INTERNATIONAL
Sisi wins second term as Egypt President
Incumbent Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has been re-elected to the post for the second time. Sisi won the elections with a brute majority, amassing a massive 92 percent vote share.
New Jersey declares April as Sikh Awareness
The US state of New Jersey has declared April as ‘Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month’ as part of its effort to promote awareness of the faith. The resolution was adopted unanimously by both the New Jersey House of Representative and the Senate.
Ethiopia’s ruling coalition elects Abiye Ahmed as new PM
Ethiopia’s ruling coalition has elected Abiye Ahmed as new Prime Minister, following the resignation of Hailemariam Desalegn last month. Abiye is the chairperson of the Oromo Peoples’ Democratic Organisation, one of the four ethnic-based parties in the EPRDF coalition.
UAE is 1st Arab Country to have Nuclear Power
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrated the completion of the first-ever Nuclear Power Plant not only in the country but the whole Arab Gulf Region. The $20 billion Barakah Plant west of Abu Dhabi has been constructed by a consortium led by Korea Electric Power Corp in nine years.
Win Myint elected as New President of Myanmar
Myanmar’s Parliament has elected Win Myint as the country’s new President. Myint is considered a close aide of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and has been a speaker in the lower house since 2012.
Martin Vizcarra sworn in as Peru’s New President
Martin Vizcarra has been sworn in as the country’s new president of Peru. Before the appointment, he was Peru’s first vice president and ambassador to Canada. He has replaced Pedro Pablo Kuczynski who has resigned from the post recently.
John Bolton replaces McMaster as US National Security Adviser
The 45th President of USA Donald Trump has announced that the former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton will be the New US National Security Adviser. He would replace present National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster.
Gulf Shield 1 military exercise of 23 countries held in Saudi Arabia
The Gulf Shield-1 military exercise of 23 countries including Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states was held in Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. The one month exercise was largest military drill in region as it saw participation of participation of ground, naval and air forces of participating countries.
USA bans use of Venezuelan Cryptocurrency-Petro
The Donald Trump administration banned all use by Americans of Venezuelan cryptocurrency (Petro) that its introduction is intended to skirt U.S. sanctions. The prohibition applies to all people and companies subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
Nanda Bahadur Pun elected Nepal’s Vice President
Nanda Bahadur Pun has been re-elected as the Vice-President of Nepal for the second term unopposed. Pun has filed candidacy for the post of the Vice President and his candidacy remained unopposed as no candidate came forward to contest with him for the post.
Putin wins historic 4th term as Russian President
Russian President Vladimir Putin stormed to victory in presidential election, giving him another six years in power. Putin, who has ruled Russia for almost two decades, won more than 75% of the vote according to preliminary results.
Li Keqiang re-elected as China’s Prime Minister for second term
Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang was re-elected for his second five-year term at the ongoing parliament session. Li is the second ranking leader in China after President Xi Jinping who has emerged as the most powerful leader after Mao Zedong.
Philippines formally withdraws from International Criminal Court
The Philippines formally submitted the Letter of Withdrawal from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Letter was submitted by Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations Teodoro Locsin Jr. to UN Cabinet Chief Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, a Representative to Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Xi Jinping re-elected China President
Xi Jinping was re-elected as President for a second five-year tenure by China’s rubber-stamp parliament. Xi was also elected as the head of the powerful Central Military Commission, the overall high command of the Chinese military. Wang Qishan has been elected as the new Vice President of China.
Nepal’s Chief Justice removed
Chief Justice of Nepal Gopal Prasad Parajuli was removed by the Judicial Council amid a raging dispute over his multiple birth certificates. The Council removed him stated that as per the available certificates, he should have retired from the post on August 5, 2017.
Divorced Saudi mothers can now retain custody of children
In a historic decision, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has allowed the divorced mothers in the country to retain the custody of their children without filing lawsuits, provided there are no disputes between the parents. The announcement was made by the Centre for International Communication. With this decision, the women in the nation would no longer need to go through a lengthy legal battle to retain or win the custody of their children. They would be able to obtain the rights by simply submitting a request at a relevant court.
Bhandari Re-elected as Nepal President
Bidya Devi Bhandari reelected as president of Nepal. Incumbent President Bhandari defeated Nepali Congress leader Kumari Laxmi Rai with an overwhelming majority in the presidential election.
Sebastian Pinera as Chile’s president
Sebastian Pinera was sworn in as Chile’s president. Pinera was re-elected in last November elections and will serve until 2022. According to Forbes magazine, Pinera is the fourth wealthiest man in Chile, with an estimated fortune of $2.8 billion.
WHO steps up fight against tobacco
The World Health Organization has launched new guidelines on the role that tobacco product regulations can play in reducing tobacco demand. The new guide, titled ‘Tobacco product regulation: Building laboratory testing capacity’ was launched at the 2018 World Conference on Tobacco or Health. The laboratory guide has information on how to test tobacco products and what products to test.
Xi Jinping becomes China’s Leader for Life as Parliament abolishes Presidential term-limit
China’s Parliament has abolished the decades-old two-term limit for the President, allowing Xi Jinping to remain as the country’s leader for life. The constitutional changes were passed in Beijing by the annual sitting of the National People’s Congress – the country’s legislature – with the two-thirds majority. Of the 2,964 delegates, only two voted against the change, while three abstained. Earlier, the seven-member Standing Committee – the topmost body of the ruling Communist Party of China – had unanimously approved the amendment. 64-year old Xi Jinping is currently in his second five-year term and due to retire in 2023 under the current two-term system.
Israel-US held joint military drill
US and Israeli had launched the so-called “Juniper Cobra 2018” military drill that simulates a missile attack on Israel. It is the largest combat exercise between Israel and the US. Since 2001, Israeli and US forces have conducted a total of eight Juniper Cobra joint combat exercises, including the most recent exercise in February 2016.
Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi stripped of human rights award
Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi was stripped off her human rights award conferred by US Holocaust Memorial Museum. The Museum announced that it was withdrawing Suu Kyi’s Elie Wiesel Award, which they had presented to her in 2012. The decision was taken following the ongoing violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority community in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.
Sri Lanka declares state of emergency
Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency for 10 days, to curb heightening violence targeting the island’s Muslim minority. The development follows days of anti-Muslim attacks in Kandy, located in Sri Lanka’s Central Province. Sri Lanka is the second country in the region to promulgate a state of emergency this year. In February, Maldivian President declared Emergency Rule for a fortnight.
Merkel gets fourth term as Germany’s Chancellor
Germany’s Angela Merkel secured her fourth term as the Chancellor after the Social Democratic party voted in favour of a grand coalition with Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union. The decision ends almost 6 months of political uncertainty in Germany, the longest time the country has been without a govt in its post-war history. The deal will form her third grand coalition during her time as chancellor.
Pakistan elects first Hindu woman Krishna Kumari Kohli to Senate
Krishna Kumari Kolhi (39) from Sindh province in Pakistan became first-ever Dalit Hindu woman to get elected as Senator, member of upper house (Senate) of Muslim-majority country. She won the election for the reserved seat for women from Sindh province. She is a member of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Her election represents major milestone for women and minority rights in Pakistan. Earlier, PPP had elected first Hindu woman named Ratna Bhagwandas Chawla as senator.
Armen Sarkisian Elected Next Armenian President
Armenian lawmakers elected Armen Sarkisian as the new president of Armenia. He will succeed Serzh Sarkisian. Armen Sarkisian was the ambassador to the United Kingdom. He will assume presidential duties after his predecessor steps down in April 2018. The political shift comes after President Sarkisian in 2015 initiated controversial constitutional amendments to turn the impoverished Moscow-allied country into a parliamentary republic with a powerful Prime Minister.
Afghanistan offers to recognise Taliban as PG
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani offered to recognise Taliban as a legitimate political group in order to end the over 16-year-long war. “We are making this offer without preconditions, to lead to a peace agreement”, Ghani said. He also proposed a ceasefire and the release of Taliban-linked prisoners along with fresh elections and a constitutional review.
INDIA & WORLD
India and China agree roadmap for addressing Trade Imbalance
The eleventh session of the China-India joint-group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science & Technology was held in New Delhi. The session was co-chaired by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Suresh Prabhu and China’s Minister of Commerce Mr. Zhong Shan.
India is now the 4th largest Automobile Market Globally
According to the latest 2018 global data show, India has overtaken Germany and has become the fourth largest automobile market in the world. Automobile sales, including passenger and commercial vehicles, in Asia’s third largest economy grew 9.5%. China topped the list followed by USA and Japan.
India becomes 3rd largest Electricity Producer in the World
India has become the 3rd largest electricity producer in the world as its electricity production grew 34% over seven years to 2017. Electricity production stood at 1,003.525 Billion Unit between April 2017-January 2018, according to a February 2018 report by India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), a trust established by the commerce ministry.
The top 3 Producers of Electricity in the world are:
1. China
2. The USA
3. India.
New Delhi ranked 22nd globally as top destination: TripAdvisor
New Delhi has been ranked 22nd in the world and eighth in Asia in the top destination for 2018, Travellers’ Choice awards for Destinations by TripAdvisor. Paris in France topped the list of Travellers’ Choice awards for Destinations followed by London (UK), Rome (Italy), Bali (Indonesia), Crete (Greece).
Singapore Airport rated World’s best, Mumbai ranked 63rd
The Singapore Changi Airport has been named the world’s best airport for the sixth consecutive year by consultancy firm Skytrax. The Incheon International Airport in South Korea and Haneda Airport in Japan were placed second and third respectively. The Mumbai airport has been ranked 63rd, the airports in Bangalore and Delhi are at 64th and 66th place respectively.
