1. Virat Kohli Emerged As International Cricketer Of Year: CEAT Ratings.

India skipper Virat Kohli has emerged as the International Cricketer of the Year at the CEAT Cricket Ratings awards, which were presented in Mumbai last night.

The 29-year-old cricketer had a memorable last season with the bat. Batsman Rohit Sharma collected the award on behalf of Kohli. Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan was presented the International Batsman of the Year Award, while New Zealand pace sensation Trent Boult won International Bowler of the Year Award.

Afghanistan leg spinner Rashid Khan, who impressed everyone with his skills in the recently concluded IPL grabbing 21 wickets, was presented with the T20 Bowler of the Year Award.

Woman cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur, who single-handedly took the team to the final of the ICC Women`s World Cup with her breathtaking knock of 171 not out against Australia in the semi-final, won the Outstanding Innings of the Year Award. Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed on former India wicket-keeper Farokh Engineer. (AIR)

2. Kerala Cartoonist Thomas Antony Wins International Award.

Kerala cartoonist Thomas Antony has won an international award, in the best caricature category.

Antony, currently working as Executive Artist of Malayalam daily ‘Metro Vaartha’, is among the nine winners at the 13th edition of the World Press Cartoon awards, instituted by an organisation based in Lisbon, Portugal.

The awards are given to the best works published in 2017 in newspapers and magazines from around the world.

According to World Press Cartoon website, the winners are from eight countries in three continents– Europe, Asia and South America.

Antony is the lone cartoonist selected from Asia selected for the prize.

The award-winning cartoons, as well as other works on display, address the most present characters and issues of 2017, like US President Donald Trump, fake news and freedom of expression, the World Press Cartoon said.

The awards will be presented at a function to be held in Portugal on June 2, Antony said in a release here.

3. Kamaljit Bawa 1st Indian To Receive Linnean Medal.

The scientist is being recognised for his pioneering botanical research in the tropics

Indian botanist Kamaljit S. Bawa, president of Bengaluru-based non-profit Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), received the prestigious Linnean Medal in Botany from the Linnean Society of London on May 24.

Dr. Bawa is the first Indian to win the award ever since it was first constituted in 1888. According to a press release by ATREE, the scientist is being recognised for his pioneering research on the evolution of tropical plants, tropical deforestation, non-timber forest products and for decades of work on the biodiversity of forests in Central America, the Western Ghats and the Eastern Himalaya.

Noted contributions

Also cited were Dr. Bawa’s efforts in establishing the open-access interdisciplinary journal Conservation and Society (which publishes peer-reviewed research exploring linkages between society, environment and development) in 2003, the online citizen-science repository ‘India Biodiversity Portal’ and ATREE (ranked second in Asia and 18th globally among the world’s environment think tanks, which generates interdisciplinary knowledge to inform policy and practice to achieve environmental conservation and sustainable development).

“The Linnean Medal is a good recognition of our work on conservation and sustainability, and will serve as a fresh reminder that we need to redouble our efforts to fully document and study our planet’s incredible plant wealth that is rapidly declining,” said a press release quoting the scientist, who is also a Distinguished Professor of Biology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

4. Yuvraj Singh Awarded `Most Inspiring Icon Of The Year For Social Welfare`.

Indian star cricketer Yuvraj Singh has been awarded the `most inspiring icon of the year for Social Welfare" award by the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival (DPIFF) for his exemplary contribution in the field of social welfare. Yuvraj, who was a member of India`s 2011 World Cup winning squad, was diagnosed with cancer (mediastinal seminoma) shortly after the World Cup. After successfully completing his chemotherapy cycle in the United States, Yuvraj returned to India in 2012 and made his international comeback in a Twenty20 match against New Zealand. Post his diagnosis, Yuvraj opened his foundation `YouWeCan` that focuses on creating cancer awareness and helping educate the cancer survivors kids.

Yuvraj Singh, who is currently out of the India cricket team, played for Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018.

KXIP had acquired the services of Yuvraj for Rs 2 crore in the IPL 2018 auction earlier this year. While much was expected of the southpaw, he could not live up to the expectations.

Yuvraj finished the IPL 2018 with a mere 65 runs in eight matches with an average of 10.83.

During the tournament, Yuvraj registered an unwanted record. His strike-rate of 91.42 was the worst for any player that has faced 50 or more balls this season.

Yuvraj, who had a dismal IPL 2018, had mentioned that Indian players have had an opportunity to observe and learn from "phenomenally talented players" that come together during the cash-rich league tournament.

"We have a different comfort level and, all in all, a much better equation as players of the game. Obviously when we don the national colours, we are all playing for our country and that is the passion that drives us to give it our best," he said.

1. Alan Bean, 4th Man To Walk On The Moon Died.

Alan Bean, the fourth person to walk on the moon and the last surviving member of the Apollo 12 mission, died Saturday in Houston, according to his family and NASA. He was 86.

"Alan was the strongest and kindest man I ever knew," his wife, Leslie Bean, said in a statement. "He was the love of my life and I miss him dearly." She added he died "peacefully ... surrounded by those who loved him."

The retired astronaut fell ill two weeks ago while traveling in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the statement said.

Born on March 15, 1932, in Wheeler, Texas, Bean was a test pilot in the US Navy when NASA selected him and 13 others in October 1963 for training to become the third group of NASA astronauts, according to the family obituary shared by the space agency.

His first mission to space was in November 1969 as a member of the Apollo 12 crew, the second to land on the moon, it said. He became the fourth man -- and one of only 12 in history -- to walk on the moon.

Bean also commanded the second crewed flight to the first US space station Skylab in July 1973.

"In total, Bean logged 69 days, 15 hours and 45 minutes in space," the obituary said, "including 31 hours and 31 minutes on the moon`s surface."

Bean pauses near a tool carrier during the Apollo 12 spacewalk on the moon`s surface.

After retiring from the Navy in 1975 and NASA in 1981, respectively, Bean became an artist and focused his energy on painting artistic impressions of the moon landing.

According to NASA, Bean based that decision on his nearly two decades of experience as an astronaut "during which he visited places and saw things no artist`s eye had ever seen firsthand. He said he hoped to capture those experiences through his art."

2. Akshay Kumar Launches Twin Pit Toilet Technology Campaign.

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has launched advertisement campaign for the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) in Delhi. The campaign focuses on promoting the twin pit toilet technology in rural India, and also features actor Bhumi Pednekar along with Kumar. The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation also announced that the producers of Toilet Ek Prem Katha have given rights to all state and district teams of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) to screen the movie in villages on a non-commercial basis.

