Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari has said that sharing of experiences in the area of Human Rights Protection and Promotion in South Asia is extremely important for quality of life and livelihood in the region. She inaugurated an International Conference on Human Rights in South Asia in Kathmandu on 9th April. The representatives of Human Rights Commissions and institutions, human rights activists from 20 countries including India participated in 3 day event. The theme of conference was “Identifying Challenges, Assessing Progress, Moving Forward: Addressing Impunity and Realizing Human Rights in South Asia”.
UNSC rejects Russian resolution on Syria
United Nations Security Council has rejected a Russian-drafted resolution on investigating chemical weapons used in Syria after Russia vetoes a competing US-proposed measure. Six countries including China and Russia backed the measure, while seven nations voted against. Two countries abstained from the voting. A draft resolution requires nine votes to be adopted in the 15-member Council and no Veto from the five permanent members – Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States
CVC DRAWS UP NEW NORMS FOR GLOBAL PROJECTS
The Central Vigilance Commission has drawn up a new set of guidelines for projects funded by international agencies such as the World Bank, IMF and Asian Development Bank. The new guidelines will put an end to existing practice of government departments and agencies adhering to the guidelines of foreign donors, while ignoring Indian government rules, in concluding contracts for projects funded by them. The new guidelines also draw a distinction between grants-in-aid and loans. A key difference in projects funded by foreign agencies was that most of them had a different way of awarding tender, different from CVC guidelines for selecting the lowest financial tender for negotiations.
NITI Aayog’s northeast forum highlights ‘HIRA’ for development
The first meeting of NITI Forum for North East has outlined five development missions for promoting sectors like horticulture, tourism and food processing in the region. The focus of development projects in the region will be based on the concept of “HIRA” which stands for Highways, Internet ways, Railways and Airways. The emphasis will also be given on education, health and skill development in the region. The NITI Forum was formed to explore and formulate the framework for sustainable growth of the Northeast. It was constituted in February this year
CJI is first among equals, will decide allocation of cases: SC
The Supreme Court on 11th April ruled that the Chief Justice of India is the first among equals and has the constitutional authority to decide the allocation of cases and setting up of benches to hear them. The order said, since the Chief Justice is a high constitutional functionary, there cannot be any distrust about the responsibilities he discharges to ensure that the apex court to carries out the work required under the Constitution
India and Nepal agree to strengthen bilateral relations
India and Nepal have agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations in key areas of border security, connectivity, trade and agriculture. The two countries agreed to develop inland waterways for overall economic development of the region. Aiming to expand cross-border rail linkages, the two sides have also decided to construct a new electrified rail line, with India’s financial support
Indian President embarking on 3-nation Africa tour
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind visited Equatorial Guinea, Swaziland and Zambia from 7th April to 12th April, in his three nations trip he entered into a few agreements with those countries.
Guinea: India and Equatorial Guinea signed several agreements for cooperation in various fields including traditional system of medicine, medicinal plants, Information and Technology and Health.
Swaziland: India and Swaziland have signed two agreements in the field of Health and Medicine and Visa department on 9th April. One of the agreement deals with granting of the visa waiver for the diplomats and officials holding relevant passports while the other is to ensure cooperation in the field of health and medicine
Zambia: India and Zambia on 11th April signed four agreements to strengthen the ties between the two countries. The agreements include one on Double Taxation, Judicial cooperation, Establishment of Entrepreneurship Development Institute in Zambia and visa exemption on diplomatic passports and official holding relevant passports
Saudi Aramco to jointly develop an integrated refinery
In a big development in the FDI in petroleum sector, an Indian Consortium consisting of IOCL, BPCL and HPCL and Saudi Aramco have decided to jointly develop and build an integrated refinery and petrochemicals complex, Ratnagiri Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd. in Maharashtra. The Saudi national oil company will supply half of the crude oil required for processing at the refinery.
