Current Affairs - June 8, 2018 Current Affairs

NITI Aayog has launched a new course on 'Urban Analytics - Evaluating and Measuring Sustainability of Cities' at IIT, Roorkee. The course was launched under Global Initiative on Academic Network (GIAN). The course will provide an understanding and analysis on the urbanisation and its impacts that would help in evaluating the conditions of sustainability in Indian cities.

According to the open banking regime the European Banks are required to share customer data with third party banks upon the customers' approval. Citi Bank is the first to enroll as "Payment Initiation Service Provider". This would enable it to receive small payments directly from UK's customer bank accounts without debit or credit cards. This initiative will be less time consuming and cheaper compared to other alternatives like PayPal etc.

The Fuego volcano is an active stratovolcano in Guatemala that has recently erupted violently and buried several villages on its southern flank. The death toll has risen to 99 in the Fuego volcano eruption. The National Forensic Sciences Agency stated that, of the 99 people, only 28 have been identified, so far. Some 200 people are still missing, amid fears of a new blowup of the 3,763-metre volcano. The volcano is only 27 miles southwest of the capital Guatemala City, and ash has reached as far as the city's airport, forcing it to close. At its peak, the Fuego reaches 12,346 feet above sea level and it is one of the most active volcanoes in Latin America.

Ayan Gogoi Gohain has been honoured with this title for his book 'Honeycomb'. The book was published in January 2018. The book has 30 anecdotes and illustrations. India Book of Records has awarded a plaque and a certificate to Ayan Gogoi Gohain in January 2018. Ayan Gogoi Gohain is also skilled in painting. He had also designed the cover page of 'Honeycomb'.

Myanmar and U.N. agencies signed an agreement that might eventually lead to the return of some of the 700,000 Rohingya Muslims. The MoU signed promises to establish a "framework of cooperation" that aims to create the conditions for "voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable" repatriation of Rohingya refugees. The U.N. and U.S. have described the army crackdown as "ethnic cleansing".

Bharat Financial has got the nod from multiple stock exchanges like NSE and BSE after SEBI's approval. This merger was proposed and drafted by the board of directors of both the companies on October 2017. IndusInd Bank would acquire BFIL through all stock deal. BFIL caters to the weaker section of society and has is present across 16 states covering 1 lakh villages.

The Union Cabinet apprised the MoU signed between India and Denmark. The objective of this MoU is to promote bilateral cooperation in the field of sustainable and smart urban development on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit through an exchange of knowledge, institutional cooperation, research. Under this MoU, a Joint Working Group (JWG) will be set up to strategise.

Malay Kumar Sinha is an Indian Police Service officer. He has served in several positions in Uttar Pradesh Police, Intelligence Bureau and the Ministry of Home Affairs. His has also worked as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs and Secretary-Security, Cabinet Secretariat.

Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman accorded approval for the procurement of equipment for the Defence Forces valued at over Rs 5500 crore. Pursuing the goal of indigenization and self-reliance in the field of Defence Procurements, the DAC approved procurement of 12 High Power Radars for the Indian Air Force under 'Buy (Indian) IDDM' category. The radars will provide long-range medium and high altitude radar cover with the capability to detect and track high-speed targets following parabolic trajectories. Technologically superior, the radars will have the capability to scan 360o without mechanical rotation of Antenna and will operate on 24 x 7 basis with minimal maintenance requirement. Their procurement will enhance the overall efficacy of the Air Defence network in the country. The DAC also accorded approval for procurement of Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) for the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Army from Indian Shipyard.

Ariya Jutanugarn is 22 years old from Bangkok has become the first player from Thailand to win a US Women's Open title. She finished with a one-over 73 and a 72-hole total of 11-under 277. She was followed by South Korea's Kim Hyo-joo in the second position. Spain's Carlota Ciganda secured third place. American Danielle Kang was in fourth position.

The World Oceans Day was observed across the world on June 8, 2018, to highlight the major role of the oceans in everyday life. The action focus for the 2018 World Oceans Day was 'preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean'. Around 80 percent of all pollution in the ocean comes from people on land. There are 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the ocean every year, causing damage to wildlife, fisheries, and tourism. The Plastic pollution costs the lives of 1 million seabirds and 100000 marine mammals per year. The 'Fishes eat plastic, and we eat the fish'.

The National Consultation on Accelerating Implementation of Tobacco Control Measures for achievement of Goals under National Health Policy (2017) has inaugurated by Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey in New Delhi on June 6, 2018. The Ministers of State also released the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2 India Report, 2016-17 and guidelines for establishing tobacco cessation centres in dental colleges at the consultation and felicitated tobacco workers who have transitioned to other livelihood options. The two-day consultation will focus on capacity-building of the National Tobacco Control Progamme Nodal Officers. Among the key areas of deliberation will be multi-sectoral engagement for implementation of WHO FCTC in India and synergizing tobacco control with new health initiatives. Tobacco is responsible for 4.5 lakh Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVD) deaths in the country. In 2011, the total economic cost attributable to tobacco use from all diseases in India for persons aged 35-69 years amounted to a staggering Rs. 1,04,500 crores.

Derrick Pereira assumed charge as head coach in the absence of Sergio Lobera for the Super Cup. He will continue to monitor Youth Development for FC Goa. FC Goa has also appointed former FC Pune City striker Jesus Rodriguez Tato as assistant to coach Sergio Lobera for the upcoming season of Super Cup.

The West Bengal Government decided to invest 107 crore rupees to check erosion at vulnerable areas along the banks of the Ganga and the Padma. A stretch of 15 kilometers will be concretized, to prevent erosion. The work will be completed by March next year. It will protect hundreds of homes and the river bank close to outposts of the Border Security Force on the Indo-Bangladesh border from being washed away by the strong currents.

Pippa Harris was selected as the Chairman of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). She will be replacing Jane Lush. Her tenure is for 2 years. Earlier she was the deputy chair. Harris has served as the head of dramacommissioning for the BBC where her commissions included "The Lost Prince", "State of Play" and "Daniel Deronda".