NATIONAL:
1. Indira Gandhi International Airport
Why in news - Delhi airport becomes India’s first to run entirely on hydro (94%) and solar energy (6%).
Key points –
• IGI airport switched to hydro and solar power for its consumption needs from June 1, 2022.
• It aims to achieve the ‘Net Zero Carbon Emissions Airport’ target by the year 2030.
• In 2015, the Cochin International Airport in Kerala became the first airport in the world to run solely using solar energy.
2. Jyotirgamaya Festival
Why in news - Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy inaugurated Jyotirgamaya festival showcasing the talent of unsung performers in New Delhi on the occasion of World Music Day.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. EU Candidate Status
Why in news - EU leaders grant ‘candidate country’ status to Ukraine and Moldova.
Key points –
• In future, EU may grant such status to Georgia.
• The Copenhagen criteria define whether a country is eligible to join the European Union.
• Eligibility for EU membership –
A. Political – Institutions of democracy, rule of law, human rights and protection of minorities.
B. Economic - Market economy
C. Administrative - Accepts the obligations and intent of the EU.
About EU-
• Treaty of Rome (1957) - European Economic Community (EEC)was created.
• Merger Treaty (1965, Brussels) - Created the European Communities (ECs).
• The Maastricht Treaty-1992 (Treaty on European Union) was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands.
• It is a group of 27 countries.
• 19 of these countries use Euro as their official currency. 8 EU members (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) don’t.
• In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
2. India Embassy Reopened in Kabul
Why in news – India sent a ‘technical team’ to Kabul which would be stationed at the embassy to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Key points –
• India sent aid for the people of Afghanistan, a day after a deadly earthquake claimed more than 1,000 lives in the Paktika province.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. Global Liveability Index 2022
Why in news - The Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) released the Global Liveability Index 2022.
Key points –
• Top 3 – Vienna (1st, Score - 99.1), Copenhagen (2nd, Score - 98 ) and Zurich (3rd, Score 96.3).
• Bottom 3 - Damascus, Syria (172nd), Lagos, Nigeria (171st) and Tripoli, Libya (170th).
2. Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Why in news - Network intelligence and connectivity insights provider Ookla released the index.
Key points –
• India’s median mobile download speeds - 14.28 Mbps (May), (14.19 Mbps in April 2022).
• India’s rank - 115th.
• Median fixed broadband speeds rank – 75th in May.
• Norway and Singapore are in the top spots for global mobile speeds.
• Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon and Congo registered the highest growth in mobile download speeds.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. GSAT-24 Satellite
Why in news - The GSAT-24 satellite, built by ISRO for NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), was successfully launched on 23 June 2022.
Key points –
• It was launched by French company Arianespace from Kourou in French Guiana (South America).
• It is a 24-Ku band communication satellite weighing 4180 kg.
• NSIL has leased the entire satellite capacity to Tata Play.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. BRICS Summit 2022
Why in news - The 14th summit of BRICS nations held in Beijing on June 23, 2022 via video link.
Key points –
• Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired the summit.
• Theme – ‘Foster High-quality BRICS Partnership, Usher in a New Era for Global Development’.
• Russia proposed setting up a new global reserve currency (alternative to US dollar).
• BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
2. Vivatech 2020 Conference
Why in news – Europe’s biggest startup conference, Vivatech 2020 (held in Paris, France) has recognized India as the ‘country of the year’.
3. G-20 Summit 2023
Why in news – Jammu and Kashmir would host the 2023 meetings of the G-20 countries. India will hold the G20 presidency from December 1, 2022 and will convene the G20 leaders’ summit in 2023 for the first time.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. International Olympic Day 2022
Why in news – It is celebrated on June 23 to promote sports and health.
Key points –
• Theme - Together for a peaceful world.
• The day commemorates the foundation of IOC in 1894.
• The IOC was founded by Baron Pierre de Coubertin in 1894,
AGREEMENTS:
1. Indian Navy and Shipping Directorate General
Why in news – The Indian Navy and the Directorate General of Shipping signed an MoU to facilitate the transition of Navy personnel into the Merchant Navy.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Giant stingray fish (Urogymnus polylepis)
Why in news – Biologists have found a giant stingray fish from the Mekong River in Cambodia which is believed to be the largest freshwater fish in the world.
FESTIVALS:
1. Sao Joao
Why in news – Goa’s Sao Joao festival is an occasion for the family to get to know their newly wed daughters’ husbands a little better.
2. Sindhu Darshan Yatra
Why in news – The '26th Sindhu Darshan Yatra' is being organized from 23 June to 26 June, 2022 in Leh, Ladakh. It is held on the banks of the River Indus at 'Sheh Manala'.
STATES:
1. India‘s Biggest IKEA Store
Why in news – IKEA (Swedish furniture) has opened its biggest store in India in Bengaluru. This is IKEA’s fourth store in India after Hyderabad, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
2. Uttarakhand Climate Responsive Rain-fed Farming Project.
Why in news – The World Bank has approved a project costing Rs. 1,000 crore to advance rain-fed agriculture.
BIHAR:
1. Monsoon Session of BLA
Why in news – The Monsoon session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly (BLA) is started on June 24, 2022 which would last for five days till June 30.
Key points –
• Article 174 - Sessions of the State Legislature, prorogation and dissolution.
• Article 174(1) - The Governor shall from time to time summon the House or each House of the Legislature of the State to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit.
2. Spices Cultivation in Bihar
Why in news – The cultivation of the spice would start on an experimental basis this year in 12 districts.
Key points –
• For this, Elephant Foot Yam (ole), ginger and turmeric have been selected.
• 12 districts - Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, West Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Begusarai, Saharsa, Khagaria and Bhagalpur.
• In mango and litchi orchards, only 40% of the land is used. Such crops can be cultivated on the remaining 60% (apx 75000 ha) of the land.
• Status of garden - 1.57 lakh ha (Mango), 33,269 ha (litchi) and 27,613 ha (guava).
POINTERS:
• Omega Seki Mobility (OSM) has announced to set up a new plant at Chakan, Pune for EV manufacturing at a cost of - Rs 40 crore.
• Which bank has launched the ‘SIB TF online’ EXIM trade portal - South Indian Bank.
• Which Union Minister has inaugurated the Seismological Observatory in Udhampur Jammu and Kashmir - Dr Jitendra Singh.
• Who has been appointed by the New Development Bank (NDB) as the Director General of the Regional Office in India - DJ Pandian.
• Which academy has recently won the title of Indrani Sharma Memorial Tournament - RKB Academy.
• Which country's journalist Dmitry Muratov has sold his Nobel Peace Prize to help Ukraine's children – Russia.
• Who has become the first Indian mountaineer to climb the Annapurna Peak - Skalzang Rigzin.
• Who has taken over as the Chairman and Managing Director of NSIC - P Udayakumar.
• Who has been named as the chairman of the advisory committee to assist the Appointed Committee of Administrators (COA) by the Supreme Court - Ranjit Bajaj.
• Which airport has become the first airport to run entirely on hydroelectricity and solar power - Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, New Delhi.