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National News
Meeting of SAARC Countries on protection of Children held in Delhi
- The eight nations composing the South Asia Initiative to End Violence against Children (SAIEVAC) are assembled.
- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
- To set strategies and agree on commitments to ensure the protection and security of the children of the region
Investments through Mauritius to be taxed from April 2017
- To curb tax evasion and round-tripping of funds
- Mauritius and Singapore are among the top-most sources of foreign direct investments into India
- Capital gains tax will be imposed at 50 per cent of the prevailing domestic rate. Full rate will apply from April 1, 2019.
Bill on potable alcohol
- bill seeks to transfer from the Centre to states the control over industries engaged in the production of potable alcohol
- Bill envisages central government would continue to be responsible for formulating policy and regulating foreign collaboration for all products of fermentation industries, including industrial and potable alcohol.
Congress Government wins the Floor Test in Uttarakhand Assembly
- Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat won the Assembly floor test.
- Floor test aka trust vote, was held to ascertain whether the ousted chief minister still enjoys a majority in the House.
- Union government has imposed President’s Rule in Uttarakhand in March citing Rawat lost his majority.
Meghdoot postcards to 3 lakh voters
- ‘Meghdoot‘postcards to three lakh voters inviting them to cast their votes in the May 16 Assembly polls in Puducherry.
- Cards carry a message that visually challenged voters will also have the Braille voting system also assistance would also be provided to orthopedically and physically challenged persons
Panel to draft national policy on marine fishery
- New panel to prepare a draft national policy on marine fishery after ascertaining the current status of exploitation of the resources.
- Committee was constituted on July 28, 2015, under the chairmanship of S Ayyapan, former director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research
India fails to get Mallya deported
- Britain has told India that it cannot deport Vijay Mallya, who is facing money laundering charges in the country
- But could consider an extradition request for him.
- Britain has clarified that deportation can’t be allowed if someone entered UK through valid passport and then it is cancelled.
National Technology Day
- National Technology is being celebrated on May 11 across India.
- a very special day for Indian Technology since 1999
- It was on this day that the first, indigenous aircraft “Hansa-3” was test flown at Bangalore.
- India also performed successful test firing of the Trishul missile on the same day, May 11 and executed three successful nuclear tests, carried out at Pokhran, in Rajasthan.
International
US India Defence Cooperation Act introduced
- To elevate the status of the Indo US defense relationship on par with that of America’s closest allies like NATO and Israel
- US government’s focus on the US India security relationship while sending a powerful signal to India that the US is a reliable and dependable defense partner.
More funding and leadership needed to rnd AIDS Epidemic By 2030: UN
- Fight against AIDS threatened by lack of money and leadership.
- Prevention programs are suffering from a lack of leadership, accountability and funding.
- To ensure that the global AIDS epidemic is ended as a public health threat by 2030.
Bangladesh executes Jamaat chief Nizami for war crimes
- Bangladesh executed Islamist party Chief Motiur Rahman Nizami for convicted criminal during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.
- A death sentence imposed by a special tribunal for genocide, rape and arranging the massacre of top intellectuals during the war.
- The fourth Jamaat leader and the fifth person hanged after being convicted of war crimes by one of the two International Crimes Tribunals.
Business and Economy
RBI to issue Rs 1000 banknotes with inset letter R
- banknotes will also have on the obverse side that all the other security features, including ascending size of numerals, bleed lines and enlarged identification mark,
- Banknotes will bear signature of RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan. It will also have the year of printing 2016 printed on the reverse side.
Ceiling price of 54 drug formulations fixed
- National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority fixed the ceiling price of 54 drug formulations used for treatment of cancer and other diseases it also fixed the retail price of 11 drugs.
- fixed/revised ceiling prices of Schedule-I under Drugs Price Control Amendment Order, 2016 and Retail Price of 11 formulations under-2013 Amendment.
Nalco signs MoU with BARC for research and development
- National Aluminium Company has signed a MoU with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, for research and development cooperation in the fields of mutual interest.
- NALCO’s first R&D project with BARC for R&D projects like Extraction of Gallium from Bayer liquor, Extraction of rare earth elements from Red Mud and Development of Reference Standards
People in News
Senior advocate Atma Ram Nadkarni appointed Additional Solicitor General
- Bombay High Court’s senior advocate Atma Ram Nadkarni as Additional Solicitor General for a period of three years.
- He had served as Advocate General also called highest law officer of the Goa.
Rodrigo Duterte wins 2016 Philippines Presidential Election
- DP-Laban party’s Rodrigo Duterte has Won Presidential Election in the Philippines with an unbeatable lead in unofficial tallies
- General election in the democracy saw a record engagement with an estimated 80% turnout of the 54 million registered voters.
- Among the longest-serving mayors in the Philippines and has been mayor of Davao City working out more than 22 years.
Michel Platini to resign as UEFA President
- Michel Platini will resign from European football’s governing body after failing to overturn his ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
- Court of Arbitration for Sport panel also reduced the ban from six years to four years.
- Court also ruled that Platini was guilty of conflict of interest for taking a $2 million payment from FIFA approved by Sepp Blatter in 2011.
India vs Pakistan: Why Can’t we just be Friends by Husain Haqqani Book launch
- Former Pakistani ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqanito authored a book titled India vs Pakistan: Why Can’t We Just Be Friends
- Book reveals that US intelligence agencies had evidence about Pakistan spy agency ISI’s involvement in the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks
- Husain Haqqani has exposed Pakistan’s role in the deadly terror attacks. He also has mentioned about the ISI’s role in the 26/11 attacks.
- The author said that retired Pakistan Army officers were behind the Mumbai attacks.
Science and Technology
NASA’s Kepler telescope finds largest trove of exoplanets
- 1284 new planets outside our solar system discovered by Keplar, more than doubling the number of known exoplanets.
- Unmanned Kepler space telescope works by observing a dimming in the light of star, known as a transit observatory.
- It was launched back in 2009 and has been scanning 150,000 stars for signs of orbiting bodies.
Indian Navy launches underwater vigil system in Visakhapatnam & decommissions fighter planes Sea Harriers
- Indian Navy has launched Harbour Defence Systems at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam.
- These state-of-the-art systems would enhance the Navy’s surveillance capability and response to security threats.
- The Iconic Sea Harrier’s will be decommissioned from the Indian Navy after 30 years of service for the country’s various mission.
- Harriers have been replaced by a squadron of Russian MiG 29k jets.
Reliance Jio Infocomm launches digital wallet
- Reliance Jio has launched digital wallet service called JioMoney for common people.
- Users can do mobile and DTH recharges, send/receive money, make bill payments, pay insurance and other premiums
- Powered by 4G small cell technology.
- Reliance has partnered with over 50000 merchants to enable transactions through JioMoney on their respective platforms.
Scientists develop second skin to reduce wrinkles, eye bags
- Scientists developed an invisible elastic film called second skin that can be applied to the skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and eye bags and even reshape your face.
- Developed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in America.
- Can be used to treat eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions by covering dry itchy patches with a film that moistens and soothes.