US adds India to List of Countries Affected by African Swine Fever
The United States notified that India has been added to the list of countries that have been affected by African swine fever, imposing restrictions on the import of pork and pork products from the country.
"We took this action on May 13, 2020 when the disease was confirmed and are now publishing notice in the regulations. Pork and pork products from India, including casings, are subject to APHIS import restrictions designed to mitigate the risk of ASF introduction into the United States," the Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.
Beijing Bans UK Politicians after Abuse Sanctions
China has imposed sanctions on British politicians and organisations as a tit-for-tat retaliation over the UK government's sanctions against Chinese officials for alleged human rights violations against its Uyghur minorities in Xinjiang province.
Members of Parliament (MPs) including former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith and Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat, Pakistani-origin Nusrat Ghani, Tim Loughton and House of Lords peers Baroness Kennedy and Lord Alton — all members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China — are named on the Chinese foreign ministry's ban.
France Seeks UNESCO Heritage Status for the Baguette
When you think of UNESCO heritage status, Stonehenge, the Taj Mahal or the Great Barrier Reef may spring to mind.
You probably wouldn't think of a baguette.
But France has nominated its staple bread stick for inclusion on the UN intangible cultural heritage register.
Separate from the UNESCO World Heritage Site list, the status aims to protect traditions, knowledge and skills, so they are not lost over time.
Some 10 billion baguettes are consumed in France each year, according to data site Planetoscope, but about 20,000 bakeries have closed since 1970, as shoppers go to bigger supermarkets instead, where the baguettes are typically not made using traditional methods.
French bakers say the listing would safeguard an art that has been passed down through generations and would protect the baguette from global plagiarists.
NGT Panel Finds Damage to 30% Mangroves in Andhra's Kakinada
A joint committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to look into the cutting of mangrove forests in the coastal area of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district for a housing project, has confirmed destruction of nearly 30% of the mangrove area at the site. The committee also directed the district administration not to proceed with the township project and to take "remedial measures" for "rejuvenation of mangroves".
In its report submitted to the southern bench of the NGT, the committee observed that out of the total extent of mangroves spread over 116 acres, work has been taken up on 58 acres for "Navaratnaalu-Pedalanadirki Illu" (nine jewels-house sites for the poor) programme, thereby affecting mangroves in an extent of 30% of the filled-up area. The house sites' distribution programme was launched on December 25, but the preparatory work like identification of sites and levelling of sites began in March 2020.
The mangrove area also falls under Coastal Regulatory Zone-I area (CRZ-I), which is ecologically sensitive and the geomorphologic features of this zone play a role in the maintaining the integrity of the coast. As per CRZ notification 2011, no new construction shall be permitted in CRZ-I.
The central government is close to inviting financial bids for flag carrier Air India, moving toward the sale of an airline that's surviving on taxpayer money, Civil Avia¬tion Minister Hardeep Puri has said.
The financial offers are expected to come in within 64 days from the date of request, he said, addressing the Times Network India Economic Conclave.
The process is likely to be completed by May or June, he said. Bloomberg reported on the plan earlier Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. "It's a question of taking the decision and handing over the airline," Puri said, without giving details of the bidders who made the initial shortlist.
Tata Group and SpiceJet Chairman Ajay Singh have been shortlisted to bid for the carrier, media reported this week. An invitation for financial bids will be a progress for Modi, who has failed previously to sell the enterprise that has been rescued by the government multiple times in the past decade.
BSNL and MTNL to Get Spectrum for 5G Services without Participating in Auction
The government will administratively allocate spectrum to telecom public sector units BSNL and MTNL for 5G and future services, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad informed Parliament.
He said that allocation of spectrum to BSNL and MTNL will be done on the same principle as proposed for allotment of spectrum for 4G services.
Government also approved to administratively allot spectrum for providing 5G services to BSNL/MTNL, spectrum for maintaining current operations and future services on the same principle as proposed for allotment of spectrum for 4G services.
5G services are yet to start in India.
Government Offers 67 blocks in Second Tranche of Commercial Coal Mine Auction
The government offered 67 coal mines for sale, launching the second tranche of commercial coal mining auction and termed it a step towards 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. This is the highest number of mines on offer in a particular tranche after commencement of the auction regime in 2014. "India launched its 2nd tranche of auction for commercial coal mining, offering 67 mines for sale of coal, today. Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi launched the auction process in a programme held in New Delhi," Ministry of Coal said in a statement. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and Coal Secretary Anil Kumar Jain were also present in the function.
