Current Affairs 10 June 2016

Current Affairs 10 June 2016 - Important Points

• With whom Qatar Investment Authority inks MoU to boost infrastructure investments - NIIF 
• Who concluded five-nation tour to Afghanistan, Qatar, Switzerland, the USA and Mexico - PM Modi
• Road Accidents in India 2015 Report released by - Union Government
• Major Global Initiatives against Weapons of - Mass Destruction & India’s stance
• India signs Europe-led clampdown on - Tax Evasion and Corruption
• Which bank launched India’s first certified green bond at London Stock Exchange - Axis Bank

Current Affairs 10 June 2016 - Details

With whom Qatar Investment Authority inks MoU to boost infrastructure investments - NIIF 

Among Important National Current Affairs, NIIF which is known as The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) has signed a MoU with Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) for facilitating investment in India’s infrastructure. 

Do You Know – 

• The MoU has been signed for a period of atleast one year during which both signatory parties will discuss and also agree on the terms which also includes criteri, principles for investments.

• However, under it, the NIIF with share a pipeline of investment opportunities available in the infrastructure sector in India with QIA.

Who concluded five-nation tour to Afghanistan, Qatar, Switzerland, the USA and Mexico - PM Modi

On 9 June 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded five-nation visit to Afghanistan, Qatar, Switzerland, the US and Mexico.

Between 4 June and 8 June 2016, PM Modi met with Afghan President, Ashraf Ghani; Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani; President of Swiss federation, Johann Schneider-Ammann; US President Barack Obama; and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieta too.

However, during this visit, Modi held high level meetings on a wide range of bilateral issues and matters of regional and global concern also. 

Whereas, With US President, Swiss President and Mexico President, Modi also discussed India's NSG membership issue and secured their constructive support.

Road Accidents in India 2015 Report released by - Union Government

On 9 June 2016, Nitin Gadkari, who is the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways launched the report titled Road Accidents in India 2015.

According to the report, road accidents have emerged as a major public health problem in India where almost 5 lakh accidents occurred last year killing 146000 people.

Major Global Initiatives against Weapons of - Mass Destruction & India’s stance

On 1 June 2016, India joined the Hague Code of Conduct (HCoC) against Ballistic Missile Proliferation as its 138th subscribing state. 

Through diplomatic channels, India also joined it by notifying HCoC Central Contact, Vienna. 

However, India’s joining the Code signals its readiness to further strengthen global non-proliferation objectives also. Its subscription reinforces its support for international missile non-proliferation.

India signs Europe-led clampdown on - Tax Evasion and Corruption

On 8 June 2016, India finally signed a Europe-led scheme that seeks to clampdown on tax evasion and corruption by committing to automatically exchange information on beneficial ownership.

After this, Indian also joined a group of nearly about 40 nations that are signatories of a scheme.

Please note, under this scheme, the signatories commits to the initiative to automatically exchange information on beneficial ownership. The next stage will be for the development of a global standard for this exchange.

Which bank launched India’s first certified green bond at London Stock Exchange - Axis Bank

Among all the banks of India, Axis Bank has taken one step forward and launched India’s first internationally-listed certified green bond to finance climate change solutions around the world at London Stock Exchange (LSE). 

By Axis Bank in green energy, transportation and infrastructure projects, the proceeds of the bond will be invested. It will also play an important role in reinforcing India’s commitment to produce 175,000 MW of renewable power by 2022. 

However, the green bonds of Axis Bank were certified by the Climate Bonds Standards Board. It has also raised 500 million dollars at the LSE after it was launched. 

With this, it is the first green bond of Axis Bank issued within its 5 billion dollars Medium Term Note (MTN) programme, which has also has been listed entirely on LSE.