UK Secures First Major Post-Brexit Trade Deal with Japan
The UK secured its first major post-Brexit trade deal after signing an agreement with Japan just as discussions with the European Union appeared to be teetering on the brink of collapse.
The deal, which has so far only been agreed upon in principle and for which details are thin, will increase commerce with Japan by around 15 billion pounds ($19 billion), the UK said.
The government said UK businesses will benefit from tariff-free trade on 99% of exports to Japan and that it will give British businesses a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region.
TikTok Owner ByteDance to Invest Billions in Singapore Over Three Years
TikTok owner ByteDance plans to invest billions of dollars and recruit hundreds of employees in Singapore after opting to base its Southeast Asia regional headquarters there.
ByteDance has also stepped up the purchase of servers in global trade and transport hub Singapore to back up U.S. data as a contingency.
The Chinese firm is being forced by President Donald Trump to sell TikTok's U.S. assets to avoid a ban in United States.
The Trump administration has cited a potential national security risk due to the vast amount of private data which the short video app is compiling on U.S. consumers.
India Slips 26 Spots on Economic Freedom Index
India has fallen 26 spots to the 105th position on the Global Economic Freedom Index 2020, according to a report.
The country was at the 79th spot in last year's rankings.
The Economic Freedom of the World: 2020 Annual Report by Canada's Fraser Institute has been released in India in conjunction with New Delhi-based think tank Centre For Civil Society.
The report said prospects for increasing economic freedom in India depend on next generation reforms in factor markets and in greater openness to international trade.
ADB, ENGIE Sign Rs. 466-crore Loan for Developing Solar Project in Gujarat
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide ENGIE group with a loan of 4.66 billion Indian rupees (about $65.5 million) to construct and operate a solar pv project in India.
The 200MW solar pv plant will be constructed at Raghanesda Solar Park in India's western state of Gujarat.
The ADB is providing the funding along with another international lender.
ENGIE will implement the project through subsidiary Electro Solaire Private Limited.
The company is collaborating with the Government of Gujarat to construct the project and has signed a power purchase agreement for 25 years with the state government.
Florida University Research Team Discovers Unique Supernova Explosion
One-hundred million light-years away from Earth, an unusual supernova is exploding. That exploding star -- which is known as "Supernova LSQ14fmg" -- was the faraway object discovered by a 37-member international research team led by Florida State University (FSU) Assistant Professor of Physics Eric Hsiao.
Their research, which was published in The Astrophysical Journal, helped uncover the origins of the group of supernovae this star belongs to.
This supernova's characteristics -- it gets brighter extremely slowly, and it is also one of the brightest explosions in its class -- are unlike any other.
Urban Affairs Ministry Launches 'Streets for People Challenge'
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) Ministry launched an initiative for making cities more pedestrian-friendly, which HUA Minister Hardeep Puri said was a response to the need for walkable urban spaces during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Along with the recently-launched initiative promoting cycling in cities, the 'Streets for People Challenge' would help cities provide safer means of transport with social-distancing.
The challenge, which is organised by the Smart Cities Mission of the Ministry, will not be limited to the 100 Smart Cities as all cities with a population of over 5 lakh, and capital cities, can apply.
India's Largest Piggery Mission Launched In Meghalaya
India's largest piggery mission worth Rs 209 crores, was launched in Meghalaya by the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Kailash Choudhary.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said: "A moment of pride as India's Largest Piggery Mission was launched in Meghalaya by Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Kailash Choudhary."
He posted on Twitter "Funded by NCDC (National Cooperative Development Corporation), the Rs 209 Crore project is a step towards Aatma Nirbhar, making Meghalaya self-sufficient in pork production."
According to NCDC's official website, the project is estimated to benefit 35,000 pig farmers in Meghalaya.
Govt Puts National Security Clause in Defence FDI Hike to 74 per cent
The new policy raising the cap of foreign direct investment through automatic approval in the defence sector from 49 per cent to 74 per cent now has a 'National Security' clause as a condition. The policy was approved by the Union Cabinet. The new condition has been proposed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
"Foreign investment in the Defence Sector shall be subject to scrutiny on ground of National Security and the Government reserves the right to review any foreign investment in the Defence Sector that may affect national security," says the new condition.
Rafale Induction a Game Changer, Says Rajnath Singh
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the induction of the French Rafale fighter jet into the Indian Air Force (IAF) a "game changer" and termed it a very important step in the light of the prevailing security conditions that "have been created along India's borders."
This formal ceremony also marks their full operational induction into the IAF, said Air Chief Marshal (ACM) RKS Bhadauria.
India's responsibilities were not limited to land borders alone. In the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean region, it was working with international community as a commitment to world peace.
Ayushmann Khurrana Becomes UNICEF's Celebrity Advocate for Children's Rights Campaign
UNICEF India announced Ayushmann Khurrana as its celebrity advocate for children's rights campaign - 'For Every Child'. Khurrana will support UNICEF towards ending violence against children.
He will work towards this initiative in India and joins the likes of former football star David Beckham, who works on this campaign globally.
Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque, UNICEF representative in India said they are delighted to have Khurrana as a UNICEF celebrity advocate as they believe that his support will help in creating awareness about the issue.
