30th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 30th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• Germany legalised same-sex marriage today, with 393 parliamentarians voting to approve "marriage for everybody" and 226 voting against. 
• The reform gives gay and lesbian couples full marital rights, including child adoption. 

National Current Affairs

• Railways authorities have officially changed the name of Mumbai's biggest station from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. 
• The Centre approved the change last month after the Shiv Sena demanded the addition of 'Maharaj' as a sign of respect to the Maratha king. 

Places in News

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has named UAE's Sharjah as the World Book Capital for 2019. 
• Note : Sharjah, the 19th city to be named World Book Capital, has previously been named Capital of Islamic Culture and Capital of Arab Culture. 

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29th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 29th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• India has voluntarily contributed $100,000 to a UN fund to help developing countries actively participate in the discussion of tax issues.
• Important Note : With this, India has become the first country to voluntarily contribute. 
• Iraqi government troops today declared an end of Islamic State's 'caliphate' in the country
  
  after recapturing the Grand al-Nuri Mosque where the militants proclaimed the creation of their state. 
• PM Narendra Modi will become the 1st Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel with his three-day visit to the country starting 4th July 2017.  
• During this visit, Modi will meet his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and address the Indian community in Tel Aviv.
• Modi's visit is aimed at commemorating 25 years of diplomatic ties between India and Israel.
• The Philippines' parliament today passed a law where singing the national anthem shall be "mandatory and must be done with fervour". 
• Violators of the law could face up to one year in prison and fines up to $2,000.

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28th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 28th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• To combat rising pollution and climate change, China has officially started building the world's first 'Forest City'. 
• The Liuzhou Forest City is expected to absorb nearly 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually and produce 900 tonnes of oxygen. 
• Set to be completed in 2020, the energy self-sufficient city will house 30,000 people, 40,000 trees and nearly 1 million plants.
• US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed the support of the United States for India's permanent membership on a reformed UN Security Council. 
• The remarks were made following Modi and Trump's meeting at the White House.
• India is drafting a policy to safeguard its interests in Antarctica and is going to present it at the winter session of the Parliament. 
  
• Note : Being a consultative member of the Antarctic Treaty, it is important for India to have clear directives to guide its activities in the region.

MOUs & Agreements

• India and the Netherlands have signed 3 MOUs after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte.
• The signed MOUS are : 
• MOU on Amending Social Security Arrangement
• MOU on Cultural Cooperation
• MOU on Water Cooperation

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27th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 27th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• PM Narendra Modi, during his recent visit to Portugal, launched the India-Portugal International Startup Hub with his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa. 
• It will strengthen the connection between the startup ecosystem of the two countries and will be accessible through an app. 
• It will also give information on subjects including government initiatives, policy, tax system and visa process.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi had One-on-One and delegation level talks with US President Donald Trump.
  
• Bilateral cooperation, counter-terrorism and defence partnership were the focused issues.
• In a joint statement issued after their meeting, both leaders "called on Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terror attacks on other countries." 
• They also called on Pakistan to "expeditiously" bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 and Pathankot attacks, among other cross-border attacks.
• Trump has accepted Modi's invitation to visit India.
• Modi separately invited Trump's daughter Ivanka to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in India.

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26th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 26th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump to have One-on-One and delegation level talks in Washington tonight.
• Focus to be on bilateral cooperation, counter-terrorism and defence partnership.
• Note : This will be the first meeting between the two leaders. 
• On the last leg of ​his three-nations tour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit The Netherlands tomorrow. 
• During this visit, he will meet Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte. 
• The discussions between both leaders will cover whole gamut of bilateral issues including investments & trade, scientific & technical collaborations, and cultural exchanges. 
• The Indian government has increased the visa fee for the foreign nationals visiting India by up to 50% across categories.

National Current Affairs

• Eid-ul-Fitr celebrated with religious fervour and enthusiasm in various parts of the country.
• India is going to build the world's highest railway line connecting Leh in Jammu & Kashmir to parts of Himachal Pradesh including Manali. 
• Important Points to Note :
• The 498-km-long line, to be built at an altitude of 3,300 metres will overtake the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. 
• It will also help boost India's defence against China at the Sino-Indian border.

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25th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 25th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• Today (25th June) is the Day of the Seafarer.
• Seafarer means "person who travels by sea"
• This day is observed as an expression of thanks to the seafarers for their contribution to the economy and civil society of the world.
  
• The observance of the day also acknowledges the risks and personal costs endured by seafarers while being in their jobs.
• Day of the Seafarer (DotS) Theme 2017 : "Seafarers Matter".
• PM Narendra Modi presented the Overseas Citizen of India card to Portugal's Indian-origin PM Antonio Costa during his visit to Lisbon yesterday. 
• Important Note : During a visit to India in January, Costa was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President.
• Pakistan has issued its 1st third-gender passport  to a transgender activist. 

