Important Current Affairs Updates: 22 June 2015

1) Maharashtra declared Blue Mormon as state butterfly:

--> Maharashtra government on 22 June 2015 declared Blue Mormon as the state butterfly.

--> The state is also the first in the country to make such announcement.

--> The decision was taken in a meeting of the state Wildlife Board chaired by Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.

--> Maharashtra already has Indian Giant Squirrel (Shekru) as its state animal, Yellow Footed Green Pigeon (Hariyal) as state bird, mango as state tree, and Lagerststroemia (Jarul) as state flower.

2) Kerala declared June 22 as 'Snake Bird Day':

--> Kerala government on 22 June 2015 declared June 22 as the 'snake bird day' as part of a campaign to protect the endangered species.

--> State minister for forest Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan formally made the announcement at a function organised by the Snake Bird Foundation.

--> Known as darter-Anhinga melanogaster in scientific parlance, snake bird is a large slender long-necked water bird and is mostly black with silver wing markings.

3) Sri Lanka, China began joint military training exercise 'Silk Route- 2015':

--> Joint military training exercise code named 'Silk Route- 2015' between China and Sri Lanka has begun at Buttala in Central Sri Lanka.

--> It is three-week long joint military training exercise and will be conducted in three phases.

4) Former Indian women hockey captain Shashi Bala passed away:

--> Former Indian women hockey team captain Shashi Bala passed away on 21 June 2015.

--> Shashi was killed in a car accident along with her son in Kahma village of Punjab.

--> She had captained Indian hockey team for women in Women Hockey World Cup Qualifier held in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1997.

5) Roger Federer won eighth Halle Open ATP title of Tennis in Germany:

--> World number two Roger Federer has won the Halle Open ATP title in Germany.

--> In the final match he defeated Andreas Seppi of Italy by 7-6, 6-4 score.

6) Taliban attacked Afghan parliament:

--> Taliban launch attack on Afghan parliament on 22 June 2015 as president's nominee for the crucial post of defence minister was to be introduced in parliament.

--> The seven attackers were killed by police after a two-hour gun battle.

--> Several civilians, including two women and two children, were wounded by flying glass.

7) After 53 years, Nathu La pass opened for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra:

--> China on 22 June 2015 opened the second land crossing in Tibet via Nathu La to allow the first batch of Indian pilgrims undertaking the arduous Kailash- Manasarovar Yatra, in the latest confidence-building measure between the two neighbours.

--> The opening of the second route through the Himalayan pass of Nathu La in Sikkim, 4,000 metres above sea level, was officially announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China last month.

8) Bangladesh registered historic first-ever series win over India:

--> Bangladesh created history as they, for the first time, clinched a bilateral ODI series win against India.

--> Bangladesh's left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman (6-43) was the star of the match.

--> He picked up a back-to-back five-wicket haul after his 5-50 in the first ODI.