Akshay Kumar interacted with Swachh Bharat Mission officials, district collectors, communication experts and members from the media on the occasion. During his interaction, he spoke about the need for influencers of society to talk freely about toilets, and empty toilet pits around the country to destigmatise cleaning of one’s own toilet by members of the family itself, a Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation statement on Sunday said.

Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, spoke about the contribution made by Akshay Kumar to the Swachh Bharat Mission.  He said that right from his movie, Toilet Ek Prem Katha, which was seen and appreciated by rural and urban people across the country, to his participation in the twin pit toilet advertisement campaign for the Swachh Bharat Mission, Kumar has been a strong supporter of the sanitation movement underway in the country.

3. Pakistan Names Former Chief Justice As Caretaker PM.

Former chief justice Nasirul Mulk was announced as the caretaker prime minister on Monday during a joint press conference held by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah.

It took the government and the opposition six meetings to decide on a name for the coveted position.

“Today is a day of great importance in the democratic run of the country. We have agreed on an individual for the position,” said the premier during the press conference.

Election 2018: Caretaker PM likely to be announced today

“We have come to this decision six weeks later, and we had to discuss the nominations with our parties as well,” he added. “The individual’s history is impeccable and contribution has been outstanding.”

PM Abbasi gave Shah the floor to announce the name. “It will be a fair transition. There were challenges, we jointly faced them and in future we will face them,” Shah said.

“There were six names. Four names were under discussion. Saleem Abbas Jillani and Nasirul Mulk had not been discussed but they were being considered. No name has been disqualified, the decision has been taken on merit and with the consent of our parties,” said the opposition leader

Every name was being considered, no one can show any disagreement with this name, PM Abbasi added after the announcement.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and Marriyum Aurangzeb were also present during the press conference.

4. Sangeeta Bahl Becomes Oldest Indian Woman To Scale Mount Everest.

Sangeeta Bahl, a 53-year-old former model and entrepreneur from Jammu and Kashmir, has become the oldest Indian woman to conquer Mount Everest.

Bahl, who currently resides in Gurugram, was felicitated on Sunday at the Indian embassy in Kathmandu. She scaled the peak on May 19 with the help of two Sherpas. Her husband Ankur Bahl, who climbed Mt Everest in 2016, was also welcomed at the Indian embassy in Kathmandu.

Sangeeta Bahl has already conquered six out of the seven highest peaks of the world. She broke the record of Premlata Agarwal, 48, who scaled Everest on May 20, 2011. The couple had pledged to scale seven summits in seven continents, which they clinched, some of them together.

“I just returned to Kathmandu after my epic climb to Mount Everest,” she wrote on Facebook. “Wish to thank each one of you who have supported me through your prayers, wishes and constant goodwill.”

Bahl’s mission also had a message: she carried a banner to the peak advocating early detection of breast cancer in women, and funding for the same.

This was her second attempt to scale the mountain. She abandoned the first expedition after suffering from high-altitude sickness.

Her husband scaled Mt Everest two years ago to the date, on May 19, 2016.

According to officials, six dozen Indian nationals have scaled Mt Everest this year, becoming the second nation of mountaineers to do so after climbers from the US.

Shivangi Pathak, 16, from Haryana became India’s youngest woman to climb the Everest from Nepali side.

5. Justice R.K. Agrawal Appointed NCDRC Chairman.

Justice RK Agrawal, who recently retired from the Supreme Court, has been appointed as the President of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).

Justice Agrawal will take over from Justice DK Jain who retires on May 31. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has reportedly approved Justice Agrawal’s appointment as the President of the Commission.

Justice Agrawal retired on May 4, 2018. In his farewell speech, Justice Agrawal said that the “Bar and Bench are two sides of the same coin” and highlighted the shared responsibility of both the institutions in upholding the legal values and justice. He said,

“Both (Bar and Bench) are indispensable to our free society. The independence of the judiciary is one of the pillars of democracy and the lawyers have worked hard for maintaining this democracy. The freedom of the bar presupposes the independence of the judiciary… Both the bar and bench, though independent, are interconnected and incomplete without each other”

Justice Agrawal graduated in law from Allahabad University and enrolled as an Advocate in 1976. Justice Agrawal was elevated as a permanent judge of the Allahabad High Court in 1999.

He took charge as the Acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court in February 2013 and ten months later, assumed the office of Chief Justice of Madras High Court. Justice Agrawal was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court in February 2014 and served on the Bench of the Supreme Court for four years.

6. Paraguay Gets Its 1st Woman Interim President.

Paraguay will have a woman president for the first time in its history, at least temporarily, after outgoing leader Horacio Cartes stepped down on Monday ahead of schedule.

Vice President Alicia Pucheta, 68, will complete Cartes’s mandate after he resigned to become a senator.

On August 15, fellow conservative Mario Abdo Benitez, elected in April 22 polls, will begin his five-year term as president of one of Latin America’s poorest countries.

The parliament is due to confirm Cartes’s resignation and proclaim Pucheta as interim president on Wednesday.

Opposed to the legalization of abortion, Pucheta is from the right-wing Colorado Party, which has been in power in Asuncion for decades.

Opposition Senator Desiree Masi said she does not see Pucheta’s nomination as an advance for women in Paraguay.

“A woman who has shown her complete submission to those in power does not represent us,” she said. “One day, a woman will be come to power as she should, through the ballot box.”

But Lilian Samaniego, a senator from the Colorado Party, hailed the former lawyer’s accession to the position as an example to “motivate Paraguayan women to continue to fight for real equality of opportunity with men.”

Paraguay has just eight women among its 45 senators, and 11 among the 80 members of the lower house.

Cartes’s resignation had been expected since he was elected to the Senate in the April elections. The new senators are to be sworn in on June 30.

Landlocked Paraguay — sandwiched between Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil — enjoyed consistent economic growth during tobacco magnate Cartes’s five years in power, but failed to shake off persistent poverty, corruption and drug trafficking.

It remains a land of contrasts, still marked by the 1954-1989 dictatorship of general Alfredo Stroessner.

Despite an official campaign against endemic corruption, Paraguay remains 135th out of 180 countries on the 2017 corruption index of Transparency International.

7. Former Himachal Pradesh Governor Urmila Singh Passes Away.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi condoled the death of former Himachal Pradesh governor and Congress leader Urmila Singh.

Gandhi, who is currently abroad accompanying his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for her annual medical check-up, sent his prayers to Singh`s family in a condolence message.

"I`m sorry to hear about the demise of Smt. Urmila Singh ji, former Governor and President of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee. My thoughts and prayers are with her family in their time of grief. May her soul rest in peace," he said on Twitter.

Singh (71) died at a private hospital in Indore yesterday due to prolonged illness.

The former Madhya Pradesh Congress unit chief was admitted to Bombay hospital in Indore on January 6 after she contracted pneumonia, a hospital official said.

