International
Affairs
Today (26th June) is International Day Against Drug Abuse and
Illicit Trafficking.
This
day is a United Nations International Day against drug abuse and the
illegal drug trade.
The
date 26th June chosen to commemorate Lin Zexu's dismantling of the opium trade
in Humen, Guangdong, just before the First Opium War in China.
Theme of the year 2016
: Listen First
Today is International Day in Support of Victims and Nature.
This
day had been launched by the United Nations (UN) in 1997 and is a result of the
UN-convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
or punishment. This convention is binding according to international law, and
aims to avoid, ban and prohibit torture.
Theme of the year 2016
: Fighting Impunity
India became
the only country outside US’ formal
treaty allies to gain access to almost 99% of America’s defence technologies.
This
comes after the US recognised India as
a ‘major defence partner’earlier this month.
Under
this, India will receive licence-free
access to a wide range of dual-use defence technologies.
People in News
Guðni Jóhannesson, a history professor, has won Iceland’s presidential electionin a
vote held in the aftermath of the Panama Papers leak in April, which implicated
several top Icelandic officials.
National
Affairs
The four-day long 'India Couture Week' 2016 (ICW), hosted
by FDCI, the country's apex
fashion body, will begin on July 20.
FDCI -
Fashion Design Council of India
FDCI President :
Sunil Sethi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Smart City Mission’ involving 83 projects from 20 different cities
in the country.
The ambitious mission of Union Government was launched at
function held at Pune’s Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex one year after it was
announced.
Business
& Economy
The West Bengal government, in its full-fledged Budget for 2016-17, has proposed a 9.1% increase in tax collection against
the 2015-16 figure.
State Finance Minister Amit Mitra’s
budget statement revealed that the state had failed to achieve its target of
tax collection in 2015-16 and will need to rely on central funds for its
developmental projects in 2016-17.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar
has given its approval to for the
purchase of 145 Ultra-Light Howitzers (ULH) guns from the US.
The
procurement of ULH will be through the Foreign
Military Sales (FMS) route from the US and it will cost around 750
million dollars.
As
part of this deal, 25 ULH guns will come to India directly from US in a fly
away condition.
Rest
will be assembled in India at the proposed Assembly Integration and Test facility (AITF) for the weapon
system in partnership with Mahindra and Mahindra Company.
The Panama Canal, expanded to allow bigger vessels to pass at a cost
of $5.2 billion, was inaugurated today.
The
enlarged canal will reduce sailing time between Atlantic Ocean ports and Asia
up to 16 days for big ships that could not previously fit.
The
canal authority now hopes that average volumes will rise by 3% per year.
Awards & Honors
Zubaida
Bai,
an Indian social entrepreneur, has been named among the ten ‘2016 Global Compact SDG Pioneers’, an
initiative launched by UN.
She is the founder of ‘ayzh’, a
for-profit social venture providing health and livelihood solutions and
technology solutions to impoverished women worldwide.
New
Appointments
European Union has appointed Belgian Didier Seeuws, a longtime aide to former EU President Herman Van
Rompuy, to head the union's special
task force to negotiate Britain's exit.
Science
& Technology
India
is
all set to join the Missile Technology
Control Regime (MTCR) tomorrow as a full member.
MTCR membership will enable India to
buy high-end missile technology and also enhance its joint ventures with
Russia.
The aim of the MTCR is to restrict
the proliferation of missiles, complete rocket systems, unmanned air vehicles
and related technology for those systems capable of carrying a 500 kilogram
payload for at least 300 kilometers, as well as systems intended for the
delivery of weapons of mass destruction.
Deaths
Eminent Odia writer Mohapatra Nilamani Sahoo (90) passed
away.
A
recipient of many awards and recognition for his literary works, Sahoo was
bestowed with the Orissa Sahitya
Akademi Award in 1979 for
his story book 'Akasha Patata'.
For 'Abhisapta Gandharba' (a compilation of
short stories), he received the Sarala Award in 1983 and Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for the
same book in 1984.
Sports
The Indian contingent for the Rio Olympics went up to 103 members today, the highest ever, with five sportspersons
qualifying in the last 24 hours.
Sprinter Muhammad Anas became the
100th member of the contingent when he qualified for the 400-metre
event.
Note :
India's highest contingent before 2016 was at London 2012, consisting of 83
members.
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