1. Chandrayaan-2 Launch Called Off, Technical Snag Observed: ISRO
In an anti-climax to the build-up around the historic moment, a keenly awaited launch of Chandrayaan-2 had to be aborted about an hour before the scheduled launch time due to a technical snag in the launch vehicle system.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said the technical snag was observed 56 minutes before the scheduled time, sourcing it to stop the countdown and then put the launch off for “today”.
“A new launch date will be announced later,” ISRO added. It was not clear, how soon the new launch date could be.
A technical snag was observed in launch vehicle system at T-56 minute. As a measure of abundant precaution, #Chandrayaan2 launch has been called off for today. Revised launch date will be announced later.
(Source: The Indian Express)
2. England Lift Maiden World Cup Amid Controversy, Drama
The World Cup has finally come home. England have kept their date with destiny, albeit a little controversially and not without a lot of drama. It doesn’t get closer than this, beating a side on the number of boundaries hit in the innings after staying level even after a Super Over custom-made only for the World Cup.
Eoin Morgan lifted the trophy but New Zealand won hearts by staying true to their fighting streak. World Cup finals tend to disappoint. The last time Lord’s had hosted one, the finest ever Pakistan team crumbled for just 132 against Australia.
Previous finals in 2015, 2007 and 2003 too were equally one-sided as Australia made short work every time, irrespective of the opponent. That story has been set straight now. There was every kind of drama you could imagine. This was the dream final.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
3. India, Pakistan Move Closer on Kartarpur Corridor
In a major breakthrough, India and Pakistan have narrowed their differences on the proposed Kartarpur corridor with New Delhi Sunday stating that the two sides have agreed to allow visa-free travel for Indian passport and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders on all days of the week.
The Indian government also said that 5,000 pilgrims will be allowed to visit the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, near Lahore, per day. The pilgrims will be allowed to travel as individuals or in groups and also on foot, New Delhi said in a statement.
Pakistan also agreed, “in principle”, to build a bridge on its side to make the corridor immune to flooding and ensure an all-weather corridor to the gurdwara through the year. This had emerged as a key difference during the technical-level talks earlier. Differences, however, remained on the Indian proposal to allow 10,000 additional pilgrims to visit on special occasions.
(Source: The Indian Express)
4. BJP Calls for Karnataka Floor Test on Monday
Two days after HD Kumaraswamy took BJP by surprise by declaring that he would seek a trust vote, the JD(S)-Congress combine found itself on the backfoot once again on Sunday as a rebel MLA flew off to Mumbai after showing signs of coming around in marathon meetings with the CM and senior Congress leaders.
Smelling blood, BJP insisted that the Kumaraswamy government prove its majority in the assembly on Monday or step down.
(Source: The Times of India)
5. China Will Appoint Next Dalai Lama
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Amid concerns internationally over the deteriorating health of the Dalai Lama, Chinese officials have warned that the issue of his reincarnation may adversely impact Sino-Indian ties if India disregards the appointment of the new Dalai Lama by Beijing through the "traditional" process.
The same issue of finding a successor of the 14th Dalai Lama is threatening to turn into another flashpoint in fast deteriorating
US-China ties with the former saying that this is a religious issue with no role for the state in it. While India looks at the Dalai Lama as a spiritual figure who isn't allowed to carry out any political activity on Indian soil, it may find it difficult to steer clear of the issue for long as the Tibetan government in exile based here is likely to appoint its own Dalai Lama successor.
(Source: The Times of India)
6. Sidhu Resigns from Punjab Cabinet Over New Portfolio
Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has been involved in a tussle with his boss chief minister Amarinder Singh, resigned from the state cabinet on Sunday.
Navjot Sidhu made the announcement on Twitter and sent the letter to Rahul Gandhi instead of Amarinder Singh. “My letter to the Congress President Shri. Rahul Gandhi Ji, submitted on 10 June 2019,” he tweeted.
Minutes later, he tweeted that he will send the resignation to the Punjab CM. The chief minister’s office said they haven’t received yet received Sidhu’s resignation letter.
Last month, Sidhu was stripped of his portfolios of Local Bodies, Tourism and Culture ministries after he skipped a cabinet meeting. Sidhu then took a swipe at Amarinder in a press conference saying that he “cannot be taken for granted” and he is only “answerable to the people of Punjab”.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
7. Air Cheer: PM10 Levels Dipping in Delhi
The national capital may be the most polluted city in the country but the level of a key pollutant, PM10, has been consistently declining here since 2016 unlike in less polluted cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Bhopal, where concentrations of the deadly particulate matter has increased in the last three years.
Analysis of data for 50 metropolitan cities for 2016, 2017 and 2018 showed a declining trend in Delhi, Varanasi, Ranchi, Raipur,
Vijayawada and Bengaluru, among others, whereas the level of PM10 rose in Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jodhpur, Kota, Gwalior and Jabalpur.
(Source: The Times of India)
8. Fadnavis Balances Maratha Quota: Offers General Category Fee Aid, More Seats
Open category Maharashtra students who fail to get admission in medical colleges for MBBS or post-graduation due to the reservations introduced under the Socially and Economically Backward Category (SEBC) from this year will be allowed to take admission in private medical colleges, with the government reimbursing the difference in fees.
At a meeting held in Mumbai, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also said that the decrease in medical seats in open category due to reservation for various social communities in the state will be compensated by increasing the number of seats.
A delegation under the banner of ‘Save Merit, Save Nation’ had called upon Fadnavis to express disappointment over the shrinking seats for general students in medical colleges.
(Source: The Indian Express)
9. Make Cow Sanctuary Must for All States: Panel to Govt
The newly formed Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog has urged the central government to make it mandatory for every state and Union Territory to set up cow sanctuaries like the two 100-acre facilities it intends to create within six months in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The aayog has set itself a target of 18 months to arrange a seed fund of Rs 1.5-2 crore for each such sanctuary. The state governments will be responsible for finding land for the project.
We will house around 2,000 bovines in each cow sanctuary,” Vallabh Kathiria, chairman of the aayog, said. “The sanctuaries will become self-reliant through income from dung and urine products after about two years.” The aayog chose Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh for the first cow sanctuaries because land for the project has been identified there. Each sanctuary will have cowsheds, quarters for managers and other staff, and adequate greenery. Kathiria also said that people would be encouraged to adopt animals at the cow sanctuaries.
(Source: The Times of India)
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