Dame Diana Rigg: Avengers, Bond and Game of Thrones Actress Dies at 82
Actress Dame Diana Rigg, famous for roles including Emma Peel in TV series The Avengers and Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones, has died at the age of 82.
Her daughter, actress Rachael Stirling, said she died of cancer, after being diagnosed in March.
Dame Diana also played the only woman who became Mrs James Bond.
She played Tracy, who married George Lazenby's 007 in the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Americans commemorated 9/11 as a new national crisis — the coronavirus pandemic — reconfigured anniversary ceremonies and a presidential campaign carved a path through the observances.
In New York, victims' relatives gathered for split-screen remembrances, one at the Sept. 11 memorial plaza at the World Trade Center and another on a nearby corner, set up by a separate organization.
Germany Tests Warning Sirens For First Time Since End of Cold War
Germany carried out the first nationwide test of its civil alarm systems since the end of the Cold War, sounding several alarms. People also received emergency push notifications on their smartphones across the country.
The newly created National Warning Day, or Warntag, will now be observed every year on September 10 to inform the public about what to do in the backdrop of a national emergency.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Launches Aero India 2021 Website
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the website of Aero India 2021 in Delhi.
The 13th edition of Aero India-21 will be held at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru in Karnataka from February 3 to February 7, 2021.
The Aero India 2021 website will be a contactless online interface for Asia's largest aero show. It will host and stream all online services related to the event for both the exhibitors and visitors.
Bengal Govt Bags WSIS Award for its Sabuj Sathi Scheme
After Kanyashree scheme, another West Bengal government project has received a global prize. The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) handed over the winner prize 2020 to the state government for Sabuj Sathi project through a virtual ceremony.
Sabuj Sathi had contested with 800 projects from across the globe to become the "winner" under the e-government category.
S K Thade, principal secretary and officer-on-special duty of the Backward Classes Welfare Department, received the prize on behalf of the state government.
Odisha's Naveen Patnaik Launches Scheme for Sanitation Workers
Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has launched a scheme to improve the socio-economic condition and hone the skills of thousands of sanitation workers in the state.
Patnaik said while launching the scheme that despite several strides in various sectors in India, sanitation workers have been deprived of safety, dignity and decent livelihood, apart from suffering social stigma and exclusion.
Odisha's Garima scheme is a humble tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary, who fought throughout his life for the rights, equality and social dignity of the underprivileged people.
Odisha's Naveen Patnaik Launches Scheme for Sanitation Workers
Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has launched a scheme to improve the socio-economic condition and hone the skills of thousands of sanitation workers in the state.
Patnaik said while launching the scheme that despite several strides in various sectors in India, sanitation workers have been deprived of safety, dignity and decent livelihood, apart from suffering social stigma and exclusion.
Odisha's Garima scheme is a humble tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary, who fought throughout his life for the rights, equality and social dignity of the underprivileged people.
Govt to Introduce Bill to Make Law Banning Manual Scavenging More Stringent
The government plans to make the law banning manual scavenging more stringent by introducing a bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, also proposes to completely mechanise sewer cleaning and provide better protection at work and compensation in case of accidents, officials said.
Currently, engaging any person for hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks by any person or agency is punishable with imprisonment of up to five years or a fine up of to Rs 5 lakh or both.
Jammu and Kashmir Announces Rs 5 Lakh Annual Health Insurance for Residents
Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha has announced Jammu and Kashmir health scheme intended to provide universal health insurance cover to all residents of the Union Territory at the likely annual cost of Rs 123 crore.
On the occasion of its launch, Sinha said the government's core agenda was welfare and it will ensure that all workable reforms and benefits percolate to each and every resident, down to the most neglected sections, in a hassle-free manner as part of efforts to improve the overall standard of life.
Enumerating the salient features of the scheme, LG said it will provide health insurance cover free of cost to all those residents of Jammu and Kashmir, who are presently not covered under AB-PMJAY or Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
NASSCOM FutureSkills and Microsoft launch AI Classroom Series
As part of its ongoing efforts to promote skilling as a national priority, NASSCOM FutureSkills and Microsoft have joined hands to launch a nation-wide AI skilling initiative. The initiative aims to skill 1 million students in AI by 2021.
The collaboration will provide Microsoft's AI, machine learning and data science expertise to students through easy to consume modules including live demos, hands on workshops and assignments.
These introductory sessions on AI will be available for undergraduate students at no cost and will cover the basics of data science, machine learning models on Azure, and understanding of cognitive services to build intelligent solutions.
The partnership with NASSCOM FutureSkills is an extension of Microsoft's global skilling initiative to help 25 million people worldwide acquire new digital skills, needed to thrive in a digital economy.
Indian Filmmaker Tamhane's 'The Disciple' Eyes Success In Toronto
Mumbai-based film director Chaitanya Tamhane is currently in the first week of a mandatory quarantine in India after having retuned from Venice. That might be a small price to pay for being able to walk the red carpet at the Biennale as his 2020 feature film, The Disciple, premiered at the prestigious Italian film festival.
In a year that's been low-key for movies due to the coronavirus pandemic and related curbs, The Disciple is the only Indian selection at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Canada.
In order to travel to Venice for the Biennale, Tamhane required "special exception" from the external affairs ministry. It was the first Indian film since Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding in 2001 to be selected in the competition category at Venice.
+91-85588-96644