Varuna 2018: Indian Navy hosts bilateral naval exercise with French Navy
The Indo-French joint naval exercise Varuna-18 was held in Arabian Sea off Goa coast. It was aimed to explore measures to facilitate operational-level interactions between their armed forces and increase mutual cooperation, considering the common global threats.
India ranks 78th on WEF Energy Transition Index
India has been ranked at 78th among 114 countries on the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) energy transition index. The index listed countries based on their ability to balance energy security, environmental sustainability and affordability. The overall list was topped by Sweden, followed by Norway at the 2nd position and Switzerland at the 3rd rank.
India ranks 133rd in 2018 global happiness index
India ranked 133rd in the World Happiness report 2018. The report ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels, and 117 countries by the happiness of their immigrants. Burundi ranked last in the index.
India tops list of arm buyer
Arms import by India increased by 24% between 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 period as per data on international arms transfers released by International Peace Research Institute. India is followed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, China, Austrailia, Algeria, Iraq, Pakistan and Indonesia as the world top importers. The largest arms suppliers to India are Russia (62%), US (15%) and Israel (11%).
Samvedna 2018: IAF’s first multilateral HADR air exercise in South Asia
Samvedna 2018, the first multilateral Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise of Indian Air Force (IAF) in association with South Asian Region nations was held off the coast of Kerala. The multilateral exercise was spearheaded by IAF and conducted by Southern Air Command (SAC) and involved representatives from air forces of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and UAE.
1st ever Multi-Nation Naval Exercise at sea begins in Andaman
The first-ever multi-nation naval exercise at sea, MILES-18, began at the Andaman sea. 11 naval ships of 8 countries and nine Indian ships are participating in the three-day exercise. Apart from enhancing inter-operability, the exercise aims to hone search and rescue procedures, maritime interdiction operations, core operational skills and exercise a variety of maritime security scenarios.
India ranks 52 in Mastercard Women entrepreneurs index
India ranked 52 among 57 countries studied for the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs (MIWE), according to the findings of its second edition. Ghana (46.4 percent) ranks first in the world with the highest number of women business owners, followed by Russia (34.6 percent), Uganda (33.8 percent), New Zealand (33 percent) and Australia (32.1 percent).
‘Vision for Future’ event to marks 70 years of Indo-Russia ties held In New Delhi
An event named ‘Vision for Future’ was held in New Delhi to commemorate 70 years of the Indo-Russia ties. The event sought to expose the youth to the dynamic opportunities of cooperation between the two countries. The program inaugurated at the Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra was organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (Eurasia Division) and the International Federation of Indo-Russian Youth Clubs.
European Development Bank approves India’s Membership
India is all set to become the 69th member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) after shareholders of the international financial institution gave their nod to the country’s candidature. The formal membership process will now get underway, which includes the purchase of shares by India at an estimated cost of around 1 million euros. The EBRD’s Board of Governors, which represents all the existing shareholders of the UK-based bank, voted in favor of India’s membership application.
Myanmar puts off border agreement with India
Myanmar has indefinitely deferred signing agreement with India to streamline the free movement of people within 16 km along the open border between two countries. It has cited domestic compulsions and has asked for more time for the agreement to be sealed. Background India and Myanmar share 1,643 km unfenced border along four states viz. Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km) and permit free movement regime.
Iraq overtakes Saudi Arabia as India’s biggest Oil Supplier
Iraq overtook Saudi Arabia to become India’s top crude oil supplier by supplying 38.9 million tonnes (MT) crude oil in the current financial year. It was fifth of India’s oil needs. India is 80% dependent on imports to meet its oil needs. India had imported 184.4 MT of crude oil during April. Saudi Arabia traditionally has been India’s top oil source but Iraq dethroned it. Saudi Arabia supplied 30.9 MT of crude oil in first 10 months.
Indian Military Ranked 4th Strongest In World, USA Tops
Out of 133 countries, India is ranked fourth on a global index for its military strength, only the United States, Russia and China are ranked above India on the list, according to the latest report of the Global Firepower index 2017. Neighbouring Pakistan is ranked 13th. India maintained its position above France in the top five military powers in the world. The Indian Army is equipped with 4,426 combat tanks, 6,704 armoured fighting vehicles, and 7,414 towed artillery guns, as per the list.
Top 5 countries in the list are-
1. The USA,
2. Russia,
3. China,
4. India,
5. France.
India-US team test-fires M777 ultra-light howitzers in Pokhran
Joint investigation committee (JIC) comprising US and Indian officials has test-fired M777 ultra-light howitzers (ULH) at Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan. The team will review results of this test soon. The test was conducted in the wake of accident during its trial in September 2017.
India and Vietnam inked three pacts
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang also vowed to expand bilateral cooperation in several key sectors, including defence, oil and gas, and agriculture. The three pacts signed after the talks between the two leaders would provide for cooperation in areas of nuclear energy, trade and agriculture.
India-Jordan sign 12 Agreements
India and Jordan has renewed their support to the Palestinian cause as the two sides signed 12 agreements, including one on defence cooperation, following a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King of Jordan Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein. These include agreement on Defence Co-operation, Visa waiver of Diplomatic & Official Passport holders, Cultural Exchange Programme, Manpower Co-operation agreement, Co-operation in field of Health and Medicine. Setting up of Next Generation Centre of Excellence. MoU for long term supply of Rock Phosphate and Fertilizer/NPK, Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement.
NATIONAL
Navy decommissioned 3 minesweepers
The Indian Navy has decommissioned 3 Karwar-class minesweepers ‘Konkan’, ‘Cannanore’ and ‘Cuddalore’. These minesweepers ‘retired’ as operational ships after three decades of service in the Indian Navy.
India’s first sign language dictionary of 3000 words launched
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has launched India’s first Sign Language Dictionary of 3000. The dictionary has been developed by Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre (ISLR&TC) under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). This dictionary is available in both print and video formats.
Warship INS Ganga decommissioned
INS Ganga, an indigenously built frigate of the Indian Navy, was decommissioned in Mumbai, after over three decades of service. The warship, which was commissioned on December 30, 1985, represented a big step forward in the nation’s warship building capability.
Union Govt decides to declare 2018 as National year of Millets
The union government decided to declare 2018 as ‘National Year of Millets’ to boost the cultivation of millets like ragi and jowar on a mission mode to achieve nutritional security. This was stated by Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh while addressing MPs in a consultative committee meeting in New Delhi.
1st National workshop on POSHAN Abhiyan held in New Delhi
The first National workshop on POSHAN Abhiyan involving all the states and union territories was held at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, New Delhi. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is organising the day-long workshop with participation from all the states/ UTs.
India placed 33rd worldwide in web-borne threats: Kaspersky
Global cyber security provider Kaspersky Lab in a summit stated that India ranks 33rd worldwide in the list of countries facing web-borne threats. The Summit had about 100 participants from all over India, and brought together the most important names from the world of information security.
PM Modi, French President Macron jointly inaugurate solar power plant at Mirzapur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting French President Emmanuel Macron jointly inaugurated 101-megawatt solar power plant at Dadar Kala village in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh. The largest solar projects in the country has been set up by French company ENGIE. The company was awarded the project in 2016 with the cost of Rs. 680 crore. Solar Energy Corporation of India has signed Power purchase agreement for 25 years with the company.
NCRB celebrates its 33rd Inception Day
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) celebrated its 33rd Inception Day on March 11, 2018. On this occasion, “Citizen Services” mobile application developed in-house by NCRB was also released. The application can be used by citizen for various services such as complaint registration and status check, SOS – Stay Safe, View FIR detail, locate police stations, vahan-samanvay, emergency contact list, police stations telephone directory etc.
Indian women earn 20 per cent lesser than men: Report
According to a report released, women in India earn 20 per cent lesser than men, although the gender gap narrowed down by around five percentage points in 2017. The report by monster.com called Monster Salary Index (MSI) revealed that the current gender pay gap in India stands at 20 per cent, where men earned a median gross hourly salary of Rs 231, while women earned Rs 184.8.
Sharp decline in child marriages in India: UNICEF
The United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF) stated that India has seen a sharp decline in child marriages over the last ten years with only 27 percent of girls getting married before 18 years in comparison to 47 per cent a decade back. The decline in numbers in India has contributed significantly to a global decline in child marriages.
W-Power Trailblazers 2018: Forbes India names 25 Women as Trailblazers
Forbes India has released the “W-Power Trailblazers” issue 2018, featuring 25 women stars on the ascendency in business. Now in its second edition, the W-Power Trailblazers throws the light on female role models be it entrepreneurs or professionals who can persuade others to dream bigger and climb higher through their work and leadership.
Week-long International Yoga festival held in Rishikesh
The week-long 29th annual, world-famous International Yoga Festival (IYF) international yoga festival was inaugurated in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. The IYF offers daily classes in meditation, mudras, Sanskrit chanting, reiki, Indian philosophy and spiritual discourses to be held by revered spiritual leaders from India and abroad.
MoEFCC launches Mobile App “Dr Harsh Vardhan”
In an effort to transform environment protection into a peoples’ movement, a digital mobile application was launched by the Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change. Earth Sciences and Science & Technology in New Delhi. The App, named “Dr Harsh Vardhan”, focuses on his social & public activities and involvement of citizens in “Green Good Deeds” movement, which urges people to perform at least one Green Good Deed every day. Some of the 500 Green Good Deeds listed in the Mobile App include – planting trees, saving energy, conserving water, use of public transport and promoting carpool.
