1 Mumbai becomes most expensive city in India for expatriates: Report
Mumbai has now become the most expensive city in India . This was confirmed by HR consultancy Mercer in its 2024 Cost of Living Survey report on June 17. The survey states that Mumbai is now ranked as the 21st most expensive city for expatriates in Asia , while Delhi is ranked 30th. Globally, Mumbai has climbed 11 places from last year to rank 136th among 226 cities that were surveyed. The top 10 most expensive cities in the world are Hong Kong , Singapore, Zurich, Geneva, Bern, New York City, London, Nassau and Los Angeles.
2 Putin reached North Korea after 24 years
On June 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on a two-day visit to North Korea . This is his second visit to North Korea. The Russian Presidential Palace Kremlin has confirmed this visit. During this, Putin will meet North Korean President Kim Jong Un . During this, Putin will visit North Korea’s only Orthodox Church. During this, Kim Jong Un can sign a deal related to economic aid and technology transfer to Russia in exchange for necessary weapons. Earlier, Putin visited Pyongyang a few months after becoming President in March 2000. He met Kim’s father and North Korea’s ruler Kim Jong Il .
3 Now India has more nuclear weapons than Pakistan
According to the report of Sweden ‘s think tank SIPRI released on June 17 , India has overtaken Pakistan in terms of nuclear weapons. This year, the number of India’s nuclear warheads has increased to 172 , while Pakistan has 170 warheads . India’s new weapons are long-range and can target China. According to SIPRI, till last year India had 164 nuclear weapons. According to the report, India, Pakistan and North Korea are also preparing to deploy nuclear warheads on their ballistic missiles. 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons are with Russia and America . However, there has not been much increase in this compared to last year. In the last one year, China’s nuclear warheads have increased from 410 to 500. There is a possibility of further increase in this. Currently 3904 nuclear weapons are deployed in missiles or aircraft across the world. The number of nuclear weapons in the world has now reached 12 thousand 121.
4 NHAI plans Miyawaki plantation to maintain greenery along national highways
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has planned Miyawaki plantation to maintain greenery around national highways . For this, more than 53 acres of land adjacent to the national highways in and around Delhi-NCR has been identified. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has said that the plantation is expected to be completed in this area by the end of August. The plan also includes Haryana section of Delhi Expressway , Sohna on Delhi-Vadodara section of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Chabri and Kharkhara interchange on Ambala-Kotputli corridor and Duhai interchange in Meerut-Najibabad section of Uttar Pradesh. Miyawaki plantation is a Japanese method through which dense forest areas with biodiversity are developed in a short time. These forests are also effective in storing rainwater.
5 INS Surat will join the Indian Navy
On June 17, the Indian Navy said that INS Surat will be inducted into the Navy next year. Its sea trials have begun. This ship will be equipped with missiles like Brahmos and Barak . This is a Visakhapatnam class ship. All the destroyers of this class are almost similar in design. Its weight is 7400 tons. Its length is 163 meters and speed is about 56 km/hr. It can accommodate 50 officers and 250 sailors along with four interceptor boats . It can travel 7400 km at a time and can stay in the sea for about 45 days. 32 Barak-8 missiles can be deployed in it for anti-air warfare . 16 Brahmos anti-ship missiles can be deployed for anti-surface warfare.
6 2nd India-US meeting on ICET co-chaired by NSAs of India and US in Delhi
The second meeting of the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (ICET) was held between the two countries on 17 June 2024 in New Delhi . The meeting was co-chaired by India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and United States (US) NSA Jake Sullivan . Jake Sullivan is the first high-ranking US government official to visit India after the Narendra Modi government was sworn in for the third consecutive term. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States in May 2022, India and the US agreed to establish the India-US ICET to expand bilateral strategic technology partnerships, defense and industrial cooperation between the two governments and academic institutions and businesses of the two countries.
