25th JUNE CURRENT AFFAIRS IN ENGLISH

1. Saudi Arabia issues first driving licences to women

Saudi Arabia has issued driving licences to women for the first time in decades just before a ban on female drivers is lifted.

• Ten women swapped their foreign licences for Saudi ones in cities across the country.
• A flood of applications is now expected in the run-up to 24 June when the ban will end.

2. PM inaugurates Bahadurgarh-Mundka Metro Line via video conference

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, inaugurated the Bahadurgarh-Mundka Metro Line via video conference.

• Congratulating the people of Haryana and Delhi on the commencement of this new section of the Delhi Metro, he said he was happy to see Bahadurgarh connected with the Delhi Metro.
• This is the third place in Haryana, after Gurugram and Faridabad to be connected like this.

3. Piyush Goyal inaugurates India Infrastructure Expo 2018

The Union Minister of Railways,Coal, Finance & Corporate Affairs, Shri Piyush Goyal inagurated the India Infrastructure Expo 2018 in Mumbai.

• Two day expo is being organised by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).

4. PM Narendra Modi launched urban transport service

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated urban public transport bus service 'Sutra Seva'at function held at Nehru Stadium, Indore on June 23.

• In the first phase of 'Sutra Seva', 127 buses will start plying in four municipal corporation cities Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Chhindwara and in two municipal council towns Guna and Bhind.

5. India is the largest borrower from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

With the total project portfolios of US$4.4 Billion, India has been the largest borrower of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) lending since the time the Bank started its operations. 

• Unlike most other multilateral development banks set up by advanced economies, AIIB is the first major multilateral development bank where principal contributors are the borrowing members themselves.
• The third Annual Meeting of the bank focuses on infrastructure, with the theme of innovation and collaboration.

6. Arijit Basu to be State Bank of India's new Managing Director

The government has appointed Arjit Basu as managing director of the country's largest lender State Bank of India.

• He will fill the position that fell vacant following the elevation of Rajnish Kumar as the chairman.
• Now, after this the SBI will have four managing directors.
• As per the SBI Act, the bank can have four managing directors.

7. Kalki Koechlin conferred with French honour

Kalki Koechlin was conferred with the French distinction of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, for her contribution in enhancing Indo-French ties in cinema.

• Kalki, who has French roots, has done films such as ‘Dev D’, ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, ‘Shanghai’ and ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ to name a few.

8. India’s R Praggnanandhaa Becomes World’s 2nd Youngest Chess Grand Master

In a historic event, Chennai based R Praggnanandhaa has become India’s youngest and the second youngest Grandmaster in the world at 12 years, 10 months and 13 days.

• Sergey Karjakin of Ukraine had become the youngest Grandmaster at 12 years, seven months in 1990.
• Praggnanandhaa became India’s youngest Grandmaster after making it to the final round at the Gredine Open in Italy to clinch his third GM.