Current Affairs Daily Digest – August 04 2019
1. 10th Mekong Ganga Cooperation Ministerial meeting held in Bangkok
The 10th Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Ministerial Meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand. India was represented by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. During this meeting, new MGC Plan of Action 2019-2022 was adopted.
2. India Participates in 8th RCEP Inter-Sessional Ministerial Meeting in Beijing
The Commerce Secretary Dr. Anup Wadhawan led a delegation to the 8th RCEP Inter-sessional Ministerial meeting held in Beijing on 2-3 August 2019. During the meeting he highlighted India’s contribution in shaping the RCEP negotiations till date.
He advocated a spirit of understanding accommodation and flexibility towards reaching balanced outcome in the negotiations. India’s concerns regarding market access and other issues leading to imbalanced trade between some of the partner countries was specifically flagged during the meetings.
3. RBI slaps penalties on nine banks over delay in reporting of frauds
The Reserve Bank has slapped penalties on nine commercial banks, including State bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda, for a host of violations, including delay on the reporting of fraud in the account of Kingfisher Airlines in case of two lenders.
United Bank of India and Punjab & Sind Bank said they have been fined 1 crore each by the RBI. State Bank of India (SBI) said the RBI imposed a penalty of Rs 50 lakh on it for non-compliance relating to reporting of frauds.
4. NFDC announces Second window of Funding for Film Production in various Indian languages
National Film Development Corporation Limited – NFDC has announced that it will start accepting applications for funding of feature films under the Central Government scheme, ‘Production of films in various Indian languages’. In a statement, NDFC has informed that interested applicants can apply by visiting official website
5. Rajya Sabha passes Wage Code bill providing minimum wages for workers
Moving ahead with labour reforms, the Rajya Sabha passed the Wage Code bill Friday to enforce minimum wage among both formal and informal sector workers and make provision for no gender discrimination in either recruitment or payment of wages. This comes following passage of the bill in the Lok Sabha and has the potential to improve women labour force participation rate in the country.
6. NITI Aayog approves JV to acquire minerals needed for Electric Vehicles
NITI Aayog has approved the proposal for joint venture between National Aluminium Company (Nalco), Hindustan Copper (HCL) and Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. and foreign companies.
The plan is to acquire foreign reserves of strategic minerals like lithium and cobalt to power the country’s electric vehicles has moved a step closer. Therefore, the three state-owned metal and mining companies are set to form a joint venture to buy on minerals.
7. Film-maker DA Pennebaker dies aged 94
The film-maker DA Pennebaker has died aged 94. He died of natural causes on Thursday, his son, Frazer Pennebaker, told the Hollywood Reporter.Pennebaker received a lifetime achievement award Oscar in 2013 – the first documentary-maker to do so – honouring his contribution as a pioneer of cinéma vérité film-making, a movement that originated in France and, featuring natural actions and authentic dialogue, showed subjects living their day-to-day lives.
8. Smith 2nd fastest batsman to hit 25 Test tons, overtakes Kohli
Australia batsman Steve Smith on Sunday became the second-fastest batsman to smash 25 Test hundreds, achieving the feat in his 119th innings during the second innings of first Ashes Test. Smith overtook Team India captain Virat Kohli, who had taken 127 innings to reach the landmark. Sir Don Bradman was the fastest to reach 25 Test tons (68 innings).
9. Bill Gates regains world’s 2nd richest person spot with $106 bn wealth
Microsoft Co-founder Bill Gates has regained the world’s second-richest person spot with $106 billion wealth, as per Bloomberg Billionaires Index. This comes days after French luxury goods tycoon Bernard Arnault’s wealth surpassed Gates’ wealth. Arnault, who derives most of his wealth from his holdings in Louis Vuitton owner LVMH, is now the world’s third-richest person with $97.8 billion wealth.
10. Acquiring Flipkart made Walmart India’s top retailer: Euromonitor
A study by UK-based market research platform Euromonitor International has ranked Walmart as the top retailer in India in its Top 100 Retailers in Asia 2019 list. It cited Walmart’s acquisition of Flipkart as the major reason behind ranking Walmart at the top. Walmart is followed by its US rival Amazon, homegrown Future Group and Reliance Retail on the list.
11. Navdeep becomes first Indian to bowl 20th over as maiden in a T20I
Pacer Navdeep Saini has become the first Indian bowler to bowl the 20th over as a maiden in a T20I, achieving the feat on his international debut against West Indies on Saturday.
Former New Zealand spinner Jeetan Patel (2008), Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir (2010) and Singapore’s Janak Prakash (2019) are the other three bowlers to have achieved the feat.
12. Lovlina, Neeraj clinch gold at Umakhanov Memorial Boxing
Lovlina Borgohain and Neeraj clinched gold medals while Gaurav Solanki had to settle for a silver at the Magomed Salam Umakhanov Memorial International Boxing Tournament in Kaspiysk, Russia.
The Indian contingent ended the tournament with six medals, including two golds, one silver and three bronze. Reigning Asian Championships gold medallist Pooja Rani won a bronze medal.
