PM Narendra Modi to co-chair 17th ASEAN-India Summit on November 12

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1.Kash Patel, Indian-American, named Chief of Staff to Acting US Defence Secretary:- According to the news shared by Pentagon on November 10, 2020, Kash Patel, an Indian-American has been named Chief of Staff to the acting US Defence Secretary. He was named for the position by Acting US Defence Secretary, Chris Miller.The new appointment of Kash Patel from the Pentagon has come a day after President Donald Trump fired Defence Secretary Mark Esper and appointed Chris Miller, National Counter-Terrorism Center Director, as the Acting United States Defence Secretary. Miller took over the responsibilities and functions of his new role on November 9, 2020.

2.Bahrain’s Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa passes away at 84:- Bahrain’s Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifaworld’s longest-serving Prime Minister, has passed away. He was 84. The royal palace informed the unfortunate news on November 11, 2020. Prince Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa reportedly passed away in the morning today at Mayo Clinic hospital in the United States. He had left the kingdom in August for a ‘private visit abroad.’ He had also visited Germany earlier this year for unspecified medical treatment and had returned to Bahrain in March. The exact details of his death have not been yet released by the royal palace.

3.Government scales up goal of PM-KUSUM scheme to 30.8 GW of solar capacity by 2022:- The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) issued an order to scale-up and expand Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme. According to the new order by the Ministry, the target of the scheme now is to achieve an enhanced solar capacity of 30.8 GW (gigawatt) by the year 2022. For the target to be achieved, the central financial support has also been revised to Rs. 34,035 crores. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had earlier in February 2019 the launch of PM-KUSUM Scheme and aimed at providing water and financial security to the Indian farmers. At that time, the scheme had the aim of adding a solar capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022 and the total financial support to be provided was Rs. 34,422 crores.

4.PM Narendra Modi to co-chair 17th ASEAN-India Summit on November 12:- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will co-chair the 17th ASEAN-India Summit along with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc on November 12, 2020.The first virtual summit of India and the ASEAN nations will see participation from the leaders of all ten ASEAN Member States.

ASEAN-India Summit 2020: Key Highlights

  • The ASEAN-India Summit 2020 will review the status of the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership and take stock of the progress made in key areas including connectivity, maritime cooperation, trade and commerce, education and capacity building.
  • The Indian and ASEAN leaders will also discuss ways to further strengthen ASEAN-India engagement and they will announce the adoption of ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2021-2025).
  • The ASEAN-India Summit provides a wide number of opportunities to both India and ASEAN to engage at the highest level.
  • The summit is also likely to discuss issues related to COVID-19, post-pandemic economic recovery and important regional and international developments.

5.Prime Minister Modi inaugurates new state-of-the art-complex of ITAT’s Cuttack bench:- Prime Minister Modi on November 11, 2020, inaugurated the state-of-the art-office cum residential complex of Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal- ITAT in Cuttack, Odisha.The inaugural function which was held virtually was attended by Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Ravi Shankar Prasad, ITAT President, Justice PP Bhatt, Judges and Chief Justice of Odisha High Court, Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes, PC Modi and other officials.While briefing the media, Justice PP Bhatt informed that Cuttack’s ITAT has been functioning from rented premises since 1970 which is almost 50 years, and has jurisdiction for appeals arising from Odisha state. Its jurisdiction extends to the whole of Odisha.