GK & Current Affairs June 2016

World number one Novak Djokovic on 5 June 2016 won 2016 French Open title. In the final clash in Paris, Djokovic defeated Britain's Andy Murray 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.
•    It was Djokovic's first French Open title and 12th major title of his career. Other 11 titles include six Grand Slam titles from the Australian Open, three from Wimbledon and two from the US Open. Among men, only Roger Federer (17), Rafael Nadal (14) and Pete Sampras (14) own more.
•    With this win, he also became the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slams at once. The 29-year-old also becomes the third man ever to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time, joining American Don Budge and Australian Rod Laver in a quite remarkable feat.
•    Djokovic was born on 22nd  May 1987 in Belgrade, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, to parents Srđan and Dijana .
•    His two younger brothers, Marko and Djordje, are also tennis players with professional aspirations.
•    Residing in Monte Carlo, Djokovic was coached by former Slovak tennis player Marián Vajda from 2006 until Boris Becker took over the role of Head Coach in December 2013. 
•    Djokovic is a self-described fan of languages, speaking Serbian, English, French, German and Italian.

World Environment Day (WED) was observed globally on 5 June 2016 with theme Zero tolerance for the illegal trade in wildlife. The day aims at inspiring more people to take action to prevent the growing strain on Earth’s natural systems from reaching the breaking point.
•    The host country for the WED 2016 is Angola. 
•    The year’s slogan "Go Wild for Life" encourages everyone to spread the word about wildlife crime and the damage it does. It also asks people to challenge all to do what they can to prevent it.
•    The 2016 theme highlights the fight against the illegal trade in wildlife, which erodes precious biodiversity and threatens the survival of elephants, rhinos and tigers, as well as many other species. It also undermines our economies, communities and security.
•    Illegal trade in wildlife products is eroding Earth’s biodiversity and driving whole species to the brink of extinction. 
•    As per an estimate, in 2011, a subspecies of Javan rhino went extinct in Vietnam, and the last western black rhinos vanished from Cameroon.
•    Lesser-known victims include helmeted hornbills and pangolins, as well as wild orchids and timbers like Rosewood – flowers and timber that are also considered as wildlife.
•    On this day to create awareness for environment, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu flagged off Tiger Express, a semi-luxury tourist train, from Safdarjung station New Delhi. 
The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the day when Stockholm’s United Nations Conference on the Human Environment 1972 began. 

Eminent actor and theatre personality Sulabha Deshpande passed away 4 June 2016 in Mumbai. She was 79.
Deshpande was considered to be one of the pioneers of the experimental theatre movement that swept Mumbai in the 1970s.
•    Sulabha Deshpande was an acclaimed Indian film, theatre and television actress and theatre director.
•    She started her career as a teacher at Chhabildas Boy's High School in Dadar, Mumbai.
•    Apart from Marathi theatre as well as Hindi theatre in Mumbai, she acted in over 73 movies mainstream Bollywood.
•    She also acted in art house cinema, like Bhumika, Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan and Gaman as a character actor.
•    In 1971 she co-founded, theatre group, Awishkar with her husband Arvind Deshpande.
•    Soon, she established the Chandrashala, the children's theatre wing of Awishkar. Notable Bollywood actors Nana Patekar and Urmila Matondkar have been students of Chandrashala.
•    In recent years, she acted in serials like Jee Ley Zara, Ek Packet Umeed, Asmita and films like English Vinglish.

German minnows Rot-Weiss Oberhausen (RWO) Ibrahimovic is trying to sign Swedish super star.

•    The semi-pro club, which plays in Germany’s fourth division, has offered a contract to Ibrahimovic to play for them after leading Sweden at Euro 2016.
•    German club cannot compete with United’s wealth, size, support and standing in the game, so they offered something different.
•    The offer was posted on the club’s website under the headline “RWO and Ibrahimovic in negotiations”.
•    The deal includes introducing a monarchy to the city of Oberhausen and making Ibrahimovic king.
•    The club’s fast-food stands would replace traditional German bratwurst with Swedish sausages and a local brewer would rename their beer to Ibrahimovic Pilsnener.
•    Offer includes building a new stand with supplies from Swedish furniture giants IKEA.
•    Zlatan Ibrahimović  is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a striker for and captains the Sweden national team.
•    Ibrahimović is one of ten players who have made 100 or more appearances for the Swedish national team.