She was kept on life support for a long time and her condition remained unstable, he said.

Singh came from a family of freedom fighters and was appointed as the governor of Himachal Pradesh in 2010. Prior to that, she had served as chairman of the National Scheduled Tribes Commission.

 1. Daniel Ricciardo Wins Monaco Grand Prix 2018.

As tales of sporting redemption go, few will have been harder to earn than Daniel Ricciardo’s very personal journey to the top spot of the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday. By the time the Australian had successfully persuaded the Prince and Princess of the principality to join him in swigging from a champagne bottle on the podium, his sheer joy was clearly infectious.

A mixture of disbelief, relief and exhaustion were etched across his face, if indeed alongside the usual beaming grin that had been so notably absent when a win here had been so cruelly wrenched from his grasp two years ago.

Even before the weekend began Ricciardo had been confident enough in the form of his Red Bull to talk of possible redemption for the incident in 2016 when a team pit stop error cost him victory. By race day he had done everything he needed to put it within his grasp. Quickest throughout practice and then untouchable in qualifying, Ricciardo had entered the race as clear favourite.

He duly finished it on top, in front of Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari in second and Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes in third, the order in which they had begun on the grid. The race was, as is often the case, something of a procession on the narrow streets of Monaco but was far from straightforward for Ricciardo.

He had led from the off and looked to be fairly comfortable in front until he suffered a power problem on lap 28 in the MGU-K. He was unable to use seventh and eighth gears, had to adjust his brake balance forward and needed to ensure he looked after his tyres as it became clear the race would have to be run with only one stop.

2. Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018: Complete Highlights.

Shane Watson`s unbeaten 117 helped Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clinch the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL) title after an 8-wicket win over SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. Chasing 179 runs, Chennai didn`t get the start they wanted as Faf Du Plessis departed early for 10 runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0/17) bowled a fiery spell in the powerplay and put SunRisers on top during that period. After Du Plessis` dismissal, Watson took over the batting responsibilities and hammered the SRH bowlers all over the park. After taking ten dliveries to open his account, Watson looked unstoppable and reached his century in only 51 balls hitting 7 fours and 8 sixes. Suresh Raina (32) chipped in with a crucial knock but it was Watson who stole the show and helped his team win their third IPL title. Barring Rashid Khan and Bhuvneshwar, all other SRH bowlers were expensive with an economy of over 10 runs per over. (SCORECARD)

Earlier, Kane Williamson (47) and Yusuf Pathan (45*) helped Hyderabad post a competitive total of 178/6 against Chennai in the IPL final at the Wankhede Stadium. After being put into bat by Chennai captain MS Dhoni, SRH openers Shikhar Dhawan and Shreevats Goswami were off to a cautious start. Goswami was trying to settle in but he was run out after a horrible mix up in the 2nd over itself and was dismissed for 5 runs. Dhawan looked in fine touch for his 25 but a superb delivery by Ravindra Jadeja foxed the opener and he was clean bowled by him in the 9th over. Williamson continued to hit the balls after settling in. He hits 5 fours and 2 sixes to give SRH some control of the game and forged a decent partnership with Shakib Al Hasan (23) in the middle overs. He was eventually dismissed for 47 runs in the 13th over. Pathan played some ferocious shots laced with 4 fours and 2 sixes as he remained unbeaten on 45 runs off 25 balls. Carlos Brathwaite scored a quickfire 11-ball 21 runs in the end to help his team reach 178. Lungi Ngidi yet again starred with the ball for Chennai returning with figures of 1/26 in his four overs.

3. Vikas Gowda, India’s Only Discus Throw Gold Medallist At Commonwealth, Retires.

Indian Olympic Discus Thrower and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vikas Gowda has announced his decision to retire from the sport. He holds the distinction of being only the fourth individual gold medallist from the country in Athletics at CWG. With his CWG gold, he became only the second Indian male athlete to claim the top spot in an athletics sport after Milkha Singh who won the men`s 440 yards at the Cardiff 1958 Games.

The decision comes as a big surprise considering that the Asian Games are just over two months away. Vikas had won Silver in 2014 Asian Games & Bronze in 2010 as well as a silver at the 2010 CWG. His Personal Best throw is at 66.28m which is presently the national record.

Vikas was born on 5th July 1983 in Mysore but grew up in Maryland in the United States of America (USA). Athletics runs through his bloodstream, considering his father used to coach the Indian Olympic track team back in 1988.

Gowda first started making headlines at the World Junior Championships when he finished 8th and just three years later, won the silver medal at the Asian Championships in Incheon. He finished at a lowly 28th in the Rio Olympics 2016 before bagging a bronze medal at the 2017 Asian games.

1. 15th Finance Commission Constitutes Panel For Health Sector.

The Fifteenth Finance Commission has constituted a High Level Group consisting of eminent experts from across the country to examine the strengths and weaknesses for enabling balanced expansion of Health Sector.

The role and functions of the High Level Group on Health Sector will be:

i. To evaluate the existing regulatory framework in the Health sector and examine its strength and weaknesses for enabling a balanced yet faster expansion of the health sector keeping in view India`s demographic profile;

ii. To suggest ways and means to optimize the use of existing financial resources and to incentivize the state governments` effort on fulfillment of well-defined health parameters in India; and

iii. To holistically examine best international practices for the health sector and seek to benchmark our frameworks to these practices for optimizing benefits keeping in mind our local issues.

In the context of ambitious schemes like Ayushman Bharat and also keeping in mind the needs of huge young population of the country, this is considered as an important step to understand the needs of the health sector in the country. Finance Commission also organised a conference on agriculture in Chandigarh this month.

High Level Group on Health Sector will have following Convenor and Members:

Dr. RandeepGuleria, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi (Convenor);

Dr. Devi Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Health City, Bengaluru;

Dr. DeelipGovindMhaisekar, Vice Chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Science, Pune;

Dr. NareshTrehan, Medanta City, Gurgaon;

Dr. BhabatoshBiswas, Prof & HOD of Cordio Thoracic Surgery, R.G.Kar Medical College, Kolkata; and

Prof. K. Srinath Reddy, President of Public Health Foundation of India

2. India Signs Loan Agreement With World Bank For Rajasthan Project.

India on May 29, 2018 signed a loan agreement with the World Bank for IBRD Credit of USD 21.7 million for the strengthening public financial management in Rajasthan Project.

The agreement was signed by Sameer Kumar Khare, Joint Secretary (FB and ADB), Department of Economic Affairs, Union Ministry of Finance and Hisham Abdo, Acting Country Director of World Bank (India) in New Delhi. 

While, the Implementing Entity Agreement was signed by the Secretary, Finance (Budget) on behalf of the Rajasthan Government and Hisham Abdo on behalf of the World Bank.

