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All India Radio News Summary: 23 NOVEMBER 2017

All India Radio News Summary: 23 NOVEMBER 2017

  1. Fifth Global Conference on ‘Cyber Space’ begins in New Delhi 

Digital technology has emerged as a great enabler and is helping business and economies grow. Technology breaks barriers and has given a level playing field to the society. The power of technology in improving governance is the need of the hour.

 

The 5th Global Conference on Cyber Space has begun in New Delhi.

  • For the first time, the event is being organized in India.
  • The theme of the conference is Cyber for All: A Secure and Inclusive Cyberspace for Sustainable Development.
  • Representatives from 124 countries and 33 Ministerial delegates from 31 countries including Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremasinghe attended the conference.

 

Significance: 

  • The conference will promote the importance of inclusiveness and human rights in global cyber policy. 
  • The main objective of the conference is to have mutual understanding of latest practices in cyberspace, more coordination and security measures.
  • India strongly feels that because of the initiative of the PM, cyber security has come to the central stage in the international diplomatic discourse.
  • Transparency is central to cyber space.

 

Improvements in Digital Tech:

Cyber space is a repository of information.

  • Citizens of India are increasingly adopting cashless transactions. For this, the Bharat Interface for Money – or BHIM App was created. This App is helping the movement towards a less cash and corruption free society.
  • The Prime Minister said digital technology paves way for efficient service delivery and governance.
  • The Prime Minister also launched the UMANG app, which is a unified platform for multiple governments of India mobile apps. On the occasion he also gave away awards to winners of the Hackathon.
  • The Prime minister said the government wants to make cyber space an enabler for the differently abled.

 

  1. EPFO has laid down provisions to help Pensioners in submitting Jeevan Pramaan with ease

The EPFO said, many steps have been taken in order to obviate the difficulties faced by the pensioners in submission of Jeevan Pramaan in November this year.

Those who have not submitted Jeevan Pramaan digitally even once should submit it digitally in this month. This facility is available in all offices of the EPFO, pension disbursing banks and common service centres. Further, digital Jeevan Pramaan has been made available in the UMANG App of EPFO. 

 

  1. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister has announced the withdrawal of cases against first time offenders involved in stone-pelting.

This decision has been taken considering the suggestion of the Centre’s special representative Dineshwar Sharma.

  • This confidence building measure reaffirms the Centre’s commitment to create an atmosphere for sustained dialogue.
  • The initiative will provide them an opportunity to rebuild the lives of youth.
  • Over 4,500 cases against youths involved in stone pelting for the first time will be dropped in a bid to win hearts in the Kashmir Valley.

 

  1. The Government is contemplating on convening the Winter Session of Parliament from 15th of next month

The Government is contemplating on convening the Winter Session of Parliament from 15th of next month, a day after the second phase of Gujarat Assembly poll gets over.

  • The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs headed by Home Minister met in New Delhi to deliberate upon the dates of the session.

 

  1. India’s Membership for European Bank for Reconstruction & Development

Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister has approved India’s Membership for European Bank for Reconstruction & Development.

 

Significance

  • Membership of the EBRD would enhance India’s international profile and promote its economic interests and contribute to an improved investment climate in the country.
  • It would increase the scope of cooperation between India and EBRD through co-financing opportunities in manufacturing, services, Information Technology, and Energy.

 

  1. ‘Safe-city’ plans for women

The Centre has initiated the process of formulating comprehensive ‘safe-city’ plans for women in eight metropolitan cities of the country.

  • The plan will be implemented in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Lucknow and Hyderabad.
  • A comprehensive review was undertaken to gauge the progress and examine steps taken by the police and civil administration for women’s safety.
  • It was decided that the police and municipal corporations of these metropolitan cities will frame a plan of action.
  • The plan will be forwarded by the respective State Level Committee headed by the Chief Secretary of the state.
  • The plan of action, to be submitted within a month, will be assessed by the Steering Committee headed by the Home Secretary, which will make suitable recommendations.
  • Other issues discussed during the meeting include, 33 per cent reservation for women in police, installation of CCTV cameras, emergency response system.
  • Besides, this issues like police verified public transport, prevention of cyber-crime were also discussed.

 

  1. Zimbabwe’s former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be sworn in as the President of the country

The ruling ZANU-PF party has nominated him to fill the vacancy left by Mr Robert Mugabe. Mr Mugabe stepped down on Tuesday after 37 of years ruling the country.  

 

Mr Mnangagwa’s dismissal from the Vice President post led the ruling party and the military to intervene and forced Mr Mugabe to resign. He told people in capital Harare that they were witnessing unfolding and full democracy. He also vowed to create jobs in the country.

           

  1. A multi-State mega mock exercise on tsunami preparedness

The Home Ministry through the National Disaster Management Authority and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services will conduct a multi-State mega mock exercise on tsunami preparedness tomorrow.

  • The exercise will be simultaneously conducted in 31 coastal districts across four States – West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu – and Union Territory Puducherry along the entire East Coast.
  • Participants from 11 Pacific Island countries will observe the entire exercise to take away key lessons and best practices to be adopted while preparing for and responding to a disaster situation.
  • The exercise is one of the various activities planned on the occasion of the 2nd World Tsunami Awareness Day held on November 5 this year.
  • India’s eastern coast is susceptible to both floods and tsunamis and many coastal districts have conducted similar mock exercises for better preparedness over the years.

 

  1. Supreme Court on the on-going probe in an alleged ‘love jihad’ case

The National Investigation Agency, NIA has filed its status report in the Supreme Court on the on-going probe in an alleged ‘love jihad’ case in which a Kerala-based woman had converted to Islam before marrying a Muslim man.

A bench headed by Chief Justice would take up the case for hearing on November 27, when the woman would appear before it for interaction.

The Supreme Court had in August this year directed NIA to probe the controversial case of conversion and marriage of the woman.

 

  1. Centre has asked the States to implement Clinical Establishment Act

Centre has asked the States to implement Clinical Establishment Act to take effective action against hospitals indulging in fraudulent and unethical practices. 

 

Citing the recent incident of overcharging from a patient by Fortis hospital in Gurugram, Health Ministry asked the States to issue warnings and take action against hospitals including private ones which indulge in malpractices. 

 

  1. President’s assent to the ordinance to amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016

President has given his assent to the ordinance to amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. 

  • The Code became operational last year.
  • It provides for a market-determined and time-bound insolvency resolution process. 
  • The ordinance aims at putting in place safeguards to prevent unscrupulous, undesirable persons from misusing or vitiating the provisions of the code.
  • The amendments aim to keep out such persons who have wilfully defaulted, are likely to be a risk to successful resolution of insolvency of a company.

 

  1. Bangladesh and Myanmar have signed a deal on the repatriation of Rohingyas

Bangladesh and Myanmar have signed a deal on the repatriation of Rohingyas with no specific deadline but with high hopes that the refugees will start returning to their homeland in Rakhine State within the next 2 months.

The two neighbouring countries struck the deal today in Naypyidaw following a marathon meeting between the Bangladesh Foreign Minister and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

Bangladesh had sought to keep a provision for a specific time-frame for completing the repatriation process, but Myanmar wants to keep it a open-ended process. The two countries have however agreed on formation of a joint working group at Foreign Secretary level to start the repatriation process.