Daily Current Affairs 18th June 2024

International News

Israeli Navy Receives Second Of New US-Built Landing Craft

• The Israeli Navy received its second new landing craft from a US shipyard on June 16. The vessel, named INS Komemiyut, arrived at Haifa Naval Base after a lengthy journey.
• This follows the delivery of the first landing craft, INS Nahshon, which was received in October of the previous year.

Chinese Scientists Discover New Pattern Of Solar Rotation

• Chinese scientists have made a notable breakthrough in solar research using the Chinese H-alpha Solar Explorer (CHASE) satellite.
• This discovery has revealed a new pattern of rotation in the solar atmosphere.

Banking News

RBI Penalizes Central Bank Of India And Sonali Bank PLC For Violations

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has fined the Central Bank of India and Sonali Bank PLC for violations related to customer protection and KYC norms.
• The Central Bank of India was fined ₹1.45 crore for issues such as improper loan sanctioning and delays in reversing unauthorized transactions.
• Sonali Bank PLC received a ₹96.4 lakh fine for non-compliance with KYC Directions, 2016.
• These actions reflect RBI’s dedication to enforcing regulatory compliance in the banking sector.

RBI Cancels Purvanchal Cooperative Bank’s Licence

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revoked the licence of Purvanchal Co-operative Bank in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, due to inadequate capital and poor earning prospects.
• The Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Uttar Pradesh, has been instructed to begin the bank’s winding-up process and appoint a liquidator.
• Depositors will be eligible to receive up to Rs 5 lakh from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) upon liquidation.

Defence News

India To Host Its First Multinational Air Exercise Tarang Shakti In August

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to host its first-ever multinational air exercise, Tarang Shakti-2024, in August.
• The exercise will occur in two phases: the first in southern India during the first two weeks of August, and the second in the western sector from late August to mid-September.

Summits and Conferences News

India Participates In The Summit On Peace In Ukraine

• Shri Pavan Kapoor, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, represented India at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, hosted by Switzerland at Burgenstock on June 15-16, 2024.
• India participated in the Opening and Closing Plenary Sessions but did not align with any resulting communique or document, maintaining its independent approach to resolving the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.

Ranks and Reports News

Mumbai Retains Top Spot As India’s Most Expensive City For Expats: Mercer Report

• According to Mercer’s 2024 Cost of Living Survey released on June 17, Mumbai continues to be the most expensive city in India for expatriates, ranking 136th globally and 21st in Asia.
• New Delhi ranks 30th within Asia, highlighting changes in cost dynamics across Indian cities. Despite economic challenges, India offers affordability advantages for global talent recruitment.
• The survey noted varying cost increases in housing and consumer goods across major Indian cities, with Delhi experiencing the highest rise.
• Mumbai leads in transportation and personal care costs, while Kolkata remains the most economical for essentials.
• Globally, Hong Kong is still the most expensive city for expats, reflecting diverse cost-of-living trends worldwide.

India’s Environment Performance in 2024

• India’s 2024 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranking places it at 176th out of 180 countries, showing slight improvement but still among the lowest performers globally.
• The index, prepared by Yale and Columbia universities, highlights India’s challenges in areas like air quality, biodiversity, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Books and Authors News

Ed Finds A Home: Alia Bhatt’s Heartwarming Children’s Book

• Actress Alia Bhatt celebrated Father’s Day by unveiling her debut children’s book, “Ed Finds a Home.” This book is the first in a new series from the “Ed-a-mamma” universe.

Sports News

Lee Zii Jia Triumphs at BWF Australian Open 2024

• Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia won the BWF Australian Open 2024 in Sydney on June 16, defeating Naraoka Kodai of Japan in a thrilling final, securing his second title of the season.

Important Days News

International Day for Countering Hate Speech 2024

• On June 18th, countries worldwide observe the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.
• This day aims to raise awareness about the harmful effects of hate speech and promote strategies to identify, address, and counter it.

Sustainable Gastronomy Day 2024 Observed on 18th June

• Sustainable Gastronomy Day is observed on June 18th, focusing on promoting sustainable practices in gastronomy, the art and study of food and cuisine.

Obituaries News

Former Odisha Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare Passes Away

• Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, the former Governor of Odisha, passed away on June 15 at the age of 95. The state of Odisha mourns his loss.

Miscellaneous News

Chenab Bridge: Indian Railways Conducts Trial Run On World’s Highest Steel Arch Rail Bridge

• Indian Railways successfully conducted a trial run of an electric engine from Sangaldan to Reasi, crossing the world’s highest steel arch rail bridge, the Chenab Bridge