NATIONAL:
1.Urea Import from the US
Why in news - For the first time India is going to import a substantial quantity (47,000 tonnes) of urea from the US.
Key Points –
• From New Orleans port (US) to New Mangalore (Karnataka).
• At a price of $716.5 per tonne.
• In 2021-22, India imported 10.16 Mt of urea valued at $6.52 billion.
• Imported from (2021-22) - China (2.79 Mt), Oman (1.62 Mt), UAE (1.06 Mt), Egypt and Ukraine (0. Mt mt each), Qatar (0.58 Mt) and Saudi Arabia (0.50 Mt).
2. Life Expectancy at Birth
Why in news - According to sample registration system (SRS) data, India’s life expectancy at birth has increased to 69.7 during 2015-2019.
Key Points –
• Still below the global average of 72.6.
• India has added 20 years to its life expectancy at birth from 49.7 in 1970-75 to 69.7 in 2015-2019.
• Highest IMR - Madhya Pradesh (43), Uttar Pradesh (38).
• Highest rise in life expectancy – Odisha (45.7 to 69.8) > Tamil Nadu (49.6 to 72.6).
• Urban women from Himachal Pradesh had highest life expectancy at birth of 82.3 years.
• Rural men of Chhattisgarh had the lowest life expectancy at birth, just 62.8 years.
• Kerala is the only state where rural life expectancy at birth is higher as compared to urban for both women and men.
• Bihar and Jharkhand are the only states where male life expectancy is higher than women in both urban and rural areas.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. UNSC 1267 Committee
Why in news - China has put on ‘technical hold’ the proposal to list Abdul Rehman Makki as a global terrorist.
Key Points –
• India and the US jointly proposed to list Makki under the UNSC’s Al Qaeda (Dae’sh) and ISIL Sanctions Committee (UNSC 1267 Committee).
• Makki is deputy chief and head of the political affairs of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT)/Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD).
• In 2019, China had blocked proposals to designate Maulana Masood Azhar (chief Jaish-e-Mohammed) as a global terrorist.
2. Julian Assange
Why in news – UK approved the extradition of WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange to the United States to face criminal charges.
Key Points –
• He exposed U.S. wrongdoing in conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
• He is wanted in the US on 18 criminal charges. If convicted, he faces up to 175 years in prison.
About Julian Assange –
• He set up Wikileaks in 2006 to obtain and publish confidential documents.
• In 2010, released footage of US soldiers killing civilians from a helicopter in Iraq.
• He took refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012 to avoid extradition.
3. Fujian
Why in news – China launched its third aircraft carrier named the ‘Fujian’ on June 18, 2022.
Key Points –
• It was launched at Shanghai’s Jiangnan Shipyard.
• It is China’s first domestically made carrier that uses electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS). Till now, only the US had such an advanced technology.
• Displacement - 80,000 tonnes.
• Previous aircraft carriers – Liaoning (Soviet-era) and Shandong (indigenous).
• China plans to have around 5 aircraft carriers.
4. Solar Power Plant in Space
Why in news – China plans to launch a solar power plant (10 KW) in space by 2028. (earlier target - by2030).
Key Points –
• China would launch a satellite at an altitude of 400 km.
• The satellite would convert solar energy into electricity and then convert that into microwave or lasers that can then be transmitted to various fixed targets on Earth.
• By 2035, a 10 MW power plant would start sending energy to some military and civilian users. (2 GW by 2050).
5. COVID-19 Vaccine Shots for Infants
Why in news – The US FDA authorized emergency use of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for kids under 5 years of age.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Industrial Decarbonization Summit 2022
Why in news – Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the 'Industrial Decarbonization Summit 2022' on June 16, 2022 in New Delhi.
Key Points –
• India aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2070.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. Global Peace Index 2022
Why in news – Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) released the 16th edition of Global Peace Index 2022 for 163 countries.
Key Points –
• India rank – 135th. (improvement of 1.4%).
• Top 5 - Iceland (1st), New Zealand (2nd), Ireland (3rd), Denmark (4th) and Austria (5th).
• Bottom 5 – Afghanistan (163rd), Yemen (162nd), Syria (161st ), Russia (160th) and South Sudan (159th).
• Top in South Asia – Bhutan (19th), Nepal (73rd), Sri Lanka (90th) and Bangladesh (96th).
• USA (129th), Pakistan (147th).
• Seven of the ten countries at the top are in Europe.
• Russia and the Ukraine saw the largest deteriorations in peacefulness.
• The average level of global peacefulness deteriorated by 0.3% in 2021.
SPORTS:
1. Commonwealth Games 2022
Why in news – The Athletics Federation of India named a 37-member Indian athletics team to be led by Neeraj Chopra.
Key Points –
• Motto - ‘Sports for All’.
• Commonwealth Games to be held in Birmingham, UK.
• Birmingham was announced as host on 21 December 2017,
• From July 28 to August 8, 2022.
• England is hosting the commonwealth games for the third time. (London 1934 and Manchester 2002.)
BIHAR:
1.Cabinet Meeting
Why in news – In a cabinet meeting chaired by hon’ CM Nitish Kumar on June 18, 2022, a total of 17 proposals have been approved.
Key Points –
• The Bihar Start-up New Policy, 2022 was approved and would be effective for the next 5 years.
• To build three 5-star hotels in Patna. (Places - Bankipur Bus Stand, Hotel Patliputra Ashok, Sultan Palace)
• The settlement of sand ghats would be done through e-auction cum tender by the DMs for five years.
• 84.33 crore has been approved for the establishment of Institute of Petrochemical Technology to be established in Bihta, Bihar by CIPET Chennai.
• Students of Veterinary, Dairy and Fishery would get scholarship up to Rs 15,000 monthly.
2. Upgradation of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas
Why in news – 534 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) would be upgraded to plus two
Key Points –
• Currently, 634 such schools are functional in the state. (All India - 5726).
• KGBV was started in 2006-07.
• 75% seats are reserved for SCs, STs, OBC and minorities.
3. Use of Scientific Methods in Research
Why in news – A training program was organised by CID (ATS branch) of Police hq regarding use of scientific methods.
Key Points –
• Top 3 – Rahul Abhishek (1st, Arwal), Pankaj Yadav (2nd, Khagaria), Ravi Shankar Sharma (3rd, Madhepura).
• Program ran from May 23 to June 7, 2022.
POINTERS:
• Which airport has launched ‘Vertical Axis Wind Turbine and Solar PV Hybrid System’ - Mumbai Airport.
• FIFA has announced to organize the Under-17 Women's World Cup in which country - India.
• Who has been named as the new chairperson by COAI (Cellular Operators Association of India) for 2022-23 - Pramod K Mittal.
• RBI has removed the restriction from which company on the induction of new customers after complying with the storage of payment system data norms - Mastercard.
• Which bank has recently been approved by RBI for IPO – Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank.
• Which country has announced $122 million fund for India to prevent avoidable pandemics - USA.
• Who will be the new CEO of Verizon Business - Soumyanarayan Sampath.
• Which media organization has been adjudged the most trusted electronic media organization in India - All India Radio.
• Which lake of Iraq has dried up due to water crisis - Sawa Lake.
• World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2022 – June 15.