UAE will fill up half of Mangalore oil reserve as Modi-Abu Dhabi Crown Prince sign deals
India signed a deal with the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday that allows the Gulf OPEC country to fill half of an underground crude oil storage facility at Mangalore that is part of New Delhi’s strategic reserve system.
New Delhi announced a series of pacts with the UAE ranging from defence, trade, maritime cooperation to energy after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Co will store about 6 million barrels of oil at Mangalore, taking up about half of the site’s capacity, said Sunjay Sudhir, joint secretary for international cooperation at the Indian oil ministry.
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Hyderabad Literary Festival begins
Celebrating creativity in all its forms, the seventh edition of Hyderabad Literary Festival-HLF 2017 open at Hyderabad on Friday.
The three-day festival is being organised by Hyderabad Literary Trust at Hyderabad Public School in association with the Telangana government with the support of several academic, literary, cultural organisations and publishing houses, according to HLF website.
Ambassador of the Republic of Philippines Ma Teresita C Daza will be the guest of honour while poet Ashok Vajpeyi will be chief guest
Philippines is the ‘Guest Nation’ at HLF 2017 and will showcase its literature, art and culture.
Republic Day 2017: Wife Of Army Hero Hangpan Dada, Receives His Ashoka Chakra
The nation paid homage to Havildar Hangpan Dada, awarded the Ashoka Chakra, the highest award to an army man during peace-time operations, for killing four terrorists who had infiltrated into north Kashmir last year.
The Havildar killed three of the intruders and fatally injured a fourth before he died of bullet wounds at 13,000 feet in the icy Himalayas.
His wife Chasen Lowang received the medal from President Pranab Mukherjee at Rajpath
The soldier's bravery and presence of mind saved the lives of his other team members. The fierce encounter in the Shamsabari range of north Kashmir lasted for over 24 hours.
For first time UAE military contingent participates in parade at Rajpath
For the first time, a military contingent of UAE participated in the 68th Republic Day parade on Rajpath in the presence of their country's Deputy Supreme Commander Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was the chief guest.
A 149-member UAE contingent led by Lieutenant Colonel Abood Musabeh Abood Musabeh Alghfeli, constituting UAE Presidential Guard, the Air Force, the Navy and Army contingent led by a UAE band consisting of 35 musicians march-passed at the Rajpath and presented a ceremonial salute to the President Pranab Mukherjee.
The UAE is the second country after France to send its troops to participate in the Republic-Day parade of India,
Made-in-India Tejas combat aircraft debuts at R-Day parade
India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft 'Tejas' made its debut by flying past the Rajpath on the country's 68th Republic Day.
Three Tejas jets flew at a height of 300-metre from the ground at a speed of 780 km/hour in 'VIC' formation.
This was for the first time in two decades that an indigenously developed aircraft flew on R-Day.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar conferred Raksha Mantri Padak to Ten girl cadets
Ten girl cadets and one Girls Cadets Instructor (GCI) were conferred with Raksha Mantri Padak by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on his visit to the NCC Republic Day Camp 2017 in Delhi. Defence Minister also distributed certificates of commendation to NCC cadets for their praiseworthy performance at their Investiture ceremony
The Cadets and GCI who received the Raksha Mantri Padak
successfully summitted Mt Everest in May 2016 and created world record for maximum number of women from a single team and single country.
NSG commandos debut at Republic Day parade
In a first, ‘black cat’ commandos of elite counter-terror force National Security Guard (NSG) participated in the Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi.
A contingent of about 140 personnel in black overalls, balaclava headgear and carrying special assault rifle MP-5 added dashing sheen to the parade.
The commandos were given a rapturous round of applause by the spectators as they marched down Rajpath singing the NSG song “Hum haina haina hindustan” penned by renowned poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar.
The march past by the NSG also displayed ‘Sherpa’—a specially designed hijack intervention vehicle and two gypsies used for anti-hijack operations.
The NSG, which selects the best of the officers and men from the Indian Army as well as from various central armed police forces, was raised in 1984.
India's Republic Day coincides with Australia Day
26th of January is a day of celebration for both Australia and India. While India celebrates in Republic Day, Australia too celebrates its Foundation Day.
Interestingly it was on Jan 26, 1788 that Captain Arthur Phillip, commander of First Fleet of British Admiralty, along with his officers rowed to Sidney Cove in eastern Australia and took possession of the land in the name of King George III.
Australia Day marks the beginning of the European settlement in Australia and the foundation of the modern Australian state
National Action Plan for Children, 2016 released by WCD Ministry
National Action Plan for Children, 2016 (NPAC) was launched at a special function held to celebrate the National Girl Child Day in New Delhi
The Action Plan has four key priority areas; survival, health and nutrition; education and development; protection and participation.
The NPAC defines objectives, sub-objectives, strategies , action points and indicators for measuring progress under the four key priority areas and also identifies key stakeholders for the implementation of different strategies.
The plan also puts focus on new and emerging concerns for children such as online child abuse, children affected by natural and man-made disasters and climate change, etc.
The plan takes into account the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provides a roadmap towards achieving them though co-ordination and convergence with different stakeholders.
Mysuru gets India’s 1st post office passport kendra
In a bid to expand passport services and to ensure wider coverage, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Posts (DOP) have agreed to utilise the Head Post Offices (HPO) across the country as Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) for delivering passport-related services.
Mysuru got India's first Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK), which will offer all passport related services on the lines of PSKs, on Wednesday. The service will soon be expanded to neighbouring districts too.
