Important Current Affairs 12th June 2019

Important Current Affairs 12th June 2019

Facebook to launch updated Portal devices

• Facebook is set to launch an updated version of its video chat device ‘Portal’ later in 2019.
• Facebook would also reveal some new form factors, including Ripley, that Portal would be shipped with.
• The device is also powered by Amazon’s voice assistant Alexa and comes with front cameras.
• It was first launched in November 2018.

NPAs plunge to 9.3% in FY19

• The system-wide non-performing assets stock has declined massively to 9.3% in March 2019.
• This is much faster than the RBI’s estimate and steeply down from 11.5% in 2018.
• In its half-yearly financial stability report, RBI had estimated that the gross non- performing assets ratio might improve to 10.3% by March 2019 from 10.8% in September 2018.

Mahindra won gold award in South Africa

• India’s automobile major Mahindra won the Gold Award for fairing on various indicators.
• The automobile giant, which has more than 60 dealers in South Africa, secured the top position out of the 29 vehicle brands surveyed for the awards.

India’s first dinosaur museum in Gujarat

• Gujarat has joined the Jurassic bandwagon with India’s first ever Dinosaur-Museum-cum-Park in Raiyoli in Mahisagar district.
• Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani inaugurated the museum that is set to give visitors a Jurassic Park feel.
• Located in Raiyoli area of Balasinor, the museum will have fossil records and remains of various dinosaur species.

US diplomat to visit Sudan

• A top US diplomat will visit Sudan to encourage talks between Sudan’s military rulers and protesters.
• The US, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, Tibor Nagy, during his visit plans to meet members of both sides.
• Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) called the strike after more than 100 protesters were killed by a paramilitary group on 3 June 2019.

Canada to ban plastics from 2021

• Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that single-use plastics will be banned in the country from 2021.
• He declared it a global challenge to phase out the plastic bags, straws and cutlery clogging the world’s oceans.
• Single-use items represent some 70 percent of the plastic waste littering the marine environment.

China to make trade deal with the US

• China will enter into a trade deal with the United States, as told by US President Donald Trump.
• Increased tariffs on Chinese products is having an impact on its economy.
• China will subsidise their product because there is a need to keep people working, so China is going to pay a lot.
• The US has put 25% tariffs on 250 billion dollars of Chinese goods.

US Secretary to visit India in June 2019

• US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would visit India in June 2019 to forge relations with India.
• He would outline the US strategy on the Indo-Pacific ahead of his trip to India.
• New Delhi would be Pompeo’s first stop during the nearly week-long visit to the Indo-Pacific region.
• The tour includes Sri Lanka and Japan with South Korea being his last stop.

Finance Minister held pre budget meet

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held her first pre-budget consultation meeting with representatives of farm bodies, Industry and Trade in New Delhi.
• In the meeting, she sought the views of different agriculture organisations and farm economists on ways to boost the farm sector growth and double farmers’ income.
• Mrs Sitharaman will present the budget on 5th of July 2019.

NDMA conducted training programme

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is conducting a basic training programme at the Deendayal Port Trust in Kandla, Gujarat.
• The 5-day training programme is aimed at increasing awareness and enhancing the preparedness of Seaport Emergency Handlers (SEHs).
• Earlier this year, three batches of SEHs were trained at Mangalore, Kochi and Navi Mumbai.

Yuvraj Singh announced retirement

• Yuvraj Singh announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on June 10, 2019.
• Yuvraj featured in 40 Tests, 304 ODIs and 58 T20Is, while also playing a pivotal role in India’s two big triumphs – the 2007 World T20 and the 2011 World Cup.

Novak Djokovic tops ATP rankings

• Novak Djokovic topped the ATP rankings released on 11 June 2019.
• Austrian Dominic Thiem is at fourth place behind Roger Federer.
• Ashleigh Barty leaped six places to world number two in the WTA rankings released after his win at the French Open.

India invited to G-7 outreach session

• India has got an invitation from France to attend the outreach Session at the G-7 Summit to be held in France in August 2019.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted the invitation from French President to attend the outreach session of the G-7 Summit as a special invitee.
• The 45th summit of the G7 group of countries is going to take place from 24 to 26 August 2019 in Biarritz in France.

States can now constitute Foreigners Tribunals

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has amended the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964.
• MHA has empowered district magistrates in all States and Union Territories to set up tribunals to decide whether a person staying illegally in India is a foreigner or not.
• Earlier, the powers to constitute tribunals were vested only with the Centre.

Cheque books for no-frills accounts

• The RBI has allowed banks to offer cheque book facility and other services to the no-frills account holders.
• But they could not ask such account holders to maintain any minimum balance for such services.
• As per the norms of no-frills account, account holders are not required to maintain minimum balance and can get certain minimum facilities for free.

Ajit Kumar quit Yes Bank Board

• Yes Bank informed that Ajai Kumar, non-executive director of the bank, has resigned citing personal reasons.
• The former chairman and MD of Corporation Bank was appointed to Yes Bank board on January 29, 2016.
• Mr. Kumar was appointed as the bank’s interim CEO for a month after Rana Kapoor’s term ended on January 31, 2019.

Appointments

• Japanese auto major Nissan announced the appointment of Sinan Ozkok as the President of its Indian operations.
• Mr. Ozkok will be based out of Gurugram and responsible for all functions in India, for both Nissan and Datsun brands.

V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust inked MoU

• The V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust, Tuticorin and Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) signed a MoU on 10 June 2019.
• It will facilitate Direct Port Entry (DPE) of e-sealed factory stuffed export container to the port under ‘Ease of Doing Business’.

India’s 1st BS-VI certificate released

• International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) released India’s first Type Approval Certificate (TAC) for Bharat Stage – VI (BS – VI) norms for the 2-wheeler segment in New Delhi.
• The certificate was released and handed over by Director ICAT, Dinesh Tyagi to top officials of the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers).

IRSDC entered into tripartite agreement

• Indian Railway Station Development Corporation (IRSDC) entered a Tripartite Agreement with French Railways (SNCF) & AFD, on 10th June 2019.
• Under this agreement, AFD has agreed to provide in-kind grant financing up to 7,00,000 EURO, through French National Railways (SNCF)-Hubs and Connexions to IRSDC
• This will support the Railway Station Development Program in India.