NATIONAL NEWS
Modi launches 'One Nation, One Card'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the "One Nation, One Card" programme to ensure seamless travel across the country. The card can be used for payments across different segments, including Metro, bus, suburban railways, toll, parking and retail purchases.
- The Indigenous Automatic Fare Collection System based on the "One Nation, One Card" model, for example the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), is the first of its kind in India.
- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) came out with the NCMC programme to ensure seamless travel across different transport segments.
Delhi tops list of most polluted cities in Greenpeace study
Delhi has topped the list of the most polluted cities in the world in a recent study conducted by environment NGO Greenpeace India. New Delhi was ranked first among 62 polluted cities in the report, Global Air Pollution 2018.
- The report accompanies an extended online interactive display of the world's most polluted cities, allowing further exploration of air quality across different regions and subregions in 2018.
ICICI Bank buys 9.9% in NBFC Kisan Finance for Rs 18cr
ICICI Bank said it has acquired 9.9 per cent stake in non-banking finance company Kisan Finance for cash consideration of Rs 17.82 crore. The acquisition is expected to be over by the end of March 2019.Kisan Rural Finance Ltd (Kisan Finance), was incorporated in December 2017.
India collaborates with four nations to protect Asian rhinos
India will collaborate with Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia to increase the population of three species of Asian rhinos, including the Greater one-horned rhinoceros found in the Indian sub-continent. The five rhino range nations signed a declaration 'The New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019' for the conservation and protection of the species at the recently held Second Asian Rhino Range Countries meeting in New Delhi.
- The meet was organised by the environment, forest and climate change ministry in collaboration with IUCN Asian Rhino Specialist Group, WWF- India and Aaranyak.
GSI sets up 22 GPS stations across country
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) launched 22 permanent global positioning system (GPS) stations across India to identify seismically hazardous zones and encourage mapping activities. The GSI has taken a stride to establish and maintain a network of continuously operating 35 permanent GPS stations in a phased manner. So far, 22 GPS permanent stations have been set up and another 13 will be operational by March 2020.
- These stations are meant to delineate high strain zones for earthquake probability, determine a seismic motion on faults that may lead to a rupture and produce thematic maps with high positional accuracy.
ISRO unveils 'Young Scientist' programme to train students in space science
State-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the launch of its Young Scientist programme to train class 9 students in space technology and its applications. ISRO has launched the special programme for school children 'Yuva Vigyani Karyakram' (Young Scientist programme) to impart basic knowledge on space technology, space science and applications to the young ones to arouse their interest in space activities.
- The two-week residential training programme will be held each year during summer holidays for students from across the country who have completed class 8 and are studying in class 9.
Tripura announces 'Notun Disha' to assess academic level of school students
In a bid to improve the educational status of Tripura, the state government announced ‘Notun Disha’ (New Direction), an initiative aimed at assessing the academic level of students between class III-VIII.
- Notun Disha is aimed at making all students efficient and capable in all subjects. It is necessary to know the current educational level of students to fulfil this objective.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Historic Guinness World Record in Yoga Made in Hong Kong
Taking the Yoga Day initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the next level, the Overseas President of BJP for Hong Kong & China, Sohan Goenka conducted a Japan Auction House Guinness World Record in Yoga.
- The first of its kind in the history of Hong Kong; beating the previous record of 387, more than 1011 yoga practitioners attempted Virabathrasan (Warrior II Pose) for 3 minutes in one place and achieved the Guinness World Record at Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, Hong Kong.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
LIC Housing Finance partners with India Mortgage Guarantee Corp
LIC Housing Finance (LICHFL) partnered with India Mortgage Guarantee Corporation (IMGC) to offer home buyers enhanced loan eligibility and easy loans. This strategic tie-up will help the LICHFL accommodate more home loan borrowers and increase market penetration, besides combating NPAs .
- IMGC will provide it with mortgage guarantee which is a kind of financial product that compensates financial institutions for losses that may arise from a default on a mortgage loan.
China sets 2019 GDP growth target at 6-6.5%
China lowered its economic growth target for this year to between 6 per cent and 6.5 per cent. Opening the annual session of China's legislature, Premier Li Keqiang laid out plans to fend off risks in the economy and keep the nation's jobless rate steady.
- Li nodded to the "uncertainties of the China-US trade friction" that weigh on growth and the negotiations for a resolution.
SPORTS
Tahir to quit one-day international cricket
Veteran leg-spinner Imran Tahir would retire from one-day international cricket after the World Cup in England and Wales, which ends on July 14. He would like to continue playing for South Africa in Twenty20 internationals.
