GK and Current Affairs Updates

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.

Sweden has been voted as the best country in the world while India figured low at 70th position on a list of 163 nations.
•    'Good Country' 2015 index measures how countries contribute to the global good, Sweden, relative to the size of its economy, does more "good" and less harm than any other country.
•    The report ranked a total of 163 countries.
•    Indexing took 35 different UN and World Bank indices into account, for listing out the countries.
•    India figured at 70th position overall, three places below China.
•    India ranked at 37th position in health
•    India ranked 62 in wellbeing
•    India Ranked 119 in science and technology, and 106th in climate and 100th in world order.
•    The biannual index was founded by Simon Anholt, a British government adviser.
•    India’s best ranking 27th was in ‘international peace and security’ parameter of index and was the worst 124th in ‘prosperity and equality’
•    His aim was to find ways of encouraging countries to collaborate and co-operate a lot more, and compete a bit less.

On 2 June 2016 India and Tunisia signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for co-operation in Information Technology and promotion of traditional handicrafts.
•    The MoUs were signed after the delegation level talks between the two countries in the presence of Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid in Tunis. 
•    After the meet, the two nations also released a joint press statement saying that the entire gamut of bilateral as well as global issues was discussed. 
•    The two sides had discussion on bilateral ties focused on economic partnership and adding new areas of collaboration in IT and education.
•    The two sides also decided to enhance co-operation in counter terrorism.
•    Apart from this, Ansari also appreciated Tunisia's support to India's candidature to the expanded United Nations Security Council. 
•    He also invited 350 Tunisian citizens to India for training in different institutes over the next five years.
•    He said that the meeting of the India-Tunisia Joint Committee will be held later in 2016 and focus of the meeting will be promotion of tourism.

On 3 June 2016 P Sreeramakrishnan was elected as the Speaker of the 14th legislative assembly of Kerala. 
•    He was the candidate of ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and a two-time legislator from Ponnani constituency.
•    In the voting held, he secured 92 votes against UDF's V.P. Sajeendran from Kunnathunadu constituency, who got 46 votes in the 140-member legislative assembly.
•    The only MLA of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) O Rajagopal voted in favour of P Sreeramakrishnan whereas the Independent MLA PC George's vote was marked invalid.
•    Earlier on 25 May 2016, veteran CPI-M leader Pinarayi Vijayan was sworn-in as 12th Chief Minister of Kerala.
•    In the Assembly Election held in May 2016, the CPI (M)-led left Democratic Front (LDF) came back to power in Kerala after 5 years, winning 91 seats in the 140 member Assembly, while UDF won 47 seats. The other two seats were won by BJP and Independent candidate each.