STATES
India’s first Insect Museum opened in Tamil Nadu
A Rs 5 crore insect museum with the state-of-the-art amenities was unveiled by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswamy at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
World’s Oldest city Varanasi goes Wireless
Eighty-six years after the city got electricity, overhead power cables in world’s oldest city ‘Varanasi ‘ is being dismantled after a project to lay underground lines over 16 sq-km has been finally completed.
Surat: First district to have 100% solar powered health centres
Surat district in Gujarat become first in country to have 100% solar powered Primary Health Centers (PHCs). All 52 PHCs in the district are now powered by solar system.
Bihar Governor Satya Pal Mallik gets additional charge of Odisha
Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik will discharge the functions of Odisha Governor in addition to his own duties till regular arrangements are made. Odisha Governor SC Jamir completed his tenure.
Kerala declares Jackfruit as Official Fruit of State
Jackfruit has attained a respected status with the state government declaring it as the official fruit of Kerala. Kerala has been producing around 30 to 60 crore jackfruits every year.
Punjab imposes permanent ban on Hookah bars
The Punjab Government imposed a permanent ban on Hookah bars in the state. The state cabinet approved an amendment to the Cigarette & Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution) Act, 2003, to prevent and control diseases caused by the use of various tobacco products.
Maharashtra Government bans use of plastic
Maharashtra Government has banned use of plastic in time-bound manner, citing environmental and public health concerns. The ban will include plastic bags, thermocol, disposable cups and plates, cutlery, non-woven polypropylene bags, plastic pouches and packaging.
AP stands at 51st position in Poverty Index
Andhra Pradesh stands at 51st rank globally in Multidimensional Poverty Index according to a household survey conducted in the state. Andhra Pradesh becomes the first Indian state to conduct a household survey at state and district level to estimate the multidimensional poverty of the state. The study was conducted by Govt. of Andhra Pradesh in collaboration with University of Oxford, UK.
Country’s ‘tallest’ flag unfurled in Karnataka
Country’s tallest national flag with 9,600 sq.ft on a 110 m flag pole unfurled in Belagavi, Karnataka. Schoolchildren, NGO members, leaders and others gathered at the Kote Kere lake front to witness a unique celebration.
Rajasthan passes bill to award death penalty for rape of girls below 12 years of age
Rajasthan Assembly has passed The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2018 awarding death penalty to convicts involved in the rape of girls below 12 years of age. The Bill was introduced by Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria and was passed in the House by a voice vote following a debate.
Madhya Pradesh announces Pension for single women
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on International Women’s day announced ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Kosh’ scheme. Under this scheme, the women who aren’t married and are above the age of 50 will be given pension.
Delhi Police launches ‘all women patrolling squad’
The South District Police in Delhi launched an ‘all women patrolling squad’ on March 8, 2018, on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The squad named ‘Knightingale’ has been formed to ensure safety and security of women at public places. The squad comprises 16 women personnel, aged between 20-35 years, in the ranks of sub-inspectors and constables who have been trained in unarmed combat and driving.
Chandragiri becomes first ‘all women’ station in Andhra Pradesh
The South Central Railway (SCR) management has named the Chandragiri station in Guntakal Division, near Tirupati as the first ‘all-women railway station’ in Andhra Pradesh. The transition process was done by deploying women staff to handle all the day to day activities including train operations, ticketing, security and other relevant duties.
Neiphiu Rio appointed Nagaland CM
Nagaland Governor PB Acharya has appointed Neiphiu Rio as the new Chief Minister of the state. Mr Rio will replace TR Zeliang. The Governor has received letters of support in favour of Rio from MLAs of BJP, JD (U) and an Independent besides NDPP legislators. Mr Rio will take the oath of his duties shortly. The Governor has also requested Mr Rio to prove his majority on the floor of the House on or before 16th of March.
India’s 1st Helicopter taxi service launched in Bengaluru
India’s first helicopter taxi service was launched in Bengaluru to fly passengers from Kempegowda International Airport to Electronic City. The service is expected to reduce the time taken to cover the distance from 2 hours to 15 minutes. The helicopter will seat up to six people apart from the pilot and the service will cost Rs3,500 plus GST.
Conrad Sangma to be next CM of Meghalaya
National People’s Party (NPP) President Conrad Sangma will be the new chief minister of Meghalaya. NPP came out as the second largest party with 19 seats in the recently held elections which threw a hung verdict. Sarma has informed that there will be no deputy chief minister in the new government. He will replace congress leader Mukul Sangma.
BJP won Tripura for 1st time
The BJP defeated the CPI(M) in Tripura to form the state government for the first-ever time after winning 35 seats. The CPI(M), which ruled the state for 25 years, reportedly won 16 seats in the 60-member Assembly with 43% vote share. BJP-ally Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) won 8 seats after fielding candidates in 9 constituencies.
Odisha Govt launches ‘Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas’ Programme
The Odisha government has launched a programme Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas (Our Village, our development) to reach out to the people in rural areas and involve themselves in the developmental activities. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has flagged off mobile video vans for ‘Ama Gaon Ama Vikas’ programme that will move across the State to highlight various welfare schemes at villages in the state.
CONFERENCES
National Conference on Down syndrome held in Delhi
A ‘National Conference on Down Syndrome’ was organised by the National Trust under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in New Delhi on March 26, 2018. The main objective of the conference was to provide excellent opportunities to the parents to obtain information about latest development in education and skilling and inclusive living of persons with Down syndrome.
Seventh India-Egypt Joint Commission meeting held in New Delhi
The 7th India-Egypt Joint Commission Meeting led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry was held in New Delhi. Both the sides reviewed the progress in the areas of political, trade & investment, S&T, cybersecurity, capacity building, security, space, and culture.
1st G20 Ministerial meeting held in Argentina
The first G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors began in Buenos Aires, Argentina with the presence of 57 delegations from countries and institutions.
Informal WTO Ministerial meeting held in New Delhi
Representatives from 50 countries gathered in New Delhi for a two-day informal World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting. It will provide an opportunity to engage in free and frank discussions with the hope that it will lead to political guidance on some major issues.
17th World Conference on Tobacco held in South Africa
The 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH) was held in Cape Town, South Africa. It united researchers, academics, non-governmental organisations, civil society, scientists, healthcare professionals and public officials working on all aspects of tobacco control from more than 100 countries.
World Ocean summit 2018 concluded in Mexico
World Ocean Summit was held recently in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. The summit is for business, government and environmental leaders to talk about the problems faced by the world’s seas and to come up with solutions to protect the planet’s vast ocean resources. World Ocean Summit’s vision is of an ocean with robust health and vital economy.
First Conference of International Solar Alliance begins in New Delhi
Heads of 23 nations and 10 ministerial representatives will participate in New Delhi for first conference of International Solar Alliance. The Summit will be co-hosted by president Ram Nath Kovind and his french counterpart president Emmanuel Macron. The aim of the summit is to deliberate on a finance mechanism for the promotion of solar energy in member countries, crowd-funding and technology transfer.
AWARDS & HONOURS
Veteran Malayalam film personality Sreekumaran Thampi bags J.C. Daniel award
One of the most popular Malayalam film personalities, Sreekumaran Thampi was awarded the prestigious J.C. Daniel Award for in recognition of his sterling contributions to the Malayalam film industry.
President confers Gallantry and Distinguished Service awards
The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind conferred Gallantry and Distinguished Service awards to armed forces personnel at the Defence Investiture Ceremony, held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi. The Gallantry awards are given for displaying conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage and extreme devotion to duty. This year, three Kirti Chakras and 17 Shaurya Chakras were conferred, among which one Kirti Chakra and five Shaurya Chakras were given posthumously.
‘Most Improved Airport’ in Asia Pacific region
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad has received the award for the Most Improved Airport in the Asia Pacific region. It is the 1st international award for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport that has over 200 flight movements per day.
Chhattisgarh wins National Water Digest Award
Chhattisgarh was awarded National Water Digest Award for Water Conservation-Diversion and increasing the irrigation capacity in the state. The award was presented to Chhattisgarh Water Resources Department (CWRD) on the occasion ‘World Forestry Day’ in New Delhi.
G.K. Reddy award for journalist Karan Thapar
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh presented the G.K. Reddy Memorial National Award for journalism to senior journalist and television presenter Karan Thapar.
