CURRENT AFFAIRS SNIPPETS 30 JULY 2022

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS SNIPPETS

30th July 2022

 

National News

Who is Savitri Jindal, the 72-year-old who is now Asia's richest woman?

Savitri Jindal, the richest woman in Asia with $11.3 billion wealth, is the Chairperson Emeritus of the OP Jindal Group. Jindal took over the steel and power conglomerate at the age of 55, after her husband Om Prakash Jindal died in a helicopter crash in 2005. The 72-year-old has previously also served as a Cabinet Minister in the Haryana government.

 

 

PM Narendra Modi launches International Bullion Exchange IIBX in GIFT-City 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the ‘India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX)’, at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) near Gandhinagar, Gujarat. IIBX is India’s first international bullion exchange.  The exchange, which was announced in Budget 2020, will sell physical gold and silver. The exchange will be open for jewellers with a net worth of Rs 25 crore and above to participate.  Ashok Gautam will head IIBX as MD and CEO. He took charge in February 2022 and worked with IDBI Bank before this. He has earlier worked with the State Bank of India (SBI).

Punjab to host the PUNJAB KHED MELA from August 29 

The Punjab Sports Department will host the Punjab Khed Mela, which will feature 30 sporting activities in six age divisions for competitors between the ages of 14 and 60.  The event's goals are to find talent, create a welcoming environment for sports, and raise public awareness of health. There will be competitions in the age ranges of 25 to 40, 40 to 50, and 50 to 60 in addition to the previously conducted under-14, under-17, and 17 to 25 age groups.  On August 29, National Sports Day, the Punjab Khed Mela, which will take place from the block to the state level, will officially begin. Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer made this announcement in Chandigarh.

Gujarat becomes first Indian state to launch semiconductor policy 2022-27 

The Gujarat government has announced a dedicated ‘Gujarat Semiconductor Policy 2022-27’ with a view to generating at least 2,00,000 new employment opportunities during a period of five years.  The Gujarat government has also decided to develop a “semicon city” which would be a part of the Dholera Special Investment Region. The projects approved under the Design-linked Incentive scheme of the Government of India will not be eligible for availing of the benefits under the new policy, said the state government press release.

Chhattisgarh CM launched ‘Mahtari Nyay Rath’ for women rights awareness 

To educate the state’s women about their constitutional rights and laws, the Chhattisgarh Women Commission will host the Mukhyamantri Mahtari Nyay Rath Yatra. On the occasion of the Hareli Tihaar festival, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel will set off the “Mukhyamantri Mahtari Nyay Rath“.  Through short films, messages, and booklets, the chariots will visit all of the districts to educate people about the legal protections for women and their constitutional rights.

Appointments News

Pranay Kumar Verma named as new High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh

Pranay Kumar Verma, an experienced diplomat and IFS official from the 1994 batch, has been chosen to serve as India's next High Commissioner to Bangladesh. He is currently the ambassador of India to Vietnam.  The Delhi-based Ministry of External Affairs made this announcement. Vikram Doraiswami, the current High Commissioner of India to the UK, is rumoured to be taking over, thus he is expected to start the job soon in his stead.

Coca-Cola signed on Neeraj Chopra for Limca Sportz promotion 

Coca-Cola has signed Olympic gold medalist, Neeraj Chopra for Limca Sportz promotion. Recently, Neeraj Chopra has become the first-ever Indian to win a silver medal at World Athletics Championships with his best throw of 88.13 m.  Also, Neeraj Chopra has been ruled out of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 in England due to an injury he picked up at World Athletics Championships.  Coca-Cola India and its bottling partners are investing around $1 billion (around Rs 7,990 crore) to expand the production capacity by up to 40 per cent.

 

 

 

 

BANKING, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

India's core sector grows at 12.7% from 9.4% YoY in June

India's eight core sectors grew 12.7% in June, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Friday. In the corresponding period last fiscal, the growth was 9.4%. The output in seven sectors, including coal, natural gas, refinery products, electricity, fertilisers, cement and steel grew in June. The core sector growth in May was 19.3%.

IOC posts ₹1,993 crore net loss led by high input costs

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) on Friday reported a net loss of ₹1,993 crore for the quarter ended June compared to a net profit of ₹5,941.37 crore in the corresponding period in FY22. High input costs led to a fall in its profit. IOC's revenue from operations rose to ₹2.51 lakh crore driven by higher international oil prices.

