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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 20 June 2019

::NATIONAL::

President to address joint sitting of Parliament

President Ram NathKovind will address the joint sitting of both the houses of Parliament today. He will deliver the address at the Central Hall of Parliament.
The first session of the 17th LokSabha began on Monday in which the newly elected members took oath and election of the Speaker was held.TheRajyaSabha will begin its proceedings from today after the address of the President.
The Parliament session will continue till 26th of next month. The Economic Survey will be presented to Parliament on 4th July and the Union Budget for 2019- 20 will be presented to LokSabha on 5th July.
Meanwhile NDA nominee and BJP MP from Kota, Om Birla has been unanimously elected as the Speaker of 17th LokSabha.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister NarendraModi congratulated Om Birla saying his life has been devoted to service and Jan Seva has been the focal point of the politics.
He said Mr Birla has been in public life for years and worked for the BJP for a long time. Mr.Modi added that Om Birla represents from Kota, a place that is mini-India, a land associated with education and learning.

DD India programmes to be made available in Bangladesh & South Korea

Government has decided to show BTV World, a channel owned by Bangladesh TV, on the Doordarshan Free Dish which will be available for the viewers of Doordarshan in our country.
At the same time, DD India would be made available in Bangladesh for being viewed by the people in that country. An official release said this arrangement is a result of anMoU signed between PrasarBharati and Bangladesh TV (BTV) on 7th of May.
The channel - BTV World would be of special interest to the viewers of Eastern India. The decision marks an important watershed in the strengthening of ties between the two countries and follows with an earlier decision taken by the two Governments to co-produce a film on BangaBandhu Sheikh MujiburRahman, which will be directed by eminent film Director and Producer ShyamBenegal.
Government has also approved the proposal of PrasarBharati for making available the KBS World, an English 24x7 channel of South Korean government on the DD Free Dish for Indian viewers. Simultaneously, people of that country would be able to view DD India.
Briefing media this afternoon, Information and Broadcasting Minister PrakashJavadekar said, mutual cooperation with neighbouring countries is very important and the decision will build up a mutual relationship.

::ECONOMY::

EAC submits robustness of India’s GDP estimation methodology

The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister today released a detailed note titled GDP estimation in India- Perspectives and Facts.
The note provides a clear rationale for India’s switch to an improved GDP estimation methodology in January 2015. The new methodology that uses 2011-12 as the base year includes two major improvements.
One is the incorporation of MCA21 database and other is the incorporation of the Recommendations of System of National Accounts, SNA 2008.
This change was in line with other countries that have changed their methodologies in line with SNA 2008 and revised their respective GDP figures. On average, real GDP estimates saw an increase of 0.7 per cent among OECD countries.

Commerce ministry urges small traders to join e-commerce platform

Commerce and Industry Minister PiyushGoyal has urged small traders and retailers to join e-commerce platform to grow their business. Addressing a meeting of kirana stores, traders and retailers associations in New Delhi, Mr.Goyal called upon small traders to come on GeM platform which has achieved 25 thousand crore rupees turnover.
The meeting was aimed at exploring the strengths and weaknesses of small traders and engaging them for discussions on issues of e-Commerce.
Mr Goyal reiterated that India will not allow multi-brand retail by foreign companies and on the pretext of B2B no entry will be allowed for multi-brand retail.
He also asserted that predatory pricing will not be allowed and necessary action will be taken against defaulters. He said, government will give all support and assistance to small traders and retailers to grow their business.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

ADB data claims Bangladesh emerges fastest growing economy in Asia-pacific region

Bangladesh has emerged as the fastest growing economy among the 45 countries of the Asia-Pacific region according to Asian Development Bank (ADB).
In the financial year 2018-19 Bangladesh attained growth rate of 7.9 % which is its fastest rate since 1974. The bank predicted that the growth will be 8% in the next financial year.
The ADB country director handed over the report to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina last evening.
The bank said that higher public sector investment, stronger consumption demand, revival in exports, improved power supply and higher growth in private sector credit were the key factors of the high growth performance of Bangladesh.

Japan rejects South Korean proposal to compensate wartime forced labourers

Japan has rejected a South Korean proposal to set up a joint fund to compensate wartime forced labourers. Japan claims the proposed fund would not solve the issue, terming it unacceptable. Chief Cabinet Secretary YoshihideSuga said, Japan will continue to urge South Korea to agree to arbitration.
Relations between the two nations have been strained by a series of rulings from South Korean courts ordering Japanese firms that used wartime forced labour to compensate victims.
Japan's government and the firms have rejected the rulings. Tokyo said the issue was settled when the two countries normalised relations.
Last month, Tokyo proposed arbitration on the issue under an agreement signed by the two in 1965. The agreement calls for the two to set up an arbitration panel if a dispute is not resolved through diplomatic negotiations.
South Korea offered a counterproposal yesterday that would see South Korean and Japanese firms set up a voluntary fund to compensate victims.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Global survey reveals people in rich countries have low trusts in vaccines

People in Europe have the lowest levels of trust in vaccines, according to a global survey of public attitudes toward health and science published on Wednesday.
The study found that people living in high-income countries have the lowest confidence in vaccines, a result that ties in to the rise of the anti-vaccination movement, in which people refuse to believe in the benefits of vaccinations or claim that the treatment is dangerous.
And France has the lowest levels of confidence, according to the survey devised by British medical charity Wellcome Trust and conducted by Gallup World Poll between April and December 2018.
Bangladesh and Rwanda had the highest levels of confidence in vaccines, with almost 100% in both countries agreeing they were safe, effective and important for children to have.
The lowest confidence levels in relation to vaccines were in Western Europe where more than a fifth (22%) of people disagree that vaccines are safe, and in Eastern Europe where 17% disagreed that vaccines are effective.
An estimated 169 million children missed out on the vital first dose of the measles vaccine between 2010 and 2017, according to a UN report issued in April.

::SPORTS::

Archery association of India delisted by WA

Archery's world body has de-listed the Archery Association of India (AAI) as a member and given it a month's time to either get its house in order or face suspension.
World Archery (WA) said, it will wait till 31st of next month before deciding on AAI's suspension. The WA will wait for the Supreme Court's verdict on the controversial elections of the AAI.
The decision to de-list AAI will not prevent Indian archers from taking part in international events under the national flag in competitions for which entries have already been made.