President Ram Nath Kovind confers Padma Awards
The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind presented the Padma awards to 43 eminent personalities at a Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Following is the full list of awardees:
Padma Vibhushan
| S. No | Name | Field | State |
| 1. | Shri Illaiyaraja | Art-Music | Tamil Nadu |
| 2. | Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan | Art-Music | Maharashtra |
| 3. | Shri P. Parameswaran | Literature and Education | Kerala |
Padma Bhushan
| S. No | Name | Field | State |
| 1. | Shri Philipose Mar Chrysostom | Others- Spiritualism | Kerala |
| 2. | Dr. Ramachandran Nagaswamy | Others- Archaeology | Tamil Nadu |
| 3. | Prof. Ved Prakash Nanda (OCI) | Literature and Education | USA |
| 4. | Pandit Arvind Parikh | Art-Music | Maharashtra |
Padma Shri
| S.No | Name | Field | State |
| 1. | Shri Anwar Jalalpuri (Posthumous) | Literature and Education | Uttar Pradesh |
| 2. | Ms. Nouf Almarwaai (Foreigner) | Others- Yoga | Saudi Arabia |
| 3. | Dr. Rani Bang | Medicine | Maharashtra |
| 4. | Dr. Abhay Bang | Medicine | Maharashtra |
| 5. | Shri Mohan Swaroop Bhatia | Art-Folk Music | Uttar Pradesh |
| 6. | Shri Narayan Das Maharaj | Others-Spiritualism | Rajasthan |
| 7. | Shri Somdev Devvarman | Sports-Tennis | Tripura |
| 8. | Dr. Yeshi Dhoden | Medicine | Himachal Pradesh |
| 9. | Shri Arup Kumar Dutta | Literature and Education | Assam |
| 10. | Shri Arvind Kumar Gupta | Literature and Education | Maharashtra |
| 11. | Shri Digamber Hansda | Literature and Education | Jharkhand |
| 12. | Shri Piyong Temjen Jamir | Literature and Education | Nagaland |
| 13. | Ms. Malti Joshi | Literature and Education | Madhya Pradesh |
| 14. | Shri Pran Kishore Kaul | Art | Jammu&Kashmir |
| 15. | Ms. Lakshmikutty | Medicine-Traditional | Kerala |
| 16. | Dr. Joyshree Goswami Mahanta | Literature and Education | Assam |
| 17. | Shri Pravakara Maharana | Art-Sculpture | Odisha |
| 18. | Shri Krishna Bihari Mishra | Literature and Education | West Bengal |
| 19. | Ms. Subhasini Mistry | Social Work | West Bengal |
| 20. | Ms. V Nanammal | Others-Yoga | Tamil Nadu |
| 21. | Ms. Sulagitti Narasamma | Social Work | Karnataka |
| 22. | Shri Gobaradhan Panika | Art-Weaving | Odisha |
| 23. | Shri Murlikant Petkar | Sports-Swimming | Maharashtra |
| 24. | Shri Sampat Tukaram Ramteke (Posthumous) | Social Work | Maharashtra |
| 25. | Shri S S Rathore | Civil Service | Gujarat |
| 26. | Shri Amitava Roy | Science and Engineering | West Bengal |
| 27. | Shri R Sathyanarayana | Art-Music | Karnataka |
| 28. | Shri Bhajju Shyam | Art-Painting | Madhya Pradesh |
| 29. | Shri Maharao Raghuveer Singh | Literature and Education | Rajasthan |
| 30. | Shri Kidambi Srikanth | Sports-Badminton | Andhra Pradesh |
| 31. | Ms. Lentina Ao Thakkar | Social Work | Nagaland |
| 32. | Shri Rudrapatnam Narayanaswamy Tharanathan | Art-Music | Karnataka |
| 33. | Shri Rudrapatnam Narayanaswamy Tharanathan | Art-Music | Karnataka |
| 34. | Shri Rajagopalan Vasudevan | Science and Engineering | Tamil Nadu |
| 35. | Shri Manas Bihari Verma | Science and Engineering | Bihar |
| 36. | Shri Baba Yogendra | Art | Madhya Pradesh |
Jackie Shroff’s ‘Shunyata’ wins international award
Actor Jackie Shroff’s short film “Shunyata” has won an award at Best of India Short Film Festival in Los Angeles, US. The 22-minute fiction film directed by Chintan Sarda was selected to be in top six from amongst thousands of entries and was played at a theatre in Los Angeles.
Indian film ‘Halkaa’ bags award at Montreal fest
Indian filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda’s ‘Halkaa’ has bagged the Grand Prix de Montreal at the gala. The film is a take on a slum child’s heroism, aspirations, and dreams. ‘Halkaa’ was selected among seven international children’s films from different countries in the official competition of the festival.
Indian volunteer wins Commonwealth Point of Light award
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II recognised Srishti Bakshi from India as the 26th Commonwealth Point of Light in honour of her exceptional service to empowering women in India. Srishti is the founder of the CrossBow Miles movement. Srishti leads workshops for women in rural communities on digital and financial literacy, leadership and health.
Justice Gita Mittal conferred ‘Nari Shakti’ award on women’s day
The Acting Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Justice Gita Mittal conferred the ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017’ by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The award, known as India’s highest civilian honour for women, bestowed upon 30 women and organizations on March 8, on the occasion of the International Women’s day. Mittal is the first woman from the field of law and justice who conferred the prestigious award. She is known to have introduced many welcome changes in the functioning of the Delhi High Court, ever since she took over as the Acting Chief Justice of the court after the retirement of Justice G Rohini in April 2017.
Architect BV Doshi becomes 1st Indian to win Pritzker Prize
Architect Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi has become the first Indian to win the Pritzker Prize, the highest award in architecture. Calling the 90-year-old’s works “poetic”, the foundation commended him for respecting the eastern culture and working towards enhancing the quality of life in India. Doshi’s most noted works include a low-cost housing project in Indore which accommodates 80,000 people. The award was announced by Tom Pritzker of the Chicago-based Hyatt Foundation.
Harry Athwal selected for ‘Pride of Birmingham’s Outstanding Bravery Award’
Indian-origin Birmingham man Harry Athwal was selected for this year’s ‘Pride of Birmingham’s Outstanding Bravery Award’. He was awarded for risking his life in order to help a fatally injured young boy in the 2017 Barcelona terror attack. Athwal is among 11 winners who will be presented with their awards at a ceremony at the University of Birmingham.
Oscar Awards 2018: Complete List of Winners
The 90th Annual Academy Awards (also known as Oscar Awards) were held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the USA. The Shape Of Water won the top prize of the night – Best Picture. Jimmy Kimmel hosted the ceremony for the second year in a row. He has become the first host since Billy Crystal to do so.
The full list of winners is below-
| S. No. | Category | Winner |
| 1. | Best Picture | The Shape Of Water |
| 2. | Best Director | Guillermo del Toro, The Shape Of Water |
| 3. | Best Actress | Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri |
| 4. | Best Actor | Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour |
| 5. | Best Supporting Actress | Allison Janney, I, Tonya |
| 6. | Best Supporting Actor | Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri |
| 7. | Best Original Screenplay | Get Out |
| 8. | Best Adapted Screenplay | Call Me By Your Name |
| 9. | Best Animated Feature Film | Coco |
| 10. | Best Foreign Language Film | A Fantastic Woman, Chile |
| 11. | Best Original Score | The Shape Of Water |
| 12. | Best Original Song | Remember Me, Coco |
| 13. | Best Documentary Feature | Icarus |
| 14. | Best Documentary Short | Heaven Is A Traffic Jam On The 405 |
| 15. | Best Live Action Short | The Silent Child |
| 16. | Best Animation Short | Dear Basketball |
| 17. | Best Sound Editing | Dunkirk |
| 18. | Best Sound Mixing | Dunkirk |
| 19. | Best Production Design | The Shape Of Water |
| 20. | Best Cinematography | Blade Runner |
| 21. | Best Makeup And Hair | Darkest Hour |
| 22. | Best Costume Design | Phantom Thread |
| 23. | Best Film Editing | Dunkirk |
| 24. | Best Visual Effects | Blade Runner |
Shatrughan Sinha wins lifetime achievement award in UK
Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to the fields of arts and politics at a ceremony in the UK’s Parliament complex. The annual ‘Political and Public Life Awards’ presented by Britain’s Asian Voice weekly newspaper, now in its 12th year, recognises individuals who have made a significant impact on public life or made a difference in their local communities.
SPORTS & GAMES
Darren Lehmann announces his resignation as Australia’s coach
Australia’s head coach Darren Lehmann announced his resignation from the position and said that Australia’s fourth and the final Test in South Africa would be his last match. Lehmann’s resignation follows the ball-tampering scandal that jolted Australian cricket last week, even though he was cleared of any wrongdoing by the investigation undertaken by Cricket Australia.
Muskan Bhanwala wins gold in shooting
Indian shooter Muskan got gold medal in women’s 25m pistol event at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Sydney. Muskan’s medal was India’s fourth individual gold in the prestigious tournament. Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Ayush Rudraraju and Gurnilal Singh Garcha got team silver in men’s junior skeet.
ISSF Junior World Cup- Manu Bhaker, Anmol jointly lift Gold
The duo of Manu Bhaker and Anmol secured India’s seventh gold medal in the ISSF Junior World Cup in Sydney, Australia. The pair won the mixed 10-meter air pistol event with a qualification world record. India occupied the second place with 17 medals, including seven gold. China leads the tally with 21 podium finishes, including eight gold medals.
Anish Bhanwala won gold in Shooting
Anish Bhanwala secured an individual gold medal at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Sydney. India is now placed second in the overall standings with 15 medals, comprising 6 gold, 3 silver and 6 bronze. China secured the gold medal and set a new junior world record with 1733 points.
Punjab crowned National Hockey champion
Punjab won its first National title in five years, after winning against Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) in the final of the “8th men’s National hockey championships”. Hockey Punjab defeated Petroleum Sports Promotion Board by 2-1.
Ball-tampering row: Australia’s Captain and Vice Captain step down
Australian captain Steve Smith was handed a one-match suspension and fined 100 percent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after he owned up to a ball-tampering conspiracy in South Africa. Steve Smith stepped down as the captain of the Australian cricket team for the rest of the ongoing third test match against South Africa along with his deputy, David Warner, who stepped down as the team’s Vice- Captain.
Pankaj Advani wins Asian Billiards Championships Title
Pankaj Advani defended his Asian Billiards Championships title by demolishing his practice partner B Bhaskar 6-1 in the summit clash in Yangon, Myanmar. This is Advani’s 11th gold medal at the Asian level of cue sports. India’s Amee Kamani won the Asian Women’s Snooker title by blanking her Thai opponent Siripaporn Nuanthakhamjan 3-0.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel wins season’s first Grand Prix
Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel won the F1 season’s opening Grand Prix and overall his third Australian Grand Prix title in Melbourne. Defending F1 champion Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton, who had begun the race at the pole position, came second ahead of Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.
India U-16 football team lifts Jockey Cup
India Under-16 team have won the Jockey Cup International Youth Invitational Football Tournament title held in Hong Kong.
