By: D.K Chaudhary
1. Important Cabinet Approvals- 18th July 2018
i. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the following set of approvals. The important Cabinet Approvals are given as follows-
ii. The Cabinet has approved-
1. MoU between India and Indonesia on cooperation in the field of pharmaceutical products, pharmaceutical substances, biological product and cosmetics regulatory functions.
2. Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) signed in 2010 and approves fresh MRA between the ICAI and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Ireland.
1. MoU between India and Indonesia on cooperation in the field of pharmaceutical products, pharmaceutical substances, biological product and cosmetics regulatory functions.
2. Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) signed in 2010 and approves fresh MRA between the ICAI and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Ireland.
2. Indo-US Delegation Meeting On Defence Cooperation
i. As part of Indo-US Bilateral Defence Cooperation, the 7th Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) meeting was held between India and the US delegation in New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by, Secretary (Defence Production), Dr Ajay Kumar and Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment, DoD, US Government Ms Ellen M Lord.
ii. The meetings are held twice a year, alternately in India and the USA with the aim to bring sustained leadership focus to the bilateral defence trade relationship and create opportunities for co-production and co-development of defence equipment.
3. EU, Japan Sign Massive Free Trade Deal
i. European Union (EU) and Japan have signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). It was signed at EU-Japan summit in Tokyo by EU Presidents Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
ii. It is biggest ever trade deal negotiated by the EU and creates free trade zone covering nearly third of the world’s GDP. The trade deal is set to eliminate the “vast majority” of the $1.1 billion in duties that EU companies pay to Japan, according to the European Commission.
4. UNEP Partners With Google For Monitoring Impact Of Human Activity On Ecosystem
i. UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has entered into a partnership with search engine giant Google to monitor the impacts of human activity on global ecosystems by using sophisticated online tools.
ii. The partnership was launched during a High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York. The aim of the partnership is to develop a platform to enable governments, NGO’s and public to track specific environment-related development targets with user-friendly Google front-end.
- UNEP was founded as a result of United Nations Conference on Human Environment in June 1972.
- It is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
5. Nelson Mandela International Day: 18 July
i. Nelson Mandela International Day 2018 is observed internationally on 18th July. This year marks 100 years since the birth of Nelson Mandela (18 July 1918).
ii. The Nelson Mandela Foundation is dedicating this year’s Mandela Day to ‘Action Against Poverty’, honouring Nelson Mandela’s leadership and devotion to fighting poverty and promoting social justice for all.
ii. The Nelson Mandela Foundation is dedicating this year’s Mandela Day to ‘Action Against Poverty’, honouring Nelson Mandela’s leadership and devotion to fighting poverty and promoting social justice for all.
- Antonio Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
- The UN Headquarters in New York, United States.
- The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945.