MOUs & Agreements

• India and Portugal have signed 11 agreements after in-depth talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa.
• Note : This is the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Portugal.
• Both countries agreed to set up a joint Science and Technology fund of four million euros.

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24th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 24th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• PM Narendra Modi will become the 1st foreign dignitary to have dinner at the White House with US President Donald Trump. 
• Modi, who is on a three-day US visit, will have a working dinner with Trump on Monday, after a one-on-one interaction followed by bilateral meetings. 
  
• Note : Modi is on a three-nation tour to USA, Portugal and Netherlands.
• The Pakistan government has tasked the country's National Council of Arts with the responsibility to rearrange the musical rendition of its national anthem 'Qaumi Taranah' using a world class orchestra in order to represent cultural diversity. 
• The anthem, which is also called 'Pak Sarzamin', was written by Hafeez Jullundhri in 1952 and was officially adopted in 1954.
• Egypt's parliament has approved President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's proposal to extend the state of emergency in the country for three more months. 
• An emergency has been declared in Egypt since April after Islamic State-affiliated militant groups began targeting Coptic Christians, following which the government launched a crackdown on the attackers.

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23rd June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 23rd June 2017

International Current Affairs

• Today (23rd June) is International Olympic Day.
• This day was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on 23 June 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris.
• The goal of this day is to promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.    
  
• Today (23rd June) is the World Public Service Day.
• This day is dedicated by the United Nations to “celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community”.
• Since 2003, this day is marked with UN Public Service Awards Ceremony wherein works of public servants are recognised and they are awarded for their contributions in the field.
• Theme of World Public Service Day 2017 :  ‘The Future is Now’

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22nd June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 22nd June 2017

International Current Affairs

• Aimed at minimising the risk of injuries and casualties, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte today signed an executive order banning the private use of firecrackers in the country
• According to the United Nations' annual population survey, the Global population will hit 8 billion in 2023.
• The survey found that the world's population has been increasing by roughly 83 million annually, and the number of people aged over 60 will top 1 billion next year.
• Important Note : According to this survey, India will overtake China to become the world's most populous nation by 2024.
• New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed an anti-child marriage law to increase the marriageable age from 14 to 18. 
  
• India and Russia are  celebrating 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
• To commemorate this, a series of events has been planned in Russia and in India during 2017.
• India will also be the Guest Country at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June 2017.

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21st June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 21st June 2017

International Current Affairs

• Today (21st June) is World Music Day (Fête de la Musique)
• This day is celebrated  in an attempt to promote peace and spread goodwill through melodies.
• The day is originated in France in 1982 and is now observed in over 120 countries.
• Aim of this day : To encourage free and accessible concerts or events for the public.
• India is Afghanistan's most reliable regional partner, the Pentagon has recently announced in its first Afghan report.
• The report further stated that India provides training opportunities for Afghan officers.

National Current Affairs

• 3rd International Yoga Day is being celebrated today with participation of Crores of people around the world.
• PM Narendra Modi participated in International Yoga Day celebrations in Lucknow along with UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Governor Ram Naik.
• Speaking at the third edition of the festival, Modi said the UN had accepted his proposal in record time to celebrate June 21 as International Yoga Day.
• Modi also described yoga as a "free life insurance".

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20th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 20th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• Today (20th June 2017) is World Refugee Day.
• This day is observed by the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• This day is dedicated to raising awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world.
  
• The decision to observe the day, coinciding with Africa Refugee Day, was made by the UN in December 2000.
• The first World Refugee Day marked the 50th anniversary of the UN Refugee Convention.
• Theme of 2017 : #WithRefugees
• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called up PM Narendra Modi today, with both leaders discussing the Paris Climate Agreement. 
• Modi congratulated Trudeau on the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation this year, besides reaffirming India's commitment to climate change and implementation of the Paris Agreement. 

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19th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 19th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• Nepal will measure Mount Everest over a period of two years, amid fears the April 2015 earthquake could have affected its stature. 
• The government of Nepal is set to measure the mountain, even though both Indian and Chinese institutions have offered their help. 
  
• Note : Everest's height is 8,848 metres but satellite images after the earthquake show the mountain may have shrunk.
• The Australian government today announced that Indian nationals can apply for visitor visas online, starting July 1. 
• This will offer benefits like 24/7 accessibility, electronic payment of visa application charges and the ability to check application status. 
• French President Emmanuel Macron's party has won a clear parliamentary majority.
• Weeks after his own presidential victory, With nearly all votes counted, his La République en Marche, alongside its MoDem allies, won more than 300 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly.

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18th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 18th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• Today (3rd Sunday of June) is Father's Day.
• This is a day to celebrate the journey of fatherhood and honour dads in various parts of the world.
  

National Current Affairs

• The Goa Revolution Day is being observed today to recall the sacrifices of freedom fighters and martyrs of the Liberation struggle. 
• Since 1980, the Government of Goa has been observing June 18 as Goa Revolution Day in commemoration of the struggle for Goa’s freedom struggle by the great socialist and nationalist Dr. Ram Monohar Lohia. 

