Daily Current Affairs - 19th June 2013

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International Events

• Smoke from forest fires in Indonesia has choked Singapore, prompting authorities here to take precautionary measures following the worsening pollution level in the city-state.
• One died and more than 6,000 people were evacuated in central Russia overnight after a series of massive explosions at an arms depot blew out windows and sparked a fire, the emergency situations ministry said Wednesday.
• A magnitude-5.7 earthquake shook central Chile on Wednesday, causing buildings to sway in the capital but apparently causing no major damage.
• Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed authorities to expedite work on the Rs 274.88-billion Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and make it functional by 2014-15 to help overcome the country's energy crisis.
• Harvard University to study Tibetan medicines used in treatment of cancer, based on ancient Buddhist texts from Indian medical practices.
• US President Barack Obama visited Germany on his first official visit designed to reaffirm his country's strong commitment to trans-Atlantic partnership and close ties with Germany.

National Events

• President Pranab Mukherjee will undertake a two-day visit to the Left Front ruled Tripura from Thursday and he will attend the tenth convocation of Tripura Central University at Suryamaninagar near here Thursday. In the evening, he will attend the civic reception by the Agartala Municipal Council an official told reporters.
• Sonia Gandhi to lay foundation stone of 2 mega projects in Ganganagar & Nagaur districts.In her presence, Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot announced 30 percent concession to women in the roadways bus fare.  State government will have to extend financial help of one hundred crores to the roadways to make up for the loss in revenue.
• Senior BJP leader LK Advani on Thursday met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at the Sangh founthead office here to discuss the recent developments in the party, including the elevation of Narendra Modi as Election Campaign Committee head and JD(U)'s decision to quit the NDA.
• Indian rupee trimmed its early losses but was still quoted lower by 83 paise to 59.53 per dollar after hitting 60-level on strong demand for US dollars from banks and importers amidst sharp fall in equity market.
• The judicial remand of 49 Tamil Nadu fishermen, arrested on June 5 and 6 by the Sri Lankan navy, has been extended to July 4.
• Five days after devastating floods and landslides struck Uttarakhand, the UPA government is finally tackling the unprecedented disaster on a war footing, even though it is still shying away from declaring it a national calamity.
• The Union Cabinet would consider tomorrow the proposal to merge the 147 Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) into 70 across various sectors for efficient implementation and monitoring in the 12th Five Year Plan.
• The rupee trimmed its early losses but was still quoted lower by 83 paise to 59.53 per dollar after hitting 60-level on strong demand for the American currency from banks and importers amidst sharp fall in equity market.
• Security forces exchanged fire with unidentified militants in Thoubal district but there was no report of any casualty, police said on Thursday.
• Goa was put on alert following intelligence inputs about a possible terror attack on the coastal state by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
• Financial Planning Standards Board India appoints KP Krishnan and Reserve Bank executive director P VijayaBhaskar on board of director.

Sports

• Viswanthan Anand loses to American HikaruNakamura, slips further at Tal Memorial Chess Tournament.
• M V Sridhar appointed manager of Indian Cricket team for tri-series in West Indies starting June 28.