Current Affairs One - Liner : 8th June 2024

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the merger of Air India and Vistara on June 6, 2024. The merged entity will become India’s largest international carrier and second-largest domestic carrier with a combined fleet of 218 aircraft. The merger is expected to be finalized by the end of this year.

The UN General Assembly, on 6th June 2024, elected Pakistan, Denmark, Greece, Panama, and Somalia as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council. These countries will serve a two-year term starting from 1st January 2025. They replace the outgoing non-permanent members whose terms end on 31st December 2024.
The Bank of England has begun issuing banknotes featuring King Charles III’s portrait for the first time on 5th June 2024. These new notes will be available in denominations of £5, £10, £20, and £50. The existing banknotes with Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait will continue to circulate.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) is replacing the eight-decade-old Central Excise Act, 1944 with a new ‘Central Excise Bill, 2024’. The draft bill is open for suggestions until 26th June 2024. The new bill aims to modernize the tax system, promote ease of doing business, and potentially bring petroleum products under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) ambit.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched its third global hackathon, ‘HaRBInger 2024 - Innovation for Transformation’. Registration for this event started on June 7, 2024. It’s a platform for individuals and entities to develop innovative solutions for challenges in the financial ecosystem.
Muthoot Microfin Limited, a leading microfinance institution headquartered in Kochi, announced a strategic co-lending partnership with the State Bank of India (SBI) on June 6, 2024. This collaboration aims to extend financial services to women entrepreneurs in rural and semi-urban regions across India.
On June 6, 2024, Indian fintech firm PhonePe announced a partnership with Sri Lankan ride-hailing platform PickMe. This collaboration aims to enable UPI-based QR payments for Indian tourists in Sri Lanka, allowing them to conduct cashless transactions on PickMe rides.

The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23 conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) revealed that the Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) has seen a significant increase in both urban (33.5%) and rural (40.42%) households since 2011-12. The expenditure on food items constituted 46% of the total spending in rural households and 39% in urban households.

On June 7, 2024, the CSC SPV and the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi. The agreement aims to convert 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) into Common Service Centres (CSCs). This initiative will enhance citizen-centric service delivery and rural empowerment, with a focus on agricultural development.

The TRISHNA mission is a collaboration between ISRO and CNES. It aims to monitor Earth’s surface temperature, emissivity, biophysical and radiation variables for surface energy budgeting at regional to global scale. The mission will help in assessing irrigation water use, issuing advisories for water savings, enhancing crop water productivity, and tracking key climate indicators.
Peru and Slovakia have become the 41st and 42nd signatories to the Artemis Accords, a set of principles for peaceful cooperation in space. The signing ceremony was held at NASA’s headquarters on May 30, 2024. Peru is the seventh Latin American country to sign the Accords, while Slovakia’s participation was also welcomed by NASA. The Accords aim to establish norms for space exploration, particularly on the moon.

The “UNICEF Child Nutrition Report 2024” was released on June 5, 2024. It reveals that around 181 million children under 5 years of age worldwide – or 1 in 4 – are experiencing severe child food poverty. This makes them up to 50% more likely to experience wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition. The report also highlights alarming levels of child food poverty due to inequity, conflict, and climate crises.

Sarabjot Singh won the gold medal in the men’s 10m Air Pistol event at the ISSF World Cup held in Munich, Germany on June 6, 2024. He scored 242.7 in the final and topped the qualification round with 588 points. This was his second individual ISSF World Cup gold medal.

World Brain Tumour Day is observed annually on June 8 to raise awareness about brain tumours. The day also honors patients, their families, and healthcare professionals involved in their care. The theme for 2024 is “Brain Health and Prevention”, emphasizing the importance of brain health and preventive measures against brain tumours.
National Best Friends Day, celebrated on June 8th, is a day to appreciate and spend time with our best friends. The tradition started in the U.S. in 1935. The theme for 2024 is “Cherishing Connections”, emphasizing the importance of nurturing our deep connections with our best friends.

Aditya Roy Kapur was appointed as the brand ambassador for Bisleri Limonata on June 5, 2024. The announcement was part of the launch of their #DoubleTheChill campaign. Aditya’s cool persona and popularity among Gen Z are expected to boost the brand’s image.
Philemon Yang, the former Prime Minister of Cameroon, has been elected as the President of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The election took place on June 6, 2024, and the session will convene on September 10, 2024.
Sameer Bansal has been appointed as the MD and CEO of PNB MetLife India Insurance Co. Ltd., effective from July 1, 2024. The announcement was made on June 6, 2024. He will succeed Ashish Srivastava, who has been appointed as MD for MetLife Inc.’s Global Shared Services team in India.

Asir Jawahar Thomas Johnsingh, a renowned Indian conservation biologist, passed away in Bengaluru on June 7. He was a former dean of the Wildlife Institute of India and was known for his pragmatic approach to wildlife management.

Questions:

1 According to the report, how many children under 5 years of age worldwide are experiencing severe child food poverty?

2 Who has been appointed as the MD and CEO of PNB MetLife India Insurance Co. Ltd., effective from July 1, 2024?