New Zealand to host virtual APEC in 2021

New Zealand will use virtual digital platforms to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit next year, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, attributing the decision to uncertainty around travel due to the coronavirus. New Zealand was scheduled to host the APEC summit in Auckland. The event would have brought thousands of people to the country throughout the year, culminating in a leader’s week in November 2021. APEC, established in 1989, focuses on trade issues, although it also provides a chance for world leaders to catch up. Its 21 members include the US, China, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Indonesia and Hong Kong. APEC ensures that goods, services, investment and people move easily across borders. Members facilitate this trade through faster customs procedures at borders, more favorable business climates behind the border and aligning regulations and standards across the region. India is not part of APEC. Last year, Chile canceled the APEC leaders’ meeting because of violent anti-government protests. This year Malaysia has been hosting virtual APEC meetings. 

China’s military reserve forces brought under control of Xi Jinping

China’s military reserve forces will be formally placed under the centralised and unified command of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Central Military Commission (CMC), both headed by President Xi Jinping, from July 1 to ensure the ruling party’s “absolute leadership” over it and build a world-class army. Currently, the reserve forces are under the dual leadership of military organs and local Communist Party committees and they would be brought under the control of the ruling party and the CMC from July 1, the state-run news agency reported. China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in 2017 announced plans to reduce the strength of the reserve forces and bring them under the control of the central leadership as part of the reforms of the military. The reforms included cutting down the size of the military by three lakh troops reducing the size of the PLA, the world’s largest military force, to two million personnel. Since he took over power in 2013, Xi has ordered all PLA ranks to strictly under the CPC leadership. 

Nitin Menon becomes youngest umpire to enter ICC elite panel 

India’s Nitin Menon became the youngest member of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) elite panel of umpires, replacing England’s Nigel Llong for the upcoming 2020-21 season after an annual review. The 36-year-old, who has officiated in three Tests, 24 ODIs and 16 T20Is, is only the third from India to make it to the prestigious group after former captain Srinivas Venkatraghavan and Sundaram Ravi. Menon, son of former international umpire Narendra Menon, featured in two List A matches for Madhya Pradesh in 2004. He quit playing competitive cricket at 22 and by 23, he had become a senior umpire, officiating in BCCI accredited matches. Menon was earlier part of the Emirates ICC international panel of umpires.

Benzene gas leak in pharma plant in Vizag kills 2

Two people were killed and four others taken ill after benzene gas leaked at a pharmaceutical company at Parawada in Visakhapatnam. Officials said the situation was under control while the plant was temporarily shut. The incident occurred in the Sainor Life Sciences unit at Pharma City, but the situation was under control as the leak was restricted to one reactor unit.  The leak occurred when benzene gas was being pumped into the reactor, officials said. The incident comes nearly two months after 12 people were killed and over 1,000 taken ill after gas leak at a chemical plant in the city. Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy enquired about the incident with the district collector, who constituted a four-member team, to investigate the cause of the mishap.

NFL unveils five free mobile soil testing labs 

To promote balanced use of fertilisers, state-owned National Fertilisers Ltd (NFL) launched five mobile soil testing labs for providing free services at doorsteps of farmers. These mobile labs, loaded with latest soil testing equipment, shall be used for macro and micro nutrient analysis of soil, the fertiliser ministry said in a statement. In addition to this, these mobile labs are also equipped with audio-video systems to educate farmers on various agricultural topics, it said. Besides mobile testing labs, the company is also serving the farming community through six static soil testing labs located in different parts of the country. All these labs tested around 25,000 soil samples free of cost in the year 2019-20, it added.

Separatist leader Geelani quits Hurriyat Conference

Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the lifetime chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, made an announcement of dissociating himself from the 16-party amalgam, alleging lack of accountability and a brewing rebellion in the ranks. The 90-year-old Geelani has been chairman of the conglomerate since its inception in 2003. He has been politically inactive of late, particularly since the abrogation of Article 370 in August last year which had far-reaching consequences for the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir. Geelani accused separatist leaders based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir of being opportunist and using the platform of Kashmir for their personal gains. Geelani, who was a founding member of the undivided Hurriyat Conference set up in 1993, broke away in 2003 after he had differences with other factions for adopting a moderate approach. Geelani, who has been a three-time member of the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly, said the activities of Hurriyat Conference members currently in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were being investigated by the amalgam for various allegations.

Tuticorin SP transferred following custodial deaths  

The Superintendent of Police of Tuticorin, where a father-son duo died after being allegedly thrashed by the police, was shunted out of the district and placed under “compulsory wait” by the Tamil Nadu government. Villupuram SP S. Jeyakumar has been appointed in place of Arun Balagopalan. P. Jayaraj and his son Bennicks, arrested for ‘violating’ lockdown norms over business hours of their cellphone shop, died at a hospital in Kovilpatti on June 23, with the relatives alleging that they were severely thrashed at the Sathankulam police station by the personnel earlier. The incident had triggered a nationwide furore, leading to the suspension of five policemen, including an inspector and two sub-inspectors. The Madras High Court had appreciated the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to transfer the probe to the CBI, in an indication that it could give its nod for the premier agency to take over the case. 

Newsmaker

K.K. Venugopal was reappointed as the Attorney General for India for one year. Venugopal, a leading lawyer of the country, succeeded Mukul Rohatgi as the Attorney General on June 30, 2017.

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