Vivaan Kapoor bagged two bronze medals
Vivaan Kapoor got his 1st Bronze medal in the men’s trap event at International Shooting Sport Federation Junior World Cup Rifle/ Pistol/ Shotgun in Sydney, Australia. He got his 2nd Bronze after winning the Team Bronze medal in the event along with Lakshay Sheoran and Ali Aman Elahi. India has two gold and three bronze medals in the competition and is placed second behind China.
Shooter Valarivan wins gold at Junior World Cup
Emerging Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan clinched the gold medal along with a couple of world records in the women’s 10 metre Air Rifle event at the the ISSF Junior World Cup held in Sydney, Australia.
Indian Wells 2018- List of Winners
The Indian Wells Masters, also known as BNP Paribas Open and the WTA Indian Wells Open, is an annual tennis tournament held in March at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California, United States. Former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro stunned top-ranked Roger Federer to win his first Indian Wells title and second consecutive ATP crown. Unseeded Naomi Osaka became the first Japanese player to win the Indian Wells final.
Complete list of Indian Wells Title:
| S. No. | Category | Winner | Runnerup |
| 1 | Men’s Singles | Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) | Roger Federer (Switzerland) |
| 2 | Women’s Singles | Naomi Osaka (Japan) | Daria Kasatkina (Russia) |
| 3 | Men’s Doubles | John Isner (US), Jack Sock (US) | Bob Bryan (US), Mike Bryan (US) |
| 4 | Women’s Doubles | Hsieh Su-wei (Chinese Taipei), Barbora Strycova (Czech Republic) | Ekaterina Makarova (Russia), Elena Vesnina (Russia) |
India clinches Nidahas Trophy in last-ball thriller
India pulled off an unforgettable chase beating Bangladesh by four wickets in the Nidahas T20 tri-series final at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The nerve-breaking victory came as a result of an incredible performance by wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik who came in at the fag end of India’s batting, with the team needing 34 off the last two overs.
English cricketer Kevin Pietersen announces Retirement
Kevin Pietersen, 37 years old, has officially announced his retirement from the International cricket. Pietersen has 8,181 runs in 104 tests, 4,440 runs in 136 ODIs and 1,176 runs in 37 Twenty20 Internationals. Pietersen is England’s fifth highest test run-scorer.
Purva Barve wins title at Israel Junior 2018
Purva Barve won the women’s singles (Under-19) title at the Israel Junior badminton tournament 2018 held in Rishon LeZion. Earlier she won the Israel Junior 2017, Italian Junior International 2017 apart from a bronze at the Russian Junior White Nights 2017.
Chennaiyin FC won the second ISL title
Chennaiyin FC crushed Bengaluru FC 3-2 in the finals to clinch the Indian Super League title. This was Chennaiyin FC’s second title triumph in the ISL, tying them with ATK as the most successful team in the tournament. The Indian Super League (ISL) is a men’s professional football league in India.
FIFA lifts three-decade ban on Iraq hosting international matches
FIFA has lifted its three-decades ban on Iraq hosting international football. FIFA has allowed international matches to be staged in three cities; Arbil, Basra and Karbala. The ban, covering all but domestic matches, stayed in place after the US-led invasion of 2003 toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.
Tommy Haas announced his retirement
Former world number two tennis player Tommy Haas officially announced his retirement from tennis. He finished his career with 569 wins.
Deepa Malik becomes Asian rank 1
Indian para-athlete Deepa Malik won a gold medal in the F-53/54 category javelin event at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai. With this, she became the Asian rank one in the F-53 category.
Indian football team re-enters in top-100
The Indian football team has re-entered into the top-100 of the FIFA world rankings and is now placed at 99th. Among Asian countries, the Indian team is at the 13th spot.
Ravichandran Ashwin gains two places in ICC Test rankings
Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin climbed up two steps to be placed 4th in the latest Test Player rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The other Indian bowler Ravindra Jadeja remains static at third place. South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada regained his top spot among bowlers crossing the coveted 900-point mark in ratings.
India top medal tally at ISSF Shooting World Cup
India topped the medals tally in the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup with four gold, one silver and four bronze medals for a total of nine medals in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Gold and Silver Winners:
Shahzar Rizvi won the gold medal in the 10m air pistol event (Men’s).
Manu Bhaker won the gold medal in the 10m air pistol event (Women’s).
Manu Bhaker partnered with Om Prakash Mitharval for the 10m air pistol mixed team gold.
Akhil Sheoran clinched the gold medal in men’s 50m rifle 3 position.
Anjum Moudgil won silver medal in the Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions (3P) event.
Navjot Kaur climbs to World No. 2
Navjot Kaur became World No. 2 in the 65 kg category as per the latest rankings released by United World Wrestling. The top position belongs to 2015 World Championship silver medallist Petra Olli of Finland though both have 18 points each. Vinesh Phogat is No. 2 in the 50kg category behind Lei Chun of China, while Sakshi Malik is No. 4 in the 62 kg category.
Australia beat England to lift Sultan Azlan Shah cup in Malaysia
World champions Australia have lifted the coveted Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey title. In the final at Ipoh, Malaysia, they beat defending champions England by a narrow 2-1 margin. Australia have now won the prestigious tournament for the 10th time.
Winter Paralympics officially begin
The largest ever Winter Paralympics were officially inaugurated in freezing conditions at the Olympic Stadium in Pyeongchang, South Korea. A record 567 athletes from 48 different nations paraded into the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium to officially commence the 10-day festival that runs till March 18. A neutral Paralympic athletes team consisting of Russian competitors is also participating.
Dharun breaks National record in hurdles
Ayyasamy Dharun broke the men’s 400m hurdles national record and in the process grabbed a Commonwealth Games ticket on the concluding day of the 22nd Federation Cup National Senior Championships. Dharun erased Joseph G Abraham’s over 10-year-old earlier national record of 49.94 made in August 2007 in Osaka. Dharun got his last medal at an Indian Grand Prix event in Bengaluru.
Muskan, Promila won gold at Archery
India’s Muskan Kirar and Promila Daimary clinched gold medals in the women’s compound and recurve events respectively at the Archery Asia Cup in Bangkok. Kirar got the better of Malaysia’s Zakaria Nadhirah 139-136 in the compound final. Madhu Vedwan and Gaurav Trambak Lambe also added to India’s tally by winning bronze medals in the women’s and the men’s recurve events.
Tejaswin Shankar smashes national record
Tejaswin Shankar broke his own national record to claim the high jump gold at the 22nd Federation Cup Senior National Athletics Championships. Shankar crossed over the bar at 2.28m to beat his own national mark of 2.26m which he achieved in Coimbatore in 2016 at the junior level. Shankar had earlier cleared 2.28m at a collegiate event but this was his first athletic federation of India event.
Viswanathan Anand wins Tal Memorial Rapid Chess Title
World rapid champion Viswanathan Anand annexed the Tal Memorial rapid chess title in Moscow, Russia after an easy final round draw against Boris Gelfand of Israel. His solitary loss came at the hands of Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan in the third round.
All-female marathon held in Saudi Arabia
For the first time in the nation’s history, Saudi Arabia’s women participated in an all-female marathon. The three-km-long marathon, held in the eastern province of al-Ahsa on Saturday, reportedly saw participation from 1,500 women across several categories. Earlier in January, Saudi Arabia allowed its women, for the first time, to spectate at a football match.
Shooter Rizvi sets world record, wins World Cup gold
Indian shooter Shahzar Rizvi created a new world record on his way to the gold medal in the men’s 10m air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup at Guadalajara in Mexico. The Indian beat reigning Olympic champion Christian Reitz of Germany, who had to settle for the silver.
Indian wrestlers win 8 medals at Asian Wrestling Championships
India continued their rich run in the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships by winning eight gold medals and as many silver. India won five gold medals in freestyle through Harful, Bajrang, Jitender, Sandeep, Deepak and Arun. The three gold medals in Greco-Roman came from Ravinder, Krishan and Sachin.
India beat Pakistan to win Snooker Team World Cup
India won the inaugural IBSF Snooker Team World Cup title. The Indian combine of Pankaj Advani and Manan Chandra defeated Pakistan in the best-of-five final played in Doha.
27th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tournament Begins In Malaysia
The 27th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey tournament begins in the Malaysian city of Ipoh. Six nations – India, hosts Malaysia, defending champions England, Australia, Argentina and Ireland – are taking part in the tournament. India, currently the world number six side, will take on world number two Argentina in their opening round-robin match.
Navjot Kaur 1st Indian Woman To Win Gold In Asian Wrestling Championship
Navjot Kaur has clinched the 1st gold medal for India in the Asian Wrestling championship in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. She defeated Imai Miyu of Japan in the final of women’s 65 kg freestyle. With 1 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medal, India was at the second spot in the medals tally. Vinesh Phogat and Pinki of Indian Railways claimed silver medals while Sakshi Malik won a bronze in the 62-kilogram category. China was leading the table with 4 gold and 1 bronze medal while Japan was at the third place with 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze medals.
Para-Swimmer Prasanta Karmakar suspended for three years
Para-swimmer Prasanta Karmakar was suspended for 3 years by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) due to allegations of recording videos of female para-swimmers at the National Championships 2017 in Jaipur. Prasanta Karmakar was the first Indian para-swimmer to participate and win a medal at the 2003 World Swimming Championships in Argentina. He had won bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. He was India’s swimming coach for the 2016 Rio Paralympics. After receiving complaints from parents of female para-swimmers over video recording by Prasanta Karmakar, he was investigated and now has been suspended for 3 years by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).
