Daily Current Affairs 28th July 2017

1. World Hepatitis Day : 28 July

World Hepatitis Day is observed on 28 July of every year officially endorsed by the World Health Organization.

• Theme of World Hepatitis Day 2017 is to Eliminate Hepatitis.
• World Hepatitis Day (WHD) is celebrated to raise awareness of the huge burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change in disease prevention and access to testing, treatment and care.

2. BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers Meet in China

Indian delegation led by Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour & Employment participated in the BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meet, held on 26-27th, July, 2017 at Chonqging, China.

•  China is the chair for the BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meet for the year 2017.
• BRICS Declaration consisted of : “Governance in the Future of Work”, “Skills for development in BRICS”, “Universal and sustainable social security systems”, “BRICS Network of Labour Research Institutions”, “BRICS Social Security Cooperation Framework” and “BRICS entrepreneurship research”.

3. CAC adopts Codex norms for three spices

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) adopted three Codex standards for black, white and green pepper, cumin and thyme paving the way for a universal agreement on identifying quality spices in various countries.

• The Codex Alimentarius or “Food Code” is a collection of standards, guidelines and codes of practice adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
• The Commission, also known as CAC, is the central part of the joint FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations)/WHO (World Health Organisation) Food Standards Programme.

4. National Centre for Seismology launches ‘India Quake’ App

Union Minister of Earth Sciences and Environment  Dr. Harshvardhan launched an app “India Quake” on the occasion of Foundation Day of Ministry of Earth Sciences in New Delhi.

• National Centre for Seismology (NCS) operates national seismological network with 84 stations. These stations are connected to NCS headquarter through VSAT for real time data communication.
• To overcome this, a Mobile App has been developed by the NCS for automatic dissemination of earthquake parameter (location, time and magnitude) after the occurrence of earthquakes.

5. Mumbai Metro launches India's first mobile ticketing system

Mumbai Metro One announced the launch of India's first Mobile Ticketing System 'OnGo' which will help commuters pass the AFC gates using their mobile phones.

• The 'OnGo' will be particularly convenient for those commuters wanting to book their journey through tokens or passes at their own convenience even from outside the Metro stations and avoid queues before ticketing windows.

6. Madras HC makes Vande Mataram mandatory in TN's schools

The Madras High Court ruled that 'Vande Mataram' must be sung in schools, educational institutes and government offices.

•  Justice Muralidharan said that in the event, if any person or organisation has difficulty in singing or playing the national song, he or she shall not be compelled or forced to sing it, provided there are valid reasons for not doing so.
• Court hopes and trusts that this order shall be taken in the right spirit and also implemented in letter and spirit by the citizenry of this great nation.

7. PNB & Bajaj Allianz General tie up

State-owned 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.
• The bank has widespread network of around 7,000 branches.

8. BSE inks cooperation pact with Egyptian Exchange

BSE joined hands with Egyptian Exchange (EGX) for cooperation in exchange of information across business areas.

• The exchange aims to cross list and trade securities that would provide new investment alternatives to investors in both markets.

9. Shikha Sharma reappointed Axis Bank MD and CEO

The board of directors of Axis Bank approved the re-appointment of Shikha Sharma as Managing Director and CEO of the bank, for a period of three years with effect from June 1, 2018 to June 2021.

10. Indonesia to host AFC U-19 championship

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Competition Committee officially awarded Indonesia the hosting of the AFC Under-19 championship next year.

• The AFC U-19 championship is scheduled to be held from October 18 to November 4 of next year.

11. Arundhati Roy’s ‘The Ministry of Utmost Happiness’ in 2017 Man Booker longlist

Arundhati Roy’s latest work of fiction, “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness”, has made it to the longlist of this year’s Man Booker Prize.

• The book came after a 19-year-long hiatus since the author’s debut novel “God of Small Things” that won the Booker Prize in 1997.
• Roy has published several works of non-fiction, including ‘The Algebra of Infinite Justice’, ‘Listening to Grasshoppers’ and ‘Broken Republic’ with ‘The Ministry of Utmost Happiness’ her second work of fiction

12. Former Karnataka CM Dharam Singh passes away

Former Karnataka Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh died of a massive heart attack.

• Singh headed the Congress-JD(S) coalition government from 2004 to 2006.
• A nine-time MLA and a former Member of Parliament, he had also headed the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committ