Scientists have created a system that uses solar energy to split water molecules and hydrogen-eating bacteria to produce liquid fuels. 
•    The system can convert solar energy to biomass with 10 percent efficiency, far above the 1 percent seen in the fastest-growing plants.
•    A team of scientists from Harvard University (United States) has created this unique bionic leaf 
•    This artificial photosynthesis device has been dubbed bionic leaf 2.0. 
•    The new system can convert solar energy to biomass with 10% efficiency.  
•    Its efficiency is much higher than the 1% seen in the fastest growing plants. 
•    Scientists had used a new cobalt-phosphorous alloy catalyst for this experiment in order to increase efficiency. 
•    This artificial photosynthesis system can be used to generate usable fuels. This artificial leaf use solar power to split water and make hydrogen fuel.

Assam Assembly has passed the Assam Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2016. 
•    The bill has the provision for speedy processing of applications and issue of clearances for setting up of industries. 
•    Commerce and Industries minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that the state government proposed to enact the legislation to facilitate the enterprises with a view to attract fresh investment in the state through an easy computerized clearance system.
•    The basic aim of the bill is to create an investment-friendly environment for economic development of the state.
•    With the BJP coming to power, industry leaders in Assam hoped that the new government will usher in a positive change and facilitate ease of doing business.
•    The bill provides for establishing a bureau under the name and style of Assam Bureau of Investment Promotion for the purpose of overall supervision and administration of the speedy processing of applications and issue of various clearances.

All-time boxing icon Muhammad Ali died on 3 June 2016 in the Phoenix, Arizona, after a 32-year battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 74.
He was born as Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. on 17 January 1942.
He was considered as one of the most recognized sports figures of the past 100 years.
He was crowned Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated and Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC.
He also wrote several best-selling books about his career, including The Greatest: My Own Story and The Soul of a Butterfly.
He won the world heavyweight championship in 1964 at the age of 22.
He converted to Sunni Islam in 1975 and changed his name to Muhammad Ali and 30 years later He began adhering to Sufism.
Ali remains as the only three-time lineal world heavyweight champion; he won the title in 1964, 1974, and 1978.
He was nicknamed The Greatest and was involved in several historic boxing matches. Notable among them in which Ali was winner were the first Liston fight, three with rival Joe Frazier, and one with George Foreman.

On 3 June 2016 The Haryana Government launched Asia's First Gyps Vulture Reintroduction Programme at Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre, Pinjore.
•    Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar launched the program.
•    The Union Government became prominent vulture breeding and conservation centre in India after successfully breeding Himalayan Griffon Vultures.
•    It is the old world vulture in the family of Accipitridae-in captivity.
•    Many vultures disappeared due to Diclofenac which is a pain killer drug given to cattle that can kill birds.
•    When vultures feed on the carcasses of animals with Diclofenac, they also die.
•    At present, the drug is banned in India.
•    The Himalayan Griffon is closely related to the critically endangered resident Gyps species of vultures but is not endangered.

Garbine Muguruza won grand slam title with a 7-5 6-4 win over the world number one Serena Williams and defending champion in the French Open final.
•    The 22-year-old fourth seed, who lost to Williams in last year’s Wimbledon final, became the first Spaniard to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Cup since Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in 1998.
•    It was Muguruza’s first final on the slow surface and she relied on a powerful first serve.
•    In the fourth game, which lasted nine minutes, Muguruza saved a break point with an unreturnable forehand, then a second with an ace.
•    Garbiñe Muguruza Blanco is a Venezuelan-born Spanish professional tennis player. 
•    Muguruza is the 2016 French Open champion. 
•    Her other career highlights include her maiden title at the 2014 Moorilla Hobart International, the 2015 China Open, and reaching the final of the 2015 Wimbledon Championships. 
Muguruza achieved her career-high singles ranking of world No. 2 and doubles ranking of world No. 10 in June 2016 and February 2015 respectively.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Amir Amanullah Khan Award, the country's highest civilian honour of Afghanistan.
•    He was awarded the honour by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
•    During his 25 minute-long speech after inaugurating the dam, PM Modi also invoked Chisht-born Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti who settled down in Ajmer and is venerated by thousands of people visiting his shrine.
•    At the close of the speech, the prime minister also wished the people of Afghanistan and all Muslims across the world for the Holy Month of Ramzan.
•    Modi is the first Indian and is among a handful of foreign leaders to receive the award.
•    The award is named after the Afghan national hero Amanullah Khan who championed the cause of Afghanistan’s freedom. He was the ruler of the Emirate of Afghanistan from 1919-1929.