Out of the total 67 mines offered by the ministry, 23 are under Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act and 44 under Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. The blocks on offer are a mix of mines with small and large reserves, coking and non-coking mines and fully and partially explored blocks spread across 6 states – Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
India likely to have Sky Eye GISAT-1 in Geostationary Orbit in April
The launch of India's first Geo Imaging Satellite (GISAT-1) to be placed in geostationary orbit will happen sometime during the first or second week of April, said K. Sivan, Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The GISAT-1 launch slated for March 28 got slightly delayed as some technical issues were observed in the satellite and the rocket. The issues observed issues have to be addressed even if they are minute ones. The GISAT-1 will be the country's first sky eye or earth observation satellite to be placed in geostationary orbit.
Originally the GISAT-1 was slated for launch on March 5, 2020 by Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-F10 (GSLV-F10).
The torch relay for the postponed Tokyo Olympics began its 121-day journey across Japan and is headed toward the opening ceremony in Tokyo on July 23.
The relay began in northeastern Fukushima prefecture, the area that was devastated by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and the meltdown of three nuclear reactors. About 18,000 died in the tragedy.
The first runner with the torch was Azusa Iwashimizu, a key player in the Japan team that won the Women's World Cup in 2011.
The Modi government appointed Saurabh Garg as the CEO of Unique Identification of Authority of India (UIDAI), Sanjeev Kumar as Chairman of Airports Authority of India and Atish Chandra as CMD of Food Corporation of India (FCI) in a large-scale reshuffle.
Mukhmeet Singh Bhatia was appointed Director-General of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Prashant Kumar Singh as CEO of Government e-Marketplace (GeM) special purpose vehicle for procurement in the Ministry of Commerce and Talleen Kumar as Member (Finance) in the Space Commission.
The reshuffle involves over 20 senior officials from IAS except one Chandrashekhar Mohapatra, who is from the Indian Economic Service (IES) and made Additional Secretary, GST Council Secretariat.
PM Modi Invites Bangladesh Entrepreneurs to Join Start Ups in India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended an invitation to 50 entrepreneurs from Bangladesh to visit India to join the country's start-up and innovation ecosystem and meet India's venture capitalists.
"On completion of 50 years of relationship between India and Bangladesh, I would like to invite 50 entrepreneurs of Bangladesh to visit India and join our start-up and innovation ecosystem and meet our venture capitalists. We will also be able to learn something from them and they will also get an opportunity to learn something from us," the Prime Minister said during an event celebrating 50 years of Bangladesh's liberation.
Modi who is on a two-day visit to the neighbouring country also announced the Swarna Jayanti scholarship for youths of Bangladesh.
The Swarna Jayanti Fellowship is a research fellowship awarded annually by the Department of Science and Technology of India. It is given for the notable and outstanding research by young scientists, applied or fundamental, in biology, chemistry, environmental science, engineering, mathematics, medicine and physics.
India and S. Korea May Discuss Leasing of Minesweeper Vessels
During his visit, the South Korean Defence Minister will discuss with Rajnath Singh defence cooperation between the two nations along with other regional and international issues of mutual interest.
India may discuss the leasing of minesweeper vessels from South Korea, a longstanding demand of the Indian Navy, during talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his visiting South Korean counterpart Suh Wook.
Suh, a former South Korean Army general who became the Defence Minister last September, arrived in New Delhi.
Business leader Harsh Mariwala is the EY Entrepreneur for 2020. Mariwala, chairman of the fast moving consumer goods firm Marico, will represent India at the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Award in June.
Prathap Chandra Reddy, founder and executive chairman of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. was given the lifetime achievement award, while EY announced eight other winners in multiple categories. Byju Raveendran, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Think & Learn, better known as BYJU's, was awarded for "business transformation". Peyush Bansal, founder and CEO of Lenskart Solutions, was awarded in the start-up category. Ameera Shah, managing director of Metropolis Healthcare, won in life science and healthcare.
Suresh Narayanan, chairman and managing director of Nestle India, got the entrepreneur CEO award. Sushil Kumar Agarwal, managing director (MD) & CEO of Aavas Financiers, won in the financial service category.
India, being the fastest growing economy with more than 50% of its population below the age of 25, has a significant stake in the AI and coding revolution across the globe. Technology disruptions like AI and coding are once-in-a-generation phenomenon, and hence large-scale adoption strategies, especially in schools, need to strike a balance between narrow definitions of financial impact and the greater good.
The top 4 EdTech start-ups that are offering customised AI and coding courses to sharpen logical and analytical thinking skills are DcodeAI , CoderBunnyz, StayQrious and CodeMonkey.
A Book Titled 'My Experiments with Silence' by Samir Soni
The book "My Experiments with Silence" is authored by Samir Soni on anxiety and self -discovery. Soni's book aims to be a personal account of his dialogues with himself during his growing-up years in Delhi, his stint at Wall Street and his time in Bollywood. The book will be published by OM Books International. Soni said that his book will be an "ode to anyone who has fought or is fighting their inner demons".
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