Highlights of the project:

i. The project aims to improve budget execution, enhance accountability and greater efficiency in revenue administration in Rajasthan.

ii. The project will be implemented at a total cost of around USD 31 million, of which USD 21.7 million will be financed by the World Bank, and the remaining amount will be funded-out of the State Budget. 

iii. It involves strengthening of the public financial management framework; strengthening of expenditure and revenue systems; project management and capacity building among others.

iv. The Project duration is of five years.

BMGI, a global management consulting firm, has entered into a strategic partnership with SmartConnect Technologies, which provides Social / Digital Process Transformation through its IP-suite UNFYD®COMPASS across Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, mobility and field service operations.

 

"Today BFSI sector is highly dependent on improving their business operations using technology. Processes, if not re-engineered before automation, can lead to significant waste in technology operations. We have hence partnered with BMGI, which is globally renowned for using structured methodologies of Innovation, Lean and Six Sigma for designing best-in-class processes to deliver the desired results. We are confident that with a powerful cutting-edge product suite like UNFYD®COMPASS, several of the BFSI firms would significantly benefit from the power of social interface, artificial intelligence and process automation," said Srikanth Seshadri, CEO at SmartConnect Technologies.

 

"We have decided to provide our clients with a one-stop solution to latest available technology and tying up with select top technology fintech providers in the field. We are happy to have partnered with SmartConnect Technologies and are looking forward to supporting various corporates in the BFSI sector, and enabling them to significantly benefit from the cutting edge UNFYD® product suite," said Mr. Naresh Raisinghani, CEO and Executive Director at BMGI.

 

 

4. Moody`s Slashes India Growth Forecast To 7.3%.

Moody’s Investors Service report on Wednesday said it has cut India’s GDP growth forecast to 7.3% in 2018, from its previous forecast of 7.5% due to higher oil prices and tighter financial conditions.

 

“The Indian economy is in cyclical recovery, led by both investment and consumption. However, higher oil prices and tighter financial conditions will weigh on the pace of acceleration. We expect GDP growth of about 7.3% in 2018, down from our previous forecast of 7.5%,” the report said.

 

It, however, kept growth expectation for 2019 remains unchanged at 7.5%.

 

Moody’s further said: “On the domestic front, growth should benefit from an acceleration in rural consumption, supported by higher minimum support prices and a normal monsoon. The private investment cycle will continue to make a gradual recovery, as twin balance-sheet issues -- impaired assets at banks and corporates -- slowly get addressed through deleveraging and the application of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.”

 

It said ongoing transition to the new Goods and Service Tax regime could also weigh on growth somewhat over the next few quarters, which poses some downside risk to its forecast.

 

“However, we expect these issues to moderate over the course of the year,” it said.

 

 

5. Microsoft Is Now Third Most Valuable Firm Globally.

Microsoft may not be a favorite in the race to a becoming the country’s first trillion-dollar public company. But recently, after its younger tech peers whizzed past in valuation, Microsoft has become the second most valuable firm—albeit intermittently—for the first time since 2015.

On Tuesday, Microsoft was valued at $714 billion, about $3 billion above Alphabet and Amazon. Only Apple, valued at $838 billion, is higher.

Microsoft had briefly ascended to No. 2 on April 12 and then again on April 16. But it hasn’t been able to maintain its position for long.

On Tuesday, amid worries about higher U.S. Treasury yields and disappointing earnings by other companies that sent the S&P 500 down1.3%, Microsoft rose to No. 2 by virtue of its shares falling less—2.3%—than those of its rivals.

Shares in Google parent company Alphabet closed down nearly 5% on Tuesday, amid concerns about the earnings it reported a day earlier. Meanwhile shares of e-commerce giant Amazon sank 3.8%.

Investors are concerned that tech company earnings over the next couple of weeks will fail to meet lofty expectations. Tech firms were among the best performers of 2017, but they have hit a wall this year as investors rethink their enthusiasm.

Microsoft’s stock has gained momentum under CEO Satya Nadella, who has beefed up the company’s corporate-focused business. The uptick harkens back to a time when the software giant was the most valuable company. At the height of the dot-com boom in 2000, Microsoft was valued at $533.4 billion—about $777 billion in today’s dollars—followed by firms like Cisco Systems and General Electric. But when the bubble burst, Microsoft’s shares took a beating.

The distraction of an antitrust lawsuit by the Justice Department along with missed opportunities in search and mobile didn’t help.

 

6. Patanjali Launches New Messaging App `Kimbho`.

Baba Ramdev`s Patanjali has entered the realm of chatting applications with its own instant messaging application called Kimbho. The new app is already up and live on Android Play Store and has already received over 10,000 downloads.

The launch was confirmed by the company`s spokesperson, SK Tijarawala over a tweet. This move comes right after the announcement of Patanjali-BSNL partnership to launch SIM cards with relatively low tariffs. Initially, the SIM cards will only be available to employees of Patanjali but will be launched to the general public later.

The new app, Kimbho is being promoted as a "swadeshi messaging platform" that will compete with the market leader in the respective segment, WhatsApp.

According to the description of the application, the app has "dozens of amazing features to share Text, Audio, Photos, Videos, Stickers, Quickies, Location, GIF, Doodle and more."

Kimbho claims to use advanced socket technology for instant, real time messaging. According to the company, the messages are end-to-end encrypted by AES. The descritption on the application claims that no data is saved on their servers or cloud.  

Another interesting feature is ghost chatting where the sender can select this option before clicking on the send option. The message marked with the ghost option will disappear in a matter of seconds.

Kimbho also allows different themes within the application. The user can pick their favourite wallpaper and "get fresh experience every time."

Quickies is another feature where the app will suggest preset messages and the user will not have to type in messages. We are not sure if Kimbho is using AI to select responses. The new messaging application uses conch as the icon with a green background and is registered under Patanjali Communication.

 

7. SBI Hikes Interest Rate On Fixed Deposits.

The State Bank of India has hiked the interest rates on fixed term deposits by up to 25 basis points. The new rate, which is effective from May 28, is applicable on retail deposits below Rs 1 crore. Under the revised rate structure, the deposits for 1 year to 2 years will now accrue 6.65 per cent as against 6.40 per cent earlier. For the senior citizens, the new rate is 7.15 per cent from 6.90 per cent earlier. For the investments from 2 years to 3 years, the interest rate is revised to 6.65 per cent from 6.60 per cent.

There is no change in interest rate for deposits less than one year. Currently, the banks gives 5.75 per cent for deposits under 7 days to 45 days scheme. For 46 days to 179 days, the interest rate is 6.25 per cent with no change. For investment under 211 days to less than year, the rate is fixed at 6.40 per cent. In all these schemes, senior citizens get 50 basis points higher than their non-senior citizen customers.   

