CURRENT AFFAIRS 29th JULY, 2014

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1. World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Roberto Azevêdo has called a meeting of G-33 and G-20 countries in an effort to save the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). The WTO General Council, which is the highest decision-making body had got suspended for not being able to build a consensus among the 160-member countries, especially India, to sign the Protocol of Amendment relating to TFA.

2. The 18th Malabar exercise is an annual US-India naval engagement that began on 24th July. The participation of other regional powers, such as Japan this year, has made Malabar into a statement of India's strategic intent in the Asia-Pacific.

3. The amended Sebi Bill mandates setting up of special courts for fast-track resolutions of securities law-related offences. The Sebi Bill has kept the National Pension System (NPS) outside the ambit of the Collective Investment Schemes (CIS).

4. Shimla, first in Himachal Pradesh to get a water automatic teller machine (ATM) dispenser for tourists and locals at its popular spot the Ridge. Piramal Sarvjal has signed an agreement with the Himachal government to run this not-for-profit water ATM which provides a litre of filtered water for 50 paise.

5. Union Minister of State for Environment Prakash Javadekar flagged off the third phase of the Science Express Biodiversity Special (SEBS). It is implemented by Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Railways. SEBS is a exhibition on wheels to create awareness about India’s biodiversity.

6. US Secretary of State John Kerry is to co-chair the fifth annual India-US Strategic Dialogue with Ms. Sushma Swaraj. An American think-tank, Center for American Progress (CAP) has launched a programme, "India:2020" which will examine short and long term policy priorities in the India-US strategic partnership that is to be achieved by the year 2020.