The Daily Brief – 3rd July 2019

Centre has declared entire State of Nagaland a ‘disturbed area’ for a period of 6 more months under section 3 of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958 with effect from 30 June 2019. AFSPA has been in force in Nagaland for several decades. It empowers security forces to maintain public order in ‘disturbed areas’.

Garuda VI, a bilateral air exercise between Indian Air Force (IAF) and Armée de l’Air (French Air Force) is being conducted at Mont de Marsan in France from 1 July to 12 July, 2019. The aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability level of French and Indian crews in air defence and ground attack missions. The last edition of joint exercise between IAF-FAF was held in June 2014 at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

Indian pro boxer Vaibhav Yadav won World Boxing Council (WBC) Asia silver Welterweight Championship held in Pattaya, Thailand. He won the title after defeating Fahpetch Singmanassak of Thailand. The 24-year-old from Delhi is nicknamed ‘Ahir boxer’. The fight was conducted by Asian Boxing Council (ABC) which was established in 1985 with headquarters in Thailand.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has constituted a High-powered Committee of Chief Ministers (CMs) for ‘Transformation of Indian Agriculture’. HPC was set up subsequent to the deliberations of Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog and in keeping with promise of Centre government for Agriculture reforms, rural development, water conservation and its proper. The 9 member committee is headed by Devendra Fadnavis Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan- a campaign for water conservation and water security in 1592 stressed blocks in 256 districts. Central government officers, led by joint secretaries and additional secretaries, are assigned to these 256 districts. With this initiative government aims to provide drinking water to every household on priority and in a sustainable manner.

New Zealand has officially banned single-use plastic shopping bags with effect from 1 July 2019. It has also introduced hefty fines for businesses that continue to provide them. As per United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) more than 80 countries have already introduced similar bans. The Waste Minimisation (Plastic Shopping Bags) Regulations 2018, legislation regarding plastic ban was announced in August 2018 and came into force on 1 July 2019.

An 82-member Special Rhino Protection Force which is trained to combat poachers and understand animal behaviour was recently deployed in Kaziranga National Park, Assam. The process of setting up special force was initiated in 2015. Basically SRPF is a tiger protection force that was named after the rhino since threat of poaching is more for one-horned herbivore. In 1968 the park was given National Park status and in 1985 it was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) for its unique natural environment.