Power Push: Government Clears 10 Nuclear Reactors: In a major decision to fast-track India’s domestic nuclear power programme, the Union cabinet on Wednesday approved
ICJ Ruling On Kulbhushan Jadhav Today: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will today (Thursday) give its ruling on India’s appeal to stay the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage. The verdict will be announced at 3.30 pm Indian time, three days after the United Nations’ highest court in The Hague heard arguments by India and Pakistan.
New ISRO Push For High-Speed Internet: A new era of high speed internet will dawn on India as Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) gears up to launch a series of three communication satellites – GSAT-19, GSAT-11 and GSAT-20 – in the next 18 months. “The next big launch will be GSAT-19. With this launch, we will begin a new age of communication satellites. It is also the beginning of high-throughput satellites (in India),” said Tapan Misra, director of Space Applications Centre, a crucial arm of ISRO.
‘Fatwa Imam’ Barkati Sacked: Controversial Muslim cleric Noor-ur-Rehman Barkati, who has been in the news for issuing a fatwa against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and refusing to refrain from using red beacon on his car, was sacked on Wednesday as the shahi imam of Kolkata’s Tipu Sultan mosque. A meeting of the trustees of the 165-year-old mosque decided to remove ‘fatwa imam’ Barkati for “objectionable and inflammatory remarks against the country”. What prompted his sacking was threat of a jihad if India was declared a Hindu state.
Government May Ease FDI Norms In Print Media, Construction And Retail: If sources are to be believed, the government is moving ahead with further opening of print media, construction and retail sectors to foreign investments. The government may also permit overseas retailers to open wholly-owned stores for selling ‘Made in India’ products only.
Infosys To Hire 20,000 Engineers: At a time when top information technology (IT) companies are talking of shedding jobs, Infosys, the second largest IT services firm in the country, said it will maintain its annual campus hiring at 20,000 this year. The company said it is looking at engineers with new skills such as digital and analytics. Earlier this month, Infosys announced it would hire 10,000 in the US over the next two years and open four new technology and innovation hubs across the US.
Visakhapatnam Railway Station Cleanest, Darbhanga The Dirtiest: Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu released a report naming Visakhapatnam railway station in Andhra Pradesh as the cleanest among the 75 busiest stations in the country. It was followed by Secunderabad, Jammu, Vijayawada and Anand Vihar railway stations. The survey, conducted by the Quality Council of India, was based on criteria such as toilets on platforms, management of tracks and dustbins. The Darbhanga station in Bihar was rated as the dirtiest. This is the third survey conducted in line with the ministry’s ‘Swacchh Rail’ campaign.
New Law To Check Overstay In Official Accommodation: Government officers who overstay in official accommodation even after their term ends will have to pay heavy fines, with new amendments to the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 getting the go-ahead from the Union cabinet. For instance, if they overstay beyond five months, they will have to pay up to Rs 10 lakh. About 70 officials continue to occupy government houses two years after their tenure in Delhi got over or they retired. All of them have moved court and got a stay. Now the amendments will ensure their eviction within three days after the stipulated time given to a former MP or a retired official is over.
Source: Swarajya Newsletter