Current Affairs 17th & 18th June 2017

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2017 observed globally on - 17th June 2017

• The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was observed globally on 17th June 2017 with a campaign 'Our land. Our home. 
• Our Future' to  promote public awareness of international efforts to conflict desertification. The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought examined the important link between migration and land degradation.

First Indian woman Member of ITLOS - Neeru Chadha

• Indian nominee Neeru Chadha became the first Indian Woman to be elected as the Member of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on 15th June 2017. 
• Chadha, International law expert, got 120 votes which is the highest number in the Asia Pacific group. She will be serving for nine-year term as the Judge at ITLOS from 2017 to 2026.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2017 observed on - 15th June 2017

• World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was observed globally on 15th June 2017 to voice against abuse and suffering inflicted on older people with the theme of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is "Understand and End Financial Abuse of Older People: A Human Rights Issue".

1st X-ray Space Telescope to study black holes launched by - China

• China launched its first X-ray Space Telescope named 'Insight' to study black holes, pulsars and gamma-ray bursts successfully on 15th June 2017.
• This Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT) was carried into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gobi Desert by Long March-4B rocket.

Special Gandhi Darshan train flagged off by - Gujarat CM

• The Chief Minister of Gujarat,Vijay Rupani flagged off Astha Tourist Train, a special Gandhi Darshan train from Sabarmati railway station on 17th June 2017 on the occasion of centenary celebrations of the historic Sabarmati Ashram founded by Mahatma Gandhi.

Switzerland signed automatic exchange of information with India on - 16th June 2017

• Switzerland ratified the automatic exchange of financial account information with India and 40 other jurisdictions to facilitate immediate sharing  of details of suspected black