TAMILNADU

• Bharatmala phase 1 to cover 800km in state

 

• With the Centre approving its ambitious Bharatmala Pariyojana’s phase I recently, as indicated by finance minister Arun Jaitley, to develop about 35,000km in the country, the National Highways Authority of India is all set to implement the high-cost project in five corridors in the state. The central agency recently urged the state highways department to transfer the assets of these existing two-lane highways and provide no objection certificate at the earliest.

 

 

• The Narendra Modi government’s pet project, aimed at providing seamless connectivity of interior and backward areas and borders of the country, is estimated to cost ₹5.35 lakh crore. Government sources said the project, which envisages linking port terminals to the hinterland, will be taken up on an 800km stretch from Vellakoil to Sankakiri via Erode, Musiri to Meikalnaikanpatty near Namakkal, Madurai to Natham, Puttur (Andhra Pradesh) to Janappachatram in Tamil Nadu, Chengalpet to Tuticorin via Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram bypass. The NHAI requested the state highways department on January 11, to expedite the transfer on a priority basis. The links will have a positive impact on the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) of the country.

 

• The corridors identified in the state are crucial links for the economy.

 

• A government report says the new programme focuses on optimising the efficiency of road traffic movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps. Identification of the project stretches under the components of the scheme has been done based on detailed study, freight flow projects and verification of the identified infrastructure gaps through geo mapping, using data from Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics as well as from other sources.

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

• Maldives declares state of emergency

 

• Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen has declared a 15-day state of Emergency, his aide Azima Shukoor announced on state television.

 

• The move gives sweeping powers to security forces to arrest and detain suspects as Yameen refuses to comply with a Supreme Court order to release political prisoners.

 

• The latest crisis was triggered when the Maldivian Supreme Court ordered the release of some opposition leaders, including former president Mohammed Nasheed, after overturning their “terrorism” convictions.

 

 

• Dubai named the world’s busiest International Airport

 

• Dubai International Airport says it has held on to its No 1 ranking as the world’s busiest airport for ‘international travel’, after seeing some 88.2 million passengers in 2017.

• Dubai International Airport first surpassed London Heathrow as the world’s busiest airport for international traffic in 2014.

 

• It has maintained the title ever since, with some 90 airlines flying into skyscraper-studded Dubai.

 

• The airport is home to the long-haul carrier Emirates.

 

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia remains the world’s busiest airport overall.

 

 

·        Japan Launches Smallest Rocket Ever To Carry Tiny Satellite into Orbit

 

• The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)launched the world’s smallest rocket with the ability to put a tiny satellite into orbit.
• The rocket lifted off from the Uchinoura Space Center.
• It carried a microsatellite TRICOM-1R, a three-unit CubeSat weighing about 3 kilograms.
• This satellite launch was a re-flight of the TRICOM-1 mission, which was lost in SS-520’s failure in 2017.
• The launch was aimed at testing the ability of JAXA to launch low-cost rockets that can put microsatellites into space at affordable rates.

 

NATIONAL

 

·        India contributes $1 million to UN Development Partnership Fund

 

• India contributed additional $1 million to India-UN Development Partnership Fund, earmarked for South-South cooperation.
• The contribution aims to intensify its partnerships with other developing countries in the south.
• India has pledged a multi-year contribution of $100 million to the fund establishment in June 2017.
• The fund was set up on 9 June 2017 on occasion of the World Oceans Day as a partnership between India and United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.

·        International company Singtel to invest 2649 crores in Bharati Telecom

 

• Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) spend up to 2643 crores on shares in India’s Bharti Telecom, lifting its stake slightly in the holding company for Bharti Airtel to just under half.
• India’s telecommunications sector has been hit hard by a price war since the entry of carrier Reliance Jio, the telecoms arm of Reliance Industries Ltd, more than a year ago.
• The purchase worth as much as 26.5 billion rupees could increase Singtel’s stake in Bharti Telecom by up to 1.7 percentage points to 48.9 percent and its holding in Bharti Airtel, the country’s biggest mobile carrier, by up to 0.9 percentage points to 39.5 percent.
• The deal will be done via a preferential share allotment.

 

 

• Maharashtra govt approves new wildlife sanctuary at Ghodazari

 

• The Maharashtra government has approved Ghodazari in Chandrapur district as a new wildlife sanctuary in the state.

 

• The decision was taken at the 13th meeting of the Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

 

• The sanctuary, in the North East of Tadoba, will include 159 sq km of Brahmapuri forest.

 

·        India Successfully Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable Agni-I Missile

 

• India successfully test-fired the indigenously developed short-range nuclear capable Agni-I ballistic missile.
• The missile was fired from the Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast.
• The test was conducted by the Strategic Force Command of the Indian Army.
• The range of Missile is 700 km.
• It was 18th version of Agni-I.

 

 

·        Prime Minister Narendra Modi to go on 4-day visit to Palestine, UAE, Oman on February 9

 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modiwill have a packed schedule during his four days visit to Palestine, UAE, and Oman from ninth of this month.
• This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Palestine, and Prime Minister Modi’s second visit to UAE and first to Oman.
• During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold discussions on matters of mutual interest with their leaders, apart from participating in many community events.
• In Dubai, Prime Minister would be addressing the Sixth World Government Summit being at which India has been extended ‘Guest of Honour’ status. Joint Secretary (Gulf).

 

• IWAI Signs Project Agreement With World Bank For Jal Marg Vikas Project.

 

 

• Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)signed a project agreement with the World Bank for Jal Marg Vikas Project on river Ganga.
• The World Bank entered into a USD 375 million loan agreement with the Department of Economic Affairs, Union Ministry of Finance for Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP).
• Jal Marg Vikas Project, which is expected to be completed by March 2023, is being implemented with the financial and technical support of the World Bank.

 

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