Daily Current Affairs Updates: 27 June 2015

1) India recalled NZ High Commissioner after assault allegations:

--> India has recalled its High Commissioner to New Zealand, Ravi Thapar, and will investigate the allegation of assault levelled against his wife, Sharmila, by a member of the couple’s domestic staff.

--> The External Affairs Ministry said that Mr. Thapar had been posted to headquarters in New Delhi.

--> The domestic staff member of the recalled High Commissioner to New Zealand, Ravi Thapar, has made “certain allegations”, but no charges has been pressed against the Thapars, the External Affairs Ministry said. 

2) ICC amended ODI rules; suspended USA Cricket Association:

--> ICC has decided to get rid of catchers in the first ten overs, removed the batting Powerplay and also allowed five fielders outside the 30-yard circle in the last ten overs of an innings in one-dayers.

--> The ICC also said that all “no balls” and not just over-stepping by the bowlers will result in a free hit in both ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals.

--> The rule changes will come into effect for series starting on or after July 5.

--> The ICC board during its Annual Conference here adopted these recommendations.

3) Sangakkara confirmed Test retirement:

--> Kumar Sangakkara will retire from international cricket during the Test series against India in August.

--> Sri Lanka’s most prolific batsman said during the current second Test against Pakistan.

--> Sangakkara said he wanted to retire from all formats of the game after Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign but promised to be available for the back-to-back home series against Pakistan and India.

4) BRICS bank to be operational by end of 2015: South Africa:

--> The emerging market BRICS nations will have their own development bank by the end of the year, South Africa said on 27 June 2015.

--> "The New Development Bank is expected to be operational by end of 2015," the South African finance ministry said.

--> The BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - which represent 40 per cent of the world's population and a quarter of its economic output, decided in 2013 to create their own development bank to step up lending for the infrastructure projects needed to close the gap with the industrialised world.

5) Veselin Topalov won the Norway Chess Tournament 2015:

--> Veselin Topalov on 25 June 2015 won the Norway Chess tournament 2015 by leaving behind Viswanathan Anand into a quick draw.

--> Topalov secured 6½ points while Anand ended the tournament in second place with 6 points.