6 August 2015 Current Affairs
Colonel Harwant Singh (Retd), World War-II hero passes away
Retired Colonel Harwant Singh, a World War-II veteran and hero passed away in Patiala, Punjab on 4 August 2015. He was 95. He was commissioned in 2nd battalion of the Sikh Regiment of then British Army in September 1941. During the World War (WW)-II he had served in Palestine, North Africa, Iraq, Cyprus and Italy for the British Army. In 1944, he was awarded with the Military Cross (highest award of the British Army) for gallantry during an offensive against the German forces on the Gothic Line in Italy. During the first Independence Day celebration of 1947, he was officer in charge of the flag-hoisting ceremony held at Princess Park on August 15 and Red Fort on August 16.
India and Myanmar inked agreement to set up CESDT in Myanmar
India and Myanmar on 6 August 2015 inked an agreement to set up Centre of Excellence in Software Development and Training (CESDT) in Myanmar. The project to be set up with the financial support through ASEAN-India Cooperation fund will be implemented by C-DAC.The agreement was signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during the visit of Minister of State for External Affairs of India Gen (Retd) VK Singh. Singh was in Malaysia to attend the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meet. Under the chairmanship of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Anifah Aman, the 48th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Foreign Ministers meet was held in Kuala Lumpur. “Our People, Our Community, Our Vision” was the theme for the meet.
RBI relaxed Branch Authorisation Policy to allow banks to merge or close branches in urban areas
On 6th August 2015, Section 23 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 -Relaxations in Branch Authorisation Policy was notified by Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This will give the authority to banks at their own discretion to shift, merge or close branches, in urban areas.The central bank said that “customers of the branch should be informed well in time before actual shifting, merger or closure of the office”.
FIFA World Rankings released for August Edition
On 6th August 2015, FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings was released for the August edition. Argentina got first rank and is followed by Belgium at second rank (moved up 1) and Germany at third rank (moved down 1).
In the August edition of the FIFA rankings is that for the first time Chile entered top ten being at the tenth rank whereas the Netherlands moved out of top ten being at the 12th position.India is at 156th position with 161 points in FIFA World rankings.