This is the second time in just three months the largest lender has raised the rates for term deposits. Earlier in February, the SBI had hiked interest rates on its retail deposits - those below Rs 1 crore - by 10-50 basis points. But before that in November last year, the bank had slashed rates by 25 basis points.

There is an inverse relation between credit off-take and fixed deposit rates. When there is little demand for credit, banks reduce deposit rates because they don`t need funds and in case the demand is high, banks turn to customers to get more funds to facilitate credit. The SBI`s rate hike has come days after the state-run lender reported a record standalone net loss of Rs 7,718 crore in the Jan-March quarter.

The SBI`s move may inspire other banks to follow suit on rate hike. Just last month, the largest private sector bank HDFC raised the interest rate for one year deposits from 6.75 per cent to 6.85 per cent. For investments between 2 years to 5 years, the bank hiked rates from 6 per cent 7 per cent

 

8. Infosys Acquires US-Based WongDoody For $75 Million.

Infosys on Wednesday said that it has completed the acquisition of WongDoody Holding Company, a US-based digital creative and consumer insights agency, for a total consideration of upto $75 million.

“WongDoody, an award-winning creative agency with studios in Seattle and Los Angeles, brings to Infosys globally recognized creative talent and deep marketing and brand engagement expertise,” the company statement said.

“Through this acquisition, Infosys enhances its digital experience services ecosystem with services ranging from strategy, design and user experience, to creative and digital marketing across the customer experience value chain. Infosys further expands its worldwide network of Digital Studios that are fulfilling the needs of global clients for comprehensive digital transformation solutions required to meet customer demand for next-generation, enhanced customer experiences,” Infosys said.

Founded in 1993, WongDoody has clients across industries like telecommunications, consumer electronics, healthcare and consumer packaged goods.

Infosys, on April 13, reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 3,690 crore, or Rs 16.98 per share, in January-March 2018 quarter as compared to Rs 3,603 crore, or Rs 15.77 a share in the same period a year back.

For 2018-19, Infosys expects its revenue to grow in the range of 6-8 percent in constant currency terms and 7-9 percent in the US dollar terms. For financial year 2018-19 Infosys expects operating margin range at 22 percent to 24 percent.

The company said its revenues grew 5.6 percent to Rs 18,083 crore in the January-March quarter compared with Rs 17,120 crore in the year-ago period. Net profit was up 11.7 percent at Rs 16,029 crore, while revenues grew 3 percent to Rs 70,522 crore in FY2017-18 over the previous year.

 

9. India And World Bank Signs $500 Million Additional Financing For PMGSY.

The World Bank, which has supported PMGSY since its inception in 2004, has so far invested over $1.8 billion in loans and credits mostly in the economically weaker and hill states across North India - Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. It has built and improved about 35,000 km of rural roads and benefited about eight million people with access to all-weather roads, the statement said.

To provide additional financing for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) Rural Roads Project, the central government and the World Bank today signed a $500 million loan agreement. The scheme, implemented by Union Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India, will build 7,000 km of climate resilient roads, and out of which 3,500 km will be constructed using green technologies, said a Finance Ministry statement.

The World Bank, which has supported PMGSY since its inception in 2004, has so far invested over $1.8 billion in loans and credits mostly in the economically weaker and hill states across North India - Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. It has built and improved about 35,000 km of rural roads and benefited about eight million people with access to all-weather roads, the statement said.

The agreement for the project was signed by Sameer Kumar Khare, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the government of India and Junaid Ahmad, Country Director, World Bank India, on behalf of the World Bank in the presence of Alka Upadhyaya, Joint Secretary (RC), Ministry of Rural Development.

Sameer Kumar Khare, said “The PMGSY over the years has brought about a paradigm shift in the way rural roads are mapped, designed, monitored and built, involving communities especially women.” 

He further added, “The additional finance will bring a new shift in construction technology using green and low carbon designs and climate resilient construction techniques. Now more rural communities will have access to better economic opportunities and social services.” 

According to the statement, adequate maintenance of the existing 4.6 million km of road network is emerging as a major challenge. Many parts of the existing road network are either vulnerable to or have already suffered damage from climate induced events such as floods, high rainfall, sudden cloud bursts and land-slides.

 

10. Indian Oil Most Profitable PSU For 2nd Straight Year.

Fuel retailer IOC has for the second year in a row beaten ONGC to become India’s most profitable state-owned company, raising questions over calls for the explorer to subsidise retailers amid soaring petrol and diesel rates.

Indian Oil Corporation, which has for decades been India’s biggest company by turnover, last week posted a record net profit of Rs 21,346 crore in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 (FY 2017-18), up 12 per cent from Rs 19,106 crore in the last fiscal.

Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) yesterday reported its FY18 numbers – 11.4 per cent rise in net profit to Rs 19,945 crore.

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries retained the crown of being India’s most profitable company for the third year in a row, posting highest ever net profit of Rs 36,075 crore.  

1. India Launches Its 2nd IT Corridor In China.

India launched its second "information technology corridor" in China on Sunday to cash in on the burgeoning Chinese software market, which remained elusive despite the presence of top Indian tech firms in the large Asian nation. India`s first IT corridor in China was launched in the Chinese port city of Dalian last December, with a focus on Internet of Things or IOT.

The National Association of Software and Services Companies or NASSCOM has now set up one more digital collaborative opportunities plaza, also known as the SIDCOP platform, in China`s Guiyang to give market access to Indian IT firms in the huge Chinese market, the NASSCOM said in a statement.

Agreements worth $6 million were signed between Indian service providers and Chinese customers at the launch of the corridor by China`s Guiyang municipal government and the NASSCOM, an official of the industry lobby group said.

The pilot projects launched on the SIDCOP platform would be executed over the next year, a NASSCOM statement said.

India`s top IT firms have a big presence in China. The IT corridor at Dalian is expected to provide a gateway for big as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. The Dalian IT corridor was formally launched a few days ago.

While the Dalian corridor`s focus was on IOT or Internet of Things, the Guiyang corridor will focus on big data, said Gagan Sabharwal, senior director, global trade development NASSCOM.

At the launch of the Guiyang IT corridor, India`s ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale said the corridor will promote local offices and help companies from Guiyang to set up software and IT units in India.

Indian company Zeta-V will set up an artificial intelligence-enabled platform for SIDCOP to bring together the IT requirements of Chinese companies, particularly in Guiyang, Mr Bambawale said.

"In this way, we will be marrying together the requirements of Chinese companies with the capabilities of Indian IT service providers. We visualise that these initiatives will give a big impetus to cooperation between India and China in the IT-enabled services sector," he said.