Cabinet nod to MoU with UK on illegal migrants
The Union Cabinet has given its approval to the MoU between India and the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland on the return of Illegal migrants. The MoU will ensure the return of persons who have no lawful basis to be in the territory of the other party after verification of nationality to its satisfaction
Government of India and the World Bank Sign a New Project The Government of India,
Maharashtra and the World Bank on 6th April signed a US$ 420 million project to help small and marginal farmers in the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra, increase climate resilient practices in agriculture and ensure that farming continues to remain a financially viable activity for them. The project is expected to benefit over 7 million people spread over an area of 3.0 million ha and cover 5,142 villages across 15 most climate vulnerable districts of the region
India to grow 7.3%: ADB
Manila based, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said, India’s economic growth is set to rise to 7.3% this fiscal and further to 7.6% in the next financial year, on back of GST and banking reforms. In its Asian Development Outlook (ADO), 2018, ADB said, Indian economy grew 6.6 percent in the last fiscal as it battled the lingering effects of demonetisation in 2016, businesses adjusting to GST in 2017, and a subdued agriculture.
ISRO launches IRNSS-1I
The Indian Space Research Organisation launched the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-1I navigation satellite, the eighth such satellite to be a part of a constellation, from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on 12th April The seven satellites are part of the NAVIC navigation satellite constellation. The launch is ISRO’s second attempt at sending a replacement satellite. The previous mission of a PSLV carrying IRNSS-1H in August last year failed after the heat shield covering the satellite failed to separate.
Indians performing well in CG games
Indians are performing well in the Commonwealth Games. As of 12th April India is third in the medals tally, with 14 Gold, 6 Silver and 9 Bronze. Australia continues to be at the top, with England second. The winners from India are…..
■ Weightlifters Sanjita Chanu and Deepak Lather added a Gold and Bronze to the team’s tally on 6th April. Sanjita Chanu claimed a Gold and a Games’ snatch record in the 53 kg category, lifting a total of 192 kg. In men’s section, Deepak Lather became the youngest Indian weightlifter to claim a CWG medal with his bronze in the 69 kg category.
■ Weightlifter Sathish Sivalingam won India’s third Gold medal.
■ Weightlifter Venkat Rahul Ragala claimed India’s fourth Gold medal in 85-kg category with a total lift of 338 Kg in Gold Coast on 7th April
■ India has bagged three more Gold, one Silver and two Bronze medals on 9th April. Indian women’s Table Tennis team won their first ever Gold Medal defeating Singapore 3-1 on 9th April.
■ The weightlifter Punam Yadav won gold in the 69 kg category with a personal best lift of 222 kg. Vikas Thakur added a Bronze to weightlifters’ golden run in the men’s 94 kg category.
■ Youngster Manu Bhaker struck gold in 10 meter Air Pistol Finals and Heena Sidhu added a Silver in the same category.
■ Ravi Kumar won a bronze in men’s 10 metre air rifle event.
■ On Day 5th of Games, India won three Gold, two Silver and as many Bronze medals. Jitu started the gold rush on 9th April in the 10-metre air pistol event shattering the Games record with a score of 235.1 in the final.
■ Mehuli Ghosh grabbed a Silver in the 10-metre air rifle, Apurvi Chandela won the Bronze.
■ Weight Lifter Pardeep Singh won silver medal in 105kg.
■ In the Men’s 10-meter air pistol event, Om Prakash Mitharwal won Bronze on 10th April. (On 8th April he won a Bronze for India in men’s 10-meter air pistol).
■ Indian shooter Shreyasi Singh gave India its 12th Gold medal of the Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast on 11th April.
■ In the Men’s Double Trap, Ankur Mittal bagged a Bronze after finishing third.
■ In the Men’s 50-metre Pistol event, Om Mitharwal finished third to claim his second Bronze of the Games. He had, earlier, won a Bronze in the 10-metre Air Pistol event.
■ On 12th April Indian wrestlers bagged 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medal. The Gold medals were won by veteran Olympian Sushil Kumar in the 74 kg category and Rahul Aware in 57 kgs. In the Women’s 53 kg category, Babita Kumari claimed the Silver. Kiran clinched the Bronze in the 76 kg.
■ In Shooting, Tejaswini Sawant bagged a Silver in the Women’s 50-metre Rifle Prone event.
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