IOC restores Russia’s Olympic Membership
International Olympic Committee (IOC) has restored Russia’s Olympic membership with immediate effect following its suspension from the Winter Olympics at Pyeongchang in South Korea. Russia was banned from February’s Games by the IOC over state-sponsored doping. Before closing ceremony of Winter Olympics, the IOC had stated that the ban would be lifted, as long as there were no more anti-doping violations.
ECONOMY
Venezuela to eliminate three zeros off currency
Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan President, has decided to remove three zeros off the Venezuelan currency Bolivar in the midst of a hyperinflation and crippling economic crisis. This is considered as an economic measure to guarantee commercial activities and it will come into effect from June 4, 2018. The President has therefore decided to take out of circulation the current bills and put into circulation new bills.
Fitch forecasts 7.3% growth for India next year
Fitch, the US-based agency, projected India’s economic growth to rise to 7.3 per cent in 2018-19 and further to 7.5 per cent in 2019-20. Also, it forecast Indian economy to clock a growth rate of 6.5 per cent this fiscal (2017-18), in line with official estimates by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) of 6.5 per cent.
India’s exports in February up 4.5% to $25.8 Billion
India’s exports grew by 4.5% in February-2018 to 25.8 billion dollars. It was 24.7 billion dollar during the same period in February-2017. This announcement was made by the Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia.
Indian economy to grow at 7.3% in FY19: World Bank
The World Bank projected India’s GDP growth at 7.3% for the next financial year and accelerate further to seven point five per cent in 2019-20. India’s Growth Story, expects the economy to grow at a rate of 6.7 per cent in the current financial year ending March 31, 2018.
India attracts $209 billion FDI in 2014-2017
India attracted $208.99 billion foreign direct investment (FDI) during April 2014 to December 2017 period. The main sectors that received maximum FDI include services, computer software and hardware, telecommunications, construction, trading and automobile.
India announces USD 100 Ml LoC for Mauritius
India has announced a new Line of Credit of USD 100 million for defense procurement by Mauritius as the two sides signed many agreements on the second day of President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit. The agreements were signed after President Kovind held delegation-level talks with Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and members of his Cabinet.
Govt makes Passport mandatory for Bank Loans of Rs. 50 crore & above
The government has made providing passport details mandatory for taking loans of 50 crore rupees and above to ensure a SWIFT action in case of fraud and prevent fraudsters from fleeing the country. According to Financial Services Secretary, all existing loans of over 50 crore rupees, banks have been asked to collect passport details of borrowers within 45 days.
India-China trade hits record $84.4 billion in 2017
According to data of Chinese General Administration of Customs, India-China bilateral trade has reached $84.44 billion last year, a historic high with 18.63% year-on-year growth rate. This is regarded as historic landmark in bilateral relations of both countries, as volume of bilateral trade for first time has touched $80 billion, well above the $71.18 billion registered in 2016.
India 12th largest holder of US securities
India’s exposure to US government securities rose sharply to a high of $144.7 billion at the end of 2017. In 2017, China was the largest holder of US government securities with holdings to the tune of $1.18 trillion, followed by Japan at $1.06 trillion. Among the BRIC countries, India had the third largest exposure while that of Russia was lower at $102.2 billion.
Marshall Islands to launch world-first digital legal tender
Marshall Islands in Pacific Ocean is set to become first country in world to recognize cryptocurrency as its legal tender and adopt transparent crypto monetary system. The parliament of island has passed law to create the digital currency called “Sovereign” with symbol SOV to raise some hard cash to pay bills and boost economy.
India’s GDP growth rises to 7.2% in December quarter
The Indian economy grew at a five-quarter high of 7.2% in the October-December period reflecting overall recovery due to good show by agriculture, manufacturing, construction and certain services. The economy is expected to grow at 6.6% in the current fiscal ending March 31, as per the second advanced estimates of the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The earlier estimate was 6.5%. The growth for the second quarter (July-September) has been revised upwards to 6.5%, from 6.3% estimated earlier by the CSO. The previous high was recorded at 7.5% in the July-September quarter of 2016-17.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
India Successfully Launches GSAT-6A Communication Satellite
ISRO successfully launched the GSLV-F08 carrying the GSAT6A communication satellite from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The GSAT-6A satellite will be put into orbit around 17 minutes after the rocket’s liftoff. GSLV Mk II (F08) carrying GSAT-6A took off from the second launch pad in Sriharikota.
Russia ‘test-fires hypersonic missile’
Russia test-launched a hypersonic missile from a Mig-31 supersonic interceptor jet that took off from an airfield. The hypersonic missile has been described as “Kinzhal missile” – named after a type of dagger – as “an ideal weapon”. The Kinzhal is said to travel at 10 times the speed of sound and have a range of 2,000 km (1,200 miles).
PERSONS IN NEWS
A) APPOINTMENTS
Shekhar Kapur appointed as chairman of central panel of 65th NFA
Veteran director Shekhar Kapur has been appointed as chairman of the central panel of the 65th National Film Awards. Mr Kapur is known for his work in Hindi cinema and International cinema.
Indu Bhushan appointed CEO of Ayushman Bharat Mission
Indu Bhushan was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Union Government’s ambitious Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission (ABNHPM). Bhushan, the Director General of East Asia Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila, Philippines, has been appointed to the post for a period of two years.
Justice Jawad Rahim appointed as acting Chairperson of NGT
The Supreme Court appointed Justice Jawad Rahim as the acting Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Justice Rahim is also the judicial member of the green panel. His appointment was approved by a bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justice A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud.
Vijay Raghavan as Scientific Adviser
Krishnaswamy Vijay Raghavan was appointed Principle Scientific Adviser to the government of India. Vijay Raghavan was serving as secretary of the Department of Biotechnology since January 2013.
JS Rajput nominated as India’s Representative
The Government of India nominated Professor JS Rajput, former Director NCERT, as India’s representative to the Executive Board (EXB) of UNESCO. Professor J S Rajput is an eminent educationist with rich experience in various fields including UNESCO.
Balesh Sharma named CEO of Vodafone-Idea India merged entity
Vodafone India and Idea Cellular have announced Vodafone veteran Balesh Sharma as CEO of the proposed new telecom operator. Sharma is currently the chief operating officer at Vodafone India.
Vijay Sankar is honorary Consul General
Vijay Sankar, deputy chairman of The Sanmar Group, has been appointed the Honorary Consul General for Denmark in Chennai. His consular district consists of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka and Puducherry.
Atul M. Gotsurve appointed next ambassador of India to Republic of Korea
Atul M. Gotsurve has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He is currently Director of the Ministry of External Affairs. He is the IFS officer of 2004 batch.
Yi Gang named Head of People’s Bank of China
US-educated economist Yi Gang has been named the next governor of China’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC). Mr Yi has been deputy governor of the bank since 2008.
Katrina Kaif appointed ambassador of ‘Educate Girls’
Indian actress Katrina Kaif has been named as the new ambassador of the international award-winning non-profit organisation, Educate Girls. Safeena Husain, Founder of Educate Girls said that it is a moment of immense honor for Educate Girls to have Katrina Kaif as an Ambassador.
Sony India appoints Sunil Nayyar as MD
Sony India announced the appointment of Sunil Nayyar as its Managing Director (MD) in place of Kenichiro Hibi. Hibi, who was MD of Sony India from 2012 till 2018, has now been appointed as President of Sony Brazil. Nayyar is the first Indian to be appointed as Managing Director for Sony India.
Tata Sons head Chandrasekaran elected IISc President
Tata sons Chairman N Chandrasekran has been elected as the 8th President of the court of Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru for 2018-21. IISc was set up in 1909 by Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata and then Maharaja of Mysore Krishnaraja Wodeyar.
Larry Kudlow becomes Trump’s Economic Adviser
President Donald Trump named Larry Kudlow as the next head of the White House National Economic Council. He replaced Gary Cohn. Mr Kundlow is the conservative media analyst who served as his informal economic adviser during the 2016 campaign.
Sangeeta Bahadur appointed Ambassador of India to Belarus
Sangeeta Bahadur has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Belarus. She is an IFS officer of 1987 batch. She is currently Additional Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs.
Sitanshu Kar became new PIB chief
All India Radio’s News Services Division (NSD) director general Sitanshu Kar will be the next head of the Press Information Bureau (PIB). Kar, a senior Indian Information Service (IIS) officer, will take charge as PIB head on May 1. Doordarshan News DG, Ira Joshi will hold additional charge of DG of AIR’s NSD with immediate effect.
Parag Agrawal appointed as Twitter’s CTO
Twitter has appointed Parag Agrawal as its chief technology officer. Agrawal, an alumnus of IIT-Bombay and a PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University, succeeds Adam Messinger. His contributions at Twitter include leading efforts to increase the relevance of tweets in Twitter users’ timelines using Artificial Intelligence.
Virat Kohli named 1st Brand Ambassador for Uber India
Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli has been named cab-hailing startup Uber’s first Brand Ambassador in India. Kohli will also be involved in a series of marketing and customer experience initiatives.
Prince Charles appoints Sanjeev Gupta as UK Skills Ambassador
Indian-origin steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta appointed by Britain’s Prince Charles as an official ambassador for the Industrial Cadets programme designed to nurture manufacturing skills. Mr. Gupta was appointed to the flagship programme to give children and young people the direct structured experience of the industry while still at school or college. The Industrial Cadets annual awards ceremony was held in London. Mr. Gupta is an Executive Chairman of UK-based GFG Alliance.
Vivek R Wadekar appointed New Special Director in ED
IRS officer Vivek R Wadekar was appointed as the new Special Director in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) by the government. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued an order appointing the officer of the Income Tax Department to the new post. He has been appointed for the tenure of five years. The ED is the central investigative agency, under the Union finance ministry, that enforces the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) in the country.
