Current Affairs Daily Updates: 8th June 2017

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Current Affairs Daily Updates: 8th June 2017
APPOINTMENTS
K G Karmakar, Gauri Shankar appointed as Independent Directors of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)
  • K G Karmakar and Gauri Shankar are appointed as Independent Directors of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB).
  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved their appointment to the post on the board of directors of the bank for a period of three years.
  • The IPPB has been incorporated as a public sector bank under the Department of Posts with 100 per cent equity of the Government of India.
BANKING AFFAIRS
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) signed MoU with European Union and Iran
  • The Union Cabinet gave its approval for Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to enter into two separate memoranda of understanding (MoU) with securities market regulators of the European Union and Iran.
  • These MoUs are expected to strengthen cooperation between India and the respective countries on matters pertaining to the securities market.
  • In the case of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the MoU is likely to establish cooperation arrangements as a precondition for ESMA to recognize Central Counter Parties (CCPs).
IMPORTANT DAYS OBSERVED
June 8th: World Oceans Day
  • World Oceans Day is celebrated across the world on June 8.
  • The theme for World Oceans Day 2017 is Our Oceans, Our Future.
  • This day provides a unique opportunity to honor, help protect, and conserve the oceans.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
India among top five consumer markets in Asia
  • India is among the top five consumer markets in Asia offering retailers consumer spending growth of an average of 6.1percent over the next five years.
  • The other four countries are China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia.
  • BMI Research was founded in 1984 Business Monitor International and later in 2014 was acquired by Fitch Group.
  • The firm performs industry and financial market analysis in 24 Industries and 200 Global markets.
United Nations warns of Clean Water Shortages by 2050
  • United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that by 2050 global demand for fresh water is projected to grow by more than 40%.
  • A Quarter of the world's population will live in countries with a chronic or recurrent lack of clean water.
India among Top on foreign Direct investment (FDI) - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
  • According to the report of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Report 2017, India to remain as a favorite destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) even though tax related concerns remain as a deterrent for the foreign investors.
  • According to the report, the favorite destinations for FDI are the United States of America (USA), China, and India.
  • The World Investment Report has been published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) annually since 1991.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship programmes skills 1.17 crore people
  • Minister of State for Skill Development Rajiv Pratap Rudy confirmed that 1.17 crore aspirants in various skills through Ministry of Skill Development Entrepreneurship (MSME) schemes and programs of Skill India.
  • Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) launched in the year 2015 witnessed more than 26. 5 lakh people getting trained in skills of their choice till date, of which 50 percent are women candidates.
  • National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) has given training to 5.9 lakh people.
Union Minister launches Skill for Life, Save a Life initiative to promote skill development in the health sector
  • Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda launched the ‘Skill for Life, Save a Life’.
  • This initiative’ aims to upscale the quantity and quality of trained professionals in the healthcare system.
  • Its objective is to upscale the quantity and quality of trained professionals in the healthcare system.
Elections for India’s 15th President commences on July 17
  • The process for electing the 15th President of India will begin on June 14 with the Election Commission issuing the notification for the polls as per the Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi.
  • The term of President Pranab Mukherjee will come to an end in July 2017.
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Korea for export credit of USD 9 billion
  • The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) and Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) for export credit of USD 9 billion.
  • The decision is expected to promote the country’s international exports and deepen political and financial ties between India and South Korea.
Human Milk Bank Inaugurated at Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi
  • Shri C K Mishra, Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) inaugurated the ‘Vatsalya – Maatri Amrit Kosh’, a National Human Milk Bank and Lactation Counselling Centre at the Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) in New Delhi.
  • The Vatsalya – Maatri Amrit Kosh will be the largest milk bank and lactation counseling center available in the North India.
  • It is a national human milk bank and lactation counseling center that will collect, pasteurize, test and safely stores milk that has been donated by lactating mothers and makes it available for infants in need.
Centre approves modifications to ‘kambala’ Bill
  • The Centre has approved the modifications to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Karnataka Amendment) Bill 2017 to pave way for organizing ‘kambala’ in the coming season, according to PP Chaudhary, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice.
  • Now, the Bill will be placed before the President for his approval. The approval by the President will help in the smooth conduct of ‘Kambala’ (the traditional slush track buffalo race) in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka. The Bill proposes to exempt ‘kambala’ from the ambit of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960.
Kerala government implements ‘green protocol’ for weddings
  • Wedding ceremonies in Kerala are all set to become ‘green’, with the state government coming out with a green protocol to make auspicious occasions more nature-friendly.
  • With the implementation of the protocol, plastic and other non-biodegradable articles including disposable glasses and plates and thermocol decorations will be kept at bay from marriage functions. Instead of this, people would be persuaded to use tumblers, plates and other utensils made of glass and environment-friendly metals.
UDAAN scheme: Tamil Nadu govt signs MoU with Aviation Ministry
  • The Government of Tamil Nadu has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry for the implementation of the UDAAN scheme in the state. The MoU has been signed at the Secretariat in Fort St George, Chennai, by the officials in presence of chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and the Airports Authority of India Chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra.
  • Under the Regional Air Connectivity scheme UDAAN, three of the tier-two industrial towns such as Hosur, Salem and Neyveli are to be developed in the first phase where airstrips are available, though not in use.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY / DEFENCE AFFAIRS
Indo American among 12 new astronauts selected by NASA
  • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lt Col Raja Grinder Chari commander of the 46 1st Flight Test Squadron as well as the director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
  • NASA selected seven men and five women who will comprise the 22nd class of American spaceflight trainees since 1959.
  • After the completion of two years of training, the selected astronauts will be assigned various roles like performing research on the International Space Station (ISS) and flying on deep space missions.
SPORTS AFFAIRS
Rohan Bopanna wins French Open mixed doubles title to clinch maiden Grand Slam
  • Indian tennis ace Rohan Bopanna and Canadian partner Gabriela Dabrowski produced a fighting performance to beat their German-Colombian opponents Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Robert Farah in the final to clinch their maiden French Open mixed doubles title in Paris, France.
  • Seeded seventh, Bopanna and Dabrowski took an hour and six minutes to win, saving two match points, as they overcame the unseeded Groenefeld and Farah 2-6, 6-2, 12-10 on Philippe-Chatrier Court. Bopanna has become only the fourth Indian to win a Grand Slam crown, after Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza. Indians have accounted for 20 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.