Daily Current Affairs 19th June 2024, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

India’s Refusal to Sign Ukraine Declaration at Swiss Conference

At the recent Summit on Peace in Ukraine hosted by Switzerland, India opted not to sign the final communique alongside several other nations. This decision stemmed from India’s strategic relationship with Russia, its primary defense supplier, and Moscow’s absence from the summit, which India deemed crucial for any lasting peace agreement involving Ukraine.

PM Modi Inaugurates New Campus of Nalanda University in Bihar

On June 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University, an international institution of learning near the ancient ruins of Nalanda in Rajgir, Bihar. The PM asserted that Nalanda is a symbol of India’s academic heritage and a proclamation of the enduring nature of knowledge.

Appointments News

Dhanlaxmi Bank Appoints Ajith Kumar KK as MD & CEO

Ajith Kumar KK has been appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of Dhanlaxmi Bank for a three-year term starting June 20, 2024. The announcement was made in a regulatory filing by the Kerala-based private sector bank. Ajith Kumar KK brings extensive experience from his tenure at Federal Bank, spanning 36 years across key banking domains including Credit, Human Resources, Business, and Branch Operations. Currently serving as the Chief Human Resources Officer at Federal Bank, he holds the rank of president.

Business News

IFC Investment in Brookfield’s Bikaner Solar Power Project

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, has committed $105 million (approximately Rs 871 crore) to Brookfield’s Bikaner Solar Power project in Rajasthan. This investment will be in the form of non-convertible debentures, supporting the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure in India.

Ranks and Reports News

Virat Kohli Reclaims Top Spot as India’s Most Valued Celebrity Brand

According to the Celebrity Brand Valuation Report 2023 released by global consulting firm Kroll, cricketer Virat Kohli has reclaimed the top spot as India’s most valued celebrity brand with a brand value of $227.9 million. This marks a 30% jump from his brand value of $176.9 million in 2022.

Delhi Airport Launches India’s First Self-Service Mechanism For Check-in Luggage

Aiming to enable passengers to drop in their luggage, collect tags and print boarding passes to complete check-in in less time, the Delhi International Airport Ltd launched a self-service mechanism on 17 June. Delhi’s IGI Airport has installed around 50 Self-Service Bag Drop (SSBD) units across Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 for passengers, and they are available with three airlines – Air India, IndiGo and Air India Express.

Science and Technology News

Dhruva Space’s Thybolt Satellites Complete 15,000 Orbits

Dhruva Space, a Hyderabad-based space tech startup, has successfully completed its maiden mission with the Thybolt-1 and Thybolt-2 satellites. These satellites have securely deorbited after completing 15,000 orbits around Earth. Launched aboard ISRO’s PSLV C54 in November 2022, this achievement marks a significant milestone for the company.

Awards News

Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala Celebrates Honorary Doctorate for P. Madhavankutty Varier

The Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala, a renowned Ayurvedic institution, celebrated a significant achievement as its managing trustee and chief physician, P. Madhavankutty Varier, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) degree by the Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS).

Filmmaker Vinod Ganatra Honoured with Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award

Eminent children’s filmmaker Vinod Ganatra has become the first Indian to be conferred with South Africa’s prestigious ‘Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award’ for his outstanding contribution to children’s cinema. The award was presented to him at the 7th Nelson Mandela Children’s Film Festival.

Wildlife Filmmaker Subbiah Nallamuthu Honored with V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award

The renowned wildlife filmmaker Subbiah Nallamuthu has been conferred with the prestigious 18th V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to the field of non-feature and wildlife documentary filmmaking. The award was presented to him by the Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L. Murugan, at the inaugural ceremony of the 18th Mumbai International Film Festival in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Summits and conferences News

Bonn Climate Conference 2024 Concludes in Bonn, Germany

The mid-year climate discussions in Bonn, Germany, concluded recently with limited progress, raising concerns for a potentially challenging road ahead to the COP29 summit to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, later this year.

Sports News

Indian National Ultimate Frisbee Team Wins Silver at 2024 Asia Oceanic Championship in Japan

The Indian National Ultimate Frisbee team put up a valiant effort in the finals of the Asia Oceanic Beach Ultimate Championships (AOBUC) 2024, finishing as runners-up after a hard-fought match against the Philippines with a final score of 9-12. This marks a historic milestone for Indian Ultimate Frisbee as the national team reached the finals for the first time, demonstrating significant growth and potential on the international stage. The tournament featured 16 teams from across Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Important Days

International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict 2024

Every year, on June 19, we observe the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. This important day aims to raise awareness about the serious issue of sexual violence during wars and conflicts worldwide. It also focuses on finding ways to stop these terrible crimes.