I&B Ministry undertakes Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat campaign nationwide
Information and Broadcasting Ministry has undertaken a countrywide national integrity campaign program, under the title Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat – which highlights the age-old bonds of our diversified people, communities and states to portraying the Unity and Integrity of the people of India.
Under the Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat campaign, people of neighbouring states visit each other and share experiences of unique culture, music, dance and tourist spots of the partner state. This cultural exchange is aimed at bolstering mutual friendship and peace and to build a New India.
ICMR report says Delhi and Ahmedabad tops in added fat consumption
The Indian Council of Medical Research conducted study on the food habits of the citizens of the country. The study said that vegetarians consume more fat than that of non-vegetarians. Also, among the metropolitan cities of India, Delhi and Ahmedabad topped the list in average consumption of added fat.
The report also said that highest intake of added fat was in the age group of 36 to 59 years and the least intake was in children under the age of five.
IMF warns coronavirus epidemic could put at risk the recovery of global economy
International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that the deadly coronavirus epidemic could put at risk the recovery of an already fragile global economy. IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said that global growth is poised for a modest rebound to 3.3 per cent this year, up from 2.9 per cent last year.
She said the projected recovery is fragile and the COVID-19 virus – a global health emergency – has disrupted economic activity in China and could put the recovery at risk.
Indian Army is Set to Get New Headquarters
Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone of the Army Headquarters new building “Thal Sena Bhawan” in Delhi Cantonment. Thal Sena Bhawan, the multi-storeyed complex adopting Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA-5 rating) norms, was designed like a “rising sun” and spread over nearly 39 acres.
The Army headquarters is currently housed in the iconic South Block at Raisina Hill in Lutyens’ Delhi.
India’s First Floating Jetty and Immigration office was inaugurated in Goa
Union Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday inaugurated the country’s first floating jetty here and an immigration facility at a cruise terminal in Vasco.
The jetty is located in the state port department’s premises on the banks of Mandovi river. The floating jetty is made up of cement concrete, which was built on a short time, will boost inland waterways, they are environment friendly and 3 more will be built in Goa.
The Union minister said the immigration counter at the cruise terminal in Mormugao Port will help foreign nationals who arrive on cruise ships.
Over 8,660 pharma firms claimed tax deduction during 2019-20: I-T dept
The income tax (I-T) department has informed a division Bench of the Madras High Court that 8,667 pharma companies claimed tax deduction under ‘sales promotion expenses’ and ‘gifts’ during assessment year 2019-20.
The I-T department revealed that about 1,410 companies under form ITR-3, 1,915 companies under ITR-5 and 5,342 firms under ITR-6 claimed deduction under sales promotion expenses and gifts during assessment year 2019-20.
Rashpal Singh, Jyoti Gawte defend their New Delhi Marathon titles
Indian runners Rashpal Singh and Jyoti Gawte thwarted a strong field of runners to successfully retain their crown at the IDBI Federal Life Insurance Marathon in New Delhi.
Rashpal of Army Sports Institute from Pune lived up to his top billing and finished the full marathon (42.2 kilometres) with an impressive time of 2:23:29 hours to pocket the coveted title.
Jyoti Gawte of Maharashtra completed the gruelling full marathon, which was flagged off from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in 2:50:37 hours, with almost eight minutes to spare.
Russia will host new edition of AIBA World Cup 2020
Russia will be the first country to host the new format of AIBA Team World Cup in 2020. AIBA Executive committee members voted in favour to approve the Russian bid at its meeting in Budapest.
The tournament will be coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II under the motto “Boxing for peace”.’
Smart City Mission: Centre devises 20-20 model to help backward cities
In a final push to the Smart City Mission, the Centre has devised a 20-20 model to pair the top 20 cities with the bottom 20 and help the laggard cities to kick-start the smartening up process by borrowing technical know-how and financial studies.
Top-ranking Ahmedabad has been paired with Chandigarh, which is ranked 81. Nagpur, which ranks 2, will hand hold Port Blair which is 96th in the all-India ranking.
Sweden’s Riksbank begun testing world’s first digital version of currency, e-krona
Sweden’s Riksbank said it had begun testing an e-krona, taking the country a step closer to the creation of the world’s first central bank digital currency (CBDC). If this year-long pilot project successful, this would lead to the creation of world’s 1st central bank digital currency(CBDC).
The digital currency e-krona will be used to simulate day-to-day banking functions like payments from a digital wallet such as a mobile phone application.
Temperature controlled largest Terminal to store Agro and Pharma Products launched at Mumbai airport
The Mumbai airport has recently launched the world largest temperature-controlled facility to store agro and pharma products. The “Export Cold Zone” launched can hold more than 700 tonnes of cargo.
The terminal connects 500 cargo destinations spread across 175 countries. The unit is spread over 6,000 square metres. Mumbai Airport is one of the few airports in the world, first in India and third in Asia to obtain IATA CEIV PHARMA accreditation.
The International Judicial Conference was held in New Delhi
The International Judicial Conference was held in New Delhi recently. The Conference was addressed by PM Modi. The Theme: Gender Just World” was introduced at the conference.
The Conference discussed the changes being introduced by the Government of India to bring Gender Equality in recruiting women in military services, selection process of fighter pilots. It also discussed on freedom of women to work in mines at night.
Togo goes to polls as President seeks likely fourth term
Togo went to the polls in an election widely expected to see President Faure Gnassingbe claim a fourth term in power and extend his family’s half-century domination of the West African nation.
President Faure Gnassingbe has led the country of eight million since 2005 following the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled with an iron fist for 38 years.
The authorities faced major protests in 2017 and 2018 demanding an end to five decades of dynastic rule that has failed to lift many out of poverty. But the demonstrations petered out in the face of government repression and squabbles among the opposition.
CSIR-CDRI Scientist Dr. Niti Kumar gets SERB Women Excellence Award-2020
Dr Niti Kumar, Senior Scientist from Division of Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow has received SERB Women Excellence Award-2020.
This award is given to women scientist below 40 years of age who have received recognition from national academies.
Her research group is trying to understand the protein quality control machinery in human malaria parasite for exploration of alternative drug targets for malaria intervention.
France begins shut down of country’s oldest nuclear power plant
French state-owned energy giant EDF began shutting down the country’s oldest nuclear power plant after 43 years in operation.
Shutting down Fessenheim became a key goal of anti-nuclear campaigners after the catastrophic meltdown at Fukushima in Japan in 2011. Experts have noted that construction and safety standards at Fessenheim, brought online in 1977, fall far short of those at Fukushima, with some warning that seismic and flooding risks in the Alsace region had been underestimated.
