NATIONAL NEWS
Cabinet apprised about MoU between India and Republic of Korea
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, was apprised about an MoU signed in February, 2019 between India and Republic of Korea. Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, Government of India and The Ministry of Science and ICT (Korea Post), Government of the Republic of Korea have mutually agreed to jointly issue Postage Stamps on the theme “Queen Hur Hwang-ok of Korea”.
- The joint stamps will be released on a mutually agreed date by the end of 2019.
- Extra info.:
President: Moon Jae-in
Capital: Seoul
Currency: South Korean won
CCEA approves proposal to extend duration of new urea policy from April 1
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, has approved a proposal to extend the duration of New Urea Policy-2015, from April 1 till further orders. The extension will not apply to the provisions which were amended by a notification dated March 28, 2018.
- This approval will help in continuing usual operations and regular supply of urea to the farmers.
Cabinet approves five GSLV flights during 2021-24
The Union Cabinet approved the ongoing GSLV continuation programme phase 4 consisting of five GSLV flights during 2021-24. This will enable the launch of 2-tonne class of satellites for geo-imaging, navigation, data relay communication and space sciences.
- The fund requirement is Rs 2,729 crore and includes the cost of five GSLV vehicles, essential facility augmentation, programme management and launch campaign along with additional funds required for meeting the scope of ongoing GSLV continuation programme.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
World's largest aircraft takes first flight
The world's largest airplane, developed by aerospace venture Stratolaunch, flew into the air for its first flight test. The gigantic, six-engined twin-fuselage megajet took off from Mojave Air and Space Port in California for the flight expected to last for a couple of hours.
- Stratolaunch was founded by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2011 to develop the large carrier airplane as a flying launch pad for orbital-class rockets.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Autobiography of social worker Sankurathri Chandrasekhar released
‘Ashakiranam,’ an autobiography of noted social worker Sankurathri Chandrasekhar, was released at a function held in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. Religious scholar Chaganti Koteswara Rao released the book while writer and literary critic Vadrevu Veeralakshmi Devi reviewed the work.
- Penned by Dr. Chandrasekhar in English with title ‘A Ray of Hope’ the autobiography was translated into Telugu by Godavarthi Satyamurthy.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Airtel, FLO launch app for women's safety
Bharti Airtel in collaboration with FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) launched a mobile app, My Circle, to help women in case they face any problem or a panic situation. The application is carrier agnostic which would work on phones with any telecom service network, both Airtel and non-Airtel.
- My Circle app enables women to send SOS alerts to any five of their family or friends in 13 languages including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Punjabi, Bangla, Urdu, Assamese, Oriya, and Gujarat.
LIC gets 12 years from RBI for reducing stake in IDBI Bank
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given 12 years to Life Insurance Corp to reduce its stake in IDBI Bank, accepting the life insurer’s argument that it is a long-term investor in the struggling bank which had nearly 30 per cent of its advances as bad loans in the December quarter.
- RBI has stipulated that after 12 years LIC has to reduce stake in IDBI Bank by 10 per cent to 40 per cent.
SPORTS
Hamilton wins record-extending 6th Chinese GP
Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton secured a record-extending sixth Chinese Grand Prix (GP) victory, snatching the world championship lead from his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas.
- Five-time world champion Hamilton, of the United Kingdom, clinched his 75th career victory and second of the season in the 1,000th Formula One race after overtaking pole-sitter Bottas of Finland.
Kohli surpasses Raina, becomes highest-scoring Indian batsman in T20 format
Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli has surpassed Chennai Super Kings batsman Suresh Raina to become the highest-scoring Indian batsman in the T20 format. The 30-year-old surpassed Raina's record in the ninth over of the RCB innings. Kohli now has 8175 runs from 245 T20 innings at an average of 41.22 with four centuries and 59 half-centuries.
- Kohli now is placed at the sixth position in the list of highest run-scorers in the T20 format. Raina has 8145 runs from 293 innings in the format.
Goa clinch Super Cup 2019 title
FC Goa emerged as champions of the 2019 Super Cup as they pipped Chennaiyin FC 2-1 in a tense affair at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
- Despite Goa being billed as the favourites to take home the crown, it was Chennaiyin, who started the game as the better of the two sides.
Meena Kumari Maisnam clinches gold in Cologne World Cup boxing
Meena Kumari Maisnam continued her fine run to win gold medal in the 54 kg at the Boxing World Cup in Cologne. Sakshi (57kg) and Pwilao Basumatary (64kg) lost their final bouts and had to settle for the silver while Pinki Rani (51kg) and Parveen (60kg) won bronze as India finished with five medals.
APPOINTMENTS
Mohammed Ishtaye sworn in as new Palestinian PM
New Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye and his cabinet members were sworn in before President Mahmoud Abbas at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
- The 18th Palestinian government since the establishment of the Palestinian Authrity in 1995 was sworn in according to a presidential decree issued by Abbas.
- Extra info.:
Palestine Capitals: Ramallah, East Jerusalem
BK Nayak appointed FIH Health and Safety Committee Chair
Bibhu Kalyan Nayak became the first Indian to be appointed Chair of International Hockey Federation (FIH) Health and Safety Committee by the world governing body. He will serve a two-year term lasting till the first executive board meeting after Congress 2020.
- A native of Bhubaneswar, Nayak has extensively trained in Sports Traumatology and Sports and Exercise Physiology from National Institute of Sports Medicine at Havana, Cuba & National Sports Centre at Madrid, Spain.
- Extra info.:
International Hockey Federation Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
AWARDS
Mint's Teena Thacker wins Citi Journalistic Excellence Award
Mint's Teena Thacker has been selected by Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism as the winner of the 2019 Citi Journalistic Excellence Awards. Thacker won this award for her long story in Mint on Johnson and Johnson (J&J's) faulty hip implants in India.
- The Citi Journalistic Excellence Award (CJEA) began in 1982 as a way to recognize journalists for excellence in financial and business reporting.
OBITUARIES
Kerala's lauded IAS and Former chief secretary D Babu Paul passes away
Eminent scholar, writer and former additional chief secretary D Babu Paul has passed away. He was 78. During his illustrious career Babu Paul held several key posts including member Ombudsman for the Local Self-Government institutions and vice-chancellor of the Kerala University.
- At present, he was serving as the independent member of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board.
Persona actress Bibi Andersson, who starred in 13 Bergman films, passes away
Swedish actress Bibi Andersson, who starred in 13 of veteran director Ingmar Bergman's films, has passed away. She was 83. Andersson made a name herself after her type-defying role in 1966's "Persona" for which she received the award for best actress at the 4th Guldbagge Awards, the Swedish equivalent of the Academy Awards.
'Fauji' director Colonel Raj Kapoor passes away
The director who introduced Shah Rukh Khan with the television show Fauji, Colonel Raj Kumar Kapoor passed away. He was 87. He retired from the army after he became a disciple of Osho and moved to Mumbai to work in films. He produced many serials and acted in full-length and ad films. Just a few years ago, he published a novel "When Shiva Smiles".
Drupad Borgohain, last of Assam's communist stalwarts, passes away
Former Rajya Sabha member Drupad Borgohain, the last of Assam’s communist stalwarts who helped expand the Left’s footprint in the State and set an example in spending MP fund, passed away. He was 78.
- Born in eastern Assam’s Sivasagar district, Mr. Borgohain headed the State Council of Communist Party of India (CPI). He became a party whole-timer in 1982 after resigning from his teaching job.
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