India's first underwater Metro: To begin in March 2022 in Kolkata
Kolkata Metro Rail Corp. expects to complete East-West project, which runs partly under the Hooghly river, by March 2022 after several years delay. A soft loan of 41.6 billion Rs from Japan International Cooperation Agency helps fund 48.5% of the project.
The new line is expected to carry about 900,000 people daily.
PM to inaugurate 3rd Global Potato Conclave-2020 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat
PM Modi will inaugurate the third Global Potato Conclave-2020 in Gandhinagar on 28 January. Four-day Conclave will provide an opportunity to bring all stakeholders at one common platform. Gujarat is one of the leading producers of Potato in the country.
Netherland is the partner country of this conclave.
Centre & Assam govt to provide 1,500 Cr assistance for economic development of Bodo community
Centre signed an accord with the Assam-based different insurgent groups and civil societies including the National Democratic Front of Bodoland to provide 1,500 Cr assistance. The accord will provide political, economic and land rights to Bodo tribals.
It will help in the holistic development of the Bodo community.
Indian Railways to run 100% on electricity by 2024: Piyush Goyal
Railways minister Piyush Goyal stated that the Railways is expected to switch completely to electricity by 2024 as diesel locomotives are steadily being shunted out of service. It will be the 1st railway network in the world to be run on 100% electricity.
He was addressing the India-Brazil business forum in New Delhi.
India & World Bank sign Agreement of 210 million USD in agriculture and rural transformation
GOI, Maharashtra & the World Bank signed a loan agreement of USD 210 mn to support small holder farmers participate in competitive agriculture value chains, facilitate agri-business investments & build resilience of crops to floods/droughts in Maharashtra.
Named as Maharashtra Agribusiness & Rural Transformation Project
NCML released first estimates for 2019-20 rabi crop production
NCML has released its first estimates for 2019-20 rabi crop production. The monsoon season of 2019 witnessed 10% above normal rainfall. Wheat production during 2019-20 is estimated at 1090 lakh tonnes. Paddy has increased by 5% compared to previous year.
NCML-National Collateral Management Services Limited.
Passport Seva Kendras started passport renewal reminder service
2 SMS are being sent to the concerned passport holders - one before 9 months & another before 7 months of the date of expiry of passport. An ordinary passport for adults is valid for 10 years from the date of issue and can be renewed for another 10 years.
Validity of minor's is restricted to 5 years/till attain 18 yrs.
Centre to release report card of 'smart cities' in June
The central government will release a report card of 100 selected smart cities in 3 categories- ease of living, municipal performance index and climate-in June as the Smart Cities Mission completes its five years. It will help cities in better planning.
Smart Cities Mission Director-Kunal Kumar.
Andhra Pradesh Cabinet nods to abolish Legislative Council
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led govt passed a resolution in the Legislative Assembly to abolish the Legislative Council. It comes after the upper house stalled critical resolutions on shifting the capital city from Amaravati through their '3 capital cities' plans
AP is one of the few states to have bicameral legislature.
Nepal's newly elected Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota assumes office
Nepal's newly elected Speaker of House of Representatives-Lower House of the Parliament-Agni Prasad Sapkota assumed the office. President Bidya Devi Bhandari administered the oath of office. He will succeed Krishna Bahadur Mahara. Nepal PM-KP Sharma Oli.
Nepal Vice President-Nanda Bahadur Pun.
China ranked as the world's second-largest weapons manufacturer
China has been ranked as the world's second-largest weapons manufacturer, behind the US, according to new research by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute . The Asian superpower jumped ahead of Russia, from whom they used to buy many weapons.
China has reduced reliance on foreign weapons.
EU names first post-Brexit UK ambassador
Portuguese diplomat Joao Vale de Almeida is set to serve as the EU's top envoy in London after the UK leaves the bloc, EU announced. The diplomat has represented the EU in Washington and at the UN. UK PM Boris Johnson had signed the withdrawal agreement.
The UK's exit is scheduled for 31 January 2020.
China to launch its first Mars probe mission in July 2020: Report
While NASA is preparing to send its Mars 2020 rover to explore the red planet, China also announced its plan to launch first Mars mission probe in July 2020. A total of 24 high thrust hydrogen-oxygen rocket engine tests will be conducted for this in 2020.
It will be launched by the Long March-5 Y4 carrier rocket.
Asian Tennis Federation unanimously nominates Anil Khanna as life President
Anil Khanna was nominated as the Life President of ATF. He is also appointed as the Chairman of the Finance Committee as well as Co-Chairman of the ATF foundation. CS Sunder Raj is the Senior Vice President of the federation, representing South Asia.
Anil Dhupar was elected as the member of the Senior Committee.
Saurav Ghosal loses final against Fares Dessouky in Pittsburgh Open
In Squash, Saurav Ghosal finished runners-up at the PSA World Tour Bronze event after suffering a 0-3 loss to Egypt's Fares Dessouky. Saurav is a highly regarded Indian squash player and is also the top-ranked in the country. Dessouky is the World No.11.
PSA-Professional Squash Association.