Current Affairs 18th July 2019

Updated : 18-Jul-2019

Current Affairs 18th July 2019 - Important Points

• Pakistan to review death sentence, big win for India directed by - ICJ
• Arrest, Charges and death sentence  to - Kulbhushan Jadhav
• Financial Aid for Martyrs’ Kin to Rs.1 crore raised by - Maharashtra Govt. 
• 76th nation to join International Solar Alliance - Palau
• Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill 2019 passed by - Rajya Sabha
• 1st international flight with Air India’s Indore-Dubai service gets by - Madhya Pradesh
  Current Affairs 18th July 2019 - Details

Pakistan to review death sentence, big win for India directed by - ICJ

The International Court of Justice has put Kulbhushan Jadhav’s execution on stake.  International Court of Justice has instructed Pakistan to review the death verdict order, to reconsider it and issue Kulbhushan Yadav a fair trial by issuing him consular access. The International Court of Justice
governed in favour of India by 15 to 1 vote.
This order is a mega victory for India. Kulbhushan Yadav will not be executed. The World Court informed that Jadhav’s death sentence should remain deferred till Pakistan reviews and reconsiders
the conviction.
The court also instructed Pakistan to issue Kulbhushan Jadhav with consular access in line with
international diplomatic guidelines.
India had been requesting for consular access ever since Jadhav's arrest. The court informed that
Pakistan has dishonoured Jadhav’s elementary human rights.
The court explained that based on the evidence gathered there is no doubt that Kulbhushan
Jadhav is an Indian inhabitant. Sushma Swaraj welcomed the court's ruling in Kulbhushan Jadhav
case.

Arrest, Charges and death sentence  to - Kulbhushan Jadhav

Kulbhushan Jadhav is an Indian national, who was under arrest in Pakistan and suspect of terrorism
and spying for Indian intelligence agency RAW.
The Pakistani government demanded that Jadhav was a working commander in the Indian Navy and
was tangled in suspicious activities in Pakistan. Jadhav was punished to death by a military court
in Pakistan in April 2017.
The Indian government, on the other hand, requested that Jadhav was a former naval officer, who
took premature retirement.
India requested that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran and brought to Pakistan illegitimately and then
penalized to death under fake trial. India suspected Pakistan of violating the law by not approving
consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav. India then approached the International Court of Justice
on the matter, which stayed the execution in May 2017until the final judgement of the case.

Financial Aid for Martyrs’ Kin to Rs.1 crore raised by - Maharashtra Govt. 

The Maharashtra government has sanctioned a rise in financial assistance issued to families of martyred and disabled soldiers hailing from state who lay down their life in the line of duty. The sanctioned 4-time rise in compensation from Rupees 25 lakh - Rs.1 crore for Kin of martyred soldiers will be executed from January 1st, 2019.
This pronouncement by Maharashtra Cabinet repeats enhanced compensations declared by Centre and some other states, including MP. Following Pulwama attack on February 14th on CRPF personnel, Centre had enhanced compensation for kin of soldiers, who have accomplished martyrdom, to Rupees 1 crore.

Key Highlights

• Till date, families of martyred soldiers who lost their lives while guarding nation were receiving Rupees 25 lakh as ex-gratia, they will now receive Rupees 1 crore.
• Similarly, soldiers who suffered injuries were receiving between Rupees 8.5 lakh and Rupees 15
  lakh, depending on severity of injuries. This amount has now been raised to Rupees 20-60 lakh.
• Soldiers who are residents of Maharashtra and have linked any security force like Indian Army,
  Navy, Air Force, BSF and CRPF among others, and are killed in military action even outside nation, willget compensation.
• Also, now the families of martyred soldiers do not require come to government office for aide.
  Compensation Amount
  If a soldier is martyred, single-time compensation has now been raised to Rupees 1 crore.
  If disability ranges from 1-25% Rupees 20 lakh will be issued.
  If disability ranges from 26%-50% Rupees 34 lakh will be issued.
  If disability is as severe as 51% -100% Rupees 60 lakh will be issued.

76th nation to join International Solar Alliance - Palau

Palau, an archipelago of above 500 islands in Oceania, has become 76th signatory nation to link the International Solar Alliance. The pact was opened for ink during 22nd Conference of the Parties at Marrakech, Morocco on 15th November 2016.
Nations which have inked pact until now are India, UK, Japan, France, Australia, UAE, amongst
others.
More about International Solar Alliance

• International Solar Alliance is a group of 121 solar resource-rich nations.
• It was combinely launched by India and France on November 2015 on side lines of 21st Conference of the Parties United Nations Climate Change Conference held at Paris.
• It is HQ at campus of National Institute of Solar Energy, Gurugram, India.
• According to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the group goals to organize above
  1000 GW of solar energy and mobilise over $1000 billion into solar power by 2030.
• In November 2018, Union Cabinet led by PM Narendra Modi issued ex-post facto sanction for
  moving a resolution in 1st assembly of International Sola Alliance for modifying its Framework
  Agreement so as to enable membership for all member nations of United Nations.

Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill 2019 passed by - Rajya Sabha

The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019 has been sanctioned
by Rajya Sabha. The bill pursues to modify Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act,
2008. It is yet to be sanctioned by  Lok Sabha .
Salient Features of Amendment Bill

• The Bill pursues to modify definition of major airport as any aerodrome which has/is fabricated to
  have yearly passenger traffic of over 35 lakhs instead of current 15 lakh.
• Presently, major airports with a yearly capacity to handle 15 Lakh passengers come under purview of Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India.

Tariff determination by AERA

Presently, according to the Act, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India is accountable for
determining-
The tariff for aeronautical facilities at different airports every five years.
The development charges of major airports.
The passengers service charges.
Moreover, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India can also call for essential information to
determine tariffs and achieve any other tariff-related purposes, such as amending tariffs if required,
in interim periods.
Amendment Bill augments that Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India will not regulate
the tariff, tariff structures and development charges, in certain cases. These cases include the case
of privatised airports where such tariff amounts were a part of bid offered at the time of the
privatisation, on grounds of which airport operations were awarded.
Although Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India will be consulted by concession authority
before integrating such tariffs in bid document, and such tariffs must be informed.

1st international flight with Air India’s Indore-Dubai service gets by - Madhya Pradesh

Indore, the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh (MP) freshly accomplished it to international aviation map with national carrier Air India initiating its flight service to Dubai from Madhya Pradesh Airport. Air India Flight number AI903 took starts from Indore’s Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport with 150 passengers on. This was the 1st international commercial flight from Madhya Pradesh (MP).
Key Highlights

• The non-stop flight satisfied long-standing desire from travel fraternity and tourists for direct
  connectivity to Gulf region.
• This flight will also advance Dubai’s business bonds with Indore.
• Air India is functioning 162-seater A-320 Neo aircraft on Indore to Dubai route.
• It will fly directly to Dubai on every alternate days including Monday, Wednesday and Saturday while return flight from Dubai will be on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.
  More about Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport
• It is termed after Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore, who belonged to Holkar dynasty of
  Maratha Empire.
• It is measured as busiest airport in Central India.
• It has been awarded Worlds Standardization Certification by UK.