08 August 2017 Current Affairs

Customers of PNB to pay higher charges for non-credit services

Come September, PNB customers will have to pay charges for depositing cash above Rs. 5,000 in a non-base branch even if it is located in the same city. Currently, the customers of Punjab National Bank have levied charges only for depositing cash over Rs. 25,000 at a non-base branch within the same city. It has been decided to revise the non-credit related charges (exclusive of GST) with effect from September 1st, 2017 for cash deposit above Rs. 5,000 at other than base branch within the same city. A customer will have to pay Re 1 per Rs 1,000 for above Rs 5,000 cash deposit or part thereof with a minimum of Rs 25 per transaction. At an outstation branch, cash deposit up to Rs 5,000 will be free of cost from September 1, which at present is limited for Rs 25,000.


Maharashtra to raise $270 m from Green Climate Fund

The 2030 Water Resources Group (2030WRG) will help the Maharashtra Government raise $270 million from the Green Climate Fund, which will be invested in integrated watershed programmes such as Jalyukt Shivar Yojana. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a new fund under the UN and is guided by the principles and provisions of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The 2030WRG is hosted by the International Finance Corporation and is a public-private-civil society collaboration for water resources reform in developing economies. Its ultimate aim is to close the gap between water demand and supply by the year 2030.


Iran signs its biggest-ever car deal with France’s Renault

Iran’s official news agency says two Iranian companies have signed the country’s biggest-ever car deal with French multinational automobile manufacturer Group Renault to produce 150,000 cars, beginning in 2018. The Euro €660 million or $778 million deal follows the lifting of international sanctions after Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers. It’s expected to create about 3,000 jobs for the two companies, Iran’s IDRO and the privately owned Negin Group. Renault has a 60% partnership in the deal.


Centre declares entire Assam as ‘disturbed’ for another month

The Centre has declared entire Assam as a “disturbed” area under the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for one more month, citing various violent activities by insurgent groups ULFA, NDFB, and others. The Union home ministry also declared Meghalaya’s border areas adjoining Assam, and three districts in Arunachal Pradesh as “disturbed” under the AFSPA for two more months with effect from 03 August, 2017. It has also declared as “disturbed” under the AFSPA three districts of Arunachal Pradesh – Tirap, Changlang, Longding and areas falling within the jurisdiction of 14 police stations in nine other districts of the state with effect from 04 August 2017 to 30 September 2017.


Usain Bolt beaten by Justin Gatlin in Swansong 100m final

Justin Gatlin tore up Usain Bolt’s farewell script as he stole world 100m gold with the run of his long and controversial career. Bolt was left with only a bronze in his final individual 100m race as 21-year-old Christian Coleman made it a USA one-two. The 35-year-old Gatlin, twice banned for doping, came through almost unnoticed in lane seven in 9.92 seconds, with Coleman’s 9.94 holding off the greatest sprinter of all time.


J&K Govt to spend Rs 1 lakh Cr on Development

The state government of Jammu and Kashmir has announced that it would be spending around Rs 1 lakh Cr on development works with special emphasis on education and road connectivity over the next five years. According to Public Works Minister, Naeem Akhtar the state is set to enter an era of unprecedented development as the government is spending Rs 1 lakh Cr on roads, buildings and creation of other public assets in the next five years.


UNESCO worried about Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

The UNESCO has cautioned that the damage caused to the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR)in the northern part of West Bengal due to the Gorkhaland agitation may put in peril the World Heritage tag it earned in 1999. Two prime stations Gayabari and Sonada were torched while an arson attempt was made on Elysia Building – the headquarters of the DHR during the pro-Gorkhaland bandh.


Dr. Madhu Chitkara conferred with Environment Leadership Award 2017

Chandigarh’s Chitkara University’s Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Madhu Chitkara was awarded the prestigious Himachal Pradesh Environment Leadership Award 2017 for excelling in the promotion of environmental conservation and sustainable development through inspiring and exemplary initiatives, vision, and transformative action. Chitkara University was awarded for its effort of recycling waste paper into sheets, folders, envelopes and carry bags and water by dual plumbing. The government introduced ‘Himachal Pradesh Environment Leadership Awards’ to be conferred annually to recognise the outstanding contribution by institutions or individuals in the promotion of environmental protection and conservation and sustainable development through inspiring and exemplary initiatives, vision, transformative action on their own.


