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Headlines at a Glance

Headlines at a Glance – 6th August 2020

Ayodhya PM lays foundation stone for a temple at Ram Janmabhoomi site

For millions of Hindus, a long wait ended on Wednesday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the foundation stone for a Ram temple in Ayodhya, marking a historic accomplishment for his party and government. Watched by hundreds in Ayodhya and millions around the country on television, Modi promised a grand temple in place of the 16th century Babri Masjid that stood on what the faithful believe is the spot where Lord Ram was born. Indeed, the person of infant Ram—or Ram Lalla, who was a made a litigant in the long fight to build a Ram Janmabhoomi temple—was cited by Modi. Ram Lalla, who had been living in a tent for years, will finally get a temple of his own now, Modi said. The construction of the temple fulfils not only a cherished electoral promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party but also a demand for a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya that dates back centuries. This demand took the shape of a political campaign in 1984 when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)—an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is the ideological parent of the BJP—started the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

SOURCE: The Hindu

Atal Innovation Mission declares results of ATL Tinkering Marathon 2019

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog declared the results of its flagship national annual innovation Marathon challenge ATL Tinkering Marathon 2019 held over 5000+ Atal Tinkering Labs across the country and announced 150 winners of the Marathon. This year, the challenge was executed by AIM in partnership with MyGOV on MyGov’s Innovate Platform. With the central theme as “Research, Ideate, Innovate, Implement – Mindful Innovation for the greater good”, this year’s marathon was uniquely designed by the students themselves. Phase-I of the challenge included crowdsourcing of the problems faced by students in the communities surrounding them. Phase-I saw about 4300+ entries. Phase-II included voting on the shortlisted problem statements. About 5000+ votes were garnered as the students chose the problems that resonated with them the most. The Marathon, this year had a strong focus on Research preceding the Innovations. Four different problem areas were shortlisted on the basis of Phase I and Phase II – Enabling a Sustainable Environment and Justice, Enabling Outcome Driven Quality Education, Enhancing Health and Hygiene, Ensuring Inclusivity and Equality.

SOURCE: The Indian Express

India contributes over USD 15 mn to India-UN Development Partnership Fund

India has contributed USD 15.46 million to the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, underscoring the country’s commitment to supporting developing nations in their developmental priorities across all the Sustainable Development Goals. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti handed over a cheque of USD 15.46 million to the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) Director Jorge Chediek at a low-key ceremony held within social distancing guidelines at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN. The tranche of USD 15.46 million includes USD 6 million to the overall fund, in which all the developing countries are eligible for partnership, and USD 9.46 million dedicated to the Commonwealth countries. The India-UN Development Partnership Fund is managed by the UNOSSC and implemented under the leadership of partner developing countries leveraging the strengths of United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes.

SOURCE: Economic Times

Lebanon: 100 killed in a blast in port warehouses in capital Beirut

Lebanon’s cabinet declared a two-week state of emergency in the capital city and handed control of security in the capital to the military following a massive explosion in Beirut that killed at least 135 people and injured 5,000 others. The explosion on Tuesday sent shockwaves across the city, causing widespread damage as far as the outskirts of Beirut. Officials said they expect the death toll to rise further as emergency workers dig through the rubble to search for survivors. Beirut’s city governor Marwan Abboud said up to 300,000 people have lost their homes and authorities are working on providing them with food, water and shelter. The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear. Officials linked the blast to some 2,750 tonnes of confiscated ammonium nitrate that were being stored in a warehouse at the port for six years.

SOURCE: BBC News

Minimum Rs 500 cr net worth must for licence to sell petrol, diesel to retail, bulk users

The government on Tuesday said any entity with a net worth of at least Rs 500 crore is eligible for obtaining the liberalized licence to sell petrol and diesel to retail and bulk consumers. Clarifying on the November 2019 liberalized fuel licensing regime, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said any entity with a net worth of Rs 250 crore can get a licence to retail petrol and diesel to either bulk or retail consumers. For those seeking authorization for both retail and bulk should have a minimum net worth of Rs 500 crore at the time of application, it said in a statement. Last year, the government had relaxed norms for retailing of auto fuels, allowing non-oil companies to venture into the business — a move that could help private and foreign firms to enter the world’s fastest-growing market. Prior to that, a company had to invest Rs 2,000 crore in either hydrocarbon exploration and production, refining, pipelines or liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals to obtain a fuel retailing licence in India. In the statement, the ministry said the government had on November 8, 2019, notified simplified guidelines for grant of authorization for bulk and retail marketing of motor spirit (petrol) and high-speed diesel (diesel).

SOURCE: The Hindu

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