Notes:
The Valmiki National Park (VNP) is located in the West Champaran district of Bihar. It is home to tiger, Rhinoceros, Black bear, Leopard, Wild dog, wild buffalo, wild boar etc. At present 241 bird species have been reported in the forest. Some of the interesting birds are Nepal kaleej pheasant, three-toed quail, flycatcher, grey shrike, green willow warbler and tree pipit.

Notes:
The Sikkim government has signed MoU with the British Council to increase quality of education in the state. The purpose of the MoU is to support the aims and aspirations of the young people of Sikkim through collaborative projects in the area of English, education and skills by strengthening the capacity of the teachers and other professionals, working with youth in the state and support its cultural economy. The programme also include capacity building in teaching, learning and research pedagogy of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Social Science teachers from undergraduate colleges and universities in Sikkim by UK higher education experts along with internship of young faculties at relevant UK Universities.

Notes:
The three state-run Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) – Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) have signed an agreement to jointly set up the world’s largest refinery and petrochemical complex at Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra at a cost of $40 billion. The IOC will hold 50% stake and HPCL & BPCL will will take 25% stake each in the new complex. The refinery will produce petrol, diesel, LPG, ATF and feedstock for making petrochemical that are basic building blocks in plastic, chemical and textile industries. The refinery is expected to be completed by 2022.

Notes:
Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati (95), the former Chief Justice of India (CJI), has passed away in New Delhi on June 15,2017. Justice Bhagwati is known for introducing and pioneering Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which transformed the legal landscape in India.

Notes:
Gaitri Issar Kumar, the joint secretary in the President’s Secretariat and a 1986 batch IFS officer, has been appointed as the India’s new Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union (EU) which has its headquarters in the Belgian capital of Brussels. Beside this, Reenat Sandhu and Ajit Vinayak Gupte have been named as the India’s new Ambassador to Italy and Denmark.

Notes:
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has conferred honorary doctorate degree “Doctor of Science (D.Sc)” to former sprinter queen PT Usha at its 50th convocation in Kanpur on June 16, 2017 for her contributions to Indian sports and women empowerment.The D.Sc (honoris causa) is the highest (honorary) academic degree of IIT Kanpur. The Kannur University had conferred the Doctor of Letters (D. Litt) on Usha in 2000.

Notes:
The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is observed every year on June 15 to highlight the often silent suffering of the elder generation. This is the one day of the year when the whole world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted to some defenseless older people. The 2017 theme “Understand and End Financial Abuse of Older People: A Human Rights Issue” underscores the importance of preventing financial exploitation in the context of elder abuse to the enjoyment of older persons’ human rights.

Notes:
H S Shivaprakash, the noted Kannada poet and playwright, has been conferred with the prestigious 2017 Kusumagraja Rashtriya Puraskar for his outstanding contribution in social and educational fields. The award is constituted by Nashik-based Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University’s (YCMOU) Kusumagraja Adhyasan (Chair). It carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, a memento and citation. Beside this, Latur-based Menka Dhumale has been honoured with the YCMOU’s 2016 ‘Baburao Bagul story writing award’ for her book “Korda Paus”.

Notes:
John G. Avildsen (81), the Oscar-winning director of Rocky and The Karate Kid, has passed away in California, United States. Other films he directed include Joe, Save the Tiger, Fore Play, The Formula, Neighbors, For Keeps, Lean on Me, The Power of One, etc.

Notes:
Indian shuttler Kidambi Srikanth has become the first Indian men’s singles player to win the Indonesia Open Super Series men’s singles tournament by defeating Kazumasa Sakai of Japan in the final at Jakarta by 21-11, 21-19. With this win, Srikanth clinched his third Super Series title after he had notched up victories at the 2014 China Open and the 2015 India Open.