17 June 2016 Current Affairs
US Senate Approves Enhanced Military Cooperation with India
The United States (US) Senate (Upper House) has unanimously approved amendment to enhance military co-operation with India as part of National Defence Authorisation Act -2017 Under it, military co-operation with India will be for developing military doctrine, threat analysis, force planning, logistical support and intelligence collection and analysis. The bill was moved by Senator John Sullivan and the amendment was co-sponsored by Senator John Corny and Mark Warner, the two co-chairs of the Senate India Caucus along with Senator Mark Kirk.
India, Namibia Signed Two MoUs
India and Namibia have signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during the final leg of President Pranab Mukherjee’s three-nation African visit. These agreements were signed after a bilateral dialogue between President Mukherjee and his Namibian counterpart Hage Geingob. The two signed MoUs include MoU on Capacity building for civil servants of Namibia. Mou on setting up of centre of excellence in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir Nominated as US Ambassador To Malaysia
Indian-origin diplomat Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir was on 17 June nominated as the next American Ambassador to Malaysia by US President Barack Obama. He will replace Joseph Y Yun, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir served as the Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2011 to 2015. Earlier she had served as the US Consul General in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom from 2009 to 2011. Previously she had worked in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs as the Director of the Office of Maritime Southeast Asia from 2007 to 2009.
World Day To Combat Desertification 2016 Observed
World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) 2016 was observed across the world on 17 June 2016. Inclusive cooperation for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality was the theme for the 2016 WDCD. The slogan for the day was Protect Earth. Restore Land. Engage People. The theme advocates importance of inclusive cooperation to restore and rehabilitate degraded land. It also advocates to contribute towards achieving the overall Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On the other hand, the slogan addresses the importance of comprehensive participation and cooperation in working towards achieving Land Degradation Neutrality. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had designated declared June 17 as the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought in 1994. It was observed for the first time in 1995. The day is observed globally to promote public awareness of the issue, and the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in those countries experiencing serious desertification or drought, particularly in Africa.
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