It has been named as POPSK because the ministry of external affairs (MEA) has tied up with the postal department to offer passport related services through a network of post offices.
Mysuru is the fifth place in Karnataka to get a passport office after Bengaluru (two centres), Mangaluru, Hubballi and Kalaburgi.
e-Health Kerala scheme launched at Peroorkada hospital
Thiruvananthapuram: e-Health Kerala, the project envisaged by the health department in association with the state IT Mission, was launched officially by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a function held at Peroorkada District Hospital.
The project envisages to create an effective IT-enabled integrated framework to ensure effectual health care to the common citizen and create a centralized database of healthcare information.
Vijayan inaugurated the project by handing over electronic medical record (EMR) to Shanthakumari, a resident of Peroorkada.
'Dulari Kanya' scheme launched by Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh launched 'Dulari Kanya', a special scheme to check infant mortality in the state, on the occasion of the 68th Republic Day today.
Governor V Shanmuganathan launched the scheme, under which the government will deposit Rs 20,000 in the bank account of a girl child, born in any government hospital. It would be paid along with the accrued interest after she attains 18 years of her age.
Terming it as a "visionary programme" of the state government, he said it would not only arrest infant mortality but also keep a track of all pregnant mothers so that they avail of pre-natal and ante-natal care in the government health centres and go for institutional deliveries.
Trump orders wall to be built on Mexico border
President Donald Trump has issued an executive order for an "impassable physical barrier" to be built along the US border with Mexico.
He also signed an action to strip funds from US cities that are sanctuaries for undocumented immigrants.
Building a 2,000-mile barrier along the Mexican border was one of Mr Trump's key pledges in the election campaign.
RBI prohibits investments in 'non-cooperative countries'
Reserve Bank prohibited Indian entities from making direct investments in any entity located in 'non co-operative countries and territories', as identified by the inter-governmental body FATF.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) currently comprises two regional organisations and 35 member jurisdictions, including India, US, UK, China and the European Commission.
The prohibition on investment is "in order to align" instructions under FEMA with the objectives of the FATF.
At present, there is no restriction on an Indian entity with regard to the countries where it can undertake Overseas Direct Investment.
MakeMyTrip launches India's 1st social luxury travel magazine
India's largest online travel portal MakeMyTrip has launched the first ever social luxury travel magazine called 'Luxury Travel Times'.
The mobile only magazine is targeted at luxury travellers and is released through innovative ad platforms like Facebook Canvas & Instagram-Stories. 'Spa-cation', 'Heaven on Earth' & 'Heritage' were first few themes of the magazine presenting exotic choices to explore fine living.
Trump appoints Indian-American attorney to key White House post
US PresidentDonald Trump has appointed prominent Indian-American attorney Uttam Dhillon to a key White House position to assist him on ethics and compliance matters.
Dhillon, who served as chief oversight counsel for the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, has been appointed as special assistant to the President.
In this position, he would be part of the legal team to serve under White House Counsel Donald F McGahn with respect to compliance and ethics matters.
Prior to joining Financial Services, Dhillon served as chief of the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement.
Johnson & Johnson to buy pharma group Actelion for $30 billion
US pharmaceuticals giant Johnson & Johnson on Thursday announced it was buying Europe’s biggest bio-pharmaceutical firm, Switzerland’s Actelion, for $30 billion (€27.9 billion) in a deal that creates a new spin-off company.
The deal between the world’s biggest producer of healthcare goods and Actelion, a leader in medicines treating high blood pressure, will create a new Swiss-listed firm called R&D NewCo focusing on the research and development of new drugs, the two companies said in a joint statement.
Johnson & Johnson will acquire all the outstanding shares of Actelion for $280 per share in a deal approved by the boards of both companies, with the tender offer to start by mid-February.
Pankaj Advani wins World Billiards Championships title
Ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani won his 11th World Billiards (150-Up format) Championships title by beating Peter Gilchrist of Singapore in the summit clash
Advani beat multiple world champion Gilchrist by six games to three in a gripping final contest to wrap up his 16th world title overall.
Advani won his 16th world title overall.
Advani was satisfied with going for short break points to put pressure on his rival.
Japan gets first sumo champion in 19 years
Japan has formally named its first home-grown sumo grand champion in almost two decades, in a boost to the traditional wrestling sport.
Kisenosato, 30, was promoted to the top-most yokozuna rank after his win in the first tournament of the year.
He is the first Japanese-born wrestler to make it since Wakanohana in 1998. Five wrestlers from American Samoa and Mongolia have made it in the interim.
Kisenosato, who comes from Ibaraki to the north of Tokyo and weighs 178kg (392 pounds), has been an ozeki - the second-highest rank - since 2012.
After being runner-up on multiple occasions, he finally clinched his first tournament victory - and thereby his promotion to yokozuna - in the first competition of 2017.
Usain Bolt loses 2008 Olympic relay gold after Nesta Carter's positive test
Usain Bolt has lost one of his nine Olympic gold medals in a doping case involving teammate Nesta Carter.
Carter tested positive for methylhexaneamine, a banned stimulant, in re-analysis of samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Olympic rules state that the entire relay team can be disqualified and stripped of medals if one runner fails a doping test.
Carter and Bolt were teammates on the winning 4x100-metre team, which set a world record of 37.10 seconds. Carter ran the opening leg, and Bolt took the baton third in a team that also included Michael Frater and Asafa Powell.
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