Current Affairs - June 22, 2020 Current Affairs

Scientists have finally resolved the mystery behind the 66-million-year-old fossil egg found in Antarctica's Seymour Island. The fossil, which looks like a deflated American football, was kept in a Chilean museum and was nicknamed The Thing. After much research and analysis, scientists have said that the egg belongs to an extinct giant sea lizard or snake that lived alongside the dinosaurs. According to the researchers, the millions year old fossil egg, measuring 29 cm by 20 cm (8 inches by 11 inches), is the second-largest egg in the world.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative by a metro rail system in northern India, the Noida-Greater Noida Metro has decided to convert the Sector 50 station into a "She-Man" station that will have special facilities and employment for the transgender community. This step is being taken by the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) for the "inclusion and meaningful participation" of the members of the transgender community.

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has joined the elite club of the world's top 10 richest people, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index released on 20 June 2020. He is ranked as the 9th richest person in the world, in the latest update.

The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated annually on 21 June since 2015, following its inception in the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. The theme of International Day of Yoga 2020 is "Yoga for Health - Yoga at Home".

World Hydrography Day is observed every year on June 21 . The day is an annual celebration to publicise the work of hydrographers and the importance of hydrography. World Hydrography Day 2020 theme is "Hydrography enabling autonomous technologies".

The 25th National Reading Day was celebrated on June 19. National Reading Day is celebrated to honour the father of the 'Library Movement in Kerala', the late P.N. Panicker, whose death anniversary falls on June 19.

More than 42 crore poor people have received Rs 65,454 crore in financial assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package. As part of Rs 1.70 lakh crore relief package, the government on March 26 announced free foodgrains and cash to women, poor senior citizens and farmers to mitigate hardship faced due to the lockdown.

World Refugee Day was observed on June 20. Theme of World Refugee Day was 'Every Action Counts'.

The World Bank has approved dollar 1.05 billion for three projects in Bangladesh to create quality jobs and accelerate economic recovery in the wake of the Corona pandemic. These projects will help the economy in bouncing back by creating more and better jobs and promoting direct private investment in specialized economic zones.

India witnessed a rare celestial event, an annular solar eclipse on 21 June. The annular 'ring of fire' solar eclipse, wherein the Sun appears like a ring of fire, was visible in different parts of the country.

PM launched the 'Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyaan' employment scheme for migrant workers from six states who returned to their home states during the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The Rs 50,000 crore employment scheme will be implemented on a mission mode in 125 days in 116 districts of six states - Bihar, MP, UP, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha.

World Music Day or Fete de la Musique is celebrated on 21 June. On this day, musicians perform for free in parks, museums, train stations, castles etc. But this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic the day is likely to be celebrated mostly indoors.

Coal India Limited has agreed to partner with Atal Innovation Mission , NITI Aayog to proactively support the flagship mission's innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives across the country. A Statement of Intent (SoI) of a strategic partnership between AIM and Coal India Limited was signed and exchanged in a virtual e-summit for the same.

The two-day India Ideas Summit 2020 will be held virtually on July 21-22, marking its 45th annual meeting, with the focus on geopolitics in the post-COVID-19 world. The summit will also focus on shifting supply chains, digitization and technology trends, the future of healthcare, and equitable growth. The summit is conducted to showcase the importance of the positive outcome of the India-United States economic partnership and the overall bilateral relationship between the two nations.

In a bid to woo Bangladesh, China has provided a huge trade boost to the country by announcing tariff exemption for 97 per cent of Bangladeshi products effective from July 1. The decision has come one month after Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a discussion to upgrade their bilateral relations during the COVID-19 pandemic.