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Current Affairs 16 June 2023
1. UK's Jane Marriott becomes first female envoy to Pakistan
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The UK announced the appointment of senior diplomat Jan
e Marriott as the next British High Commissioner to Pakistan, making her the first female British envoy to Islamabad. Prior to this appointment, Marriott, 47, was the high commissioner to Kenya since September 2019. She would be replacing Dr Christian Turner, who left Pakistan in January after serving as the envoy since December 2019. -
Marriott brings a wealth of thematic and regional experience to her new role having joined the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in 2001, following roles in the Cabinet Office and Home Office.
Foot Notes:
About UK:
Capital: London
Prime Minister: Rishi Sunak
About Pakistan:
Capital: Islamabad
Prime Minister: Shehbaz Sharif
2. Odisha celebrates ‘Raja’ agricultural festival
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Odisha, the land of Lord Jagannath, celebrates 13 festivals in
12 months ( a popular proverb among the locals ) meaning Odisha celebrates endless festivals throughout the year. Among all this one important festival is Raja Parba which is celebrated for three days during the mid of June, preferably starts from 14th June and ends in 16th. During this period, the state remains in a state of jubilation and celebration. -
The scorching rays of Summer of April and May calm down by the advent of South- West Monsoon in the first week of June through its tender drops. The sky that was blue during Summers turns out to be dark and white with patches of rain-bearing cloud moving here and there. It is in this occasion of soothing weather, relief from the heat and the new hope for next agricultural season Raja Parba is celebrated. Hence, it is a festival that is of great importance for the people who depend upon agriculture for their livelihood.
Foot Notes:
About Odisha:
Capital: Bhubaneswar
Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik
Governor: Ganeshi Lal
3. Guwahati, Assam becomes first railway station in Northeast to get FSSAI's 'Eat Right Station' certification
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The Guwahati Railway Station located in Assam under the
North East Frontier Railway recently received the prestigious 'Eat Right Station' certification from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). -
FSSAI has acknowledged Guwahati Railway Station for its commitment to providing high-quality and nutritious food options to passengers. As the first railway station within the North East Frontier Railway to receive this certification, Guwahati Railway Station has successfully met the stringent guidelines laid down by FSSAI. The 'Eat Right Station' certification is a testament to the station's compliance with FSSAI's established standards for food storage and hygiene practices.
Foot Notes:
About Assam:
Capital : Dispur
Chief Minister : Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor : Gulab Chand Kataria
4. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan flags off Gabon’s first Agri-SEZ Project
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Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan flagged off Gabon’s first Agri- SEZ project from New Delhi. The project will be implemented by the AOM group with Centurion University as the technical and knowledge partner. -
In the first phase of the program, 30 farmers and 20 B.Sc./M.Sc. Agri and B.Tech/M. Tech Engineering students from the Gajapati district, which is an Aspirational district of Odisha, will be travelling together as agri-technical and technical consultants for the agriculture SEZ which is being developed under this project. India-Africa relations have gone from strength to strength, recording more than 35 high level visits from India and more than 100 similar ones from Africa.
5. Defence Ministry signs Rs 500 crore contract to strengthen Indian Army’s communication system
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In a significant move to promote indigenous manufacturing
and support the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with ICOMM Tele Limited, Hyderabad, on June 15, 2023, in New Delhi. -
The contract is for the procurement of 1,035 units of 5/7.5 Ton Radio Relay Communication equipment containers, with a contract value of approximately Rs 500 crore. The delivery of these containers is scheduled to commence in the current financial year 2023-24. The acquisition of these Radio Relay Containers fulfills a long-pending requirement for mobile communication detachments of the Indian Army.
6. IIT Madras researchers develop Data Science & IoT-based method for mobile pollution monitoring
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Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras
) Researchers have developed a low-cost mobile air pollution monitoring framework in which, pollution sensors mounted on public vehicles can dynamically monitor the air quality of an extended area at high spatial and temporal resolution. -
Traditionally, ambient air quality is measured in monitoring stations and reported as 'Air Quality Index' (AQI). Since these stations are at fixed locations, they only measure the air quality of a small geographic area. Air pollution however is dynamic with locations just a few hundred meters away from each other exhibiting different levels of pollution. Levels can also vary at different times of the day. However, setting up more stations is not practical because of the high costs.
7. Fino Bank and Sequoia Funded Hubble to Introduce India’s First Spending Account
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Mumbai-based Fino Payments Bank has entered into a tie-up
with Sequoia Capital-backed fintech Hubble to introduce India’s & world’s first spending account. The tie up, under Fino 2.0 initiative on building digital assets, strengthens the digital offerings of India’s only listed payments bank to enhance customer experience. -
The first of its kind spending account offering from a fintech in India and across the world is specifically designed for GenZ and millennial customers’ growing aspirations and lifestyle changes. Customers can park their funds, spend (on categories such as food ordering, shopping, travel, entertainment etc.) and save up to 10% on all purchases made from the account.
Foot Notes:
About Fino Payments Bank Limited :
Established : 2017
Headquarters : Navi Mumbai
MD & CEO : Rishi Gupta
8. Ministry Of Jal Shakti Launches the Unified Registration Portal For GOBARdhan
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A Unified Registration Portal for GOBARdhan launched by
Union Jal Shakti Minister. It will act as a single repository for assessing investment and participation in the biogas/CBG sector on a pan-India basis. More importantly, it will streamline the process of setting up biogas plants/CBG in India. -
Any government, cooperative or private entity that intends to set up a Biogas/CBG/Bio CNG plant in India can obtain a registration number by enrolling in this integrated registration portal that has been launched. The registration number will enable them to get many benefits and assistance from the Ministries and Departments of the Government of India.
9. Pakistan's Nahida Khan announces retirement from international cricket
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Pakistan opening batter Nahida Khan on Thursday announced
her retirement from international cricket. Having made her ODI debut in Bogra, Bangladesh, against Sri Lanka in February 2009, she represented her country for 14 years. -
Nahida hails from Balochistan and represented the national women's team in 120 international matches in which she scored 2,014 runs and took one wicket. She holds the record for most catches in an ODI innings. She took four catches in Pakistan's 94-run win over Sri Lanka in Dambulla in 2018.
Foot Notes:
About International Cricket Council:
Founded: 15 June 1909
Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Chairman: Greg Barclay
10. Renowned novelist Cormac McCarthy passed away
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Renowned Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Corma
c McCarthypassed away at the age of 89. McCarthy, best known for such acclaimed novels as "The Road" and "No Country for Old Men," was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1933. He began his fiction writing journey in the early 1960s and published his first novel "The Orchard Keeper" in 1965. -
Throughout his career, McCarthy wrote more than 20 novels, including such notable works as "Blood". In recognition of her literary achievements, McCarthy was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2007 for her novel "The Road". Additionally, his novel "No Country for Old Men" was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 2007.
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