7 Vinod Ganatra honoured with ‘Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award’
Eminent child filmmaker Vinod Ganatra has been awarded South Africa ‘s prestigious ‘ Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award ‘ for his contribution to films . Vinod Ganatra became the first Indian to be honoured with the ‘Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award’ . Vinod Ganatra was honoured with the award at the 7th Nelson Mandela Children’s Film Festival for his outstanding contribution to children’s cinema. He has edited and directed about 400 documentaries and newsreels. He has produced 25 multilingual television programmes for children and youth. His first TV programme Baingan Raja won Doordarshan’s ‘ Jankinath Gour Award ‘. His Gujarati film Harun Arun, set on the India Pakistan border, received the ” Liv Ullmann Peace Award ” at the 26th Chicago International Children’s Film Festival . He is the only Indian to win the prestigious ‘Liv Ullmann Peace Award’. Ganatra has won 36 national and international awards. He is also a recipient of the ” Dada Saheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award ” conferred by the Association of Film and Video Editors. ‘
8 IFC to invest $105 mn in Brookfield’s Bikaner solar power project
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has agreed to invest $105 million (about Rs 871 crore) in non-convertible debentures of Brookfield ‘s Bikaner Solar Power Project located in Rajasthan . IFC is a stand-alone subsidiary of the World Bank Group that provides finance to private sector companies. Brookfield Global Transition Fund (BGTF) is building a 550 MW solar power project in Bikaner in two phases. Brookfield commissioned the 268 MW first phase of the Bikaner Solar Power Project in March 2024. The second phase has a solar power project capacity of 282 MW, which will take the combined power generation capacity of the project to 550 MW. The estimated cost of the second phase is US$317 million.
9 Post Office Act 2023 came into effect
The Post Office Act 2023 has come into effect. It has replaced the Indian Postal Act 1898. As per the provisions of the Act , the government can intercept any item sent through the Indian Post on specified grounds including the security of the state and public order before it reaches the destination. This can be done in case of any emergency or keeping in mind public safety or peace . Any officer authorized by the Central Government, State Government or both of them can do this. Under the new law, such officers can open, stop or destroy the parcel if any prohibited item is sent through post. The Act also states that the Director General of Postal Services will be appointed as the head of the Indian Post. He will have powers to make rules on various matters including charges for services and supply of postage stamps. Parliament passed the Post Office Bill 2023 in December last year.
10 Fitch, a rating agency that evaluates the economic condition of countries, has increased India’s GDP growth rate forecast from 7% to 7.2% in the current financial year.
Fitch , a rating agency that assesses the economic condition of countries, has increased India’s GDP growth rate estimate for the current financial year 2024-25 from 7 percent to 7.2 percent. The earlier estimate has been revised in view of improvement in consumer spending and increase in investment. The rating agency has also increased the global growth rate estimate for 2024 from 2.4 percent to 2.6 percent in its Global Economic Assessment Report released today. According to the report, the chances of improvement in the European economy have increased. Domestic demand is witnessing an upward trend in the emerging markets of the world except China.
11 Punjab police started ‘Mission Nischay’
Punjab Police in collaboration with Border Security Force (BSF) and Village Defence Committees (VDCs) will launch a week-long drive against drugs in Fazilka district . Under this, they will reach out to residents of 42 villages near the India-Pakistan border to gather actionable information about the demand and supply of drugs.
12 The European Union passed the Nature Restoration Law
On June 17, the Environmental Council of the European Union (EU) approved the Nature Restoration Law . EU environment ministers voted in favor of the law during live streaming. This law will apply to all 27 member countries of the EU . This law has been made to protect the environment. With the help of the Nature Restoration Law, forests are to be regrown and swamps and rivers are to be ensured that there is sufficient natural water. Through this law, a target has been set to restore at least 20% of the total land and sea area of the EU by 2030 and to protect all ecosystems by 2050. 20 member countries of the European Union voted in favor of the law. 66% of the population of EU countries is in these countries only. According to the EU, about 80% of the natural habitat of the member countries, 10% of the tribes of bees and butterflies are on the verge of extinction. At the same time, 70% of the soil of the EU countries is in an unhealthy condition.
13 Ed Finds A Home: Alia Bhatt’s children’s book
Actress Alia Bhatt celebrated Father’s Day in a unique way by unveiling the first look of her first children’s book ” Ed Finds a Home “. The book marks the start of a new series from the “Ed-a-Mamma” universe. Alia Bhatt’s first book ‘Ed Finds a Home’ is published by Penguin .
14 Shubhankar Sharma got ticket for Paris Olympics
India’s number one men’s golfer Shubhankar Sharma will train at the Golf National Course in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games . This was confirmed after the International Golf Federation revealed the Olympic qualification list of 60 men and women golfers for the Olympic golf tournament to be held between August 1-4, 2024. Shubhankar is ranked number 222 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Shubhankar Sharma will be joined by Gaganjeet Bhullar who qualified with the 54th Olympic rank and who will also make his Olympic debut. Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar will also represent India in the women’s tournament.
15 Sustainable Gastronomy Day 2024 : June 18
On June 18, we celebrate Sustainable Gastronomy Day , a day dedicated to promoting sustainable practices in the world of gastronomy, or the art and study of food and cuisine . Gastronomy refers to the local food and cooking styles of a particular region. Sustainability, on the other hand, is the practice of using natural resources in a way that does not harm or deplete the environment.
