Saturday, December 31, 2016

Meghalaya to host 2022 National Games

Meghalaya will host the 2022 National Games coinciding with its 50 years of statehood after IOA accepted Meghalaya’s bid to host the prestigious games following the successful South Asian Games. In its meeting in Chennai, Indian Olympic Association, IOA accepted Meghalaya’s bid to host the National Games overshadowing four other bidders Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Chhattisgargh and Uttarakhand.
Meghalaya State Olympic Association president John F Kharshiing told a news agency that the IOA accepted Meghalaya’s bid to host the prestigious games following the successful South Asian Games, which was co-hosted by Shillong and Guwahati earlier this year. Meghalaya had pledged 5 crore rupees as the bid amount for the game.
Meghalaya will be the third northeastern state after Manipur and Assam to host the National Games. Goa will host the next National Games in November 2017.

Baghdad suicide blasts kill 27

Iraq, at least 21 people were killed and 40 others injured in two blasts in a busy market in the capital Baghdad today. According to officials, the explosions happened near shops selling spare parts for cars in the al-Sinak market and said to have been caused by improvised explosive devices.
An interior ministry official told media that one bomb was triggered by a suicide attacker while the other was a planted explosive. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.The Iraqi capital has been experiencing frequent militant attacks that mainly target crowded and public areas.

5.5-magnitude quake strikes near Japan’s east coast: USGS

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake hit near Japan’s east coast today. The US Geological Survey said the moderate quake hit at a shallow depth of 11 kilometres, 244 kilometres northeast of Tokyo, just after 5 AM local time. Japan sits at the junction of four tectonic plates and experiences a number of relatively violent quakes every year.
But rigid building codes and strict enforcement mean even strong tremors often do little damage.On Wednesday a 6.3-magnitude quake hit 18 kilometres north-northeast of the town of Daigo, but there were no reports of injuries or damage.

India, Singapore sign 3rd protocol for amending DTAA

India and Singapore have signed the 3rd protocol for amending Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). Briefing reporters in New Delhi today, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the revisiting of this treaty is important as it will help in government’s efforts to eliminate black money.
He said earlier India had amended the DTAA with Mauritius and Cyprus. Mr. Jaitley said 2016 has been historic as these double taxation avoidance agreements will block the routes to evade taxations.
The Minister said from 2019, Switzerland will start giving India real time information on investments by Indian entities in that country in 2018. On demonetization, Mr. Jaitley said things have normalised to a large extent.

Anil Baijal – The Delhi Lieutenant Governor

Anil Baijal took oath as new Lieutenant Governor of Delhi today. The oath taking ceremony was held at Rajniwas this morning. Earlier, President Pranab Mukherjee approved his appointment.
70-year-old Mr. Baijal, a 1969 batch IAS officer, had served as Union Home Secretary under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government besides holding key positions in other ministries. His appointment came after the sudden resignation of Najeeb Jung from the post.

General Bipin Rawat takes over as next Chief of Army Staff

General Bipin Rawat today took over as the next Chief of Army Staff. General Rawat has tremendous hands on experience of serving in combat areas, and at various functional levels in the Indian Army over the last three decades. He has handled various operational responsibilities in many areas, including along the LoC with Pakistan, the LAC with China, and in the North-East.
He is known for his balanced approach towards soldiering, compassion, and connect with civil society. His experience as GOC-in-C Southern Army Command in Mechanised Warfare has been focused towards the western borders, in coordination with the other two services.He was found the best suited among the Lt. Generals, to deal with emerging challenges, including a reorganized and restructured military force in the north and continuing terrorism and proxy war from the west, and the situation in the North-East.
Meanwhile, Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa took over as the next Air Force chief. The new Air Chief Marshal was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in June 1978. He has served in various squadrons, and in the Intelligence Directorate of Air Headquarters.
Outgoing Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh today assured the country that Indian Army is fully prepared to tackle any challenges be it external or internal. Speaking to media in New Delhi on his last day as Army Chief, General Singh said, he always believed that actions must be louder than words.
He thanked the Government for granting One Rank One Pension to the armed forces. General Singh expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister and the government for the full support and giving free hand in conduct of operations. He saluted martyrs who made supreme sacrifices in upholding honour of the nation. Earlier, General Singh inspected guard of honour.
Now Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat will take over as the new Chief of Army Staff. He has tremendous hands on experience of serving in combat areas, and at various functional levels in the Indian Army over the last three decades. General Rawat has handled various operational responsibilities in many areas, including along the LoC with Pakistan, the LAC with China, and in the North-East. He is known for his balanced approach towards soldiering, compassion, and connect with civil society.
Meanwhile Air Marshal B S Dhanoa also inspected the guard of honour and will take over as the next Air Force chief today. He was commissioned into the fighter stream of the IAF in June 1978. He has served in various squadrons, and in the Intelligence Directorate of Air Headquarters.

Truce in SP,Akhilesh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav back

Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav have been reinstated in Samajwadi Party, in an apparent rapprochement move by party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Party General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav has also been taken back with immediate effect. They were expelled from Party for six years last evening.
In a day full of turn of events in Lucknow, Akhilesh Yadav, on the behest of senior minister Azam Khan, went to meet father Mulayam Singh at his residence where Shivpal Yadav was also present. A truce was finally achieved, details of which are yet to be made public. Talking to reporters later, Shivpal Yadav said that now we all will sit together and finalise the list to win the election and form a government of majority.
Earlier this morning, in a show of strength, Akhilesh Yadav held a meeting at his residence where a majority of the 229 party MLAs were present. Besides, some SP MLCs and senior party functionaries loyal to Akhilesh also attended the meeting. Sensing the emerging scenario, the parliamentary meet of Mulayam Singh which was scheduled to begin at 10.30 at the party Head Quarter was postponed.

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