Daily Current Affairs: 24 June 2015

1) Parliament's monsoon session to begin on July 21:

--> The monsoon session of Parliament will start on July 21 and last for just three weeks, the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs decided on 24 June 2015.

--> The government has planned a heavy legislative agenda, with at least 17 Bills to be cleared by both Houses that will require the cooperation of the Opposition. 

2) Veteran journalist Praful Bidwai passed away:

--> Praful Bidwai, a senior journalist and well-known columnist passed away on 24 June 2015.

--> Mr. Bidwai was a fellow at Transnational Institute at Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

--> He was also a founding member of an anti-nuclear group Movement in India for Nuclear Disarmament (MIND) set up after the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests.

3) Steffi Graf appointed Kerala's brand ambassador for Ayurveda:

--> Tennis legend Steffi Graf was on 24 June 2015 appointed the Ayurveda brand ambassador of Kerala.

--> The Kerala tourism department was given sanction to sign an agreement with Graf to become Ayurveda brand ambassador as part of the department's 'Visit Kerala Scheme'.

--> The 46-year-old Graf, who retired in 1999, married former World number one men's tennis player Andre Agassi in October 2001.

4) Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to Receive Colombia’s Highest Civilian Award:

--> Indian spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been conferred with Colombia’s highest civilian award, Orden de la Democracia Simon Bolivar en el grado de cruz Caballero.

--> He was bestowed with this award for spreading the message of peace in society, reducing stress, inter-mediation in war and combating violence through yoga and breathing exercises.

5) Union Cabinet gives nod to 6 new IIMs:

--> Union Cabinet has approved setting up 6 new Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in the country.

--> Decision in this regard was taken Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

--> Now the total strength of IIMs increases to 19 from 13. These new IIMs will be located at Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Sirmaur (Himachal Pradesh), Amritsar (Punjab) and Sambalpur (Odisha).

6) 'Jurassic World' fastest movie to earn $1 billion:

--> Two months after Fast and Furious 7 became the fastest film to reach $1 billion worldwide by earning the money in 17 days, Jurassic World has usurped the title.

--> In 13 days flat, the film starring Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and Irrfan Khan has earned the mammoth amount (approximiately Rs 6300 crore).