Proposals invited for setting up EV chargers

The government has invited proposals for the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in big and smart cities. The heavy industries ministry has also invited proposals from satellite towns connected to seven metros (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad); major cities of special category states / UTs; and capitals of all states / UTs not covered in the above categories. “Initially, 1,000 EV charging stations are earmarked for deployment. These will be sanctioned to different states / cities / entities after evaluation of the proposals,” the ministry said. It further advised that to the extent possible charging station should be connected with “grid-connected solar power plant” of required capacity as per MNRE guidelines so as to ensure grid stability and green energy for EVs.

Rajya Sabha passes AERA (Amendment) Bill

The Rajya Sabha has passed a Bill allowing the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) to bid out any new airport at a pre-determined tariff structure. Replying to the discussion on the Bill on July 16, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, “As many as 16 airports will be in the purview of AERA. All other airports continue to be looked after by the civil aviation ministry.” Currently, major airports with an annual capacity to handle 1.5 million passengers come under the purview of Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA). If the amendment is passed by Parliament, the definition of major airports would be changed to any aerodrome that has or is designated to have annual passenger capacity of 3.5 million. The Cabinet had approved the Bill on June 24.

Hafiz Saeed held on terror financing charges

Mumbai terror attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed was arrested on July 17 on terror financing charges by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), just days ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s maiden visit to the US. Saeed was travelling to Gujranwala from Lahore to get a pre-arrest bail in terror financing cases registered against him when he was arrested. Soon after the arrest, Saeed was presented before an anti-terrorism court that granted his judicial remand. He was subsequently shifted to Lahore’s high-security Kot Lakhpat jail where former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is lodged, the official said. On July 3, the CTD had registered 23 FIRs against 13 top leaders of the Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), including Saeed, on the charges of “terror financing” in different cities of Punjab.

Transfer of surplus capital on the anvil

The Bimal Jalan committee, which was constituted to assess the optimum size of capital reserves that the RBI should hold, has reportedly finalised its report. The six-member panel, under former RBI governor Jalan, was appointed on December 26, 2018, to review the economic capital framework (ECF) for the RBI after the finance ministry wanted the central bank to follow global best practices and transfer more surplus to the government. As per various estimates, the RBI has more than Rs 9 lakh crore of surplus capital with it. Asked about the quantum of surplus transfer from the RBI to the government, sources said, it cannot be disclosed now, but the transfer would be periodic and spread over 3-5 years.

AIDS deaths down a third since 2010

HIV-related deaths last year fell to around 770,000 - some 33 per cent lower than in 2010 - the UN said on July 16, but warned that global efforts to eradicate the disease were stalling as funding dries up. An estimated 37.9 million people now live with HIV - and a record 23.3 million of those have access to some antiretroviral therapy (ART), UNAIDS said in its annual report. Highlighting the enormous progress made since the height of the AIDS epidemic in the mid-1990s, the report showed that the number of people dying from the disease fell from 800,000 in 2017 to 770,000 last year. The figure was down by more than a third from 2010, when there were 1.2 million AIDS-related deaths.

Ursula von der Leyen wins EU’s top job

Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen secured European parliamentary approval on July 16 to become the first female European Commission president on a platform of a greener, fairer and rule-based Europe. The German conservative got the thumbs up from socialist and liberal lawmakers which, together with the endorsement by her fellow conservatives, gives her a stronger mandate to tackle issues such as climate change, trade and maintaining democracy in the EU. Rejection by the EU legislature would have been a painful blow for a bloc beset by challenges ranging from trade to Brexit and erosion of democratic norms, and a headache for EU leaders who would have had to come up with another candidate in a month.