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17th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 17th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• Today (17th June 2017) is World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.
• This day is a United Nations observance with the purpose highlight ways to prevent desertification and recover from drought. Each annual celebration has a different theme. It should be celebrated all over the world.
  
• Theme of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2017 : “Our land. Our home. Our Future”
• Swedish Parliament voted 254-41 in favour of adopting a climate bill and pledged to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 to tackle climate change. 
• The target demands at least 85% reduction in Sweden's greenhouse gas emissions from its 1990 levels. 
• Important Note : This makes Sweden the first country to significantly strengthen its climate targets since the Paris Agreement in 2015.

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16th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 16th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• India wins Re-Election to United Nations Council On Economic, Social Issues.
• India is among the 18 countries re-elected to the United Nations' Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for another three-year term. 
• India obtained 183 votes, the second highest after Japan in the Asia Pacific category. 
  
• Note : Pakistan, whose term on the Council is expiring this year, was also seeking re-election but lost as it got only one vote.
• Britain and the European Union are going to start Brexit negotiations on June 19 as planned initially.
• Note : Britain had been a member of the EU for 44 years.
• The United Nations General Assembly has approved the establishment of a new United Nations office of counter-terrorism to help Member States implement UN’s global counter-terrorism strategy.
• UN will now transfer the relevant functions out of the UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA) into the new body.

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15th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 15th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• Today (15th June) is ASEAN Dengue Day.
• 2017 ASEAN Dengue Day Theme : “United Fight Against Dengue”
• Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).
  
• This day was launched on June 15, 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations.
• The purpose of this day is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.
• Theme of WEAAD 2017 :  “Understand and End Financial Abuse of Older People: A Human Rights Issue”

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14th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 14th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• Today (14th June) is World Blood Donor Day‬
• This day  is celebrated every year on the day of birth anniversary of Austrian-American biologist and physician Karl Landsteiner (14th of June in 1868) who discovered the existence of different types of blood groups in 1901.  
• He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930 for his discovery.
• This day is observed to raise the public awareness about the need for safe blood donation.
• Theme of  World Blood Donor Day‬ 2017 : “Give Blood. Give Now. Give Often”
  
• Important Note : World Blood Donor Day is one of eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with 
• World Health Day, 
• World Tuberculosis Day, 
• World Immunization Week, 
• World Malaria Day, 
• World No Tobacco Day, 
• World Hepatitis Day and 
• World AIDS Day.
• Pakistan has claimed that its ally China will fund its long-delayed ₹77-crore mega dam project over the Indus basin in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. 
• India has opposed the construction of the dam ever since it was proposed. The dam aims to generate 4,500 MW of electricity and to regulate the water flow to farmlands that are vulnerable to increasingly erratic weather patterns.

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13th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 13th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• Britain and France have announced a new joint campaign to stop the internet from being a safe space for terrorists as they plan tougher action to tackle online radicalisation.
• Israel has approved the construction of over 8,000 new homes in West Bank, making it the largest expansion of Jewish settlements in the area in 25 years.
• Panama has established formal diplomatic ties with China and broke all of its relationship with Taiwan in a move that is seen as a victory for China in its drive to isolate Taiwan from the rest of the world. 
• Note : China claims Taiwan as its own territory.
  

National Current Affairs

• According to a recently released Child Rights and You (CRY) Report on child labour, more than 8 lakh children between the age group of 5 and 6 years in India are engaged in child labour. 
• Uttar Pradesh topped the number of child labourers (2,50,672 children) in India followed by Bihar (1,28,087 children) and Maharashtra (82,847 children).

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12th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 12th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepted an invitation to meet US President Donald Trump for the first time during his two-day visit to Washington DC from June 25. 
• The two leaders will hold discussions on enhancing bilateral ties in the meeting.
• The poverty-stricken unincorporated US territory of Puerto Rico today voted in favour of becoming the 51st US state with 97% voters supporting the referendum. 
• The final decision to accept Puerto Rico as a state lies with US Congress.
  

National Current Affairs

• Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has inaugurated the upgraded version of police helpline Namma 100, where police officials will be deputed within 15 minutes to the spot of emergency, for Bengaluru. 
• Based on the model adapted in London, which has helpline 999, and USA, where 911 helpline operates, Namma 100 helpline allows the public to access several facilities on a single number.

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11th June 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 11th June 2017

International Current Affairs

• The United Nations held its first-ever Ocean Conference to renew member nations' commitment to combatting rising sea levels, pollution, and harmful fishing practices for the protection of world's waterways. 
• This conference ended with the adoption by consensus of a '14-point Call for Action' to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable
  
  development.
• The voters of France began voting today in the first round of a parliamentary election. 
• The vote to elect the lower house's 577 members comes a month after the presidential victory of Emmanuel Macron, who requires a majority in the National Assembly to implement reforms he promised during his campaign. 

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