6th June, 2022 Current Affairs

Archana Lakkavajula

NATIONAL
India rejects OIC's comments on India and terms them unwarranted and narrow-minded

New Delhi has categorically rejected Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Secretariat's comments on India and termed them unwarranted and narrow-minded.
The offensive tweets and comments denigrating a religious personality was made by certain individuals and do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the government.
Strong action has already been taken against these individuals by relevant bodies. He called it regrettable that OIC Secretariat has yet again chosen to make motivated, misleading and mischievous comments.
This only exposes OIC's divisive agenda being pursued at the behest of vested interests. India urged the OIC Secretariat to stop pursuing its communal approach and show due respect to all faiths and religions.

INTERNATIONAL
South Korea, US launch 8 missiles in response to North Korea missile tests

South Korea and the United States launched eight missiles on Monday, in response to a volley of ballistic missiles fired by North Korea the previous day. According to media reports, South Korea's President Yoon Suk-Yeol said, his government would respond sternly to any provocation from its northern neighbour. He further said, we will make sure there is not a single crack in protecting the lives of our people.
The President added that North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes are reaching the level of threatening not only peace on the Korean Peninsula, but also in Northeast Asia and the world. The US and South Korea regularly hold joint military exercises.
Earlier, North Korea had fired several missiles off its east coast. It is the second retaliatory display from the US and South Korea in as many weeks, with a similar move made last week after Pyongyang fired a series of missiles in the immediate aftermath of US President Joe Biden's visit to the region.

UK to send first long-range missiles to Ukraine

The United Kingdom Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said that his country is sending its first long-range missiles to Ukraine. Mr. Ben Wallace said, the M270 multiple-launch rocket system will help Ukraine defend itself against Russia.
The UK was taking a leading role in supplying Ukrainian troops with the vital weapons they need to defend their country. However, the UK Government has not confirmed how many weapons will be sent. He added, it is also a recognition that Ukraine is struggling to compete against Russia's vast artillery arsenal.
The UK's multiple launch rocket system can fire 12 surface-to-surface missiles within a minute and can strike targets within 50 miles with pinpoint accuracy - far further than the artillery Ukraine currently possesses. It is similar to the system the US is sending, the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).

China sends third manned mission to build its Tiangong Space Station

China launched its third manned mission to its under-construction space station on Sunday, sending another three astronauts to continue the final stages of the construction work at the Tiangong Space Station's Tianhe core module for six months before returning to Earth in December. China plans to have Tiangong Space Station fully crewed and operational by December 2022. The astronauts lifted off on the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft at 10:44 a.m. local time, launched by a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, Inner Mongolia. The crew includes Chen Dong, Liu Yang and CaiXuzhe, according to Chinese state media. China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced about 20 minutes after take-off that the launch of Shenzhou 14 was successful. The first crewed mission, a three-month stay by three other astronauts, was completed in September 2021. The second, Shenzhou-13, saw three astronauts spend six months in space for the first time.
After Tiangong’s completion, China will be the only country to operate a space station of its own. China has also accomplished landing on Mars last year and on the far side of the moon in 2019. Under President Xi Jinping, China has been carrying out activities to enhance its space prowess which has created another friction area with the US on the ways to govern future space activities.

South Korea, US stage first combined military exercises with air carrier

South Korea and the United States staged their first combined military exercises involving an American aircraft carrier in more than four years, Seoul’s military said today. This comes amid reports that North Korea was preparing for a nuclear test. The three-day drills took place in international waters off the Japanese island of Okinawa until today. Seoul officials have said Pyongyang has conducted multiple experiments with a detonation device in preparation for its seventh underground explosion.
It was the allies’ first joint military exercise since South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol took office last month, and their first bilateral exercises involving an aircraft carrier since November 2017.

SPORTS

AmanSehrawat strikes gold at 2022 BolatTurlykhanov Cup Wrestling tournament

National champion AmanSehrawat clinched gold medal while Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist BajrangPunia settled for bronze of the 2022 BolatTurlykhanov Cup wrestling tournament in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
With the two more medals, India concluded the United World Wrestling's ranking series with 11 medals - six golds, one silver, and four bronze. Five of the golds were won by women.

French Open Tennis Grand Slam 2022

The 2022 French Open was a Grand Slam tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was held at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, from 22 May to 5 June 2022, comprising singles, doubles and mixed doubles play.
IgaŚwiątek won the women’s singles event, capturing her second French Open crown, and Rafael Nadal won the men’s singles event, capturing his record-extending 14th French Open title.

ECONOMY

India’s merchandise exports rose by 15.46 % to 37.29 billion dollar in May

India’s merchandise exports rose by 15.46 percent to 37.29 billion dollar in May 2022 on account of healthy performance by sectors like petroleum products, electronic goods and chemicals, even as the trade deficit widened to 23.33 billion dollars during the month.
According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry today, India’s merchandise export in April -May 2022-23 was 77.08 billion dollars with an increase of 22.26 percent over 63.05 billion dollars in April-May 2021-22.
Value of non-petroleum exports in May this year was 29.18 billion dollars, registering a positive growth of 8.13 percent over non-petroleum exports of 26.99 billion dollars in May last year.

ENVIRONMENT

Male tiger "Kumbha" dies in Ranthambore tiger reserve

In Rajasthan, a male tiger "Kumbha" has died in the Ranthambore tiger reserve. Deputy Conservator of Forests Mahendra Sharma said that the forest personnel found the carcass of Kumbha in a drain near Salavatghati .
Kumbha who was also known as -T 34 was 16 years old and used to roam around in Kundal, ChidiKhoh forest area of the tiger reserve.
According to the officials after the post-mortem body of the tiger was cremated in presence of the forest department officials and administrative officers
Marks of injuries were found on the neck, legs and tongue of the tiger. He expressed the possibility of the tiger having a fight with another male tiger.
In the same tiger reserve, a female cub was found dead last month.

50th World Environment Day 2022 observed on 5th June

World Environment Day is observed globally on 5th June every year. This day is observed to raise awareness about protecting the environment and to remind people not to take nature granted. It is the biggest international day for the environment. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the nodal agency that organises and supports events across the world.
The year 2022 marks the 50th WED. Sweden is the host this year and the theme is ‘Only One Earth,’ focusing on the need to live sustainably in harmony with nature. Only One Earth was the motto for the 1972 Stockholm Conference; 50 years on, the motto holds true – this planet is our only home, whose finite resources humanity must safeguard.

Published date : 06 Jun 2022 05:43PM