NEWS 08-05-2017. NEWS FOR 9-MAY (TUESDAY) 1. The “South Asia satellite” for use by countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region was launched on May 5. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed the satellite as an invaluable gift of India to South Asia. The plan for the satellite was announced in 2014 and subsequently all SAARC countries joined it except Pakistan. The beneficiaries of the satellite will be Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives. The total cost of launching the satellite is approx. Rs 235 crore. The satellite will provide a full range of services in the fields of telecommunication and broadcasting applications. 2. Pakistan’s ‘border action team’ (BAT) has beheaded two Indian soldiers by sneaking 200 metres into Indian Territory in the Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. During the raid, bodies of Naib Subedar Paramjit Singh (22 Sikh Regiment) and head constable Prem Sagar (200 BSF Battalion) were left mutilated. This is the third such barbaric episode since the conduct of ‘surgical strikes’ against terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on September 29. India has strongly condemned this inhuman act and the Army has promised appropriate revenge at a place and time of its choice. 3. Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu has announced the Cleanest Cities in the Country under Swachh Sarvekshan-2017. Indore has been adjudged as the cleanest city in India while Gonda in Uttar Pradesh has been ranked as the dirtiest city among surveyed. In total, 434 cities and towns with a population of one lakh and above were surveyed. 4. The Minister for Human Resource and Development, Prakash Javadekar has launched a nationwide Vidya – Veerta Abhiyan to encourage educational institutions across the country to display portraits of Param Veer Chakra-decorated soldiers. The “wall of heroes” depicting portraits of brave soldiers is expected to instil a sense of patriotism and nationalism among students. 5. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2016 which was passed by Parliament in March last yearhas come into effect. The Real Estate Act aims to protect the interests of homebuyers by ensuring transparency. The act has been notified by 13 states and Union Territories including Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Delhi, Daman and Diu. 6. As per the updated FIFA world football rankings, the Indian national football has secured 100th spot and entered the top 100 of FIFA rankings. This is the first time in 21 years that India has been ranked into top 100 position. The current ranking is a 72-place jump from being 173rd in March 2015. Till date, it remains the country’s best FIFA ranking. < < Back