Current Affairs Quiz - June, 2020

Notes:
California-based American aerospace manufacturing and space transportation services firm SpaceX has become the first private company to send astronauts into space.
The firm is owned by the tech-billionaire Elon Musk. The Crew Dragon spacecraft of SpaceX carried two astronauts of NASA Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken to the International Space Station (ISS). Earlier, this feat has been achieved by the governments of the United States, Russia and China. The US halted to use its own shuttles nine years ago.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has approved further changes to the definition of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Earlier, the Union Minister had proposed that Micro units can have up to Rs 1 crore investments and turnover up to Rs 5 crore while Small units can have up to Rs 10 crore investments and turnover up to Rs 50 crore. The investment limit of a medium unit has been increased from Rs 20 crore to Rs 50 crore and the turn over limit from Rs 100 crore to Rs 250 crore. The Cabinet also approved Rs 20,000-crore fund for stressed entities and equity infusion of Rs 50,000 crore.

Notes:
The Government of India has recently prohibited the export of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in containers with dispenser pump.
As per the notification of the Directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT), the alcohol-based hand sanitizers exported in any other form or packaging, will be allowed for exports. Earlier, On May 6, the government had prohibited the export of all alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Notes:
Veteran diplomat and former spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry Raveesh Kumar has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Finland.
The 1995-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, served as the spokesperson of the MEA from July 2017 to April 2020 and handled many important issues. In his 25-year career, he had served in several crucial missions including Deputy Chief of Mission in Jakarta and Consul General in Frankfurt. He is set to replace ambassador Vani Rao in Finland.

Notes:
Ordnance Factory Board, which functions under the Ministry of Defence, recently bagged Rs 1,094 crore order from Defence Ministry to make 156 Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs).
The Infantry Combat Vehicles with upgraded features are to be developed for the use of Indian Army. As per the official statement, the ICVs will be manufactured by Ordnance Factory in Telangana. The vehicles, which will be highly mobile, will also be powered with high-powered engines.

Notes:
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) recently released the State of India’s Birds report. As per the report, 15 bird species of Kerala have been flagged among ‘species of concern’.
The bird species on the list include Banasura, Ashambu laughingthrushes, White-bellied Sholakili, Broad-tailed grassbird, Nilgiri thrush, Nilgiri pipit and White-rumped vulture among others. The authorities said that the entry of two bird species- Heart-spotted woodpecker and Forest wagtail is more concerning.

Notes:
Veteran Bureaucrat and 1999-batch IAS officer, Brajendra Navnit has been appointed as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India (PRI) to the World Trade Organisation for a period of three years.
He had been the Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office prior to this appointment and will be posted at the Permanent Mission of India (PMI) to the WTO in Geneva. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet also gave a nod to the appointment of IRTS officer Anwar Hussain Shaik for the post of Counsellor, at the PMI to WTO, Geneva for three years.

Notes:
The legislature of Hong Kong has recently approved a bill that makes it illegal to insult the Chinese national anthem.
In Hong Kong, the pro-democracy camp sees the anthem bill as an infringement of freedom of expression whereas the pro-Beijing majority said the law was necessary to show appropriate respect for the anthem. If one intentionally abuses the “March of the Volunteers” anthem, he might face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to 50,000 Hong Kong dollars.

Notes:
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after 20,000 tonnes of diesel oil to spilled into the Ambarnaya river.
The 60-kilometre-long river is present in Norilsk, which is called as the nickel capital of Russia. The spill of the diesel oil has turned the surface of the river into crimson red colour. The oil is alleged to have come as a result of a fuel tank collapse at a power plant near the city.

Notes:
The Chairperson of India’s largest listed real estate firm DLF, Kushal Pal Singh was seen in news, as he stepped down from his leadership role, at the age of 90. He will continue to serve in a non-executive position.
He took over as Chairman of DLF in 1995 and was considered as the face of the popular firm. K.P.Singh will be replaced by his son Rajiv Singh, who is currently serving as the Vice Chairman, as per the announcement of the firm.