- CBDT signs three more APAs in Dec
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has entered into three more Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) in December 2017. These three APAs pertain to electronics, coal and insurance sectors of the economy.
With the signing of these agreements, the total number of APAs entered into by the CBDT has gone up to 189. This includes 173 unilateral APAs and 16 bilateral APAs.
- Sitharaman inaugurates incubation centre at Mallikatte
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has inaugurated a modern incubation centre – the Centre for Entrepreneurship Opportunities and Learning – for budding entrepreneurs at Mallikatte, Mangalore.
The centre will help promote Startup India initiative in the country. This is part of the project ‘Startup Coast’ under which the minister proposed to establish innovation centres, incubation set-up, tinkering labs and co-working space for startups on the west coast in Karnataka.
- LS passes Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment Bill
Loan defaulters can participate in bidding under the insolvency proceedings after paying due interest and making their bad loan accounts operational.
The bill seeks to replace an ordinance which was promulgated in November to prevent unscrupulous persons from misusing or vitiating the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).
- Centre approves ₹4,066 cr for internet in all panchayats
The government has approved ₹4,066 crore for providing internet connectivity to people in all gram panchayats under BharatNet project.
“₹4,066 crore has been approved for providing last-mile connectivity, through Wi-Fi or any other suitable broadband technology, at all the GPs (approximately 2,50,000) in the country.
The government is rolling BharatNet project to provide high-speed broadband connectivity at gram panchayat (GP) levels.
- National Youth Festival in Jaipur
More than 5,000 youths from different parts of the country will attend the 22nd National Youth Festival, scheduled to be held here from January 12 to 16.
Career counselling, panel discussions on the issues of cleanliness, river conservation, direct benefit transfers and environment will also take place.
- China opens its 1st highway with wireless charging systems
Roads with solar panels is no surprise but making a road allocated with the presence of built-in wireless charging systems for electric vehicles and other sensors for drones is something next level and looks like China has successfully achieved that feat.
According to Xinhua, China has successfully tested its first photovaltaic highway based on home-grown technology.
The road is constructed using solar panels which have a thin sheet of clear concrete on top of them, protecting the surface.
- India’s Viswanathan Anand wins World Rapid Chess Championship
Viswanathan Anand won World Rapid Chess Championship title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Anand, took revenge for his 2013 World Championship loss as he defeated World No 1 Magnus Carlsen in the ninth round match, was placed joint second at the start of the final five rounds (11 to 15).
- National Shooting C’ship: Jitu Rai shoots 50m pistol gold
Pistol ace Jitu Rai won the men’s 50m pistol national title with a national record score of 233 at the ongoing 61st National Shooting Championship, here at the National Games Shooting Range.
Rai of army marksmanship got the better of Navy man Omkar Singh who shot 222.4 in the finals. Rai also won the team gold in the event with Jai and Omprakash Mitherwal for a total of 1658, besting team Air Force who managed a total of 1626.
- Former Mumbai cricketer Amroliwala is no more
Former Mumbai Ranji Trophy cricketer, Hoshang (Hoshi) Amroliwala died aged 86. In a first class career between 1956-57 and ’63-64 Amroliwala played 44 games, including 35 in the Ranji Trophy for the then Bombay Cricket Association, and amassed 1,782 runs – including two centuries – at an average of 44.55.
