28 July 2017 Current Affairs

Mumbai Metro launches OnGo, Indias first mobile ticketing system

Mumbai Metro announced the launch of Indias first Mobile Ticketing System OnGo which
will help commuters pass the AFC gates using their mobile phones. The system is in the final
advanced stage of testing and will be implemented by mid-August. Through the Mumbai Metro
App, commuters will be able to buy their token or pass and generate a QR Code which will be
used to gain access through the automated fare collection (AFC) gates. Commuters will be able
to generate a QR Code through OnGo service for current or future journeys upto a week in
advance by clicking the mobile app wherein they would pay for their journey.

Amazons Jeff Bezos overtakes Gates to become worlds richest

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos briefly became the worlds richest man in Forbes magazines tracking
of wealth, as stock in his e-commerce company hit an all-time high. Mr Bezos, who is also
chairman and chief executive of the Seattle-based company, was worth almost $91bn (70bn)
after Amazons share price rose more than 1 per cent in morning trading in New York. That put
his fortune ahead of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. The latter has a net worth of around
$90.7bn and has been at the top of Bloombergs rich list since 2013. But Mr Bezos slipped back
into second place later in the day.

BRICS nations sign memorandum to facilitate taxation cooperation

Tax authorities of the five BRICS countries have signed a landmark document to establish a
mechanism for taxation cooperation. The BRICS Taxation Cooperation Memorandum, signed at
the fifth meeting of BRICS Heads of Tax Authorities, is the blocs first document that elevates
taxation cooperation to the institutional level. The authorities also agreed to cooperate on
taxation information exchange, improve consultation procedures efficiency, boost taxation
capacities and plan paths for coordination of taxation policies and tax collection. The meeting
comes ahead of the 2017 BRICS Summit to be held in Fujian provinces Xiamen city from
September 3 to 5.

Bollywood actor Inder Kumar passes away

Bollywood actor Inder Kumar passed away recently. He was 44. Inder Kumar suffered a heart
attack at his residence in Andheris Four Bungalows. He has worked in more than 20 films. He
also shared the screen space with Salman Khan in Wanted and Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge
among others. He was currently shooting for his next film Phati Paid Hai Yaar. The cremation
will be held today evening at Yaari Road Shamshaan Bhoomi.

PNB ties up with Bajaj Allianz General for distribution

Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance have signed an agreement for
the distribution of insurance products through the branches. Under this agreement, Bajaj Allianz
General Insurance will offer personal lines of insurance products such as health, personal
accident, home, motor and travel along with commercial line of insurance products such as
property, marine and engineering insurance, etc to the banks customers.

Shikha Sharma re-appointed MD & CEO of Axis Bank

Shikha Sharma has been re-appointed as MD&CEO of Axis Bank for three-year term from June
2018. Her current term was to end in June 2018. Axis Bank informed Bombay Stock Exchange
that board of directors has approved the re-appointment. Sharma began her career with the
erstwhile infra lender ICICI Ltd in 1980 and played a key role in setting up the groups
investment banking business. She joined Axis from ICICI Prudential Life where she was the
managing director and chief executive and replaced the first chairman and chief executive of the
bank P J Nayak.

Bolivian President declares Total Independence from World Bank & IMF

Bolivias President Eva Morales has declared that his nation has achieved total independece
form the IMF and the World Bank. President Morales declared the news on his official twitter
account. The socialist leader published his comments following a meeting with his peers at a
gathering in Argentina of the Mercosur, a sub-regional economic bloc.

28 July: World Hepatitis Day

World Hepatitis Day (WHD) takes places every year on 28 July and brings the world together
under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence
real change. The Theme for World Hepatitis Day 2017 is Eliminate Hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is
one of the leading causes of death globally, accounting for 1.34 million deaths per year thats
as many as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis or malaria. Together, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C cause
80% of liver cancer cases in the world.
BSE inks pact with Egyptian Exchange

Leading bourse BSE joined hands with Egyptian Exchange (EGX) for cooperation in exchange
of information across business areas. Through this MoU a range of opportunities has been
explored for the development of their businesses, products and markets to share knowledge and
strengthen international connectivity.

No immediate arrest under dowry harassment law: SC

The Supreme Court ruled that the police cannot arrest the accused without conducting a
preliminary inquiry under dowry harassment cases. With this, the court puts an end to immediate
arrests in dowry harassment cases, under Section 498A of Indian Penal Code (IPC). The ruling
was made by a bench of Justices A K Goeal and UU Lalit.

National Centre for Seismology launches app India Quake

Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment,
Forests & Climate Change has launched an app Inida Quake for Earthquake Parameter
Dissemination. The minister launched the application on the occasion of Foundation Day of
Ministry of Earth Sciences in New Delhi. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) operates
national seismological network with 84 stations. These stations are connected to NCS
headquarter through Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) for real time data communication.

Indonesia to host AFC U-19 championship in 2018

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Competition Committee awarded Indonesia the hosting
of the AFC Under-19 championship 2018. The AFC U-19 championship is scheduled to be held
from October 18 to November 4 of 2018. The committee felt that Indonesia was regarded as the
most favourable among the bidders.

Iran successfully launches rocket designed to carry satellites

Iran successfully launched its most advanced satellite-carrying rocket called Simorgh into
space. The launch took place at the Imam Khomeini National Space Station in Semnan, some
220 kilometers (138 miles) east of Tehran. The development marks a significant step forward for
the Islamic Republics young space program. It also raises alarm among the nations adversaries
who fear that the same technology could be used to produce long-range missiles. the U.S. State
Department has termed the launch as provocative. The rocket is capable of carrying a satellite
weighing 250 kilograms (550 pounds).

Nawaz Sharif resigns as Pakistan PM in Panama Papers case

Nawaz Sharif has resigned as prime minister of Pakistan following a decision by the countrys
Supreme Court to disqualify him from office. The ruling came after a probe into his familys
wealth following the 2015 Panama Papers dump linking Mr Sharifs children to offshore
companies. Defence Minister Khwaja Asif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif are the
new contenders for the post of Pakistan Prime Minister. Pakistans stock market fell by 3.4
percent after Supreme Court ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

PV Sindhu appointed Group-I officer by Andhra Pradesh Govt

Olympic silver medallist P V Sindhu has been appointed a Group-I officer in Andhra Pradesh.
Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu handed over the government order to the Rio Olympics
silver winning shuttler. Chandrababu Naidu had promised a Group-I post to Sindhu when she
won the silver medal in Olympics. Accordingly, she was appointed the deputy collector. The 21-
year-old shuttler has been working with Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) since 2013 and is
currently an assistant manager (sports) at its Hyderabad office. Although Sindhu had missed out
on gold in Rio de Janeiro, she scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman athlete ever
to win silver at the Olympics.

In a first in USA, scientists edit DNA of human embryos

A group of scientists at the Oregon Health & Science University edited the DNA of viable human
embryos efficiently and apparently with few mistakes. However, the experiment was just an
exercise in science and the embryos were not allowed to develop for mor than a few days and
were never intended to be implaned into a womb.

Trump administration urges NSG members to support Indias application

Donald Trumps administration has urged other members of the Nuclear Suppiers Group to
support Indias membership bid to the elite grouping. The NSG controls international nuclear
trade. The US Department of Defence and Department of State said in a report that the United
States welcomed Indias application to join the NSG and it continues to re-affirm that India is
ready for membership. It also added that the US has called upon other NSG members to support
Indias application.