Asim Munir is appointed as the new chief of ISI
The Pakistan Army appointed Lt. Gen. Asim Munir as the new chief of Pakistan’s powerful spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He previously served as head of the Military Intelligence. He was recently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General by the Army Promotion Board, headed by Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa. He replaces Lt. Gen. Naveed Mukhtar. His office will assume charge from October 25.
Harvinder Singh won gold in archery in Asian Para Games
Harvinder Singh won India’s maiden archery gold in the Asian Para Games 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Harvinder defeated China’s Zhao Lixue by scoring 6-0 in the W2/ST category final. On the fifth day, the country clinched three silver and four bronze medals.
Jackie Doyle Price is appointed as Suicide Prevention Minister in UK
Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Jackie Doyle-Price as the Suicide Prevention Minister. This is a part of a national effort in order to reduce the number of people who take their own lives. Ms.May has also allocated a budget of 1.8 million pounds ($2.4 million) to help the Samaritans’ helpline which is a confidential 24/7 freephone service. It expands its consultation services to people who are dealing with mental health issues.
Sikkim has been nominated for UN FAO Future Policy Award
Sikkim has become the pioneer in organic farming. This achievement has made it world’s first totally organic agriculture State in India. UNFAO has shortlisted Sikkim for the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) Future Policy Award. In 2015, Sikkim was announced as the first organic state in the world with more than 66,000 farming families practising organic farming state-wide, managing 75,000 hectares organic certified. The FAO said that the award would celebrate policies that create enabling environments for sustainable agriculture.
Sunil Bhaskaran is appointed as the MD and CEO of AirAsia India
Sunil Bhaskaran, Tata Group veteran, has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of low-cost carrier AirAsia India with effect from November 15, 2018. Mr.Bhaskaran was the vice-president, Corporate Services at Tata Steel. He has more than three decades’ experience in the fields of manufacturing, export and commercial operations with the Tata Group. Mr.Bhaskaran is to oversee the next phase of expansion and growth of the company, AirAsia India. The airline is jointly owned by Tata Sons and Air Asia Bhd. AirAsia India has a market share of less than 5% and a fleet of 19 aircraft.
Elephant successfully radio collared in Chhattisgarh
Forest Department of Chhattisgarh in collaboration with Wildlife SOS has radio-collared a wild elephant. This is to help create rapidly growing human-elephant conflict in areas of Chhattisgarh. A team of elephant trackers form Wildlife SOS and the Chhattisgarh Forest Department tracked a herd of elephants, which were causing troubles to the local area people in Chhattisgarh, every single day for several months to understand their movement patterns. After several repeated attempts, the team of veterinarians and biologists successful in tranquilised and radio-collared the matriarch of the herd.
Firm ordered NUTPL to complete work on NH66
T. Bhoobalan, Sub-Division Magistrate, Kundapur Sub-Division ordered the Navayuga Udupi Tollway Private Ltd. (NUTPL) to complete all the construction work on National Highway 66 (NH 66) on the Hejmady-Kundapur stretch within a set time schedule. The order is under the power conferred under Section 138 (2) of Criminal Procedure Code. Because of the delay in completion of the widening work by NUTPL problems such as traffic congestion, a threat to public safety, discomfort and inconvenience to the public, health hazards and loss of time and money for the people. It is expected that the project will be completed and open to traffic on or before November 1, 2018. The Project Director, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Mangaluru will ensure that the NUPTL completed the work as per the deadline given to it.
Union Cabinet approves Merger Of NCVT And NSDA To Establish NCVET
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the merger of the existing regulatory institutions in the skills space – National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) and the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) into the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET). The institute will regulate the functioning of entities engaged in vocational education and training, both long-term and short-term and establish minimum standards for the functioning of such entities. The primary functions of NCVET will include Recognition and regulation of awarding bodies, assessment bodies and skill related information providers; Approval of qualifications developed by awarding bodies and Sector Skill Councils (SSCs); indirect regulation of vocational training institutes through awarding bodies and assessment agencies.