2.Hamburg To Host 2018 Global Wind Summit.

The first edition of the Global Wind Summit will be hosted by Germany from September 25-28, 2018 at Hamburg.

Highlights of the first Global Wind Summit:

1. The Global Wind Summit 2018 will be the biggest meeting point for business, networking and information for the whole of the wind industry – onshore and offshore.

2. The summit combines two conferences ‘WindEnergy Hamburg’ and ‘WindEurope’.

3. WindEurope, in partnership with Wind Energy Hamburg, will host the Global Wind Summit 2018 in the Hamburg Messe.

4. Over 1400 exhibitors will gather for WindEnergy Hamburg, the world’s leading wind energy expo, with an aim to network, do business and maximise visibility before a truly global audience.

5. Over 50 conference sessions by 250 experts of WindEurope will put attendees at the forefront of every aspect of the wind industry in 2018. 

6. The event will witness participation from over 100 countries including India, China, the US, Spain and Denmark.

7. It will provide a platform for experts from across the globe to discuss innovative and green technologies for harnessing wind energy making.

8. The conferences will deliberate on the ways to develop new markets, make product competitive in auctions and use wind power for all energy applications.

3. Colombia To Be NATO`s 1st Latin American ‘Gobal Partner’.

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia will next week formally join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, making it the only Latin American nation in the alliance, President Juan Manuel Santos said late on Friday.

Colombia will join as a “global partner”, Santos said, which means it will not necessarily have to take part in military action, and will be fully accredited in Brussels.

The 29-nation NATO alliance reached a partnership agreement with Colombia back in May 2017, just after peace was signed with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, an agreement that earned Santos a Nobel Peace Prize.

“Colombia benefits a lot from being an active part of the international community, many of the problems we face are increasingly global and need the support and collaboration of other countries for their solution,” Santos said in a televised address.

Other global partners include Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan.

The partnership with Colombia will cooperate on global security areas like cyber and maritime security, terrorism and links to organized crime, according to NATO’s website.

The announcement came just hours after the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) approved Colombia as a new member.

“Being part of the OECD and NATO improves the image of Colombia and allows us to have much more play on the international stage,” Santos said.

4. PM Leaves On 3-Nation Tour To Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a brief stopover in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday on his way back from Indonesia during which he will meet his newly elected Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohammad. Modi will leave for a two-nation tour of Indonesia and Singapore tomorrow with an aim to boost ties in several key sectors, including defence and trade.

His first destination will be Indonesia from where he will travel to Singapore on Thursday. “He will also make a brief stopover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 31 to meet the newly elected Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr Mahathir Mohammad,” the External Affairs Ministry said.

Ninety-two-year-old Mahathir was sworn in as Malaysia’s prime minister on May 10 after leading the opposition alliance to a stunning election victory over the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which had ruled Malaysia since 1957.

During their meeting, Modi and Mahathir are expected to deliberate on ways to deepen bilateral relationship in a range of areas, including trade and investment.

The prime minister’s official engagements in Jakarta and Singapore include bilateral meetings with the leadership of the two countries, delegation level talks, and meetings with the business and Indian communities. In Singapore, Modi will deliver the key-note address at the 17th Shangri-la Dialogue.

“Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, three countries in ASEAN, are strategic Partners of India. Government of India attaches high importance to its relations with the ASEAN region and is committed to deepening its relationship with individual ASEAN member states, within the framework of Government’s Act East Policy,” the ministry said. It said the visit would enable the leaders to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

5. International Day Of UN Peacekeepers: 29 May.

This year, the United Nations celebrates the 70th anniversary of UN peacekeeping, a unique and dynamic instrument developed to help countries torn by conflict create the conditions for lasting peace.

The theme for the 2018 International Day of UN Peacekeepers is “70 Years of Service and Sacrifice.” The Day, 29 May, offers a chance to pay tribute to the contributions of uniformed and civilian personnel to the work of the Organization and to honour more than 3,700 peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving under the UN flag since 1948, including 129 who died last year.

This year, the United Nations celebrates the 70th anniversary of UN peacekeeping, a unique and dynamic instrument developed to help countries torn by conflict create the conditions for lasting peace.

The first UN peacekeeping mission was established on 29 May 1948, when the Security Council authorized the deployment of a small number of UN military observers to the Middle East to form the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) to monitor the Armistice Agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

Over seven decades, more than one million men and women have served under the United Nations flag in 71 peacekeeping operations, directly impacting the lives of hundreds of millions of people, protecting the world’s most vulnerable and saving countless lives. Our peacekeepers make immense sacrifices, often serving at great personal risk and under challenging conditions. The families of peacekeepers and their governments share this sacrifice.

6. PM Modi 3-Nation Visit: India & Indonesia Sign 15 MoUs.

India and Indonesia have signed 15 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) during Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s visit to Jakarta.

At the end of the delegation level talks led by Prime Minister Modi and President Joko Widodo, the two countries signed MoUs in various fields including, defence, space technology, scientific and technological cooperation, railways, health, medicine, public administration and interaction between think tanks. Both countries also agreed to celebrate 70 years of their diplomatic relations in 2019-20 .

Under Business to Business (B2B) and Government to Business (G2B) the agreements were signed between Kite Museum Ahmedabad and Layang Layang Gujarat to promote and popularise the art of kite designing.

Archaeological Survey of India and Indonesia`s PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko have decided to work together on beautifying world cultural heritage of the Prambanan Temple and the Taj Mahal.

The MoU on scholarship cooperation programme was also signed, that would facilitate study and research at IIIT Bangalore.

Prime Minister Modi, who is on a three-nation tour to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, reached Jakarta last evening.

He began his first official engagement in the Indonesian capital by laying a wreath at the Kalibata National Heroes Cemetery and was then accorded a ceremonial welcome with a guard of honour at the Istana Merdeka-one of the six presidential palaces of Indonesia.

The aim of the visit is to enhance India`s relations and engagements with all the three countries, which forms Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 

7. World No Tobacco Day: 31 May.

Every year, on 31 May, WHO and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), highlighting the health and other risks associated with tobacco use, and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2018 is "Tobacco and heart disease." The campaign will increase awareness on the:

link between tobacco and heart and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including stroke, which combined are the world’s leading causes of death;

feasible actions and measures that key audiences, including governments and the public, can take to reduce the risks to heart health posed by tobacco.

World No Tobacco Day 2018 coincides with a range of global initiatives and opportunities aimed at addressing the tobacco epidemic and its impact of public health, particularly in causing the death and suffering of millions of people globally. These actions include the WHO-supported Global Hearts and RESOLVE initiatives, which aim to reduce cardiovascular disease deaths and improve care, and the third United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of NCDs , being held in 2018.

