1. China-led AIIB
development bank holds signing ceremony
i. China
has hosted the signing ceremony of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
(AIIB), a new international financial institution set to rival the World Bank
and Asian Development Bank.
ii.
Delegates from 50 countries signed articles that determine each member's share
and the bank's initial capital.
iii. The
AIIB, which was created in October by 21 countries, led by China, will fund
Asian energy, transport and infrastructure projects.
iv. The
AIIB will begin with authorised capital of $50bn (£31.8bn), eventually to be
raised to $100bn. China will hold a 30.34% stake making it the largest
shareholder of the bank, Reuters quotes China's Finance Ministry as saying.
2. J Jayalalithaa
launches first phase of Chennai Metro
i. First
phase of Chennai Metro service was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J
Jayalalithaa after she flagged off inaugural train.
ii. The
first phase of Metro service covers the 10-km overhead (elevated) stretch. It
connects Alandur in south Chennai to Koyabedu in the north.
iii. The
metro service will bear capacity of 1276 passengers with four coaches. It will
cover seven stations in the stretch. They are Koyambedu, Arumbakkam,
Vadapalani, Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus, Ashok Nagar, Ekkattuthangal.
iv. The
Corridor 2 or second phase of this metro connecting Chennai Central and St.
Thomas Mount is will be ready by end 2015. The whole project is implemented by
Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL). It was approved by then Congress-led UPA
government in 2009.
3. India, Thailand
sign multiple agreements including double taxation avoidance treaty
i. India
and Thailand on Monday signed a number of important agreements, including the
double taxation avoidance treaty, and exchanged instruments of ratification on
the extradition treaty inked in 2013, which provides for the legal framework
for seeking extradition of fugitive offenders.
ii. The
tax treaty provides for the framework to avoid double taxation and prevention
of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes so as to promote bilateral economic
cooperation.
iii. On
the last day of her three-day visit, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj
co-chaired the 7th meeting of the India-Thailand Joint Commission for Bilateral
Cooperation.
iv. The
extradition treaty signed between the two countries in 2013 provides for the
legal framework for seeking extradition of fugitive offenders, including those
involved in terrorism, transnational crimes, economic offences etc.
4. President
conferred Punyabhushan Award on Prataprao Pawar
i.
President Pranab Mukharjee on 26 June 2015 conferred Punyabhushan Award on
Prataprao Pawar, Chairman of Sakal Media Group (SMG) at Balgandharva Auditorium
in Pune.
ii. Pawar
is the 27th recipient of the Punyabhushan award and his name was selected for
the award by a committee led by scientist Raghunath Mashelkar. Besides,
President also felicitated five veteran freedom fighters in the function.
iii. The
Punyabhushan (Pride of Pune) award constituted by Tridal, Pune is annually
announced by the Punyabhushan Foundation on 23 March with a view to commemorate
the memory of Indian revolutionary martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.
iv. It is
awarded to an eminent personality from the field of art, music, culture,
science, industry, social service, or sports in the city of Pune Maharashtra,
India. The award carries a memento and cash prize of 1 lakh rupees.
5. Transcendence:
My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji written by Abdul Kalam
i. Book
titled Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji authored by
former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Arun Tiwari was released on 15 June
2015.
ii. In
Transcendence, the authors Dr Kalam and Arun Tiwari have mapped a journey of
self-realization reflected in the eyes of Pramukh Swamiji, painting a
delightful fusion of spirituality, science and leadership.
iii. His
candid vignettes (literature) from life on the centre stage of Indian
technology and societal missions, Indian politics and world affairs are
interwoven with revelations of a profound connection with Swamiji.
iv.
Pramukh Swamiji Maharaj, one of the most inspiring spiritual figures of modern
times and the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, is the
inheritor of a legacy of Gunatit gurus hearkening to the early nineteenth
century. Pramukh Swamiji became a friend of the eleventh president of India, Dr
APJ Abdul Kalam.
6. Bajaj Allianz
launches weather-based crop insurance
i.
Private insurer Bajaj Allianz has launched a weather-based crop insurance
scheme for orange crops in Nagpur, Hingoli and Washim districts of
Maharashtra.
ii. The
index-based insurance policy will cover losses incurred by orange fruit-growing
farmers due to deviation in weather conditions and has been approved by Central
and the State government, a company release issued here said.
iii. The
company has also launched a campaign to create awareness about the scheme in
three districts.
iv. The
losses would be assessed on the basis of pre-defined and government-approved
term sheets and actual weather data received from an approved automatic weather
station installed in each block of these districts.
7. Topalov wins
title
i. A
quick but frustrating draw for Viswanathan Anand proved enough for Veselin Topalov
to claim the Norway Chess 2015 title in Stavanger, Norway, on Thursday.
ii. All
the expectations of a thrilling battle for the title between the two leading
players of the elite field came to naught once Topalov managed a safe position
arising out of the Queen’s Gambit Declined.
iii. But
in the biggest surprise result of the competition, Jon Ludvig Hammer upstaged
World champion Magnus Carlsen in the battle between two home players.
8. Jwala Gutta,
Ashwni Ponappa win women’s doubles title of Canada Open Badminton tournament
i. Indian
pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwni Ponappa won the women’s doubles title of the
Canada Open Badminton tournament.
ii. In
the finals match played at Calgary, Canada they defeated Dutch pair of Eefje
Muskens and Selena Piek in straight games of 21-19, 21-16. It is their first
title of this season.
iii.
Michelle Li of Canada won the women’s single title, by defeating Kaori Imabeppu
of Japan by 21-17 25-23 score in the final match.