Daily Current Affairs- 8 June 2024

Daily Current Affairs- 8th June 2024

INTERNATIONAL

India Launches Biopharmaceutical Alliance with US, Japan, South Korea and EU

• India, the United States of America, South Korea, Japan and the European Union have launched a Biopharmaceuticals Alliance. The first meeting of the Alliance was held in San Diego, the United States of America, during the Bio International Convention 2024, the world’s largest pharmaceutical exhibition.
• Biopharmaceuticals are a type of medical drug which is produced by using a living being's organs and tissues, microorganisms, animal fluids, or genetically modified cells and organisms. It is different from drugs that are manufactured using different chemicals. 

The 900 MW Arun III Hydropower Project Nepal, being constructed with Indian assistance

• The main tunnel of the 900 MW Arun III Hydropower Project, being constructed with Indian assistance has achieved a breakthrough, with Nepal Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Wednesday – June 5. 2024 triggering the last blast to mark the completion of heading excavation.
• Prime Minister 'Prachanda’ attended an event to mark the completion of heading excavation for the 11.8 km-long Head Race Tunnel of the 900 MW Arun- 3 Hydro Electric Project in the Sankhuwasabha District in eastern Nepal.
• The length of this Head Race Tunnel is 11.83 km from Fyaksindha to the exit of Pukhuwa. The Arun-3 Hydro Electric Project is being executed by SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company Pvt. Ltd. (SAPDC), a fully-owned subsidiary of the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN). 

NATIONAL

Air India and Vistara merger approval paves way for India's largest international carrier

• The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has given the green light for the merger of Air India and Vistara, paving the way for the formation of India's largest International carrier.
• Following the merger, announced in November 2022, Singapore Airlines will hold a 25.1 percent stake in Air India. Vistara - a joint venture between Singapore Airlines and Tata Group. The merger comes under the purview of Tata Group, which assumed control of the financially struggling Air India in January 2022. 

SPORTS

Sarabjot Singh wins gold at ISSF Munich World Cup 2024

• On 6 June 2024, Sarabjot Singh won India's first medal at the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Cup, which was held in Munich, Germany. The ISSF World Cup will be held from May 31 to June 8, 2024.
• The Indian shooter Sarabjot Singh scored 242.7 points in the final to win the gold medal in the men’s 10-meter air pistol event.
• Shuaihang Bu of the People’s Republic of China won the silver medal, while the German Robin Walter had to settle for a bronze medal. 

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Shri Kamal Kishore Soan takes over the charge of Director General, ESIC

• Shri Kamal Kishore Soan, a senior IAS officer from Jharkhand Cadre (Batch : 1998) currently serving as an Additional Secretary and Director General, Labour Welfare in the Ministry of Labour & Employment, took over the additional charge of Director General of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) under Ministry of Labour & Employment, on 31.05.2024.
• He has got vast experience of governance and management of various departments in the state of Jharkhand viz. Land Revenue Management and District Administration, Agriculture & Cooperation, Health, Building Construction, Transport, Finance, Energy, Water Resources, Social Justice & Empowerment, etc. 

Bisleri Limonata Appoints Aditya Roy Kapur as Brand Ambassador

• Bisleri International has announced Aditya Roy Kapur as the new brand ambassador for Bisleri Limonata,
• The Bisleri Limonata #DoubleTheChill campaign was conceptualised and crafted by Bisleri’s in-house creative team. The team delivered a narrative that aims to resonate with Gen ‘Z’. The strategic brand association with Aditya Roy Kapur was managed by Wavemaker and Group M ESP. 

PNB MetLife appoints Sameer Bansal as MD & CEO

• PNB MetLife has appointed Sameer Bansal as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, Bansal will succeed Ashish Srivastava, who has been appointed as the Managing Director for MetLife Inc's Global Shared Services team in India.
• Sameer Bansal, with a tenure dating back to 2007 at PNB MetLife, has been appointed as the MD and CEO, subject to regulatory approvals. He boasts extensive experience in financial services, particularly in leading various distribution channels such as Bancassurance, Agency, Digital, Employee Benefits, and Direct marketing.

 IMPORTANT DAYS

World Oceans Day

• World Ocean Day is an international day that takes place annually on 8 June. In 1992, World Oceans Day was proposed at the Earth Summit that took place in Rio De Janeiro. On December 5, 2008, The UN General Assembly designated June 8 to be observed as World Oceans Day every year.
• The World Oceans Day theme for 2024 is “Catalysing Action for Our Ocean & Climate.” The goal of the theme is not only a healthy blue planet but also an equitable and sustainable society - (General Assembly Resolution 63/111).

 SUMMIT'S & MOU's

First Command and Control Compatibility Board meeting for 2024 between India & U.S. held in New Delhi

• The first Command and Control Compatibility Board (CCCB) meeting for 2024 between Indian and the U.S. was held at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi from 04-07 June 2024. The meeting had participation of a 29 member United States delegation led by Mr Paul Nicholson, Executive Director, US INDOPACOM and a 38 member Indian delegation led by Brigadier Rahul Anand of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

RBI Launches Global Hackathon HaRBInger 2024 to Combat Financial Frauds

• Reserve Bank is organising its third global hackathon – ‘HaRBInger 2024 – Innovation for Transformation’. The Hackathon invites participants to develop solutions using technology and innovative approaches under the following themes and problem statements:
• Theme 1: “Zero Financial Frauds” - Real time prediction, detection and prevention of frauds in financial transactions using alternate sources of data including publicly available information.
• Ensuring transaction anonymity in token-based (CBDC) transactions while maintaining financial system integrity, Identifying mule bank accounts/ payment wallets.
• Theme 2: “Being Divyang Friendly” - Accurately identifying banknotes by visually impaired.