Consumer Protection Act, 2019 comes into force

1.India, Maldives sign agreement for establishment of ‘Emergency Medical Services’ in Male

India and Maldives have signed an agreement for establishment of ‘Emergency Medical Services’ in capital Male.It is one of the several small and medium projects that are being financed by India under a grant assistance of around 20 million US dollars for the neighbouring country.The emergency medical service unit will enhance timely access to quality emergency care.It will increase collaboration between healthcare facilities and disaster response agencies, especially during critical times of need.

2.PM Modi interacts with IBM CEO Arvind Krishna

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with IBM CEO Shri Arvind Krishna via video conferencing.The Prime Minister congratulated Shri Arvind Krishna for becoming the global head of IBM earlier this year.He became the chief executive officer (CEO) of IBM in early 2020.With this he joined Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Shantanu Narayen (Adobe), and Sundar Pichai (Google) as an Indian CEO of a major United States technology company.The Prime Minister appreciated the role played by IBM, in association with CBSE, towards the launch of AI curriculum in 200 schools in India.

3.CBDT, CBIC sign fresh MoU for data sharing

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for exchange of information.This MoU supersedes the MoU signed between CBDT and the erstwhile Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) in the year 2015.This MoU will facilitate the sharing of data and information between CBDT and CBIC on an automatic and regular basis, including on request, from their respective databases.The MoU comes into force from the date it was signed and is an ongoing initiative of CBDT and CBIC, who are already collaborating through various existing mechanisms.

4.Consumer Protection Act, 2019 comes into force

Bringing e-commerce companies under the ambit of a structured consumer redressal mechanism, the government on July 20 notified the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which will be empowered to conduct investigations into violations of consumer rights.It will also give teeth to the authorities to punish unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements.E-commerce platforms will now have to acknowledge the receipt of any consumer complaint within 48 hours and redress the complaint within a month from the date of receipt.A significant change that under the earlier Act, complaints could be initiated only in the place where the transaction took place. But now, a consumer can institute a complaint from where he resides.It will protect the consumer rights through its various notified Rules and provisions and will empower consumers and hence help them in protecting their rights.

5.Govt extends work from home for IT, BPO companies till Dec 31 due to COVID-19

Government has extended connectivity norms for work from home for IT and BPO companies till December 31 this year due to COVID-19 pandemic.It has further extended the relaxations in the terms and conditions for other service providers up to 31st December 2020 to facilitate work from home in view of the ongoing concern due to COVID-19.The time period for work from home was expiring on July 31.

6.1st batch of five Indian Air Force Rafale likely to arrive in India by July end

The first batch of five Indian Air Force Rafale is likely to arrive in India by the end of this month.The aircraft will be inducted at Air Force Station Ambala on 29th July.Indian Air Force aircrew and ground crew have undergone comprehensive training on the aircraft, including its highly advanced weapons systems and are fully operational now.India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore.The aircraft is capable of carrying a range of potent weapons.Out of 36 Rafale jets, 30 will be fighter jets and six will be trainers. The trainer jets will be twin-seater and they will have almost all the features of the fighter jets.

7.Board of Karur Vysya Bank appoints Ramesh Babu Boddu as MD and CEO

Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) has co-opted Ramesh Babu Boddu as an Additional Director and appointed him Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer for three years.The appointment of Ramesh Babu Boddu has been made for a period of three years from the date of taking charge.He will succeed PR Seshadri who resigned on 31st March 2020.Ramesh Babu Boddu has earlier served as Deputy Managing Director in State Bank of India and retired in April 2020.

8.Sumit Deb appointed CMD of National Mineral Development Corporation

Sumit Deb has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), iron ore mining major of the country.Deb, at present Director (Personnel) in the NMDC, will have tenure till February 28, 2023, i.e. the date of his superannuation.He succeeds N Baijendra Kumar who superannuates this month-end.NMDC Limited, previously known as National Mineral Development Corporation, is an Indian state-controlled mineral producer.It is 72.43% owned by the Government of India, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel.

9.Greta Thunberg wins 1 million euro prize, says she will donate it to environmental groups

Climate activist Greta Thunberg plans to donate a 1 million euro ($1.14 million) prize to organizations focused on the environment and climate change.The 17 year old Swede was named winner of the inaugural Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity.The Gulbenkian Prize aims to recognise people, groups of people and/or organisations from all over the world whose contributions to mitigation and adaptation to climate change stand out for its novelty, innovation and impact.The Portugal-based Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation was set up in the 1950s following the death of Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian, a wealthy businessman and philanthropist with interests in oil.

10.Award-winning Spanish novelist Juan Marsé dies at age 87

Juan Marsé, the Spanish novelist, has died at age 87.Marsé was one of Spain’s most-respected novelists over the past few decades and the winner of the 2008 Cervantes Prize, the Spanish-speaking world’s top literary award.Marsé’s most important novel was “Úlitmas tardes on Teresa” (“Last Afternoons with Teresa”) published in 1965.It chronicles the misadventure of a working-class adolescent who tries to win over a girl from the upscale side of Barcelona.Marsé, a native of the city, followed that success with several other novels that form a portrait of the social transformation of Spain during the latter part of the 20th century.