Rangarajan Raghavan appointed Director & Managing Director of HCL Infosystems
HCL Infosystems Ltd. has appointed Rangarajan Raghavan, as its Director and Managing Director. Rangarajan Raghavan is the president of HCL Infosystems Ltd. He has been appointed Director & Managing Director of HCL Infosystems with effect from 1st April 2018. Rangarajan Raghavan joined HCL in 1978. He has held various important positions in the company. At present he is the president of the Project and Services division of HCL Infosystems.
AK Chaudhary to take over as SAIL chief
Anil Kumar Chaudhary, now director finance st SAIL, has been chosen by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) to steer the company as its chairman. Subject to the approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Chaudhary will replace incumbent Prakash Kumar Singh, who is scheduled to retire on June 30 this year. Chaudhary’s term will start as SAIL has just returned into profitability after 10 consecutive quarters.
Vinay Kumar appointed as Ambassador of India to Afghanistan
Vinay Kumar has been named the next Ambassador of India to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. He is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer of the 1992 batch. He is at present Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. He will soon take charge as Ambassador of India to Afghanistan.
Pakistani mountaineer Samina Baig appointed UNDP goodwill ambassador
Samina Baig, the first Pakistani woman to have climbed Mount Everest, was appointed as the national goodwill ambassador by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Baig will lead efforts to build national awareness and partnerships around Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to climate change, environmental protection and women empowerment.
Dhanlaxmi Bank appoints Sajeev Krishnan as Director
The board of Thrissur-based Dhanlaxmi Bank has appointed Sajeev Krishnan as a director. In his 39 years of service, Krishnan has worked in various capacities including officiating Managing Director of State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Travancore, CGM of SBT and Chief Vigilance Officer with Corporation Bank.
A K Pradhan appointed as Group Chief Risk Officer of PNB
Punjab National Bank (PNB) has appointed its general manager A K Pradhan as the Group Chief Risk Officer after being hit by nearly Rs 12700 crore fraud. However, the bank did not disclose the functions and responsibilities of the Group Chief Risk Officer.
B) RESIGNS
Myanmar President, Htin Kyaw resigns
Myanmar’s President and Aung San Suu Kyi’s right-hand man Htin Kyaw stepped down after two years in the position. He has resigned due to ill health. Htin Kyaw, 71, was sworn in as Myanmar’s official president in 2016 after Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party won landmark elections.
Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim resigns
Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim has resigned. She resigned after being embroiled in a scandal over the use of a credit card to buy luxury personal items. It has been alleged that Gurib-Fakim made personal purchases, buying jewellery and clothing using a credit card provided by London-based Planet Earth Institute.
Tata group Chief Ethics Officer Rajan quits
Tata Son’s Chief Ethics Officer Mukund Rajan will leave the group to evaluate entrepreneurial pursuits in the coming months. Rajan, who was the former MD of Tata Teleservices, was appointed as the group spokesperson and brand custodian in February 2013.
Slovenian PM Cerar resigns
Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar has resigned. He resigned after a court annulled the result of a referendum in the latest blow to his crisis-hit government, months ahead of planned elections.
Slovak PM Robert Fico resigns
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and his government resigned. Slovak President Andrej Kiska accepted the resignation. He has resigned because of the political crisis triggered by the slayings of an investigative journalist and his fiancee.
Two TDP Ministers resign from Union Cabinet, Suresh Prabhu given additional charge
Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and junior science and technology minister YS Chowdhary have submitted their resignation letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This follows Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s observation that the Centre cannot offer special status to Andhra Pradesh. The President of India Ramnath Kovind has on the advise of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, directed Commerce and Industry minister Suresh Prabhu to take up the additional charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry.
Venkatesh quits as BCCI selection chairman
Former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad submitted his resignation from the post of chairman of the junior national selection committee. Prasad, who cited personal reasons for stepping down, has worked as the head of the committee for 30 months.
Mukul Sangma tenders resignation as Meghalaya CM
Mukul Sangma submitted his resignation from the post of Meghalaya Chief Minister. Sangma submitted his resignation to Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad in Shillong following the assembly election results.
C) DEATHS
Lindia Brown who fought to end US school segregation, dies aged 75
Linda Brown, who as a Kansas girl was at the center of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down racial segregation in schools, has died aged 75. Brown is one of that special band of heroic young people who, along with her family, courageously fought to end the ultimate symbol of white supremacy – racial segregation in public schools.
Pulitzer Prize winner Les Payne dies
Les Payne, a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist and columnist for Newsday who fiercely championed racial equality has passed away. He was 76. He won Pulitzer Prize for “Heroin Trail” series in 1974.
Jnanpith awardee Kedarnath Singh passes away
Eminent Hindi poet and Jnanpith awardee Kedarnath Singh passed away in New Delhi following a prolonged illness. Kedarnath Singh was among India’s most prominent modern Hindi poets, besides being an essayist and a well-known critic. He was 84.
Stephen Hawking passes away
Scientist Stephen Hawking, passed away on March 14, 2018 in Cambridge. He was 76. He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world.
Sufi singer Pyare Lal Wadali passes away
Pyare Lal Wadali, the younger brother of Sufi singer Puran Chand Wadali of the Wadali brothers, died of cardiac arrest. The Wadali brothers some years ago had taken the country by storm by their hit album featuring Sufi songs such as ‘Tu mane ya na mane dildara, aasan te tenu rab manya’.
Veteran Bollywood actor Shammi passes away
Veteran Bollywood actor Shammi has passed away after prolonged illness. She was 89. Fondly addressed as ‘Shammi aunty’ by Bollywood celebrities, Shammi, whose real name is Nargis Rabadi, started her film career with Malhar as a leading lady and later on moved to the comic genre.
Italy international footballer Davide Astori passes away
Italy international footballer Davide Astori has been found dead in his hotel room. Astori, who was captain of Fiorentina, passed away in his sleep overnight. Astori began his career at AC Milan, also playing for Cagliari and Roma before joining Fiorentina in 2015. He played 14 times for Italy.
D) VISITORS
President leaves for Mauritius, Madagascar
President Ram Nath Kovind left for a five-day visit to the island nations of Madagascar and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. The president will be the chief guest at the celebration commemorating the 50th year of the independence of Mauritius. The visit of the president to Madagascar will also be the first ever visit by an Indian VVIP to the island nation.
French President Emmanuel Macron in India on 4-day visit
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in New Delhi on a four-day visit to India. The visit aims at strengthening the bilateral economic, political and strategic dimension of engagement between the two countries. During the visit, India and France will sign agreements in different fields tomorrow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron will co-chair the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance.
Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang Arrives In India On 3-Day Visit
The Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang has arrived in India on the 3-day visit. He is scheduled to hold delegation level talks with PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Strengthening cooperation in the key areas of defence and trade will be high on the agenda. The two sides will sign MoUs in the areas of nuclear energy, agriculture and trade and investment. This is Tran’s first visit to India as president.
E) MISCELLANEOUS
India ranks 109th globally in mobile download speeds: Report
According to Ookla’s Speedtest index, India, the largest consumer of mobile data in the world, ranks 109th when it comes to mobile Internet download speeds. Norway is positioned at the top with an average download speed of 62.07 mbps.
Belarus beauty wins Miss Supermodel Worldwide 2018 title
Aleksandra Liashkova from Belarus was crowned Miss Supermodel Worldwide 2018 at a grand finale in Gurugram, Haryana. India’s Shweta Parmar was awarded Miss Congeniality.
Anushka Sharma & PV Sindhu debut in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2018 list
Bollywood actress-producer Anushka Sharma and Badminton Ace P V Sindhu had featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2018 list. Anushka, one of Indian film industry’s highest paid actresses, is all of 29. Pakistani singer Momina Mustehsan too found a mention.
World’s Largest Cruise ship sets sail
The world’s biggest cruise-liner, “Symphony of the Seas”, has left the shipyard of Saint-Nazaire in France to embark on its maiden voyage in the Mediterranean. It will head to Malaga in Spain and spend its first season in the Mediterranean.
Vienna named the world’s most liveable city
The Austrian capital Vienna has been named the world’s best city to live in for the ninth consecutive year. Mercer’s 20th annual Quality of Living survey compared 231 major metropolises, examining factors such as crime, healthcare, education, public services, recreation, housing and personal freedom. Baghdad remained the worst city to live according to the same survey.
Canadian mathematician wins Abel Prize
Canadian mathematician Robert Langlands won the prestigious Abel Prize for developing a programme connecting representation theory to number theory. The prize was established by the Norwegian government in 2002 to honour outstanding scientific work in the field of mathematics.
Singapore, Paris are world’s costliest cities
Singapore is the world’s most expensive city for the fifth straight year. According to the latest Worldwide Cost of Living report 2018 by the Economist Intelligence Unit Syrian capital Damascus was ranked as the world’s cheapest city. Paris and Zurich were tied at the second position, followed by Hong Kong and Norway’s capital Oslo. The Indian cities of Bangalore, Chennai and New Delhi and Pakistan’s Karachi featured among the ten cheapest locations surveyed.
Vietnam’s Nguyen Huong Giang crowned “Miss International Transgender Beauty Queen 2018”
Vietnam’s Nguyen Huong Giang was crowned “Miss International Queen” in Thailand at one of the world’s top beauty pageants for transgender women. The winner fended off 26 competitors, from countries spanning Mongolia to Mexico, to clinch the coveted crown in the seaside town of Pattaya, where the popular contest has been running since 2004.
