17th October 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs of 17th October 2017

International Affairs

Today (17th October) is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
- This day has been observed every year since 1993, when the United Nations General Assembly, by resolution designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries.
- Fighting poverty remains at the core of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the development of the post-2015 development agenda.
- Theme of the year 2017 : “Answering the Call of October 17 to end poverty: A path toward peaceful and inclusive societies”
Pakistan today won a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) by more than two-thirds vote as the General Assembly elected 15 countries to serve on the 47-member body.
- Pakistan said its membership to this council demonstrates a strong vote of confidence of the international community in its contributions to the global human rights agenda.
The European Union today imposed new sanctions against North Korea in response to its nuclear programme.
- The sanctions include a ban on EU investment in North Korea and a ban on the sale of refined petroleum products and crude oil. Last month, the UN put a cap on North Korean imports of crude oil and banned its textile imports.

National Current Affairs

2nd Ayurveda Day is being observed today.
- This day is observed on the occassion of Dhanwantari Jayanthi.
- Theme of Ayurveda Day 2017 : 'Run for Ayurveda'
On the occasion of the 2nd Ayurveda Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first ever All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in Delhi today.
- It is the first institute under the Ministry of AYUSH with a National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation.
- The institute will have separate Yoga, Panchakarma, and Kriya Kalpa units, among others.
The national capital Delhi was ranked 4th on the list of the world's worst megacities, after Cairo, Karachi, and Kinshasa for sexual violence against women, a survey by the Thomson Reuters Foundation has revealed.
- Important Note : Tokyo was named the safest city for women.
RunForUnity will be organised across the country to observe birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on 31st October, 2017.

Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked India to consider setting up an independent fiscal council.
- Vitor Gaspar, Director of IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department, has said there is "tentative evidence" that independent fiscal institutions contributed to better outcomes in countries where they have been established.
- He also said that GST is "growth-friendly" in medium to long term.
The Polish Finance Ministry has announced that it will withdraw the country from the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) precautionary Flexible Credit Line worth $9.2 billion.
- Poland posted a record surplus of $1.36 billion for the period from January to August this year.
Akshay Ruparelia, a 19-year-old Indian-origin youth, has become one of UK's youngest millionaires after his online estate agency business was valued at £12 million in just over a year.

Books & Authors

Actress Deepika Padukone launched Hema Malini's biography 'Hema Malini: Beyond the Dream Girl' on the occasion of Hema's 69th birthday.
- The biography has been authored by journalist turned writer Ram Kamal Mukherjee and also contains a short foreword written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Science & Technology

Social media giant Facebook is testing a Resume feature that lets users list their contact details along with professional experience and education on their Facebook accounts. The feature, which allows users to add their image and other qualifications, combines the information under a single tab. The feature is reportedly an expansion of Facebook's 'Work and Education' section.

Awards & Honors

50 Indian peacekeepers stationed in South Sudan have been awarded the UN Medal for their professionalism and service in protecting civilians and building durable peace in the conflict-ridden country.
- The Indian peacekeepers are part of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
- They are deployed with the Indian battalion stationed at Bor in the Jonglei region of South Sudan. They were presented with the award recently by UNMISS Force Commander General Frank Mushyo Kamanzi.

Deaths

India’s first Olympic swimmerShamsher Khan (92) passed away.
- Khan had represented India in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Australia and served in the Army for more than two decades before retiring as a subedar.

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