8th July 2015 - Important Current Affairs updates

July 8, 2015 Share Like Labels: gr8

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International Affairs

Pakistan has ruled out the possibility of banning Jamaat-ud Dawah led by Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, claiming that there is no evidence to link it with terrorism and the outlawed Lashkar-e-Toiba.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kazakhstan premier Karim Massimov have launched the first exploratory drilling of the Satpayev oil block by India's OVL (ONGC Videsh Ltd) and KazMunaiGaz.
- The two leaders launched the drilling through live video conferencing.

MOUs

India and Kazakhstan today inked Five key agreements including a defence pact to enhance military cooperation and a contract for supply of uranium.
- List of MOUs signed between India and Kazakhstan.
- - MOU on Cooperation on Physical Cultural and Sports.
  - MoU on Technical Cooperation in the field of Railways.
  - Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons
  - Agreement on Defence and Military – Technical Cooperation
  - Long term contract between Department of Atomic Energy, India and KazAtomProm for sale and purchase of natural uranium concentrates
The Telangana government and the Hyderabad based ICRISAT today signed MOU to implement Information and Communication Technology-based knowledge sharing platforms and other agricultural innovation initiatives to improve productivity and profitability of small-holder farmers.

National Affairs

The Government has raised Minimum Wages of workers throughout the country by around 17%.
- National Floor Level Minimum Wage has been hiked from Rs. 137 to Rs. 160 per day.
- The new wage hike will be effective from first of this month.
The Labour Ministry of India has urged all states to ensure Social Security Benefits to every Employee.
- In a letter written to all the Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors, Labour and Employment Minister Bandaru Dattatraya has asked to ensure all benefits to outsourced staff in government departments, public sector undertakings and state cooperatives and other bodies.
The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Central Government, Election Commission of India and the six National Political Parties (BJP, Congress, BSP, CPI, CPI(M) and NCP) on a plea to bring all political parties under the ambit of Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.
Pune’s Fergusson College, founded in 1885, has been accorded the special heritage status by the University Grants Commission (UGC). With the status comes financial assistance for its upkeep.
- Note : The college is among the 19 institutions in the country to get the heritage status.

Business & Economy

Based on a report released by the World Bank, 'The State of Social Safety Nets 2015', the rural employment guarantee programme MGNREGA has been ranked as the world's largest public works programme, providing social security net to almost 15 per cent of the country's population.
- About MGNREGA :
- - MGNREGA : Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act
  - It’s been launched in 2006 as NREGA and renamed as MGNREGA on 2nd October 2009.
  - Its intended to provide 150 days of employment to rural adult households as a right.
- Note : The World Bank ranked the Janani Suraksha Yojna with 78 million beneficiaries as the top-most social security programme with conditional cash transfers.
- - It also ranked the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme as the second-largest unconditional cash transfer social security progamme in the world.
Eurozone has given Greece until tomorrow to present new proposals to secure a deal with creditors and has called a full EU summit for Sunday.
- On Sunday, a meeting of all 28 members of the European Union will be held.
- The moves came after an emergency eurozone leaders’ summit in Brussels yesterday.
- Note : The eurozone had expected Greece to submit fresh plans yesterday after its voters rejected a deal in a referendum, but no new proposals were tabled.
- European Council President : Donald Tusk

Sports

Ashes 2015
- The oldest rivalry in Test cricket, ‎Ashes‬ begins in Cardiff today's afternoon.
- The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia.
- The Ashes are regarded as being held by the team that most recently won the Test series.
- Current trophy holder is Australia. Last time, Australia had defeated England in 2013-14 to claim the all-important urn.
- Note : The Ashes urn (made of terracotta and about 15 cm (six inches) tall) is reputed to contain a burnt cricket bail.