NATIONAL NEWS
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Sweden on cooperation in field of polar scienceThe Union Cabinet was apprised of the agreement on cooperation in polar science between the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the Ministry of Education and Research, Sweden.
Cabinet approves agreement with Mongolia on cooperation in use of outer space
The Union Cabinet approved an agreement between India and Mongolia on cooperation in the exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful and civilian purposes.
- The agreement will enable cooperation between the two countries in areas such as space science, technology, and applications including remote sensing of the earth, satellite communication, and satellite-based navigation, space science and planetary exploration, use of spacecraft and space systems and ground system and application of space technology.
The Union Government has authorized the amount of Rs 5559 crore for 1656 Km long Indradhanush Natural Gas Pipeline Grid project. The amount will be provided as Viability Gap Funding (VGF).
- The amount will be used to set up Natural Gas Pipeline Grid connecting 8 North Eastern states. These states includes: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.
- The Indradhanush Gas Grid project is expected to provide natural gas to different types of customers and will also reduce the dependence on liquid fuels.
Seeking clarification from Bihar government that the Darbhanga Medical College Hospital is not a heritage building, the Union Health Ministry is all set to commission a second All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the state by replacing Darbhanga Medical College Hospital.
- The upcoming AIIMS would be a medical college too wherein aspiring medical students can get an education in MBBS, PG, and super speciality courses.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval to confer the status of Institution of National Importance (INI) to the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar, by conglomerating the cluster of Ayurveda Institutes at Gujarat Ayurveda University (GAU) campus, Jamnagar.
Andhra Pradesh CM launches financial assistance scheme for school students
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched 'Jagananna Amma Vodi' financial assistance scheme for the school going students.
- 'Jagananna Amma Vodi' scheme will provide financial assistance of Rs 15,000 to nearly 43 lakh mothers or guardians who send their children to school. The financial assistance would be credited directly in the beneficiaries' savings bank accounts in January every year until the child completes Class 12.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the 8th edition of Odisha Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) International Trade Fair 2020 in Bhubaneswar.
- This trade fair provides unique opportunities to MSME Entrepreneurs of Odisha to showcase their products and services before National and International visitors.
Pune hosted the fifth edition of the Asia Pacific Drosophila Research Conference (APDRC5), which is being organised in the country for the first time by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER).
- It aims to promote the interaction of Drosophila researchers in the Asia-Pacific region with their peers in the rest of the world. It will bring together scientists from all over the world who use the fruit fly, Drosophila, as a model organism to address basic and applied questions.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India under Modi is 5th biggest geopolitical risk in 2020, says consultancy firm EurasiaIndia under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been listed as the fifth biggest geo-political risk of 2020, by the political risk consultancy – the Eurasia Group – in a list that is topped by elections in the US and followed by events and developments like the US-China technology tug of war on 5G as well as the trade war between Beijing and Washington.
- According to the report, Modi has spent much of his second term--since winning the April-May poll--promoting controversial social policies at the expense of an economic agenda.
- Titled ‘India gets Modi-fied’, the analysis has been co-authored by the president of Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer.
BANKING & FINANCE
SBI announces 'residential builder finance with buyer guarantee' schemeCountry's largest public sector bank, State Bank of India has announced a 'residential builder finance with buyer guarantee' (RBBG) scheme. It aims at giving a push to residential sales and improve homebuyers' confidence.
- Under this scheme, the SBI will issue a guarantee for completion of select residential projects to customers who have availed home loans from it. The scheme will focus on affordable housing projects priced up to 2.50 crore rupees in 10 cities initially.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
World Bank projects modest pickup of 2.5 pc in global growth in 2020Global economic growth is forecast to edge up to 2.5 per cent in 2020 as investment and trade gradually recover from last year's significant weakness but downward risks persist, the World Bank said in its January 2020 Global Economic Prospects.
- Growth among advanced economies as a group is anticipated to slip to 1.4 per cent in 2020 in part due to continued softness in manufacturing. Growth in emerging market and developing economies is expected to accelerate this year to 4.1 per cent.
The World Bank has projected India's growth at five per cent in the current financial year 2019-20 which is set to recover to 5.8 per cent in the following fiscal year.
- In its latest semi-annual Global Economic Prospects report, the World Bank said that weakness in credit from non-bank financial companies is expected to linger.
India’s economy is likely to grow two and half times to $7 trillion by 2030, from about $3 trillion now, making India the world’s third largest economy. This implies that nominal GDP growth is likely to average just over 10% through the next decade, Deutsche Bank said in a research report, Imagine 2030.
SPORTS
Hima Das to be torchbearer in Khelo India Youth Games opening ceremonyIndian ace sprinter Hima Das will be the torchbearer in the opening ceremony of the Khelo India Youth Games 2020. The third edition of Khelo India Youth Games will commence at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Assam.
APPOINTMENTS
IBM announces appointment of company veteran Sandip Patel as new India MDGlobal tech major IBM announced the appointment of Sandip Patel as the new managing director for India and South Asia. Patel, who has been with the US-headquartered company since 2002, succeeds Karan Bajwa who has decided to pursue opportunities outside of IBM.
Former PM Zoran Milanovic wins croatia presidential election
Former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic won the Croatia’s presidential election. He defeated centre-right incumbent Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who was the first female president of Croatia.
AWARDS
Jasbinder Bilan wins 2019 Costa Children’s AwardJasbinder Bilan has won the UK based Costa Children’s Award 2019 . She has won the award for her debut novel ‘Asha and the Spirit Bird’.
OBITUARIES
Veteran Odissi Danseuse Minati Mishra Passes Away at 91Eminent Odishi dancer and Padma Shri awardee Minati Mishra passed away in Switzerland. She was 91. Born in Cuttack, Minati was a recipient of Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi award for 1975, and the Padma award in 2012.
IMPORTANT DAYS
16th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas being celebrated todayPravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated every year on 9th January to mark the contribution of overseas Indian community in the development of India. It also commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India on 9 January 1915.
- Established in 2003 the celebratory event is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs every year on this day.
- This year the day was being celebrated in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
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