The World Environment Day (WED) observed every year across the world on 5th June to encourage awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
The theme for World Environment Day 2018 is " Beat Plastic Pollution".
India is the global host nation for the 43rd edition of this event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the global celebrations of World Environment Day in New Delhi.
Note: World Environment Day is a platform for encouraging awareness and propagating the need for protecting the environment.
International Affairs
2. Jordanian PM Hani Mulki submits his resignation to King Abdullah II
Jordanian Prime Minister ‘Hani Fawzi Mulki’ has submitted his resignation to King Abdullah II.
His resignation comes amid mass protests over price hikes and an income tax reform bill.
Earlier, Mulki’s government had proposed raising the income tax on employees by at least 5% and on companies by between 20 and 40 percent.
3. Commerce Minister attends an informal gathering of WTO in Paris
The Union Commerce and Industry Minister ‘Suresh Prabhu’ attended an Informal Gathering of World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministers in Paris.
Mr. Prabhu stressed the need to work together quickly to address the challenges which the WTO is facing at present.
Twenty-Eight members countries of the WTO and the Director General of the WTO attended the informal meeting.
National Affairs
4. Food Processing Ministry to create a new financial institution to fund food processing sector
The Food Processing Ministry will create a new financial institution which will exclusively fund food processing projects.
It will create the capacity building in the field of risk assessment and lending to food processing sector.
Under Prime Minister Kisan Sampada Yojana, Union Govt. is creating cold chain grid to link every nook and corner of the country by its 42 mega food parks and 234 cold chain projects.
5. First long-term LNG cargo from Russia arrives in Gujarat
The first LNG cargo under the long-term contract between GAIL and Gazprom Marketing & Trading Singapore (GMTS) of Russia arrived at the LNG terminal of Petronet LNG Ltd (PLL) in Dahej, Gujarat.
The Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan received the first consignment at the terminal.
Beginning of supplies from Russia comes within weeks of India importing its first ever LNG cargo from US under a long-term import deal.
Note:
GAIL had signed the original deal on August 29, 2012, with Gazprom Marketing and Trading Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore.
The deal was renegotiated in January this year with Gazprom to import 2.5 million tonnes of LNG a year.
6. Bengaluru to host UN Global Compact Network India convention
Local network of the United Nations ‘Global Compact in New York Global Compact Network India’ (GCNI) is holding its 13th National Convention in Bengaluru.
This year, the GCNI convention is of a greater significance as it is coinciding with the UN India Business Forum being hosted on 7th June.
The theme of the event is 'Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Accenture will support the event as the Knowledge Partner of GCNI.
7. Govt launched 'Krishi Kalyan Abhiyaan' to help farmers
The Agriculture Ministry has launched the “Krishi Kalyan Abhiyaan” from 1st June this year to 31st July, 2018.
Under the scheme, farmers in select villages will be given assistance and advice on ways to improve farming techniques and raise their income.
The objective of the scheme to help farmers in 25 villages with more than 1,000 population each in 111 Aspirational Districts identified in consultation with Ministry of Rural Development as per directions of NITI Ayog.
Farm science centres called Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) will coordinate and implement the programme.
As many as 111 officers have also been made in-charge of one district each for overall coordination and field level monitoring.
These officers have been selected from subordinate/attached/autonomous organizations/PSUs etc of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
8. Shripad Yesso Naik inaugurates National Health Editors’ Conference on Yoga
The Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge), Shri Shripad Yesso Naik has inaugurated the 3rdNational Health Editors’ Conference on Yoga at Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) in New Delhi.
The Ministry of AYUSH is organizing this Conference in collaboration with the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY).
This Conference on ‘Evidence-Based Recent Innovative Research on Yoga – A Review of Yoga Research’ is being organized to mark the beginning of International Day of Yoga (21st June).
The main objective of the conference is to give insight to the media persons about the scientific aspects of yoga & its benefits for human health.
9. Ananth Kumar launches India's first oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkin
The Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar has launched India's first oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkin (Rs. 10 for four sanitary pads) in Bengaluru, under Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana.
The affordable sanitary napkins will become available at over 3600 Janaushadhi Kendras functional in 33 States and Union Territories.
Sanitary napkins will decompose within three to six months, unlike other sanitary pads that take over 500 years.
The lower cost of the pads will help those from the economically weaker sections to access hygienic pads.
Science
10. MIT Scientists create Norman, The World's First “Psychopathic” AI
A team of scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have built a psychopathic AI using image pulled from Reddit.
The purpose of the experiment was to test how data fed into an algorithm affects its "outlook".
Norman was named after Alfred Hitchcock's Norman Bates from his classic horror film Psycho
Norman is an algorithm trained to understand the picture, but it does not have an optimistic view of the world.
Sports
11. Sports Academy to be established for underprivileged children in Himachal
According to Himachal Pradesh Governor ‘Acharya Dev vrat’, a sports academy will be established in the state for underprivileged children so that the talent of India in sports could be utilized.
The academy would be established in public-private partnership mode with combined efforts of sportsmen, NGOs, and the state government.
The Academy would take shape as soon as the process of identifying suitable land has already begun in the state.
12. Kagiso Rabada wins South Africa's Cricketer of the year award
South African speedster Kagiso Rabada (World's number one Test bowler) was named South Africa's Cricketer of the Year.
Rabada collected a total of six awards, including Test cricketer of the year, one-day international player of the year and players' player of the year.
This is the second time Rabada has bagged the prestigious award (earlier in 2016).
Rabada took 72 wickets at an average of 19.52 in 12 Tests going back to a series in England.