Prakriti to be 1st ITBP Woman Combat Officer
In another first for women, 25-year-old Prakriti has been inducted as the first direct-entry combat officer in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. The ITBP is the last of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to induct women officers in combat roles after the government first allowed it to enrol them in 2016.
TCS ranked as the fastest growing IT services brand in 2018
Leading global IT services organisation, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was named as the fastest growing IT services brand in the world in an assessment done by leading brand valuation firm, Brand Finance. This puts TCS in a unique group of businesses with a brand valuation over USD 10 billion mark.
Mumbai ranks 47th on global ‘city wealth index’: Report
According to the independent global property consultancy Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2018, Mumbai ranked 47th on the “city wealth index” among 314 cities in the world. The “city wealth index” is drawn from four major indicators — wealth, investments, lifestyle and future. Guangzhou, a city in China, tops the list with property prices appreciating by 27.4% in the last one year.
Paytm’s CEO is the Youngest Billionaire
Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma (39) is the youngest Indian billionaire. Mr Sharma founded fast-rising mobile wallet Paytm in 2011. He has also created Paytm Mall, an e-commerce business and Paytm Payments Bank. Mr Sharma ranked 1,394th on the list with a fortune of $1.7 billion, is the only Indian billionaire in the under-40 league.
Mumbai Airport named world’s best for quality service
Airports Council International (ACI), a trade association of 1,953 airports in 176 countries, announced its annual airport service quality (ASQ) awards and Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport) tied with Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport) for the top position among airports handling over 40 million passengers annually. Beijing and Shanghai Pudong have been ranked second.
Forbes Billionaires List 2018: Amazon’s Bezos Richest, Mukesh Ambani ranked 19
With a fortune worth $110 billion, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is the world’s richest man and tops a 2018 Forbes Magazine list of billionaires. According to the Forbes, Bezos is the first person to top $100 billion as number one on the Forbes list of the World’s Billionaires. Microsoft founder Bill Gates is second ($90 billion), investment guru Warren Buffet third ($84 billion), Bernard Arnault and family fourth ($72 billion), and Facebook founder-CEO Mark Zuckerberg fifth ($71 billion). Indian industry titan Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries Limited, is 19th on the list. He’s valued at $40.1 billion.
99 year-old swims 50m in 56.12 sec
A 99-year-old Australian swimmer broke the world record for the 100-104 age category in the 50m freestyle. George Corones, who turns 100 in April, completed the 50m freestyle in 56.12 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 1:16.92 set by the late Canadian swimmer Jaring Timmerman in 2009. Corones took up swimming “seriously” when he turned 80.
India has the third highest number of billionaires in the world: Report
According to Hurun’s Global Rich List 2018, with 31 new Indians on the list and with a total of 131 names, India comes third after China and USA. China with 819 names and USA with 571 are way ahead in terms of number of billionaires. Industrialist Mukesh Ambani remains India’s richest person with a sharp surge of 30 per cent in his net worth to $26 billion, pushing his global rank to 21st on a worldwide rich list topped by Bill Gates. The list ranked 2,694 billionaires from 68 countries and from 2,157 companies in another record-breaking year for the world’s billionaires.
BOOKS IN NEWS
Indian Army releases book on Paramveer Chakra Awardees
General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff released a book on Paramveer Chakra Awardees – ‘Paramveer Parwane’. The book is written by Dr Prabhakiran Jain and is published by Medha Books. The book illustrates the bravery of Paramveer Chakra Awardees from 1947 to 1965.
Sri Lanka Cricket releases book on Jagmohan Dalmiya
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) released a book titled ‘A Tribute to Jagu’. On the occasion of the 70th independence of the island nation, paid a glowing tribute to former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya by releasing a book.
‘Book Fulfilling Bapu’s Dreams – Prime Minister Modi’s Tribute to Gandhiji’ launched
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, received the first copy of the book ‘Fulfilling Bapu’s Dreams – Prime Minister Modi’s Tribute to Gandhiji’ from Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, who formally released it at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The book underscores an important aspect of India’s developmental process – linking sanitation with broad mass participation, making it a mass movement, giving central importance to the practical needs of ordinary citizens in policy, and establishing ethical ideals firmly in public life.
Aamir Khan launches Manjeet Hirani’s book ‘How to be a Human’
Aamir Khan launched the book ‘How to be a Human’, which is penned by Rajkumar Hirani’s wife Manjeet Hiraniwas. The book is based on the dog which the Hirani’s adopted from ‘PK’ sets. In her book, Manjeet has written about attachment, parenting, and karma, among other things. She shows how having a dog in the house can alter your perspective and change the way you experience life.
COMMITTEES
Govt sets up Subhash Chandra Garg Committee to regulate fintech sector
The Union Government has set up 8 member steering committee look into the development and regulation of the financial technology (fintech) sector in India. It will be headed by Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Garg. The move follows an announcement by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Budget.
DAYS & DATES
25 March: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is observed on 25 March every year across the world. The 2018 theme was “Remember Slavery: Triumphs and Struggles for Freedom and Equality”.
24 March: World Tuberculosis Day
The World Tuberculosis Day was observed across the globe on March 24, 2018. Its aim is to raise public awareness about the upsetting health and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB) and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The theme of the World Tuberculosis Day 2018 is ‘Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world’.
22 March: World Water Day
The World Water Day is observed on 22 March every year, to raise awareness about the importance of water. The theme this year is, ‘Nature for Water’ – exploring nature-based solutions to the water challenges the world faces in the 21st century. The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.
21 March: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. The theme of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 2018 is “Promoting tolerance, inclusion, unity and respect for diversity in the context of combating racial discrimination”.
21 March: International Day of Forests
The International Day of Forests was established on the 21st day of March, by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on November 28, 2012. The theme of the International Day of Forests in 2018 is “Forests and Sustainable Cities”. The event marks the importance of sustaining and protecting woodlands and trees, which are vital to economies, livelihoods and environment.
20 March: World Sparrow Day
Every year 20th March is observed as the World Sparrow day. The theme for world sparrow day 2018 is “I LOVE Sparrows” which is pictured as this I ? Sparrows. World Sparrow Day is an international initiative started by Nature Forever Society (NFS) in India to raise awareness about the house sparrow and other such birds.
20 March: International Day of Happiness
The United Nations has celebrated the International Day of Happiness on 20th March. This is celebrated as a way to recognize the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world. The theme for IDH 2018 is “Share Happiness” – focusing on the importance of relationships, kindness and helping each other.
18 March: Global Recycling Day
The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) proclaimed March 18, 2018 the first Global Recycling Day. Based on the worldwide response, the organization was successful in calling attention to the issues facing the recycling industry and highlighting the importance of what it calls “the seventh resource.”
15 March: World Consumer Rights Day
World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated globally on 15th March. It is an awareness day and theme for this year’s WCRD 2018 is ‘Making Digital Marketplaces Fairer’. On this day in 1962, President John F Kennedy formally addressed the issue of consumer rights in US Congress and became first leader to do so.
14 March: International PI Day
Every year 14 March is observed as the International Pi Day across the world. Pi Day is observed on 14 March (3/14 in the American month/day date format) since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant digits of p. On 14th March 2018, it is the 30th anniversary of the Pi Day.
8 March: World Kidney Day 2018
World Kidney Day, which is a global campaign aimed at raising awareness on the importance of kidneys, was celebrated on March 8 this year. Ever since its inception in 2006, it has been observed on the second Thursday of March with a special theme for the year. The theme of World Kidney Day 2018 is “Kidneys and Women’s Health”.
8 March: International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is a worldwide event that celebrates the achievements of women everywhere. This year’s celebration comes at the heels of an unprecedented movement for women’s rights as 2018 marks 100 years since women gained the vote after the suffragette movement. There have also been global campaigns in the form of #MeToo and #TimesUp – bringing sexual harassment and equal pay to the forefront of the agenda. International Women’s Day 2018 campaign theme is #PressforProgress. The day has been observed since 1908, and falls on March 8 each year.
3 March: World Wildlife Day
The World Wildlife Day is observed every year on 3rd March to celebrate and raise awareness about the world’s wild fauna and flora. It is celebrated to mark the signing of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on this day in 1973.
BANKING AWARENESS
Swiggy Partners with ICICI Bank
Online Food ordering and delivery platform Swiggy has partnered with the country’s largest private sector lender ICICI Bank to roll out two digital solutions to facilitate the transfer of funds for its delivery partners.
Axis Bank opens Representative Office in Sharjah
Axis Bank had opened a representative office in Sharjah. The representative office is the third such Axis Bank office in the UAE after Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The UAE has the largest NRI community in the world, with a diverse population base of approximately 3.3 million NRIs.
Yes Bank launches a digitised trade finance solution
Yes Bank has launched a robotics based ‘Digital export Import’ payments solution as a part of its Yes Transact Smart Trade product suite. The integrated product uses robotics process automation and helps in eliminating the requirement of documents submission for import and export payments.
ICICI Bank launches online overdraft facility
ICICI Bank has launched instant overdraft ‘InstaOD’ facility for MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) customers in a completely online and paperless manner. Customers can get overdraft facility up to Rs 15 lakh for a year anytime, anywhere using the bank’s Internet and mobile banking app.
SBI reduces charges on non-maintenance of minimum balance
SBI has slashed charges for non-maintenance of Average Monthly Balance (AMB) in savings accounts by nearly 75 percent. The revised charges will be effective from April 01, 2018 and will benefit over 25 crore customers. The charges for non-maintenance of AMB for customers in Metro and Urban centers have been reduced from a maximum of Rs 50 per month to Rs 15 per month. Similarly, for Semi-Urban and Rural centers, the charges have been reduced from Rs 40 every month to Rs 12 and Rs 10 GST charges will be applicable over and above the rates specified above.