Current Affairs Current Affairs June 2018

 Senior journalist and writer Adiraju Venkateswara Rao passed away. He was 79.  Rao worked in different Telugu and English newspapers. He also authored several books. He played an active role in the separate Telangana agitation in 1969 and the state government honoured him during the Telangana formation day celebrations recently.
Source- The Hindu Business Line

 Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Shipping, Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari released a book ‘Water productivity mapping of major Indian crops’ published by NABARD in a function at New Delhi. The book ‘Water productivity mapping of major Indian crops’ is based on a study of 10 important crops by a team under the leadership of leading agricultural economist Dr. Ashok Gulati.
Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)

 Maharashtra government has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Quebec province of Canada to increase economic cooperation and welfare of tribal community in the state. The MoU was signed between Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis and Philippe Couillard, Prime Minister of Quebec province of Canada. Under the MoU, the key areas of focus are information technology (IT), biotechnology, artificial intelligence and welfare of the tribal community.
  • Key Facts
CM Devendra Fadnavis was on week-long tour to Dubai, Canada and United States to bring business to Maharashtra. During his visit to Canada, he also met Michael Sabia, President and CEO of CDPQ which is Institutional Fund Manager that manages funds over $298 billion. The intention was to attract more investment in Pension Fund from Canada. During this meeting, CDPQ agreed to partner with some of companies in India and also shown interest in working with retail partners.

 The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is observed every year on June 15 across the world to highlight the often silent suffering of the elder generation. The theme this year is “Moving from Awareness to Action through a Human Rights based approach”. The global population of people aged 60 years and older is predicted to be double, from 900 million in 2015 to about 2 billion in 2050.  With growing global population of elderly people, and increase in longevity, abuse of elderly is increasing. It is serious social problem that affects health and human rights and can cause death. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that around 1 in 6 older people experienced some form of abuse. Rates of abuse may be higher for older people living in institutions than in community. Elder abuse is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapidly ageing populations. The abuse can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences.
  • Background
The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was proclaimed by United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by through resolution 66/127. Observance of this day aims to raise voice against abuse and suffering inflicted to some defenceless older people. Elder abuse is global social issue which affects health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world. This day aims to gain attention of the international community on this social issue.

 Japan’s Cabinet has adopted an economic plan that will allow more foreign workers to work in the country. This proposal will help rapidly aging country to make up for its declining workforce. In recent times, number of foreign workers in Japan has nearly doubled to 1.28 million.
  • Key Facts
Under the plan, Japan will relax visa requirements in sectors facing severe labour shortages such as agriculture, nursing care, construction and transport. Highly skilled professionals will be allowed in new categories of this visa regime. It will create new five-year visa category for non-professional foreign workers. The non-professional foreign workers will be allowed to stay in Japan for only up to five years as visitors, not as immigrants. They will be not allowed to be accompanied by family members. Applicants for new visa status will need to pass certain skill tests and have some degree of Japanese language proficiency in order to receive new five-year visas. The plan is not scheme to acquire cheap labour or change to Japan’s immigration policy.

 India’s IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) became first listed company in India to close day’s trade with market capitalisation (m cap) of over Rs. 7 lakh crore (over $103 billion). M cap is value of company that is traded on stock market, calculated by multiplying total number of shares by present share price.
  • Key Facts
TCS achieved this feat after its board approved share buyback of 76,190,476 equity shares of Rs. 1 face value at Rs. 2,100 per share for about Rs. 16,000 crore (over $2 billion). The buyback size was 1.99% of the total paid-up equity share capital. This is second time the global software major resorted to buy back its shares after it bought 5.61 crore shares in April 2017 for Rs. 16,000 crore at Rs. 2,850 per share. The buyback was made from shareholders of Company on proportionate basis under tender offer route using stock exchange mechanism in accordance with provisions contained in SEBI (Buy Back of Securities) Regulations and Companies Act, 2013 and rules made thereunder.

 The Union Minister for Railways, Coal, Finance & Company Affairs, Mr Piyush Goyal inaugurated Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL)’s three 100 MW Solar Power Projects for commercial operation and dedicated these projects to the Nation in Tamil Nadu. The Solar Power projects with an installed capacity of 100 MW each, were erected at a cost of Rs.1300 Crores, which includes Operation & Maintenance cost for 15 Years. The power produced from these units will be given to Tamilnadu Power Generation and Distribution Company (TANGEDCO) at a cost of Rs.4.41/- per unit. An MoU was also signed by NLCIL and Anna University. The MoU would help set up a pilot project on solar drying of lignite, in order to increase its Caloric Value from 2700 Kcal to 4350 Kcal. The cost of the pilot project is Rs.2 Crore 69 Lakhs.
Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)

 Giorgi Kvirikashvili, prime minister of Georgia, has announced his resignation amid a disagreement with Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the ruling party. Kvirikashvili, 50, has been the country's prime minister since 2015. The prime minister's resignation comes amid growing popular discontent over his government's handling of the economy and after mass protests in recent months.
Source- The Aljazeera

 Former World Bank Economist Omar al-Razzaz was sworn in as Jordan's Prime Minister after King Abdullah issued a decree approving the new government. The 58-year-old, who studied at Harvard University, was tasked with reviewing the country's disputed tax system. Omar succeeded Hani al-Mulki who resigned following mass protests over price hikes and other government economic policies.
Source- The Reuters

 Mr J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare exchanged the MoU with the State Health Ministers of 20 States marking their commitment towards the launch of the Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM). Smt. Anupriya Patel, Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare and Amitabh Kant, CEO NITI Aayog were also present at the function. A web portal for initiating the empanelment of hospitals under the mission was also launched.
Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)


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