20 MAY 2016

Ø  An EgyptAir flight from Paris to Cairo carrying 66 people crashed into the Mediterranean sea on Thursday with possible wreckage spotted off a Greek island, as investigators probed whether it was downed by a bomb. Egypt’s Aviation Minister said that while it was too soon to say why the Airbus A320 had vanished, “a terrorist” attack would be a more likely scenario than a technical failure.

Ø  The government is planning to introduce a new category of visa to promote yoga, to help make India the world destination for yoga enthusiasts, a senior government official said. Currently, there are 18 types of visas which include diplomatic, mountaineering, employment, tourist, medical, student, research and conference, among others. The government is planning a ‘yoga’ visa ahead of the 2{+n}{+d} International Day of Yoga on June 21.

Ø  Cyclonic storm Roanu, which lay centred 80 km southeast of Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, remained practically stationary on Thursday. It is likely to move along the Andhra Pradesh coast and, thereafter, north-eastwards. It is expected to cross the south Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Cox’s Bazaar on May 21 night as a cyclonic storm. The Met department has issued “orange” warning (cyclone warning) to the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts, and “yellow” warning (cyclone alert) to the West Bengal coast.

Ø  President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday launched a mobile application ‘Monitor’ aimed at turning the President’s Estate into a smart township. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Mukherjee said that the Smart President’s Estate technology solution will result in rationalisation through monitoring, education, better coordination and management.

Ø  Hijackers will be awarded the death sentence in the event of the death of “any person”, says a new law which also mandates that the Centre hand over the probe of such an offence to National Intelligence Agency. In the new law cleared by President Pranab Mukherjee, the term “any person” has been expanded to include death of “security personnel on board” or “ground support staff” as well unlike the earlier law wherein the death sentence was applicable only in the event of the death of flight crew, passengers and security personnel. The Anti-Hijacking Act 2016 received Presidential assent on Friday, according to a notification issued on Monday.