- Vladimir Voronkov Appointed As Under-Secretary-General Of UN Counter-Terrorism Office
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov of the Russian Federation as Under-Secretary-General of the newly created United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office. The office is established under the General Assembly resolution 71/291 on 15 June 2017.
The Under-Secretary-General will provide strategic leadership to United Nations counter-terrorism efforts, participate in the decision-making process of the United Nations and ensure that the cross-cutting origins and impact of terrorism are reflected in the work of the United Nations. He is currently Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the International Organizations in Vienna.
- Indian Agri Microbiologist Shrihari Chandraghatgi Given Environment Award In Japan
Indian agricultural microbiologist Shrihari Chandraghatgi has been conferred the Ministry of Environment Award for 2017 in Japan for developing cutting edge technologies to address burning environmental problems. Chandraghatgi, who is President and CEO of EcoCycle Corporation, is the first foreigner to be given the Ministry of Environment Award, the highest award in the environmental sector in Japan.
- Mumbai most expensive for expatriates in India: Mercer’s Survey
Mumbai is the most expensive city for expatriates in India and is ranked higher than major global cities such as Paris, Canberra, Seattle and Vienna. According to Mercer’s 23rd annual Cost of Living Survey, Mumbai is placed 57th on the list while New Delhi was placed at 99. Chennai (135), Bangalore (166) and Kolkata (184) were the other Indian cities on the list. Luanda, the capital of Angola, was the costliest city, driven by cost of goods and security, followed by Hong Kong and Tokyo at the second and third places, respectively.
- Uttarakhand, Haryana become Open Defecation Free states
Under the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G), rural Uttarakhand and rural Haryana have declared themselves as the 4th and 5th Open Defecation Free (ODF) States of India. The two joined the league of Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala, which were the first three states to be declared ODF. Nationally, the sanitation coverage has increased from 42% to over 64% in just two and a half years since the launch of SBM.
- Cabinet approves Amendment of the Social Security Agreement between India and the Netherlands
The Union has approved Amendment of the bilateral Social Security Agreement (SSA) between India and the Netherlands by incorporating the “Country of Residence” Principle into the said SSA. The amended SSA between India and the Netherlands, when operational from the third month from the date of notifying the said Amendment to the Netherlands by India, will strengthen the ties between the two countries, and continue to favourably impact the profitability and competitive position of Indian and Dutch companies with foreign operations in either country by reducing their cost of doing business abroad. The SSA will also help promote more investment flows between the two countries.
- Cabinet approves MoU between India and the Netherlands for bilateral Cooperation in the field of water resources management
The Union Cabinet has approved the MoU between Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for bilateral cooperation in the field of water resources management.
The MoU envisages that both the Governments shall work to enhance cooperation at the National, regional and international levels in the field of Water Resources Management and Development by collaborating and sharing experience and expertise in the areas mutually agreed upon, including techniques in the efficient use of water resources, river basin management, decision support systems, delta management, water quality issues and waste water recycling and re-use through innovative concession arrangements.
- Cabinet approves MoU between India and Portugal on Cooperation in the field of Public Administration and Governance Reforms
The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India, and Ministry of the Presidency and of Administrative Modernization, Government of Portuguese Republic, for ‘Cooperation in the field of Public Administration and Governance Reforms’.
The MoU will help in understanding the system of customer oriented public service delivery in Portugal with reference to rapidly changing environments in the area of public service management and enable in replicating, adapting and innovating some of the best practices and processes in the Indian Public Service Delivery System, leading to improved public service delivery in India.
- Cabinet approves Constitution of Indian Naval Material Management Service (INMMS) as an Organized Group ‘A’ Engineering Service
The Union Cabinet has approved constitution of an organized Group ‘A’ Engineering Service, namely Indian Naval Material Management Service (INMMS) and consequent changes in cadre structure of existing Group ‘A’ cadre of Naval Store Officers of the Indian Navy.
The proposed INMMS would attract the best talents available and will provide a reservoir of technically qualified Material Managers for handling the Materials Management functions of Indian Navy. It will improve the functional efficiency of Material Management of Naval Stores and ensure operational readiness of the Navy at all times as well as provide better career prospects for the incumbents.
- Cabinet approves MoU on cooperation in the textiles, clothing and fashion sectors between India and Australia
The Union Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the textiles, clothing and fashion sectors between the Ministry of Textiles and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia. The MoU will facilitate cooperation in relation to matters within the textiles and fashion sectors that may be of mutual interest and benefit to the participants. The weavers including ancillary workers will be benefited from activities to be taken under MOU.
- Cabinet approves MoUon cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space between India and Armenia
The Union Cabinet was apprised about an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space between India and Armenia. The MoU has already been signed in April, 2017.
This MoU shall enable the areas of cooperation 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.
- Cabinet approves MoU for cooperation in Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy between India and Sri Lanka
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy between Ministry of AYUSH of the Government of Republic of India and the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine of the Government of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
The signing of the proposed MoU will enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of traditional medicine and homoeopathy. This will be of immense importance to both countries considering their shared cultural heritage.
- Axis Bank, Kochi Metro Launches India’s First Single-Wallet Contactless, Open Loop Metro Card
Axis Bank, India’s third largest private sector bank in association with Kochi Metro Rail Corporation (KMRL) has launched KMRL Axis Bank ‘Kochi1’ Card, India’s first open loop EMV contactless metro card that would make travel a convenient and hassle free experience for commuters in Kochi.
Axis Bank has partnered with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in developing this transit EMV contactless specification on interoperable open standards. The prepaid card has integrated benefits and offers a plethora of services to commuters such as:
- The shopping experience at merchant outlets: No hassle of carrying multiple cards.
- Instant issuance of Personalized Cards.
- Convenience of recharge: The commuter can easily top up the card through cash or debit or credit card.
- China launches Research Project to Compile Data on Disputed Region
China has launched a research project to compile historical data obtained during expeditions by its teams to the disputed South China Sea since the late 1950s. Researchers will collect and compile valuable data and materials obtained during China’s major ocean expeditions to the South China Sea and its affiliated islands and reefs, said Long Lijuan, deputy head of the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
- China unveils World’s First Train that runs on Virtual Tracks
China has added another piece of public transport innovation to its growing list of achievements in the area. It may not look as cool as its crazy car straddling bus, but China has unveiled what is purported to be the world’s first train that operates on a virtual track using sensor technology instead of metal rails. The new trains are battery powered and are said to be nonpolluting.
- World population will hit 8 billion in 2023: UN
The world’s population will break through the 8 billion mark in 2023, there are more men than women, and next year the number of over 60s will top 1 billion for the first time, according to the latest findings and forecasts from the United Nations annual population survey. More than half of the global population growth by 2050 will come from sub-Saharan Africa, where fertility rates will persist at levels far higher than in the rest of the world.
- Philippines bans private use of firecrackers
Fireworks in the Philippines will now be limited to public displays sanctioned by the authorities, according to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s order. The ruling also bans citizens from using pyrotechnic devices. Philippines President Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) 28 signed confines the use of firecrackers, which is “a Filipino tradition… to celebrate events of personal, religious, cultural and national importance,” to “community fireworks display.”
- Afghanistan and Ireland granted Test status by ICC
In a very significant development in cricketing world, the war-torn Afghanistan and Ireland were confirmed as ‘Full Member’ of ICC thereby granting them Test status alongside Ireland as the 11th and 12th nation respectively.
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