Mastercard, PayPal expand partnership into Asia Pacific

Mastercard and PayPal have announced an extension of their partnership into Asia Pacific for making MasterCard a clear payment option within PayPal. PayPal will add Mastercard as a payment method to their e-wallet and consumers can make it their default payment option. Card Company will provide tokenization services and will enable mobile payments using PayPal’s digital wallet at more than 6.5 million contactless-enabled merchant locations across the globe. The partnership will also add Master pass as a payment option for merchants that process payments via Braintree. The partnership will allow consumers and small businesses across Asia Pacific to cash ou t funds held in their PayPal e-wallet to a Mastercard debit card.


Dawn of cruise tourism in India’ inaugurated in Mumbai

In order to promote cruise tourism in India, a special event, ‘The dawn of cruise tourism in India’ was inaugurated in Mumbai. The preparedness of Mumbai Port and Ministry of shipping to host cruise vessels in the country is revealed to a worldwide audience at the event. It also saw the launch of three reports, “Mumbai Port SoP’s for cruise operations”, “Road map for Sea cruise tourism” and “Cruise terminals in India”.


FMCG Britannia to set up largest plant in Maharashtra

India’s leading FMCG Britannia Industries would set up its largest plant in Maharashtra in a food park at Ranjangaon. There will be an investment of Rs 1000 crore at the Ranjangaon food park over a period of four to five years with an employment potential for 3000 people. The plant would have six biscuit lines, and one each for rusk and croissant. Besides, Britannia would set up its first greenfield unit in Nepal & commissioning two plants one each at Mundra and Guwahati.


Suspended Jadeja ranked No 1 Test all-rounder

Indian Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja has edged past Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan to become the number one all -ronder in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings 2017. This honour adds to the bowler’s already existing top rank in the test bowler’s chart. Jadeja with 438 points has a seven pointer lead over Shakib who has 431 points among the all-rounders. Coming to the batting rankings, Steve Smith and Joe Root retained their positions at Number 1 and 2. India’s Cheteshwar Pujara gained a position to be at the 3rd position with 888 points, while Indian skipper Virat Kohli maintained his stand at the 5th position with 813 points.


Railways earned Rs 540 crore through flexi fare in less than a year

The Railways has earned an additional revenue of Rs 540 crore in less than a year through the flexi fare scheme and there is no plan to discontinue it. The scheme, launched on 09th September 2016, is applicable in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains, allowing 10 per cent of the seats to be sold at the normal fare and thereafter increasing it by 10 per cent with every 10 per cent of berths sold with a ceiling of 50 per cent. The Railways made changes in the flexi fare structure to attract last minute travellers and introduced a range of discounts.


Amazon India ties up with Telangana Handloom dept

Amazon India has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Telangana Department of Handloom and Textiles, to educate, train and enable weavers and artisans to directly sell their products to Amazon customers across the country. According to a statement issued by the e-commerce giant, with over 17,000 handlooms in the state, this association will further help elevate popular handloom products from clusters such as are Pochampally, Warangal, Gadwal, Narayanpet and Siddipet which have a tremendous potential and demand in urban areas.


Coconut regains tree status in Goa as Assembly passes bill

Goa Legislative Assembly has passed Goa, Daman and Diu, Preservation of Trees Act, 1984. The bill seeks to reclassify coconut as a tree and ensure legal protection to it. The bill was passed to regulate felling of coconut trees and reclassify it as a tree on he last day of the Monsoon session of the state. Goa Forward Party, a partner in the Manohar Parrikar-led government, had promised to reclassify coconut as a tree. The previous Laxmikant Parsekar-led government had changed the classification of the coconut tree to a palm.


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