Current Affairs - June 23, 2017 Current Affairs

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu launched India's largest municipal bond program in Maharasthra after banging a gong to incorporate the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) in the list of BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange). The project looks to raise Rs 2,264 crore in five years. In its first part, the corporation raised Rs200 crore through the Bombay Stock Exchange's bond trading platform at a coupon rate (a fixed security amount) of 7.59% for 10 years.

International Widows Day is observed on June 23 for action towards achieving full rights and recognition for widows. Programs and policies for ending violence against widows and their children, poverty alleviation, education and other support to widows of all ages also need to be undertaken, including in the context of action plans to accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mizoram launches scheme for better treatment of HIV-Hit people. The Mizoram Health Minister Lal Thanzara launched the 'Test and Treat Strategy' of the Mizoram state AIDS Control Society (MSACS) to improve treatment for HIV affected people in the state. The Test and Treat Strategy is a new initiative of the Centre to combat the HIV/AIDS disease.

Reserve Bank of India announced names of the members of Overseeing Committee. Another three members have been added former L&T Finance Holdings Chairman YM Deosthalee, former Canara Bank chairman MBN Rao, and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) whole-time member S Raman appointed as new members.

Facebook Inc has launched an Online Civil Courage Initiative (OCCI) in the United Kingdom (UK) to remove extremist and terrorism content from its social media platform. The new initiative will train Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to help them monitor and respond to extremist content and create a dedicated support desk so they can communicate directly with Facebook.

Kenneth I Juster is set to become America's new Ambassador to India. He is the Deputy Assistant to the United States President for International Economic Affairs and Deputy Director of his National Economic Council.

The Union Government announced 30 new smart cities with a total investment of Rs. 57,393 crores by Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu. The Smart City Mission is a scheme of Union Government that will cover 100 cities and its duration is five years (2015-16 to 2019-20).

Anti-hunger activist Ankit Kawatra selected for prestigious Queen's Young Leaders Award with 60 others from all 53 Commonwealth countries. He will be honored by Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony to be held in the Buckingham Palace, United Kingdom.

The United States cleared the sale of the state-of-the-art Guardian 22 unmanned Guardian flights to India. The deal to sell Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flights to India is estimated to be worth $2 to $3 billion. The transfer of the state-of-the-art UAV technology to India will be the first significant progress after India's entry into the exclusive Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and after the US has designated India as a major defence partner.

Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Uttarakhand and Haryana were the first five states to be declared ODF. Open defecation is the practice of people defecating outside and not into a designated toilet. The term is widely used in literature about water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) issues in developing countries.

The State Government of Odisha approved 53 urban projects with a total investment of Rs 538 crore under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). Its main objective is to provide basic services is water supply, sewerage, urban transport to households and build amenities in cities which will improve the quality of life.

The Intel company partners with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced a long-term technology partnership at an official signing with IOC President Thomas Bach and the US tech giant's chief executive officer Brian Krzanich. It will join "The Olympic Partner" (TOP) worldwide sponsorship program, becoming a Worldwide TOP Partner through 2024.

Philippines bans private use of Firecrackers. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte signed an executive order banning the private use of firecrackers in the country. Health authorities recorded 350 fireworks-related injuries as the country welcomed 2017.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) workhorse rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-38) blasted off from the spaceport carrying the Cartosat-2 series satellite a dedicated satellite for the defense forces along with 30 co-passenger satellites. The 30 satellites will together weigh 243 kg and the total weight of all the 31 satellites, including Cartosat, is about 955 kilograms.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) a retirement fund body will sign a pact with the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO). Under the housing scheme, EPFO allows its subscribers from societies for withdrawing up to 90% of their EPF accumulations to buy homes.