1. World Bank cuts global growth forecast to 2.4 %
a) The World Bank has lowered its forecast for the global growth in 2016 to 2.4%, warning that the world economy is facing stronger headwinds. India will remain one of the fastest growing major economies, ahead of China, for the next three years, the report said.
b) According to the report, developing economies are forecast to expand by 3.5% in 2016, 0.6 percentage point lower than its January’s projection; advanced economies are expected to grow 1.7% this year, 0.5 lower than its January’s forecast.
c) Global falldown and fall in prices have reduced the world trade projections. While India has benefitted from the reduction in oil prices, ts exports have shrunk for 17 consecutive months.
2. India ranked 141 on Global Peace Index, Syria least peaceful
a) In a recent report, India ranked 141st on the Global Peace Index out of 163 countries on the list.
b) Syria has been named as the least peaceful. Syria is followed by South Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. Iceland has been ranked as the most peaceful country which is followed by Denmark and Austria at number 2 and 3 positions, respectively.
c) The tenth edition of GPI report highlights the distinct differences between most and least peaceful countries and that the gap between the two countries to increase. India deteriorated by 5% in the last decade while three of the five biggest declines in peace occurred in the region including Yemen, Libya and Bahrain.
3. India overtakes Japan to be the third largest oil consumer
a) India has surpassed Japan to become the third largest consumer of oil globally. With a demand of 4,1 million barrels a day, India accounted for 4.5 per cent of world oil consumption in 2015.
b) Oil remained the world’s leading fuel, accounting for 32.9 per cent of global energy consumption and is gaining market share for the first time since 1999. Coal came in as the second-largest fuel by market share (29.2 per cent).
4. ADB approves $100 mn loan for irrigation system in TN
a) Asian Development Bank said it has approved a USD 100 million (around Rs. 660 crore) loan to strengthen a key irrigation system and improve water management in the Vennar sub-basin of Cauvery Delta in Tamil Nadu.
b) The project will strengthen the embankments of six major irrigation water channels in Vennar system to make them more resilient to floods and upgrade water regulators, sluices, and pump stations.
c) This project will also support both physical improvements and stronger water management, giving a significant boost to the lives of coastal communities who often go without sufficient irrigation water.
5. Pakistan tops in 2016 Malware Infection Index
a) Microsoft Asia announced the launch of its Malware Infection Index 2016 (MII2016), which identifies the key malware threats in the region and ranks markets in Asia Pacific according to how much they are affected.
b) According to the index, India ranks 8th while Pakistan tops the list. Asia pacific appears to be the most vulnerable with emerging markets most at risk of malware threats.
c) Of the top five locations across the globe most at risk of infection, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal, top the rankings at first, second, fourth and fifth places respectively.
d) The top three most encountered malware include Gamarue, a malicious computer worm that is commonly distributed via exploit kits and social engineering; and Skeeyah and Peals which are trojans that try to look innocent to convince you to install them. They can steal personal informations, download more malware or give a malicious hacker access to the computers.
6. IUPAC adds 4 new elements to the Periodic Table
a) International Union of Pure & Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) recently added four new elements to the Periodic table. Nihonium, Moscovium, tennessine, and oganesson are the recommended names for elements 113, 115, 117, and 118 respectively.
b) Nihonium, named after Japan (Nippon is a Japanese word for Japan), with an atomic number of 113. Its symbol is Nh. Moscovium (Mc), element 115, named after the Russian capital city. Tennessine (Ts), 117, named after the state of Tennessee. And 118 is oganesson (Og), bears the name of Russian physicist Yuri Oganessian, who led several elemental discoveries.
c) The names were proposed in January this year and will be confirmed after five months of public review.
7. Putin awards UN chief Ban Ki-Moon with the order of friendship
a) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been honored with Russia’s Order of Friendship.
b) He was for special merits in strengthening peace, friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between peoples.
c) Among those awarded are Prince Michael of Kent, Oscar Niemeyer, the architect of the Brazilian capital, and former President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge.
d) The order, set up in 1994, is meant to reward Russian citizens and foreign nationals for outstanding accomplishments in strengthening peace and cooperation with Russia, as well as for charity activities.
8. Naresh Goyal Re-Elected To IATA Board Of Governors
a) Chairman Naresh Goyal has been re-elected to IATA’s Board of Governors which will be his fifth successive tenure at the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Board of Governors.
b) The only representative from India, Goyal will serve a term of three years lasting until the close of IATAs 75th AGM in 2019.
9. G Kalyanakrishnan took over as New Chief Executive for Nuclear Fuel Complex
a) G Kalyanakrishnan, Distinguished Scientist, has been appointed as the Chief Executive to Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), Hyderabad
b) He will succeed N Saibaba, who has retired on completion of two years of extended period of service.
c) He will also serve as the Chairman of the NFC board prior to which he was the Deputy Chief executive.
10. Former Kerala Assembly Speaker T S John passed away
a) Former Speaker and Minister passed away at the age of 76 due to prolonged illness.
b) An advocate by profession, he represented the Kallooppara Assembly constituency four times. He was Speaker of the Assembly during 1976-77 and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies in the A.K. Antony-led Ministry in 1978. He became Minister in the succeeding Ministry led by P.K. Vasudevan Nair.
c) He received the Golden jubilee Award of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) from the President of India in May 1997 for his remarkable contribution to the cause of the working class.
11.India-US inked 8 MoUs to bolster economic growth & sustainable development
a) India and the United States (US) signed/ finalized eight agreements/ Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) in various fields including exchange of Terrorist Screening Information, cooperation on Energy Security, Clean Energy and Climate Change among others.
b) The MoUs include:
a. Arrangement for the exchange of Terrorist Screening Information
b. MoU to enhance cooperation on Energy Security, Clean Energy and Climate Change
c. MoU to enhance co-operation on Wildlife Conservation, management and Combating Wildlife Trafficking
d. MoU for the Development of an International Expedited Traveler Initiative (the Global Entry Programme)
e. Technical Arrangement concerning Unclassified Maritime Information Sharing
f. MoU for Cooperation in Gas Hydrates
g. Information Exchange Annex (IEA) to the Master Information Exchange Agreement concerning Aircraft Carrier Technologies
h. Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement
12. Major General Per Lodin appointed to head UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
a) United Nation’s secretary Ban-Ki-Moon has given green signal to the appointment of Per Lodin, Major General of Sweden, as the Head of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
b) Major General Lodin will succeed Major General Delali Johnson Sakyi of Ghana. Major General Delali Sakyi will complete his two year term as the head of UNMOGIP on 2nd July, 2016.
c) Major general Lodin is currently serving as the head of Strategic Material Management at Forsvarets materielverk (FMV), the Swedish Defence Ministry’s procurement and logistics arm.
d) Major Lodin has also served as the head of the task force centre of Kosovo Force (KFOR), the multi-national peacekeeping mission led by NATO in 2006-2007.
13. Paralympic committee of india gets recognition
a) The Paralympic committee of India has recently recognised by The International Paralympics Committee (IPC).
b) The Paralympic committee of India is led by Rao Inderjit Singh as it’s president.