8. World’s Largest International Maritime Exercise RIMPAC.

The biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational naval exercise, led by the US 3rd fleet, was first held in 1971. This year’s exercise, the 26th RIMPAC, will include first-time participants from Israel, Brazil, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. 

The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans.

Last week, the Commander of the US 3rd Fleet hosted the final planning conference (FPC) for the exercise. More than 1,000 personnel from 27 countries participating in RIMPAC 2018 attended the FPC to streamline preparations for the exercise. 

The IDF Spokesperson`s Unit confirmed the participation of the Israeli Navy in the exercise: "As part of the efforts to maintain its competence and develop its capabilities, the Navy takes part in international exercises regularly. In the coming weeks, Israel`s naval arm is expected to participate in the RIMPAC exercise, one of the largest exercises in the field of naval warfare."

 1. Queen Maxima Of Kingdom Of Netherlands On 4-Day Visit To India.

Days after Netherlands Prime Minister visited India, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands arrived here for a four-day visit, as per the Ministry of External Affairs. On the first day of her visit, the Queen will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day at the Prime Minister`s Office.

The Queen is scheduled to take part in a meeting with development partners at the United Nations house followed by a meeting with Co-Founder and Governing Council Member of iSpirit Sharad Sharma. She will then meet Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog Rajiv Kumar and Amitabh Kant respectively at the NITI Aayog at noon. During Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte`s visit to India, the former became an official partner of the International Solar Alliance.

The two Prime Ministers also discussed multiple agreements in various fields including the Clean Ganga mission and providing assistance to Kanpur and Unnao-based leather industries to help to adopt eco-friendly technologies and promote water conservation by following efficient agriculture practices in the sugarcane industry of Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier Prime Minister Rutt attended the Indo-Dutch CEOs forum that was held here. As per a release by the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Netherlands have a bilateral trade worth USD 5.39 billion. Netherlands is the 5th largest investor in India with a cumulative investment of USD 23 billion for the period 2000 to December 2017. Further, the country is home to around 2, 35,000 Indians, the highest in Europe`s mainland. (ANI)

2. 1st Smart & Green Highway Eastern Peripheral Expressway At Baghpat In UP. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated two newly-built expressways - phase 1 of Delhi-Meerut Expressway and the Rs. 11,000 crore Eastern Peripheral Expressway, India`s first smart and green highway. PM Modi, after inaugurating the 14-lane Delhi-Meerut Expressway spanning Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to UP Gate, rode in an open car, waving at crowds gathered on either sides of the highway. Road Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari too rode in a separate open car alongside PM Modi. The Delhi-Meerut Expressway, stretching from Nizammudin Bridge to Delhi-UP border, has been completed in a record time of 18 months. The 135-km-long Eastern Peripheral Expressway or EPE, that was dedicated by prime minister in Baghpat in UP, has been built in a record time of 17 months. Its foundation stone was laid by PM Modi in November 2015. The expressway is expected to bring down the pollution level in the national capital by 27 percent.

3. PM Modi Launches Survey On NaMo App.

On the fourth anniversary of the BJP-led NDA government in power at the Centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a survey to gauge people`s mood about his style of governance and their expectations.

The survey was launched on the popular on the NaMo App, where people were asked to rate the performance of the BJP government as well as the performance of his flagship schemes and even the performance of the local MPs and MLAs.

The survey is designed to take the opinion of the people about the three most popular BJP leaders at the constituency and the state level. It urges people to rate their leaders` on the basis of their availability, honesty, humility and popularity. The assessment-based survey allows the participants to tell about the prime considerations while voting and the condition of various amenities and infrastructure in their constituency.

The Prime Minister informed his followers about the survey on the Twitter handle.

`It is your voice that counts! Tell me what you feel about the working of the Central Government, its initiatives and the development work in your constituency. Take part in this survey on the NaMo App,`` he tweeted.

The NaMo App is a popular connectivity platform provided by the BJP government where people can directly connect with their Prime Minister and share their valuable feedback about various schemes and policies of the central government. 

PM Modi also uses it to interact with common people as well as his party members.

4. BCCI, UN Environment Sign Agreement To Promote ‘Green’ Cricket.

 The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) signed an agreement to promote ‘green’ cricket in India with the United Nations (UN) Environment. Acting BCCI Secretary Amitabh Choudhary and Executive Director of UN Environment Erik Solheim signed a letter of intent at the BCCI headquarters, Cricket Centre in Mumbai ahead of the VIVO IPL 2018 final between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday.

Commenting on the initiative, Amitabh Choudhary said, “The Board is happy to announce its partnership with UN Environment. This is a major step in spreading the message of environmental conservation. We will help make cricket green and sensitize spectators towards minimizing waste generation during matches.” The partnership aims to spread greater awareness about key environmental challenges facing the country, and highlight alternate, sustainable solutions. The BCCI will endeavor to reduce its environmental impact by greening operations and engaging cricketers and fans in green initiatives.

“The environment and sports are more closely connected than people think. If we don’t have a healthy environment, then sports will not thrive. I am delighted that UN Environment is partnering with the BCCI to use the power of cricket to inspire action for a cleaner environment,” said Erik Solheim. The partnership will also focus on phasing out single-use plastic across stadiums in the country. The BCCI has already begun raising awareness on this issue. During the course of the VIVO IPL, a film with messages from captains of various franchises was created and aired in stadiums highlighting hazards of plastic pollution.

5. DAC Approves Procurement Of Equipment For Defence Forces.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Raksha Mantri Nirmala Sitharaman, met here today and accorded approval for the procurement of equipment for the Defence Forces valued at over Rs. 6900 crore.In a major boost to indigenisation and in realisation of India’s growing technological prowess, the DAC approved procurement of Thermal Imaging (TI) Night Sights for the Rocket Launcher (RL) used by the Army and the Air Force under ‘BUY(Indian) IDDM’ category through established Indian Vendors. The TI sight for 84mm RL will be used by troops in operations to facilitate accurate and continuous engagement of moving and static enemy targets and destruction of field fortifications (bunkers) during hours of complete darkness. The sight will enable own troops to detect and recognize enemy tanks and soldiers’ movement during night and engage them with greater efficiency. Furthermore, the effect of camouflage and concealment will be drastically reduced as RL detachments will be able to ascertain location of enemy taking cover behind foliage and thin walled constructions with greater ease.The DAC also accorded approval for undertaking Design and Development of the Long Range Dual Band Infrared Imaging Search and Track System (IRST) for SU-30 MKI aircraft under ‘Make II’ sub category and subsequently, for procurement of at least 100 IRSTs under ‘Buy (Indian–IDDM) category.  

