1st June 2016 - Important Current Affairs updates

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International Affairs

• Today is World Milk Day
• • This day was initiated on 1st June 2001 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to celebrate all aspects of milk as a global food.
  • Important Note : Don't be confused this day with National Milk Day. National Milk Day is different. We observe National Milk Day on 26th November to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr.Verghese Kurien.
• Today (1st June) is Global Day of Parents.
• • This is a United Nations (UN) observance to honor parents and their commitment to children worldwide.
    
• Pakistan tightened its security on the border it shares with Afghanistan, as restrictions on the Torkham border crossing came into effect today. 
• • About 15,000 Afghans use the crossing every day, which will now be open only to people carrying a valid visa and passport. 
• The EU (European Union) has warned Poland that changes to its constitutional court could endanger the rule of law in the country. 
• • The Polish government earlier passed a law allowing it to appoint the judges of its choosing to the country's highest court. 
  • Note : This marks the first time the EU executive has criticised a member under its rule-of-law procedure.
• Canada is going to make the plain packaging of cigarettes compulsory in an effort to reduce smoking. 
• • Five million of the 36 million inhabitants of the country use tobacco products, and Canada presently mandates warning labels on cigarette packets. 
  • Note : Britain and Australia had earlier made plain packaging of cigarettes compulsory.
• India has performed the worst in the recent Global Slavery Index, compiled by an Australia-based human rights group. 
• • The report said there are approximately 45.8 million people globally who are still subjected to modern slavery, of which India has 18.35 million, the highest in absolute terms. 
  • Note : India was followed by China (3.39 million) and Pakistan (2.13 million) in the report.
• Indian Vice-president Hamid Ansari and Moroccan PM Abdelilah Benkirane today launched the India-Morocco Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IMCCI). 
• • This is aimed at accelerating the pace of economic development between the two nations. 
  • Note : In 2015, the bilateral trade between India and Morocco stood at $1.26 billion, with Indian exports forming around 25% of the trade volume.

MOUs

• The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and United States (US) to enhance cooperation in the field of wildlife conservation and combating wildlife trafficking. 
• • With this approval, India will benefit from the expertise of the US Institutions in the field of 
  • • Wildlife conservation 
    • Combating illegal trade of wildlife and their derivatives 
    • Management of wildlife areas.
• The Union Railways Ministry signed a MoU with Chandigarh-based PEC University of Technology to set up Kalpana Chawla Chair on geospatial technology for her contribution to aerospace engineering.
• • This would develop in-house solutions to problems that are otherwise often outsourced to western countries.

National Affairs

• PM Narendra Modi today released the first-ever National Disaster Management Plan which aims to make India disaster resilient and reduce the loss of lives and property. 
• • The plan focuses on improving disaster risk governance, better preparedness and re-building post-disaster. 
  • The plan also delineates responsibilities of all tiers of the government, right up to the Panchayat and Municipality levels.
• The Karnataka government today invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), as 50,000 policemen in the state had threatened to go on leave on June 4, protesting against poor working conditions and wages. 
• • Note : ESMA ensures the delivery of certain services including public transport and health services, which, if obstructed would affect the normal life of the people.

Business & Economy

• The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to India Post to set up Payments Bank. 
• • The government will set up 650 branches of the postal bank across the country by September 2017.
  • Note : Payments bank, aimed at improving financial inclusion, allows customers to transfer money or remittances using a mobile phone.
• As per data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the Indian economy has crossed the $2 trillion mark to hit its highest-ever value. 
• • The GDP at current prices for 2015-16 is estimated at ₹135.76 lakh crore ($2.02 trillion), growing by 8.7% over the first revised estimates of GDP of ₹124.88 lakh crore for 2014-15.
• The 4 Month disclosure window for domestic taxpayers to declare undisclosed income or assets opened today. 
• • The move, announced in the Budget, would allow taxpayers to clear past tax transgressions by paying 30% tax, a 7.5% surcharge and a 7.5% penalty – a total of 45% of the undisclosed income. 
  • Note : he deadline to pay the due amount is November 30.
• Centre hikes the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy by 60 rupees to 1,470 rupees per quintal for kharif season 2016-17.
• • Important Points to Note : 
  • • MSP is the rate at which the government buys the grain from farmers. 
    • Sowing of kharif crops will begin with the onset of southwest monsoon this month. 
    • Paddy is the main crop grown in the season.

Deaths

• Bollywood comic actor Razak Khan (65) passed away today.
• • Razak, who started his acting career with the 1993 film 'Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja', appeared in over 90 films including 'Raja Hindustani', 'Badshaah', 'Partner' and 'Action Jackson'.

Awards & Honors

• Aditi Krishnakumar, a 31-year-old Indian woman author in Singapore has won the ‘Scholastic Asian Book Award‘ for her manuscript "Codex: The Lost Treasure Of The Indus"

Science & Technology

• Switzerland today inaugurated the 57.3-kilometer long Gotthard Base Tunnel.
• • This is the longest rail tunnel in the world. 
  • The tunnel was constructed in around 17 years at an approximate cost of $12.3 billion. 
  • It is also the deepest running tunnel in the world, lying almost 2.3 kilometers under the Swiss Alps.

New Appointments

• Former media professional Rahul Johri today took charge as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 
• • The move is in line with the Supreme Court-appointed Justice RM Lodha committee's recommendation. 
• Bollywood Actor R Madhavan has become the goodwill ambassador of LEPRA India organization (also known as the Lepra Society) that fight against diseases like leprosy and tuberculosis. 
• Rodrigo Digong Duterte was officially declared to be the President-elect by the parliament of Philippines.
• Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has given his consent for his name to be used in Kerala's campaign against liquor and drug abuse in the state. 
• President Pranab Mukherjee has appointed former IPS officer Bhim Sain Bassi as a Member of Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as per provisions of Article 316 of Constitution. 
• • He will hold the constitutional post till February 2021 i.e. maximum tenure of six years or till he attains the age of 65 years. 

Sports

• The International Boxing Association (AIBA) today voted in favour of professional boxers being eligible to compete in the upcoming Rio Olympic Games. 
• • The AIBA has scheduled a qualification tournament in Venezuela next month in which a total of 26 Olympic spots will be made available for world champion boxers to earn a selection for their national teams.
• The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced the schedule for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. 
• • Eight teams will be playing 15 matches over 18 days (June 1-18) at three different venues in England & Wales. 
  • India and Pakistan have been named in the same group and will face each other on June 4, 2017.

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