7 SEPTEMBER 2016

Ø  Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Gautam Bambawale told The Hindu on Tuesday that “a final decision” on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Pakistan for November’s SAARC summit was still awaited. The comments come after the envoy’s remarks in Karachi on Monday indicated that India had confirmed Mr. Modi’s visit.

Ø  The 29-hour countdown for the launch of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s GSLV-F05 rocket, carrying the INSAT-3DR advanced weather satellite, is scheduled to commence at 11.10 a.m. on Wednesday at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. According to the national space agency, the Mission Readiness Review Committee and the Launch Authorisation Board have cleared the countdown. As per the schedule, the GSLV-F05 rocket will lift off from the Second Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 4.10 p.m. on Thursday. The rocket, with the indigenously developed cryogenic upper stage as its fourth stage, would place the satellite, weighing 2,211-kg in the Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). GSLV-F05 would be the tenth GSLV flight. On being placed in the intended orbit, INSAT-3DR would use its own propulsion system to reach its final geosynchronous orbital home and will be stationed at 74 deg East longitude, ISRO said.

Ø  The Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), under development for the armed forces, had its first outing in the Bengaluru skies on Tuesday. It was a technical flight to test its features. The LUH flew for 15 minutes just after noon.

Ø  The Centre may remove Arunachal Pradesh Governor J.P. Rajkhowa once the State Assembly ratifies the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, which will be introduced there on Wednesday.

Ø  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday agreed to provide two large-sized patrol ships and lend up to five used surveillance aircraft to the Philippines, a Japanese government spokesman said, with both countries locked in territorial disputes with China.

Ø  The Nobel Prize Series has launched a long-term India programme to stimulate students’ creative thinking and engagement in science. A memorandum of understanding was signed on September 5 by Nobel Media and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for hosting the Nobel Prize Series in India for five years.

Ø  The first will be held in January 2017 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It will coincide with the Vibrant Gujarat summit held by the State government. A trilateral agreement has been signed among the DBT, the Gujarat government and Nobel Media. The Nobel laureates will be invited for discussions on the theme of ‘Vibrant Gujarat Science for Humankind’ and ‘Science as the Engine for Economic Growth’.

Ø  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet U.S. President Barack Obama for an unscheduled bilateral meeting on Thursday on the sidelines of the ASEAN summits they are attending in Laos. The White House said the meeting would take place on Thursday afternoon after they both attend the East Asian summit, and would be followed by a press conference by Mr. Obama. The two leaders had already met in Washington in June this year, in what was meant to have been a “farewell call” ahead of the U.S. elections.