Current affairs - July 8, 2016
Utensil makers oppose quality norms on steel
Manufacturers and exporters of stainless steel utensils and
cutlery in India are opposing the recent curbs imposed on the import of
different types of so-called ‘substandard’ stainless steel.
Why?
According to them, the move will result in a shortage of raw
material and push up costs for the sector. This, they warned, could in turn
lead to closure of several firms in the sector due to non-viability of
operations, thereby causing large-scale unemployment.
Putin signs controversial ‘Big Brother’ law
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a package of
controversial anti-terror amendments dubbed “Big Brother” measures by critics
that may cost Internet companies billions.
Controversial provisions in the law:
- Tougher sentences for extremism and heightened electronic surveillance of Russian citizens.
- Postal employees are required to inspect packages.
- The number of crimes with which children between the ages of 14 and 17 can be charged is also increased.
- Public calls for terrorism or its public justification in the Internet will entail a penalty of up to 1 million rubles ($15,620) or liberty deprivation for a term of 5-7 years.
Sri Lanka to seal trade pact with India by
mid-2017
India and Sri Lanka are planning to expedite negotiations on the
proposed Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA). In this regard,
a delegation from India will shortly visit Colombo.
- India, accounting for 23% ($ 4,268 million in 2015) of Sri Lanka’s total imports, has been negotiating with the island nation on the ETCA, an extension over the existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
DRI unearths Rs. 2,240 cr. banking-hawala scam
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Mumbai has
unearthed a ‘banking-hawala’ scam, in which reputed public sector banks
illegally remitted Rs. 2,240 crore overseas based on forged documentation and
declarations of traded goods by exporters and importers.
Namami Gange project:
The Central government has launched 231 projects under the ‘Namami Gange’ project. This would take it closer to achieving its Clean Ganga
objective.
Namami Gange Programme:
The Union government approved “Namami Gange” Program in May 2015.
It integrates the efforts to clean and protect the Ganga River in a
comprehensive manner.
Focus of the programme:
Among other things, the programme will focus on pollution
abatement interventions namely Interception, diversion & treatment of
wastewater flowing through the open drains through bio-remediation /
appropriate in-situ treatment / use of innovative technologies.
sexual assault law:
German
lawmakers unanimously approved legislation that would make it easier to
prosecute suspects of sexual violence and that defines rape as the violation of
a woman’s will under the principle of “no means no.”
- It explicitly covers cases in which a victim withheld consent but did not physically fight back. It also lowers the bar for deporting sex offenders, classifies groping as a sex crime and targets assaults committed by large groups.
- It specifically upgrades groping to a sex crime with sentences of up to two years’ jail or a fine.
Anti-narcotics agencies of BRICS:
The second anti-drug
working group meeting of heads of anti-narcotics agencies of BRICS countries has begun in New Delhi. The meeting discusses issues
related to narco-terrorism and money laundering. The meeting has been organised
by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) of India.
