Headlines at a Glance – 15th August 2020

“From LoC To LAC, Fitting Reply…” PM Modi’s I-Day Message To Pakistan, China

 India’s soldiers have given a fitting reply to anyone who has challenged the country’s sovereignty, “from LoC to LAC”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today, addressing the nation on its 74th Independence Day. “From LoC (Line of Control) to LAC (Line of Actual Control), whenever India’s sovereignty has been challenged, our soldiers have answered them in their own language,” said the Prime Minister, in a strong message to Pakistan and China without naming either. Referring to the clash with China in June at Galwan Valley in Ladakh, PM Modi said: “India’s integrity is supreme for us. What our jawans can do, what the country can do, the world saw that in Ladakh. Today, I salute all those brave soldiers from the Red Fort.” Twenty soldiers died for the country in the clash with Chinese troops on June 15. With talks on de-escalation deadlocked, PM Modi’s words were seen as a strong warning to China. Whether it is terrorism or expansionism, India is fighting both, the Prime Minister said. “Today the world stands with India and to get 184 votes out of 192 nations in the UN for a (non-permanent) seat at the UN Security Council is proof,” he said.

SOURCE: Hindustan Times

Rajnath Singh Launches Online Portal To Promote Indigenisation In Defence Production

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday launched an online portal that provides information about defence equipment and items that can be taken up for indigenisation by private sector companies. Moreover, the Defence Ministry said two memorandum of understandings (MoUs) were signed between Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) in the presence of Mr Singh on Friday, the concluding day of “Atma Nirbhar week”. Similarly, two MoUs were signed between private entities and the DPSUs on Friday. The aforementioned online portal that will promote indigenisation of defence items’ production is called “SRIJAN”.

The DPSUs, Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and headquarters of the armed forces (SHQs) can display on SRIJAN those items that are being imported now so that the Indian industry can design, develop and manufacture them domestically as per its capability, the ministry noted. It said the concerned DPSU or the OFB or the SHQ will interact with the Indian industry based on its requirement of the equipment and as per the guidelines.

SOURCE: The Hindu

U.S. Bid to Extend Iran Arms Ban Suffers Stinging Defeat at UN

A U.S. effort to extend an expiring arms embargo on Iran was soundly rejected at the United Nations Security Council on Friday evening, setting the stage for a diplomatic crisis pitting the Trump administration against both allies and adversaries. Only the Dominican Republican joined the U.S. in voting for the resolution, with Russia and China against. Eleven other countries abstained. The defeat of the resolution means that the U.S. may deliver as soon as next week on its threat to “snap back” international sanctions on Iran that were eased as part of the 2015 agreement to curb the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. Every other party to the multinational deal, including the U.S.’s European allies, say the Americans — who have already imposed extensive sanctions of their own -can’t also invoke the process for reimposing international sanctions from an accord that President Donald Trump quit two years ago.

SOURCE: The Indian Express

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy receive proposals over 10 GW of fresh solar power Equipment

India’s solar industry, which heavily depended on imports from China, has started to see a new wave of self-reliant developments. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, the Renewable Energy Ministry has received proposals from various players for over 10 GW of fresh solar equipment manufacturing, reported The Indian Express. The government’s move to shift from the use of short-term ‘safeguard duties’ to protect domestic manufacturers to the imposition of customs duties has induced the industry to make long-term commitments in terms of investments, Power and Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh told the paper. The minister added that a proposal to designate manufacturing zones for solar manufacturing is also being considered. He further said that a 5 percent interest subvention scheme for the domestic manufacturing of ingots, wafer, and cells has gone to the Ministry of Finance and the duty changes will be WTO compliant.

SOURCE: Financial Express

Odisha bags 1st position in AMRUT scheme

Odisha continued to be the top performer in implementation of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation Scheme (AMRUT) by making significant strides in providing piped water supply to households in urban areas of the State. According to the ranking of the states released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Odisha has secured first position by scoring 85.67 per cent. Nine cities of the State – Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Baripada, Balasore, Bhadrak, Berhampur and Puri – are covered under the scheme. Out of the 191 projects started under the AMRUT scheme, 148 have been completed. Rest of the projects will be completed by March 2021. Official sources maintained that 2400 km of pipeline laying and replacement work has been completed till date in Odisha. There has also been substantial growth in the number of household connections for water supply. More than 1.23 lakh connections have been provided in the nine cities covered by AMRUT.

SOURCE: The New Indian Express