1.Modi reviews GST preparedness ahead of July 1 rollout :-
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reviewed the preparedness for the new indirect tax regime Goods and Service Tax (GST) which will be rolled out from next month.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia and senior officers from the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC).
2.Donald Trump won’t block ex-FBI chief James Comey’s testimony: White House :-
U.S. President Donald Trump will not invoke executive privilege to block former FBI Director James Comey’s scheduled testimony before U.S. Congress this week, the White House said on Monday.
“In order to facilitate a swift and thorough examination of the facts sought by the Senate Intelligence Committee, President Trump will not assert executive privilege regarding James Comey’s scheduled testimony,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters.
3.ISRO’s biggest in 30 years: Powerful GSLV-MkIII launches heaviest satellite GSAT-19 :-
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its most powerful indigenous rocket, GSLV Mk III, carrying a 3,136-kg GSAT- 19 communication satellite, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, in Andhra Pradesh, on Monday evening.
The 43.43 metre-tall GSLV Mk III is a new, improved and powerful version of the GSLV rockets developed by ISRO, and features an indigenously developed cryogenic engine which provides a huge final thrust to the rocket after the initial solid and liquid fuel engine stages.
4.Sushma Swaraj dismisses Trump’s accusations on climate change funding :-
External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s accusation that India demanded “billions and billions” for the Green Climate Fund, a United Nations program, at the annual press conference of the External Affairs Ministry.
She reiterated that India was duty-bound to keep its commitments, and would do so irrespective of whether the United States remained a signatory to the Paris accord. Mr. Trump had earlier taken the decision to pull the United States out of the accord.
5.Donald Trump to host Panama President on June 19 :-
US President Donald Trump will host President Juan Carlos Varela of Panama at the White House on June 19, according to an official announcement.
Both the leaders are expected discuss ways to reinforce the strong ties between the two countries and shared priorities in the fight against transnational organised crime, illegal migration, and illicit substances, a statement from the White House said on Monday.
6.Alibaba Pictures Group acquires majority stake in TicketNew :-
In a significant move, Chinese e-commerce group Alibaba has decided to invest over Rs 120 crore to acquire a substantial majority stake in city-based Orbgen Technologies Private Limited, that runs the online-ticketing website TicketNew.
TicketNew, founded in 2007 by Ramkumar Nammalvar, is an online ticket-booking platform for movies, theatres, events, stores, sports, parties, and other entertainment activities.
7.Russia threatens retaliation as Montenegro becomes 29th NATO member :-
Montenegro became the 29th member of NATO on Monday and was praised by the United States for sticking to its path of joining the Western military alliance in spite of Russian pressure.
Even as Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic was in Washington for a State Department ceremony to mark the accession, Russia warned of retaliation against Montenegro’s “hostile course” and condemned the country’s “anti-Russian hysteria.”
8.Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and UAE cut diplomatic ties with Qatar as Gulf rift deepens :-
Four Arab nations cut diplomatic ties with Qatar early Monday morning, further deepening a rift between these nations and that country for its support to Islamist groups.
Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all announced that they would withdraw their diplomatic staff from Qatar, a gas-rich nation that will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Saudi Arabia said Qatari troops would be pulled from its ongoing war in Yemen.
9.Virender Sehwag forwards two-line resume, BCCI demands a elaborate version :-
Virender Sehwag had sent in a two-line application for the job of India coach before he was persuaded to submit a full resume by the Indian cricket board.
His application just said that he is a ‘mentor and a coach of Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League and has played with all these (Indian) boys before’.
10.Importance of protecting environment stressed :-
Led by Mayor Akula Sujatha, the staff and elected members of the Municipal Corporation of Nizamabad took a rally on the occasion of World Environment Day, from Gandhi crossroads to the municipal building, here on Monday.
Commissioner Nageswar Rao, staff of Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA), and artistes, among others, participated in the rally raising slogans on the importance of protection of environment in the wake of global warming.
