NATIONAL NEWS
Government launches National Clean Air Programme to cut pollutants by 2024
Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Harsh Vardhan launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aiming to reduce toxic particulate matter by 2024, taking 2017 as the base year.
- With 2019 as its first year, the NCAP is a mid-term, five-year action plan that includes collaborative, multi-scale and cross-sectoral coordination between relevant Central ministries, state governments and local bodies.
- The Environment Ministry has announced a budget of Rs 300 crore for two years to tackle air pollution across 102 cities, which have been identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for not meeting the pollution standards set by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
Vice President to inaugurate 25th Partnership Summit in Mumbai
Indian and global leaders on economic policy shall deliberate for two days at the 25h Partnership Summit 2019, which will be inaugurated by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu. The global platform for dialogue, debates and engagement among the experts on economic policy and growth trends in India is expected to build new partnerships and explore investment opportunities through high-level exchanges and B2B meetings.
- It will also showcase India in the present landscape of an emerging 'New India', the 'New Global Economic Address', actively engaging and collaborating within the country and the world.
- The Partnership Summit 2019 is being organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Maharashtra Government and the Confederation of Indian Industry.
First manned mission to space by December 2021: ISRO chief
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K Sivan said the Rs 10,000 crore worth Gaganyaan mission is a major turning point for the space agency, while adding that his team is targeting to send the first manned mission to space in December 2021.
- Sivan also said the target is for two unmanned missions to space is December 2020 and July 2021.
Alok Verma resigns from service
Alok Verma resigned from service, a day after he was shunted out as CBI director and appointed as DG Fire Services. The decision to remove Verma was taken by the Selection Committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprising Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Cabinet okays $75 bln currency swap deal with Japan
The Union Cabinet approved a $75 billion currency swap deal between India and Japan to assist each other "in times of difficulty". It also granted setting up of an advanced single window to boost bilateral investments.
- Approving the proposed agreement for Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) between India and Japan, the Cabinet authorised the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to sign the deal with the Bank of Japan for a maximum amount of $75 billion.
SPORTS
Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri receive honorary membership of Sydney Cricket Ground
India skipper Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri received the honorary membership of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) for their contribution to the sport of cricket.
- Apart from Kohli and Shastri, the only other international cricketers to be granted the honorary membership of the SCG are iconic Sachin Tendulkar and Brain Lara of the West Indies.
Kartik becomes youngest Indian to win junior world title
Budding golfer Kartik Singh has acquired the top position in the under-8 category at the Kids' Golf World Championship organised by US kids Golf in Malaysia.
- Kartik, a member of the junior programme at the DLF Golf Academy has thus become the youngest Indian to win a junior world title.
APPOINTMENTS
Taiwan President appoints new PM
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen appointed a new Prime Minister following the resignation of the incumbent over the recent electoral setback suffered by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
- The President announced the appointment of Su Tseng-chang to replace Lai Ching-te at a press conference in Taipei. Lai announced his resignation and made it effective after a cabinet meeting.
- Extra info.:
Taiwan Capital: Taipei
Currency: New Taiwan dollar
Nicolas Maduro sworn in as Venezuela President for second term
Nicolas Maduro was once again sworn in as Venezuela's President for a second term, from 2019 to 2025. The swearing-in ceremony took place inside the Supreme Court of Venezuela under Article 231 of the Venezuelan Constitution.
- Extra info.:
Venezuela Capital: Caracas
Currency: Venezuelan bolivar
M. Nageshwar Rao again takes charge as new CBI chief
A day after the removal of Alok Verma, Additional Director M. Nageswara Rao again took charge of the office of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director. Verma was removed as the CBI Director on account of the "extremely serious nature of observations made by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) against him".
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