High speed Tejas Express to be flagged off on 22nd May
The high speed, air-conditioned Tejas Express will be flagged off on 22nd May from Mumbai to Goa. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu will flag off the premium luxury train through video conferencing. Having ultra-modern amenities like LED TV, wi-fi and CCTV, Tejas Express is a state of the art train capable of running at 200 kms per hour. However, due to constraints related to rail tracks, it will run at a speed of 160 kilometres per hour. The train will operate five days a week during non-monsoon period, and three days a week during monsoon period.
GST implementation won’t jeopardise Mumbai security: Maharashtra Finance Minister
The Maharashtra government has sought to discard fears that the GST roll-out would undermine Mumbai’s security because the vehicles entering the city will not have to stop and face checks at borders after abolition of octroi Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar stated that the vehicles entering the city will still be under watch and the government would take new steps to beef up the security. The minister was speaking during a discussion in the Lower House on Sunday on the second day of the three-day special session convened to pave way for the country-wide implementation of the GST from July 1. Mungantiwar said that the government will pay special attention to Mumbai’s security. He added that new measures to boost the city’s security will be undertaken. Leader of opposition in assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the government should tread carefully while implementing the GST.
Anshu Jamsenpa conquers Mount Everest twice within five days: A record
Anshu Jamsenpa from Arunachal Pradesh has created history by becoming the first woman to conquer Mount Everest twice within five days. She along with Nepalease climber Furi Sherpa scaled the Everest at 8 am on 21st May 2017. Anshu also stood atop of the world’s highest mountain on Tuesday. Anshu also become the first Indian women to reach Mt Everest for the fifth time. She successfully climbed Mt Everest twice in 2011 and later in 2013. India’s Dhankude Kishor Dattatraya, Brij Mohan Sharma and Ravi Kumar also successfully conquered Mt. Everest on Saturday. But Ravi Kumar is missing after he was descending to lower camps. Rescue and search efforts are on. Meanwhile an American and Australian climber died today while they were trying to scale roof of the world.
Inflation to fall by 2% after possible initial rise following implementation of GST: Govt
Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia has said, Inflation will fall by two per cent on implementation of the goods and services tax, GST, and will create buoyancy in the economy. In an interview to PTI, he said the allpowerful GST Council will meet next week to decide on tax rates of contentious items like gold, bidi and biscuits, just in time for its rollout from July 1. Mr Adhia also expressed confidence that the requirement of compensation to make up for revenue loss of any state will be fulfilled from cess on demerit and luxury goods like car and tobacco. With the stage set for the biggest overhaul of India’s tax system since Independence, the government will launch a massive awareness campaign to educate consumers about GST so that they are not fleeced by traders in the name of new tax. The Council over the two days last week assigned tax rates to more than 500 services and 1,200 goods by setting them in five broad rates of 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent. GST will be a single nation-wide sales tax replacing a string of central and state levies.
India’s export sector performs well despite global slowdown: Nirmala Sitharaman
Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said, India’s export sector has performed well despite the global slowdown. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on key initiatives taken by her Ministry during the last three years, Ms Sitharaman said, notwithstanding global headwinds, exports have shone in last 6 months. Ms Sitharaman said, number of mandatory documents required for exports and imports have been reduced to three each. The Minister said, forms related to imports and exports have also been simplified. The Minister said, Government e-Market place is a remarkable step towards fighting corruption and ensuring transparency in Government transaction. She said, there is an increase in exports from special economic zone in the last three years. Exports were valued at 5.23 lakh crore rupees in 2016-17.
UNSC to hold meeting on 23rd May in response to North Korea’s missile test
The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on 23rd May in response to yesterday’s ballistic missile test by North Korea. Uruguay’s mission to the UN said, the meeting was requested by the United States, South Korea and Japan. South Korean military said, the missile was fired from South Pyeongan province and flew about 500 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan. It was Pyongyang’s second missile test in a week and 10th this year. North Korea had termed the launch of its medium-range ballistic missile as successful.
Euro zone, IMF to seek compromise on Greek debt deal on 22nd May
Euro zone Finance Ministers and the International Monetary Fund will seek a deal today on Greek debt relief. Without the deal, no new loans can be disbursed to Athens, even though the bailout is now handled only by euro zone governments. Greece needs new credit to repay some 7.3 billion euros worth of maturing loans in July. Greece has agreed after months of negotiations, with the euro zone lenders and the IMF on pensions and tax reforms.
Swiss people vote for renewable energy against nuclear power
In Switzerland, voters have supported a referendum to withdraw the country from nuclear power in favour of renewable energy. Today’s referendum shows 58 per cent of voters in favor and 42 percent against the proposal. The Swiss government wants to ban the construction of new nuclear power plants and decommission the country’s five existing ones at the end of their technically safe operating lives. The plan would also boost renewable energies such as solar and wind and make cars and electronic devices more energy efficient.
Mumbai Indians win IPL title for third time In Cricket
Mumbai Indians lifted the Indian Premier League trophy for the third time, as they recorded a scintillating 1-run win against Rising Pune Supergiant in the title clash at Hyderabad last night. Opting to bat, Mumbai had posted a modest 129 for 8, with Krunal Pandya top scoring with 47. In reply, Pune got off to a decent start and were 71 for 2 in 12 overs. They needed 11 runs from the last over with 7 wickets in hand, before Mumbai paceman Mitchell Johnson took the wickets of Manoj Tiwary and Steven Smith on successive deliveries. Pune, then, needed 4 runs from the final ball. But, their hopes of winning the IPL title in the maiden Final appearance were dashed to the ground as Daniel Christian was run out and Mumbai won the match by 1 run. Johnson finished with 3 wickets.
Bengaluru FC wins 38th Federation Cup football tournament
Bengaluru FC has won the Federation Cup Football tournament. In the Final played at Cuttack last night, they defeated defending champions and 14-time winners Mohun Bagan, 2-nil. The match went into extra time after neither of the teams could break the deadlock in 90 minutes. India international CK Vineeth, then, scored twice for Bengaluru in extra time helping them to win the tournament for just the second time. With the win, Bengaluru also sealed a berth for next year’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup. It also became the eighth team to have won more than one Federation Cup title.