India ranked 147th in Oxfam world inequality index
The United Kingdom-based charity ‘Oxfam International’s report named ‘Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index was released. Out of 157 countries, Denmark topped the list based on its high and progressive taxation, high social spending and good protection of workers. Ranking at 11th, Japan became the topper among the Asian countries.
Seventh edition of Old World Theatre festival will commence from October 20th
It is organized by India Habitat Centre. It is being recognized by UNESCO as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”. Also for the first time, a National Theatre Live Broadcast of “Julie” by British theatre director Carrie Cracknell will be seen. It will showcase 15 plays on a pan-Indian constellation of original scripts from Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, and Kerala.
President of India Inaugurates 29th Accountants General Conference
President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the 29th Accountants General Conference at the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) building, at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, in New Delhi. The theme of this year’s conference is: “Auditing and Accounting in a Digital Era”.
Mobile Health App MedWatch Launched By Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force on the occasion of its 86th anniversary announced an innovative mobile health App named ‘MedWatch’. The main aim is to provide health information to air warriors and all citizens of India. It has been developed by Directorate of Information Technology (DIT) and the idea was conceived by IA doctors. It is in sync with Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Digital India, Ayushman Bharat and Mission Indradhanush’.
Nirmala Sitharaman to visit France
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman started her three-day visit to France. In her visit, both sides are expected to deliberate on further boosting up of the defence and security ties. The visit is after the rise of a huge controversy over the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from French aerospace major Dassault Aviation. Both the parties will hold wide-ranging talks with her French counterpart Florence Parly on ways to deepen strategic cooperation between the two countries and also deliberate on major regional and global issues of mutual interests. Ms.Sitharaman also take stock of progress in the supply of 36 Rafale jets by Dassault to the Indian Air Force under a Rs.58,000 crore deal. She might even visit the facility where the jets are being manufactured.
Nitin Gadkari laid Foundation Stone For Rs1,224 Crore Highway Projects In Uttar Pradesh
Besides, the highway projects, Gadkari also laid the foundation stone for the development of National Waterway 40 (river Ghaghra). This project undertakes development work of 354 km stretch of Ghagra river under the Sagarmala Programme of Ministry of Shipping.
Hyderabad HC instructed EC for release of revised voters list
The Hyderabad High Court directed the Election Commission (EC) of India to come out with an action plan to rectify the discrepancies in voters’ list of Telangana. The High Court approved its decision for publication of the revised electoral rolls. The decision was made by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice S.V. Bhat. The bench also instructed EC to place modalities and mechanism to be followed to respond to complaints about voters’ list. Marri Shashidhar Reddy, a Congress leader and former Minister, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) over large-scale discrepancies in draft electoral rolls.
Union Government Reconstitutes Top Court-Powered Pollution Control Panel
The Central Government reconstituted Supreme Court-empowered Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority or the EPCA, which is tasked with taking various measures to tackle air pollution in the National Capital Region. Former secretary Bhure Lal continues to be the chairman, while the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) DG Sunita Narain is one of the members.
UNICEF and NASSCOM signed MoU To Strengthen Child Rights
This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will work collaboratively on two key areas including national sensitization on child online protection and encouraging innovations for child rights’ in the country. NASSCOM Chairman is Rishad Premji.
Clear Sky 2018: Ukraine Launches Air Exercises With NATO Countries
Ukraine began a series of large-scale air force exercises with the United States and other NATO countries. The “Clear Sky 2018” war games are being held in western Ukraine. The main aim is to enhance regional capabilities to secure air sovereignty and promote peace and security through cooperation.
BPCL To Set Up Country’s 1st Biofuel Plant In Odisha
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) will complete commissioning of its second generation (2G) ethanol bio-refinery at Baulsingha village in Bargarh district of Odisha by 2020. This is the first biofuel plant in the country where ethanol will be produced from rice straw.