Agreements News

Indian and Malaysian bodies signs deal to support palm oil business 

The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) and the Indian Vegetable Oil Producers' Association (IVPA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand their cooperation in promoting the usage of palm oil.  The MoU is anticipated to increase collaboration in areas of shared interest and to advance the production and consumption of palm oil from Malaysia and palm oil with the MSPO certification. Through cooperative actions and assistance for product and market development, it would advance the interests of producers, processors, users, and consumers.

Ranks and Reports News

Parle Still the leading FMCG company in India

According to Kantar India's annual Brand Footprint study, locally produced biscuit brand Parle continued to be the most popular brand among fast-moving consumer goods in India in 2021, topping the rankings for the eleventh year in a row.  Based on Consumer Reach Points (CRPs), the report assessed the FMCG brands that consumers will choose in 2021. CRP are evaluated based on the actual purchases made by customers and the regularity with which they occur throughout a given year.  In other words, CRP gauges a brand's mass appeal based on its penetration and how consumers feel about it based on how frequently they purchase it.

 

INTERNATIONAL

Amazon and Apple add $196 billion to their combined market value in a day

Amazon and Apple added $196 billion to their combined market value on Friday as the companies' shares surged after their quarterly results were announced. Amazon shares gained 10% in their biggest move since February, whereas Apple stock advanced 3.3%. While Apple reported an 11% decline in net income to $19.4 billion, the iPhone maker's overall results were better than feared.

Sports News

PM Modi congratulates Mirabai Chanu on winning CWG gold, says 'Every Indian is delighted'

PM Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate weightlifter Mirabai Chanu on winning India's first gold medal at CWG 2022. He wrote, "The exceptional @mirabai_chanu makes India proud once again! Every Indian is delighted that she's won a gold and set a new Commonwealth record at the Birmingham Games." He added, "Her success inspires several Indians, especially budding athletes

 

Commonwealth Games 2022: Weightlifter Sanket Sargar wins silver 

India's Sanket Sargar has scripted history, by becoming the first athlete from India to win a medal at Commonwealth Games 2022.  He won a silver medal in the men's 55kg event with a total of 248kg (113kg in snatch, 135 in clean and jerk) to finish behind Malaysia's Aniq Mohamad, who took gold with a total of 249 kg (107kg in snatch, 142kg in clean and jerk).

Important Days

International Friendship Day 2022 observed globally on 30 July

International Friendship Day is celebrated annually on July 30 and it was first proposed way back in the year 1958 by World Friendship Crusade, an international civil organisation.  According to United Nations, the International Day of Friendship can help promote peace and social harmony among people. In India as well as many other countries, Friendship Day is also celebrated on the first Sunday of August. This year it falls on August 7, 2022.  The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2022: 30 July

World Day Against Trafficking is observed annually on 30 July to make people aware of who is being trafficked. The day aims to educate people that trafficking in persons is considered to be a crime, including the exploitation of women and children for tragic jobs of forced labour and sex.  This year’s theme “Use and abuse of technology” focuses on the role of technology as a tool that can both enable and impede human trafficking.  In 2013, the UN General Assembly organised a high-level meeting to work on the Global Plan of Action. The member states adopted a resolution A/RES/68/192 and designated 30 July as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons.

Miscellaneous News

Largest pink diamond in 300 years "Lulo Rose" found in Angola

A rare pure pink diamond, believed to be the largest found in 300 years, has been unearthed in Angola, a country in Central Africa. The Lulo Rose is a type 2a diamond, meaning it has few or no impurities.  It is the fifth largest diamond recovered from the Lulo mine - a joint venture between Australia's Lucapa Diamond Company and the Angolan government.

Dimensions of Lulo Rose:

 

It is a 170-carat pink diamond & has been named ‘The Lulo Rose’.  It weighs 34 grams.  Similar diamonds have been bought for tens of millions of dollars in the past, with one - known as Pink Star - selling at a Hong Kong auction for $71.2m (£59m) in 2017.

India's first teaching robot, introduced by Indus International School 

As part of a collaborative learning strategy at its schools, Indus International School has launched the innovative and first Teaching Robot in India, the Eagle Robot.  Three of the Indus Schools have 21 Eagle Robots deployed, with seven in each of Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Pune. Eagle Robot is very interactive, personalises the experience, and emulates emotions through the digital face.  Eagle Robot is capable of instructing kids in grades 5 through 11 both alone and in a classroom setting with a human teacher.

OBITUARY

Actor Sarath Chandran found dead at his residence in Kerala aged 37

Malayalam film actor Sarath Chandran was found dead at his residence in Kerala in a suspected case of suicide, police said on Saturday. A suicide note was also found with him. The 37-year-old actor had essayed roles in movies including 'Angamaly Diaries', 'Oru Mexican Aparatha', 'CIA' and 'Koode' among others.

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