17th July 2016 - Important Current Affairs updates

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International Affairs

• Today (17th July) is World Day for International Justice (International Justice Day).
• • This day is celebrated throughout the world as part of an effort to recognize the emerging system of international criminal justice. 
  • Important Note : July 17 was chosen to celebrate this day, because it is the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the International Criminal Court (ICC). 
• Today (17 July) is ‘World Emoji Day’.
• • Emoji enthusiasts around the world have been celebrating this day since 2014. 
  • The date was kept after Apple's emoji artwork for calendar, which displays July 17.
• Pakistan today announced that it is going to move the Permanent Court of Arbitration against India over water sharing of the Kishanganga and Ratle rivers in Jammu and Kashmir. 
• • 
  • This comes after Pakistan said talks over the dispute have "failed", following a recent visit by its delegation to India. 
  • Important Note : In 2013, Pakistan had lost a similar arbitration case against India over Kishanganga's water sharing.

National Affairs

• The Central Board of Excise and Customs today announced that it is going to move to a paperless and integrated customs system by 2017, for fast-tracking consignment clearances. 
• • The move will reportedly bring down the document processing time to below 10 seconds as against over 10 minutes presently.
• To ensure a garbage-free Puducherry, the government is going to form 'Swachh Bal Senas' to make children the watchdogs of cleanliness and prevent elders from littering. 
• • Children will be given yellow coloured whistles, which they will blow whenever they see elder throwing garbage, Lt Governor Kiran Bedi said today. 
  • Beat constables in respective areas would help children carry out the work, she added.
• The 'VIT Fashion Institute of Technology' (V-FIT) was inaugurated today as part of the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in its Chennai campus. 
• • The fashion institute has been equipped with a patent laboratory and a resource hub, made at a cost of ₹1.5 crore. 
  • The institute will offer a B.Tech degree in fashion technology for six different design courses.
• Three indigenously-developed 155 mm 'Dhanush' artillery guns have been handed over to the Indian Army for user trial by the Jabalpur-based Gun Carriage Factory.
• • Note : Dhanush, a howitzer with a strike range of 38 km, has been developed using the design documents delivered to India as part of the Bofors gun deal.
• Women central government employees who have filed complaints of sexual harassment can now avail a paid leave of 90 days during the pendency of the inquiry. 
• • This leave will be over and above those already provided to central government employees. 
• The Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry has launched an online portal 'India Skills Online', and four other initiatives under the 'Skill India' campaign. 
• • The website will provide free courses to aspirants registered for skill training schemes. 
  • It will also offer courses on soft skills, languages, digital literacy, orientation to regional cultures and entrepreneurship modules.

New Appointments

• Congress leader Pema Khandu, son of late Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, was today sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. 
• • He replaced Nabam Tuki, who stepped down from the post yesterday. 
  • This comes after the Supreme Court annulled the Centre's imposition of President’s rule in the state and reinstated the former Tuki-led Congress government.
• Indian-origin UK MP Priti Patel has been appointed as the International Development Secretary in PM Theresa May's cabinet reshuffle. 
• • Following the appointment, Patel vowed to work for deepening international partnerships and creating jobs in the developing world.

Business & Economy

• Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has commissioned a 250 MW thermal power project based on eco-friendly Circulating Fluidised Bed Combustion technology, using low quality lignite, in Gujarat. 
• • BHEL’s scope of work includes design, manufacture, supply, and commissioning of boilers, among others. 
  • This is the third such unit commissioned by BHEL, with the previous two in Tamil Nadu.

Awards & Honors

• UNESCO today listed Chandigarh and Sikkim’s national park home to the world’s third highest peak Mount Khangchendzonga among its World Heritage Sites, approving all three nominations linked to India this session.
• • Today’s approval is besides the archaeological site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) in Bihar entering the list at the 40th session of The World Heritage Committee meeting in Istanbul.
• Jeff Bezos, CEO and Founder of Amazon.com, is currently the 4th Richest Person in the world with a net worth of $63.9 billion. 
• • Bezos, who launched Amazon on July 16 1995, ranks behind Bill Gates, Zara's Amancio Ortega, and Warren Buffett. 
  • Note : The 52-year-old is also the founder of aerospace company Blue Origin and owner of Washington Post newspaper.

General Knowledge

• The Chief Minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal (88), is currently the oldest Chief Minister in the country. 
• • He was sworn in as the CM for a record fifth time in 2012. 
  • Note : When he assumed office in 1970 for the first time, he was the youngest ever CM of Punjab, a record he still holds.
• The newly elected Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu (37) is currently the youngest chief minister in the country. 
• • Khandu first entered the Arunachal Pradesh assembly in 2011 to fill the vacancy caused by his father's death. 
  • Note : India's youngest ever chief minister was Hasan Farook, who became the CM of Puducherry at the age of 29 in 1967.

Sports

• Indian professional boxer Vijender Singh became the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight champion  after defeating Australia’s Kerry Hope in New Delhi by unanimous decision. 
• • He dedicated this title to Muhammad Ali, who passed away last month. 
• Following the decision of newly appointed head coach Anil Kumble to punish late-comers with a $50 fine, Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar was tasked with chairing the committee responsible for enforcing the rule.
• • He also confirmed that his teammates Cheteshwar Pujara and Shikhar Dhawan were also included in the three-member panel to assist him in the process.

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