International
Japan supports India on eastern Ladakh standoff with China
- Japan said it opposed “any unilateral” attempts to change the status quo in the region.
- Japanese Ambassador Satoshi Suzuki said Japan hoped for peaceful resolution of the row through dialogues.
- Navies of the two countries held a joint exercise in the Indian Ocean. Four vessels belonging to the Indian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Forces (JMSDF) participated in the exercise, which was held in the backdrop of LAC tensions in Ladakh.
MoD approves 33 new fighter jets for IAF
- The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Thursday approved deals worth ₹38,900 crore. This includes procurement of 21 MiG-29 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF), upgrade of 59 of them and acquirement of 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft.
President Emmanuel Macron named Jean Castex as his new Prime Minister
- President Emmanuel Macron named Jean Castex, a top civil servant and local Mayor who orchestrated France’s COVID-19 lockdown exit strategy, as his new Prime Minister
- French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has earlier resigned
- Macron is reshaping his government as France grapples with the deepest economic depression since Second World War, a sharp downturn that will shrink the economy by about 11% in 2020.
India opposes Pakistan’s announcement of holding polls in Gilgit-Baltistan
- the Pakistan Supreme Court allowed Islamabad to amend a 2018 administrative order to conduct general elections in the region. The Gilgit-Baltistan Order of 2018 provided for administrative changes, including authorising the prime minister of Pakistan to legislate on an array of subjects.
- India also clearly conveyed to Pakistan that the entire union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of the country.
Over 350 elephants found dead in Botswana
- Hundreds of elephants have died mysteriously in Botswana’s famed Okavango Delta
- The landlocked southern African country has the world’s largest elephant population, estimated to be around 130,000.
National
PM visits Nimu in Ladakh to interact with Indian troops
- PM pays homage to those who died in the Galwan Valley.
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi travelled to Nimu in Ladakh to interact with Indian troops.
- Nimu is surrounded by the Zanskar range and is on the banks of river Indus.
- The Prime Minister met the top leadership of the Indian Army and later interacted with personnel of the Army, Air Force and ITBP.
- Prime Minister recalled the greatness of Ladakh’s culture as well as the noble teachings of KushokBakulaRimpoche. He described Ladakh as a land of sacrifice and a land that has given several patriots.
‘PRERAK DAUUR SAMMAN’ Introduced
- Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) announced a new category of awards titled 448 288 448s170.8 0 213.4-11.5c23.5-6.3 42-24.2 48.3-47.8 11.4-42.9 11.4-132.3 11.4-132.3s0-89.4-11.4-132.3zm-317.5 213.5V175.2l142.7 81.2-142.7 81.2z"/> Subscribe on YouTube