Current Affairs in English – June 18 2022

National Events:

India Innovation Centre for Graphene:

An MoU has been signed between Digital University Kerala , Centre for Materials for Electronics Technologies and Tata Steel . It has been signed to establish the first graphene research and innovation centre .
The India Innovation Centre for Graphene will undertake research and development , product innovation and capacity building activities in the area of graphene and 2D materials ecosystem .

DTC & DMRC:

Delhi Transport Corporation ( DTC ) and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation ( DMRC ) on 17 June 2022 signed an MoU for the development of land parcels and bus terminals in Delhi .
An Empowered Committee will be formulated within 15 days from the date of signing of this MoU . The committee will review the financial status of the project on a quarterly basis or as desired by the Chairman .

NCMRWF:

National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting ( NCMRWF ) on 17 June 2022 signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) with Indian Navy for ‘ Cooperation on Numerical Model – Based Applications in Meteorology and Oceanology ‘ .
The purpose of this MoU is to share the expertise of both organisations in the field of weather / ocean modelling . NCMRWF is a national agency for weather forecasting .

‘ Balika Panchayat ‘:

Gujarat has become the first state in the country to launch ‘ Balika Panchayat ‘. It is a panchayat of girls which aims to promote the social and political development of the girls and ensure their active participation in politics .
It is managed by the girls in the 11-21 age group . It was first started in Kunaria , Maska , Motagua , and Vadsar villages of the Kutch district of Gujarat .

Kempegowda International Airport:

The Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has bagged the best regional airport in India and South Asia title in the 2022 Skytrax World Airport Awards . The award ased on the feedback from the customers in a survey conducted globally .
The awards ceremony was held in Paris on 16 June 2022 . Bengaluru Airport had also won the Best Airport Award at the Wings India Awards in March 2022.

COAI:

The Cellular Operators ‘ Association of India ( COAI ) on 14 June 2022 appointed Pramod K Mittal as the Chairman of the association . Mittal is currently serving as the President of Reliance Jio Infocomm .
He will replace Ajai Puri as the COAI Chairman . COAI is the apex industry body which represents leading telecom , Internet , technology , and digital services companies . It was founded in 1995 .

Haryana & Israel:

The governments of Haryana and Israel on 15 June 2022 signed a joint declaration in the field of integrated water resources management and capacity building .
The declaration was signed by Enayat Shelin , Israeli Ambassador to India and the Water Irrigation Department of the Haryana government . It was signed to mark the 30 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel .

Government Order containing provisions for linking the source with the voter ID card:

The federal government has issued a government Order containing provisions for linking the source with the voter ID card. The federal government has issued four ordinances under an electoral law amendment passed in parliament last year.
The new law allows election officials to ask voters to show their ID cards. The amendment also states that voter registration should not be rejected solely on the grounds that one does not have an Aadhaar ID card. The government has announced that names can be added to the voter list four times a year.
Those who have completed 18 years of age can add their names on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of the same year. Previously only allowed on January 1st.
Similarly, the new government has introduced the voting system for a person serving in the government, whether abroad or in the military, for their husband/wife too.

International Events:

FTA:

India and the European Union have formally re – launched the India – EU Free Trade Agreement ( FTA ) negotiations . Besides , negotiations have also been launched for a stand – alone Investment Protection Agreement ( IPA ) and a Geographical Indicators ( Gls ) Agreement .
This would be one of the most significant FTAS for India as EU is its second largest trading partner after the US .

India and Bangladesh:

India and Bangladesh will hold the first physical Joint Consultative Commission Meeting in New Delhi on 19 June 2022 .
The seventh meeting of JCC will be co – chaired by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and his Bangladesh counterpart Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen .
The previous meet was held virtually in 2020 . The JCC will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations .

Logo of India – Vietnam diplomatic relations:

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and his Vietnamese counterpart Mr. Bui Thanh Son launched the joint logo for the celebration of 50 years of India – Vietnam diplomatic relations , in June 2022 .
It was launched on the sideline of the Special ASEAN – India Foreign Ministers ‘ Meeting in New Delhi . The image comprises a peacock and a crane , the birds of national importance to both .

BRICS:

Chinese President Xi Jinping will host the 14th BRICS Summit in Beijing on 23 June 2022 . The summit will be held in virtual format under the theme of ‘ Foster High – quality BRICS Partnership , Usher in a New Era for Global Development ‘.
China is the chair of the 14th BRICS Summit happening in 2022 . BRICS at present comprises Brazil , Russia , India , China and South Africa . BRICS founded – 2009.

Autistic Pride Day : 18 June:

Autistic Pride Day is celebrated each year on June 18 .It recognises the importance of pride for autistic people and its role in bringing about positive changes in the broader society .
The theme for 2022 is ‘ Inclusion in the Workplace : Challenges and Opportunities in a Post – Pandemic World’ . The first Autistic Pride Day was celebrated in 2005 by a group called Aspies for Freedom ( AFF ) .

US President Joe Biden:

US President Joe Biden on 15 June 2022 nominated Indian – American Security Expert Radha Iyengar Plumb to the post of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment .
Plumb is Currently serving as the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Defense .Biden had also nominated Indian – American diplomat Rachna Sachdeva Korhonen as his envoy to Mali in April 2022 .

Somalia:

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on 15 June 2022 appointed Hamza Abdi Barre as the country’s Prime Minister . Barre is an MP from the semi – autonomous state of Jubaland and will replace Mohamed Hussein Roble .
Barre was also the secretary – general of the Peace and Development Party . Somalia Capital – Mogadishu .Somalia President – Hassan Sheikh Mohamud · Somalia Currency – Somali shilling.

European Commission:

The European Commission has recommended that Ukraine join the European Union. Following this, Ukraine is said to have made a step forward in its efforts to join that important organization.

3rd aircraft carrier:

China, which is modernizing its three forces, has introduced its 3rd aircraft carrier, the Fujian. Already in 2012, China launched its first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, a modernized Soviet-era ship.
Following that, China launched the first domestically built Shangdong aircraft carrier in 2019. Currently Fujian has been introduced as the 3rd.

Sports Events:

Chess Olympiad:

PM Narendra Modi will launch the historic torch relay for the 44th Chess Olympiad on 19th June 2022 in New Delhi . For the very first time , the International Chess Federation , FIDE , has instituted the Chess Olympiad Torch which is part of Olympic tradition , but was never done in the Chess Olympiad .
India will be the first – ever country to have the Chess Olympiad Torch Relay .