Current Affairs 26 June 2018

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National and International

Hong Kong costliest city to live in for expatriates, Mumbai ranked 55th

• As per Mercer’s 24^thannual Cost of Living Survey, Hong Kong is ranked as the world’s costliest city to live in for expatriates. 
• Mumbai is at the 55th spot in terms of cost of living globally. Other Indian cities featuring in the survey include Delhi (103), Chennai (144), Bengaluru (170), with Kolkata (182) being the least expensive Indian city.
• The world’s least expensive city for expatriates is Tashkent (209). This year’s rankings uses New York City as the base city for all comparisons.

‘Passport Seva app’ launched on “Passport Seva divas”

• External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has launched the mPassport Seva App on the occasion of the Sixth Passport Seva Divas.
• Until now, applicants had no choice but to apply for the document at passport seva kendras (PSKs) in the areas where they lived and the application could only be made on a laptop or a personal computer.
• The two new schemes – Passport application from anywhere in India, and filling passport application forms from mobile phones have been introduced in the app.
• Ministry of External Affairs has decided to observe the 24^th June every year as Passport Seva Divas. It was on this day in 1967 that the Passports Act, 1967 had come into effect.

“Girls Not Brides” global meet held at Kuala Lumpur

• 2nd Global meeting of Girls Not Brides was held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Girls Not Brides is a global partnership of more than 900 civil society organisations from over 95 countries committed to ending child marriage and enabling girls to fulfil their potential.
• It was discussed that a lot of change is needed to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of ending child marriage by 2030. 

India among most dangerous countries for women: Thomson Reuters Foundation survey

• India is considered to be the most dangerous country in the world for women, according to a poll by Thomson Reuters Foundation.
• Afghanistan and Syria were ranked second and third respectively. At number 10 was the United States, the only Western country to be included. 
• When the London-based philanthropic arm of Thomson Reuters carried out the same poll in 2011, India was ranked fourth, ahead of Pakistan. This time Pakistan, in sixth place

1st Satellite Built to Harpoon Space Junk for Disposal Begins Test Flight

• RemoveDebris spacecraft, the first spacecraft to demonstrate active space debris-removal technologies — such as a harpoon, a net and a drag sail — in orbit has been released from the International Space Station to commence its mission by NASA

Economy News

India pledges USD 5 million for UN Palestinian aid agency

• India has pledged USD 5 million in assistance to the UN agency working for the welfare of Palestinian refugees to help bolster its “severe funding crisis” following US’ cut in its annual aid to UNRWA.
• A total of 20 countries, including India, announced contributions to the 2018 budget of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees
• In March, India announced it will increase its annual contribution to the UNRWA from USD 1.5 million to USD 5 million from 2018-19 for a period of three years.

Awards and Recognitions

Lawrence Haddad and David Nabarro named the winner of 2018 World Food Prize

• This year’s World Food Prize will be awarded to two “nutrition champions,” who use research to show political and business leaders that improving pregnant mother and child nutrition is critical to economic health.
• Lawrence Haddad and David Nabarro were named the 2018 World Food Prize Laureates during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Sports

Borna Coric defeats Roger Federer to win Halle Open final

• Borna Coric of Crotia defeated Roger Federer in the final of the Halle Open as a result of which Federer will lose his world number one ranking.
• The defeat meant that Rafa Nadal will return to the top of the world rankings of Tennis. 

Days

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 26 June 2018

• 26 June: International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
• Theme 2018:  “Listen First – Listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe.”