Daily GK Updates - 25th June, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Delhi HC orders halt on cutting 17000 trees : A controversial project that requires the cutting of 17,000 trees in Delhi.The NBCC also deposited Rs. 8 crores with the tree authority of the Delhi government for permission to cut trees.Petitioner KK Mishra, asks the court to stop the central government project to cut thousands of trees for the redevelopment of 7 colonies in south Delhi.HC halts the cutting of trees till July 4 2018.

2. Haryana makes LED bulbs mandatory in offices : The use of LED bulbs and tube lights has been made mandatory in all offices of Haryana.In this direction, Head of Departments and Managing Directors of Boards, Corporations, and Public Undertakings have been directed to replace lighting with LED lamps or tube lights by August 15.These halogen & sodium bulbs will be replaced with energy-efficient LED bulbs and tube lights.

3. No toilet, no bride’ resolution in Haryana : Haryana village – Godikan has passed ‘No toilet, no bride’resolution.The village apparently was inspired by the super hit Hindi movie starring Akshay Kumar – ‘Toilet-Ek Prem Katha’.The resolution is aimed at ensuring the security of their daughters in addition to hygiene.Godikan has already been declared an Outdoor Defecation Free (ODF) panchayat.

4. National Awards for Prevention on Drug Abuse : President Kovind will present the 4th “National Awards for outstanding services in the field of Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse” on the occasion of ‘International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking’ on 26th June.The function organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in New Delhi.The Awards were started in 2013 and conferred biennially.

5. Sindhu Darshan Festival begins in Ladakh : The 3-day annual 22nd Sindhu Darshan Festival will be celebrated on the bank of Indus River in Ladakh region of J&K.

The Festival organised by Sindhu Darshan Yatra Samiti & will be inaugurated by RSS General Secretary Bhaiya Ji.The programme is focused on national integration, communal harmony, and national pride.It was started by the former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani in 1997.

6.IIFA Awards 2018 : Indian International Film Awards (IIFA), held in Bangkok, late star Sridevi won Best Actress (posthumously) for MOM.Irrfan Khan was given the Best Actor Award for Hindi Medium.Vidya Balan’s Tumhari Sulu was awarded the Best Film trophy.Saket Chaudhary was awarded the Best Director for Hindi Medium.Anupam Kher was awarded Outstanding Achievement by an Actor in Indian Cinema.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India cuts export quotas for Maldives : India has lowered the limits on the export of certain essential commodities such as potatoes, onions, and eggs to the Maldives.According to a bilateral pact that came into effect in 1981, India exports essential commodities in line with the requirement as communicated by the govt of Maldives.Maldives was lowered to 9,892.03 MT for 2018-19 compared with the 10,259.59 MT exported in 2017-18.

2. President Tayyip Erdogan returns to power : President Tayyip Erdogan of Justice and Development Party has declared victory in Turkey’s Presidential election.He was earlier President and Prime Minister of Turkey for 15 years. He has now become first executive President of the country.He has secured a majority of 52.5% against Muharrem Ince, of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), received 30.8% of the votes.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Sanjay Kumar quits Indigo : IndiGo’s Chief Commercial Officer Sanjay Kumar resigns from the office.S. Kumar has been associated with the organisation from past 12 years.His resignation would be effective from July 15. Willam Boulter, the current Chief Strategy Officer, would be taking over from him.Interglobe Aviation is the parent company of Indigo.

2. FIU forwarded highest over 65K in FY18 : The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU), the government agency mandated on terrorist financing and money laundering, has forwarded 65,829 Suspicious Transactions Reports (STRs) during FY18 — the highest in the history.This number was over 13% higher than the record 58,223 STRs in FY17.The spurt in the number of STRs is initiated under FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act), 1999.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. India is the largest borrower from AIIB : With the total project portfolios of US$4.4 Billion, India has been the largest borrower of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) since the time the Bank started its operations.The report was released in 3rd AIIB Meet 2018 in Mumbai whose focus was on infrastructure , innovation  collaboration.AIIB has committed to provide $200 million for road & energy infrastructure to India.

SPORTS:

1. Sejwal won gold at Singapore Championships : Indian swimmer Sandeep Sejwal put up an impressive performance to clinch the gold medal in men’s 50m breaststroke event at the Singapore National Swimming Championships in Singapore.Sandeep broke the Singapore meet record with a timing of 27:59 sec to win the gold. He bettered his own time of 27.68 seconds in the semi-final by 0.09 sec.The SCNS was organized between 20 to 23rd June 2018.

2. Mandeep Jangra won gold at Ulaanbaatar Cup : Mandeep Jangra has won the boxing gold at the Ulaanbaatar Cup 2018 in Mongolia.The Indian contingent amassed a total of 9 medals – 1 gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze medals.Himanshu Sharma and Sonia Lather won the silver medal in their respective events.Mandeep Jangra earlier had won Commonwealth Games silver medal in 2014.

3. Deepika won gold at Salt Lake World Cup : Archer Deepika Kumari won her first individual gold medal in six years at the Salt Lake World Cup following a 7-3 win over Germany’s Michelle Kroppen in the recurve final.The last time she won at a stage event on the international circuit goes back to Antalya in 2012.She had won a gold medal in the 2010 Commonwealth games in the women’s individual recurve event.