- Tahir, who has taken 156 wickets in 95 one-day internationals, played in the 2011 and 2015 World Cups. He also played in the 2014 and 2016 World T20 tournaments.
India's doubles badminton coach Tan Kim Her resigns
Malaysia's Tan Kim Her has stepped down from his post as India's doubles badminton coach. The 47-year-old put down his papers one-and-a-half years before his contract with the Badminton Association of India (BAI) was to end after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
APPOINTMENTS
Randhir Singh appointed coordination committee chairman of 2022 Asian Games
Veteran Indian sports administrator Randhir Singh has been appointed as the chairman of the Coordination Committee of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games by the General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
- The 72-year-old Randhir, a five-time Olympian shooter, is currently a Honorary Life Vice-President of the OCA. He had served as Secretary General of the OCA for 24 years from 1991 to 2015.
Sheikh Ahmad re-elected as President of Olympic Council of Asia
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah has been re-elected president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for an eighth term despite being embroiled in a forgery case brought by Swiss investigators. The long-serving Kuwaiti, a powerful ally of International Olympic Committee (IOC) head Thomas Bach, was re-elected unanimously at the OCA general assembly in Bangkok.
Anil Kumble reappointed as chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee
Leg spin great Anil Kumble has been reappointed as the chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee for a final three year term. Kumble has been the chairman of the committee since 2012.
- In another significant development, the ICC reassured the BCCI about the safety of its players, support staff and fans during the men's World Cup in England this summer.
AWARDS
Indian Bank receives Best Bank Award
Public sector Indian Bank has bagged the Best Bank Award from the Tamil Nadu government for meeting the needs of women's self-help groups (SHGs).
- At a function in Salem recently, Chief Minister of the state K Palaniswami handed over the award to the executive director of the bank M K Bhattacharya.
- Extra info.:
Indian Bank Headquarters: Chennai
TVS Motor wins international sustainability award
TVS Motor Company recently bagged the 'Green Era Award for Sustainability' at Lisbon in Portugal. The two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturer also won the 'Quality and Business Excellence Award' for its endeavour to create new benchmarks in product quality.
- The event held at Lisbon was attended by 34 companies across 25 countries. TVS Motor is the flagship company of 8.5 billion dollar TVS Group.
OBITUARIES
Iconic '90210' actor Luke Perry passes away at 52
Iconic actor Luke Perry, known for 'Beverly Hills 90210' and 'Riverdale' passed away after he suffered a major stroke. The actor was 52. Born in Mansfield, Ohio, Perry's TV career began when he was 16 with soap operas like ABC's 'Loving' and 'Another World' on NBC.
- In 1990, Perry became a household name for his role as Dylan McKay on the teen drama 'Beverly Hills, 90210'.
Former union minister V Dhananjay Kumar passes away
Former union minister V Dhananjay Kumar passed away. He was 67. Kumar began his stint in politics with Jana Sangh and entered the BJP in 1983, after which he contested polls from Mangaluru constituency and subsequently became an MP and worked as a minister in the central government at the time when late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the aviation minister.
Former New Zealand Cricketer Bill Playle Passes Away
Former New Zealand batsman Bill Playle passed away in New South Wales, Australia at the age of 80. Born 1 December 1938 in Manawatu, New Zealand, Playle represented his country in 8 Tests between 1958 and 1963. In addition, he also played 85 First-Class games.
IMPORTANT DAYS
National Safety Day
National Safety Day is a Day which is used to make every people get safe from many issues such as Financial Loss, Health problems and also any types of problems in the life of the citizens. It is celebrated on the 4th March every year in India by the National Safety Council of India.
- National Safety Day is used to build a better knowledge in the minds of the people for getting every kind of security when they are in the problem.
World Day of the Fight Against Sexual Exploitation
March 4 is observed as World Day of Fight Against Sexual Exploitation every year since 2009, to create awareness against sexual exploitation, which overwhelmingly involves women and children. The UNICEF estimates that more than 3 million children worldwide are affected by prostitution.
- Every year more than 2.5 Lakh people travel abroad for sex tourism for the purpose of having sex with young children.
World Civil Defence Day
World Civil Defence Day is celebrated every year on 1st March to bring attention of the world public about the importance of Civil protection and to pay tributes to the efforts, sacrifices and accomplishments of all the services responsible to fight against disasters.
- International Civil Defence Organisation (ICDO) decided to celebrate this day in 1990. The theme of World Civil Defence Day 2019 is "Children's safety, our responsibility".
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