instances which cannot be given in a common police station. Therefore the main idea is to increase the women partnership in the police force was earlier done by incorporating 1000 candidates under which 2 % was raised from 6 to 8% which is reserved for women.

According to a report released by ASSOCHAM and NEC, India is among the top 5 nations in producing e-waste. The other countries besides India are : China, US, Japan and Germany. Out of the total e-waste generated in 2016, only 20% (8.9 MT) has been recycled and the rest has no records. Among the states Maharashtra ranks first with 19.8%, Tamil Nadu ranks second with 13% , Uttar Pradesh 10.1%, West Bengal 9.8%, Delhi 9.5%, Karnataka 8.9%, Gujarat 8.8%, Madhya Pradesh 7.6%.

World Environment Day is organized around a theme that focuses attention on a particularly pressing environmental concern. The theme for 2018, "Beat Plastic Pollution," to combat one of the great environmental challenges of our time. The theme makes changes in our everyday lives to reduce the heavy burden of plastic pollution on our natural places, our wildlife, and our own health. While plastic has many valuable uses, we have become over-reliant on single-use or disposable plastic with severe environmental consequences. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development states our resolve "to ensure the lasting protection of the planet and its natural resources".

India became the leading country in coconut production and productivity. from 2014-2018 13,117 hectares of cultivation has emerged as compared to 9561 hectares during 2010-14. India has been exporting coconut oil to Malaysia , Indonesia, Sri Lankasince April 2017. In 2017-18, India exported coconut worth Rs 1602.38 crore while imports stood at Rs 259.70 crore.

Ministry of Agriculture announced the launch of 'Krishi Kalyan Abhiyaan' from June 1 2018 till july 31st 2018 to help, advise, assist farmers to improve their farming techniques and increase their income. The overall coordination and implementation in the 25 villages of a district is being done by Krishi Vigyan Kendra of that district by appointing 111 officers in charge of each district. The various departments associated are : Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), Animal Husbandry Dairying & Fisheries (DAHD&F) and Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE-ICAR). Distribution of soil health cards, mini kits of pulses and horticulture plants.

The BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting has started in the South African city of Johannesburg on June 4, 2018. The meeting is expected to lay the foundation for 2018 annual summit of the grouping which will also be held in Johannesburg. The BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is leading the Indian delegation. Beside this, Mrs Swaraj will also chair a meeting of Foreign Ministers of IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), another bloc working to deepen coordination among the three countries on major global issues. She will also attend a series of events marking the 125th anniversary of the historic incident where a young Mahatma Gandhi was thrown out of a train compartment in Pietermaritzburg railway station in 1893.

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression was observed all over the world on 4th June 2018. The UN General Assembly declared 4 June as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. This day is observed to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. The six most common violations faced by children are: use of children in war, killing, sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access.

NTPC Limited adopted the iconic Charminar in Hyderabad under the Swachh Iconic Places Projects of India. This is part of a special drive under the Centre's Swachh Bharat Mission. NTPC Ltd and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) have signed a MoU for implementation of development and beautification works under the Charminar Pedestrianization Project in Hyderabad. NTPC, in partnership with the GHMC, will take up development and beautification works at Charminar.

Minister Narendra Modi launched RuPay card, BHIM and SBI apps at 'Business, Innovation and Community Event' with singapore. These apps were Rupay Card, BHIM app and SBI app. These were launched in 'Business, Innovation and Community Event'. This would be beneficial for Indian blue collar workers as they can transfer money as remittance upto Rs. 10000 with this.

15 projects were approved under Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) of commerce ministry to develop infrastructure for promoting exports. In 2017 the commerce ministry introduced the Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) to create required infrastructure for development and growth of exports by engagement of central or state agencies. The total scheme outlay is Rs 600 crore. Out of this Rs 80 crore was provided in 2017-18. During then current fiscal year another Rs 80 crore will be offered. The scheme has been launched for three years up to 2020.

In Egypt, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been sworn-in for a second four-year term in office as the country faces major economic and security challenges. Sisi won 97% of valid votes in the March presidential election.

A French swimmer has set off from Japan aiming to become the first person to swim across the Pacific Ocean. Ben Lecomte will swim for eight hours a day for more than six months as he heads towards the US west coast. He is hoping to raise awareness for climate change. A team of scientists will conduct research during the almost 8,850-kilometre swim.