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NGT orders to levy environmental tax on trucks entering Delhi
National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed all commercial vehicles to pay environmental tax in addition to the toll tax. The green panel has observed that vehicular pollution is one of the main sources of inferior quality of air in Delhi. In order to curb air pollution, NGt took the decision as Delhi is the Highest polluting city in the world.
UAE Activist Ahmed Mansoor conferred with Martin Ennals Award
Ahmed Mansoor, an Emirati human rights activist, has been named the 2015 winner of Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders. This award is often dubbed the Nobel prize for human rights. Since 2006, Mansoor has been campaigned for freedom of expression and greater political and civil rights in the United Arab Emirates. Mr Mansoor could not collect the award in Geneva because of a travel ban.
Indian Air Force celebrates its 83rd Anniversary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee have greeted the Indian Air Force (IAF) on its 83rd anniversary. “I salute our air force personnel on Air Force Day. They have always served India with great courage and determination. Contribution of our Air Force is monumental. They are always at the forefront, be it in protecting skies or in times of disasters“, Prime Minister Modi said in a series of tweets.
Hoesung Lee – Chairman of Inter-governmental Panel for Climate Change
Hoesung Lee of South Korea has been named the new head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Prof Lee, an expert on climate economics and sustainable development, was elected to chair the panel at its ongoing meeting in Dubrovnik, Croatia. He is the fourth person to lead the IPCC in its 27-year history. He succeeds Rajendra Pachauri, who resigned amid a scandal (sexual harassment) in February.
Union Cabinet Approvals : Latest Updates
The Union Cabinet gave its nod for the introduction of a ‘limitation of benefit’ clause in the double taxation avoidance convention (DTAC) with Israel.
The Cabinet also gave its nod for a protocol to amend the existing double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) with Vietnam.
The World Bank-assisted ‘National Watershed Management Project’, or ‘Neeranchal’, also received approval for implementation by the Cabinet.
The Cabinet also approved the setting up of three new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Nagpur (Maharashtra), Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh) and Kalyani (West Bengal).
China launches International Payment System to globalize Yuan
China has launched the first phase of its much anticipated China International Payment System (CIPS), a milestone in bolstering yuan’s global usage and furthering cross-border clearing of its currency from the Chinese mainland instead of offshore centres abroad. The CIPS provides capital settlement and clearing services for cross-border yuan transactions for financial institutions domestically and abroad.
China to build four submarines in Pakistan as part of defence deal
China will build four of the eight submarines in the port city of Karachi under a defence deal signed with Pakistan. The construction of the submarines would simultaneously begin in Pakistan and China. China would also transfer the technology to Pakistan for submarine construction. The implementation of the agreement would augment the existing submarine related capacity.
Sachin Tendulkar buys majority stake in Kerala Blasters
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar is acquiring majority ownership in Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Kerala Blasters in a shareholding re-alignment. Tendulkar, who currently owns 40% stake, will partner with Kerala-based Muthoot Pappachan Group (MPG) and two other investors to buy out the other 60% currently held by PVP Ventures Ltd.
Quality of Death Index : India ranks last
A new report on global palliative care has named India as one of the worst places to die and Britain the best. The report also notified Kerala as a ‘beacon of hope’ for being the only Indian state to have a formal policy on palliative care services. The report from the Economic Intelligence Unit, titled ‘The quality of death: Ranking end-of-life care across the world’, ranks India at number 40 in its ‘Quality of Death Index’ that measures the current environment for end-of-life care services in 40 countries.
China launches commercial remote sensing satellites
China launched four satellites for commercial remote sensing services. The “Jilin-1” satellites, launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China’s Gansu province, include one optical remote-sensing satellite, two satellites for video imaging and another for imaging technique testing. All four satellites were developed and produced by Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd. The satellites were carried by a Long March-2D rocket.
Indian firm Nualgi wins MIT Climate CoLab awards
Nualgi, an Indian company with wholly Indian technology in the field of nano biotechnology has won a prestigious award at the Climate CoLab of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Nulagi had submitted two proposals to reduce power and fuel consumption for sewage treatment and reuse of water built around their nano-scale product called Nualgi for the 2015 edition of the annual MIT contest.
