Current Affairs June 22, 2017

1. First air corridor between India and Afghanistan inaugurated

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has inaugurated the first Afghanistan-India air corridor during a ceremony at the Kabul International Airport—a direct route that bypasses Pakistan and is meant to improve commerce.

Ghani said the aim of the route is to create more opportunities and make Afghanistan an exporting nation.

Mountain-riddled Afghanistan is a landlocked country and all imports and exports depend on neighboring countries.

2. China unveils world’s first train that runs on virtual tracks

China has unveiled the world's first 'railless' train - a train that runs on virtual tracks.

China is also testing a bus that can straddle the road, and allow traffic to pass under it.

The new train is part of China's attempts to develop "intelligent rail express system". Instead of railway tracks, the train runs on rubber tyres.

The train can move at a maximum speed of 70 km/hour.

3. Mumbai continues to be most expensive city for expatriates in India

Mumbai is the most expensive city for expatriates in India and is ranked higher than major global cities such as Paris, Canberra, Seattle and Vienna, says a report.

According to Mercer's 23rd annual Cost of Living Survey, Mumbai is placed 57th on the list while New Delhi was placed at 99. Chennai (135), Bangalore (166) and Kolkata (184) were the other Indian cities on the list.

Luanda, the capital of Angola, was the costliest city, driven by cost of goods and security, followed by Hong Kong and Tokyo at the second and third places, respectively.

4. India's population to surpass that of China's around 2024: UN

India's population could surpass that of China's around 2024, two years later than previously estimated, and is projected to touch 1.5 billion in 2030, according to a UN forecast.

The 2017 Revision, published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said that currently China with 1.41 billion inhabitants and India with 1.34 billion remain the two most populous countries, comprising 19 and 18 per cent of the total global population.

In roughly seven years, or around 2024, the population of India is expected to surpass that of China, the report said.

5. Indore India’s first city to use robot to control unruly traffic

The number one clean city of India, Indore has got another milestone to its name. This commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh has reportedly become the first city in India where robot is being used on an experimental basis to control its ever growing and unruly traffic.

The traffic police in association with a private engineering college of the city for the first time has installed a metallic robot at a busy MR 9 intersection on an experimental basis to control the chaotic traffic in the locality.

6. Free education for girls in Punjab from Nursery to PhD

The Punjab Government has announced free education for girls in government schools and colleges from Nursery to PhD.

Fulfilling another poll promise, he announced free Wi-FI for 13,000 primary schools and all 48 government colleges.

Reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies has already been increased by the government from 33 per cent to 50 per cent.

7. Rajiv Gauba to be next Union Home Secretary

Rajiv Gauba, currently Union Urban Development Secretary, will be the next Home Secretary, an official statement said.

The 1982-cadre IAS officer will succeed Rajiv Mehrishi, whose tenure ends on August 30.

Gauba, who was originally of the Bihar cadre but transferred to Jharkhand after the state's division, is also posted on special duty in the Home Ministry. 

8. India re-nominates Justice Dalveer Bhandari for another term as ICJ judge 

Justice Dalveer Bhandari has been nominated by India as its candidate for another nine year term as judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the UN.

Bhandari, 69, was elected in April 2012 during simultaneous balloting in both the General Assembly and the Security Council to a seat on the International Court of Justice, which is also known as the World Court and is based in The Hague in the Netherlands.

His current term runs through February 2018.

The ICJ elections will be held in November and if elected, he will serve a term of nine years.

9. Unicef names 19-year-old Syrian refugee as youngest goodwill ambassador

The UN children’s agency announced the appointment of its youngest goodwill ambassador — 19-year-old Syrian refugee and education activist Muzoon Almellehan.

Unicef deputy executive director Justin Forsyth said that Muzoon is the first goodwill envoy with official refugee status.

10. Agri. Microbiologist Dr Shrihari Chandraghatgi gets Japan Award 

Indian Agricultural Microbiologist Dr Shrihari Chandraghatgi, President & CEO, EcoCycle Corporation, has been conferred with Ministry of Environment Award in Japan for developing cutting edge technologies to address environmental  problems.

Dr Shrihari is the first foreigner to win this award in environmental sector in Japan.

This award is the highest honour given every year jointly by the Ministry of Environment, Japan, and National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan and The Nikkan Kogyo Shinbun (a media group).