Russia retained 2015 Women’s European Volleyball Championship
Russia won the Women’s European Volleyball Championship title. In the final played at the Sportpaleis Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam, Russia defeated Netherlands, 3–0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-20). This was the 19th title for Russia.
Indian economy to grow at 7.5% in 2015: UNCTAD
According to a report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), India’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow at 7.5 per cent in 2015. UNCTAD pointed out that lower oil prices have eased current account deficits in countries, such as Pakistan and India.
14 Indian families in Asia’s richest list; Ambanis on 3rd
As many as 14 Indian families have made it to the inaugural list of Forbes’ 50 richest families in Asia, led by the Ambanis, who were ranked third on the list with a net worth of USD 21.5 billion. Indians hold 14 of the 50 spots, the most from any jurisdiction. The overall list was topped by Lees of Samsung Group, whose 2014 revenues were equivalent to 22 per cent of South Korea’s GDP.
AR Rahman announced Seychelles cultural ambassador
Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has been named the Cultural Ambassador for Seychelles. The music maestro has sent out his love and regard to the people and government of the foreign nation. A two-time Oscar winning composer, Rahman shared an image of the certificate, on the micro-blogging site.
Svetlana Alexievich Wins Nobel Prize in Literature
Svetlana Alexievich, a Belarussian journalist and prose writer, won the Nobel Prize in Literature on “for her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time,” the Swedish Academy announced. Ms. Alexievich, 67, is the 14th woman to win the literature prize. Ms. Alexievich is best known for giving voice to survivors of the Second World War, the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan that lasted from 1979 to 1989, and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986.
Cyclist Deborah Herold became first-ever Indian to win five medals at Taiwan Cup
Indian cyclist Deborah Herold has bagged one gold, three silver and one bronze medal at the 2015 Taiwan Cup held at the Hsin Chu Velodrome, Hsin-Chu city in Taiwan. With this, she became the first ever Indian cyclist to win in women’s elite section.
IMF chief calls for countries to support carbon tax
IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde has said that “now is the time for countries to introduce a carbon tax and to roll back energy subsidies in an effort to limit the negative environmental impact caused by fossil fuels.” Lagarde made the comments during an IMF-World Bank discussion titled ‘Conversation on Climate Change’ during the 2015 Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Lima, Peru.
Google unveils public transport app for Delhi
Getting around in Delhi is expected to get a bit easier, with technology major Google launching a new app that will help users here get transit directions easily, even with low data connectivity. The new experimental Delhi Public Transport App will be built into Google Maps to help users get directions and timetable information for Delhi Metro, DTC, DIMTS (orange) buses and Gurgaon Rapid Metro offline.
Centre to launch unique ID card for differently-abled
The Centre will launch a unique identity card for differently-abled persons, which will help them in availing benefits of government schemes. The identity card will ensure accessibility of differently-abled people to various schemes provided by the state and central governments.
ESCI to be introduced in 5 states: Bandaru Dattatreya
Medical service for workers through the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESCI) would now be introduced in five states. With the inclusion of Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the ESCI would now cover the whole country.
Airtel launches Wi-Fi app Hangout for faster internet
Bharti Airtel has launched its new Wi-Fi app, Airtel Hangout, which Airtel customers can download free from Android or iOS store and latch on to the network in these zones to experience faster internet speeds. Airtel customers will just need to have an activated Airtel 3G/4G pack/plan since the Wi-Fi data consumption will be charged from this pack/plan.
Telenor launches free insurance for mobile phone users
In a first from a telco in India, Telenor will begin offering life insurance to its new and existing customers, with covers starting from Rs 5,000 going up to Rs 50,000, while consumers don’t need to pay any premium. The plan allows Telenor’s existing 47.5 million customers to get enrolled in the scheme by either calling up customer service or visiting one of ?the company’s 2100 stores in six circles where it operates.
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