The system will be able to operate in day and night conditions and will substantially enhance the capabilities of the aircraft.With the above approvals, in the last eight months alone, the DAC has pursued modernisation of the Armed Forces with greater vigour and has accorded major thrust on indigenisation. Approvals for procurement of equipment valued at approx Rs 43,844 crore, have been accorded, of which, Rs 32,253 crore would be Made-in-India, through the indigenous route.Tourism Minister attends the 108th session of UNWTO Executive council in San Sebastian, Spain from 23rd to 25th May 2018 UNWTO will focus on Innovation and digital transformation in the sector The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism, Shri K. J. Alphons along with a delegation of senior officials attended the 108th session of UNWTO Executive Council from 23rd to 25th May 2018 held in San Sebastian, Spain. The Executive council decided that in order to address new challenge and trends, the organization will pay special attention to scaling up innovation and digitization in the sector.During the three day Executive Council meeting, Sh. K. J. Alphons chaired the ‘Programme and Budget Committee’ meeting of UNWTO. In the opening remarks, the Minister highlighted the role of tourism in socio-economic development through job creation, enterprise and environment development and foreign exchange earnings.

6. Main Event Of 4th International Yoga Day Celebrations To Be Held At Dehradun.

Take out your Yoga mats, exercise clothes etc as less than a month for International Yoga Day (IDY) is remaining, preparations have started as this year’s celebrations of Main Event is to be organized in Dehradun on June 21.

The main event of 4th International Yoga Day celebrations (IDY-2018) will be held on 21st June 2018 at Dehradun in Uttrakhand.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH announced today that Dehradun (Uttarakhand) has been selected as the venue for Mass Yoga Demonstration (Main Event) of 4th International Day of Yoga on 21st June 2018.

Kotecha is in Dehradun to initiate the preparations regarding this mega event. In this regard, Shri Kotecha along with concerned Joint Secretary has met Chief Secretary, Government of Uttarakhand to discuss various arrangements for organizing Mass Yoga Demonstration of 4th International Day of Yoga at Dehradun.

Last year the host for IDY was Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh where nearly 51,000 people demonstrated Yoga protocol along with dignitaries.

7. NIC Launches India`s 4th Data Centre In Bhubaneswar.

The National Informatics Centre (NIC) launched its fourth National Data Centre of the country in Bhubaneswar after Delhi, Hyderabad and Pune on Monday. Union IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated the cloud-enabled IT infrastructure having a capacity to host over 35,000 virtual servers, set up with an investment of Rs 200 crore.

“The data centre in Bhubaneswar is of global standards and will enhance the global profile as well as digital clout of a state or location. In IT ecosystem the role of a data centre is very crucial,” Prasad said after inaugurating the NDC, which will host new and existing applications and websites of the central and state government.

The data centre will function 24X7 with secure hosting for e-governance applications of ministries, departments and also some central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).

“With a number of government apps and web-enabled services including mygov, eWay bill, public finance management system, e Hospitals all being hosted by NIC, the demand for computing and storage has increased many folds. The NDC cloud service offerings of Bhubaneswar will allow departments not only to bring the solution to deployment quickly but also to scale up based on the demand of peak or low loads,” said Neeta Verma, director general of NIC. 

The unified and shared infrastructure is flexible enough to rapidly respond to infrastructure requirements and also accommodate future technology enhancements, distributed and database applications. In the traditional model departments has to budget and procure infrastructure at the commencement of the project, this result in either over provisioning of infrastructure or under-sizing of the requirements which leads to scalability challenges, NIC sources said. 

8. Sudha Balakrishnan Appointed 1st CFO Of RBI.

The Reserve Bank of India has appointed Sudha Balakrishnan as the first chief financial officer, the Economic Times reported today. Balakrishnan is a former executive of India`s first and largest depository - National Securities Depository Limited. She joined the Central bank on May 15 and will have a three year term.

According to the report, Balakrishnan will be in charge of the Reserve Bank`s balance sheet to ensure accounting policies and procedures comply with regulations.

The new CFO will be in charge of the government and bank account department, which processes government transactions like payments and revenue collections. Balakrishnan will also oversee the apex bank`s investments in India and abroad, the ET reported.

Last year in October, the top bank had advertised for a direct recruitment of `chief financial officer` in the rank of executive director in the RBI. Among the responsibilities that the RBI had listed were: formulating the accounting policy of the bank, maintaining the internal accounts and reporting of financial results through various statements of accounts, balance sheet and profit and loss account.

According to the  ET report, it was former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan who had first floated the idea of having a dedicated officer for handling internal financial functions of the RBI. 

Rajan had proposed creating a post of chief operating officer (COO) at the rank of a deputy governor but that proposal was not accepted by the government, the report said.

The RBI has also sought applications from eligible candidates for the post of Deputy Governor which remains vacant after SS Mundra retired last year in July.

9. Cochin International Airport, World’s 1st Fully Solar Energy-Powered Airport: UNEP.

The solar energy project of the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) is likely to receive the official recognition of the United Nations. The proposal for giving official recognition of the project is under the consideration of UN, Erik Solheim, head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters after visiting solar plant of CIAL he the UN will be glad to recognize the Kochi airport as the first fully solar-powered airport in the world. "The model of CIAL can be followed by not only other airports but even countries", he added. He also pointed out that agreement signed by between Beijing Airport in China, one of the largest in the world and UNEP for sustainable development. The two are cooperating in areas such as waste disposal and energy generation. "The UNEP is thinking of Beijing model cooperation with CIAL", he added.

The UNEP chief has also mentioned the uniqueness of the CIAL practice of growing organic vegetables in the spaces between the solar panels. This is a novel idea, he pointed out. The UNEP will think of spreading this across the world, he added.      The UNEP chief expressed concern over the accumulation of plastic wastes across the world including the ocean beds. We can see plastic even in the depth of Pacific Ocean.

Even the animals are in danger because of plastic usage", he said and mentioned about the death of wild elephants in Kerala due to plastic. Sea turtles and sea birds are also facing the threat from plastic, he added.   Expressing grief over the police firing at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu he said he said such incidents should not happen anywhere. "This should not repeat and there should not be any violence. Police should not use gun against the public," he added.

 10. Power Minister Launches Web Portal And App Called `PRAAPTI`.

Power Ministry on May 29, 2018, will launch a new app, named Praapti, which aims at bringing transparency in power sector of India. The app will bring transparency in invoicing of generators. It will also contain all details related to the payment. The app will enable the citizens to monitor the payments that are being made to power generation companies.

The app will also allow its users to know the details related to the payments made by the discoms to the power generation company and when it was made. They will also be able to see the details related to delays, if any, and check the number of reminders that was sent by the generation company and its impact on generation companies.

PRAAPTI will also enable the consumers to know the performance of their discoms in terms of payments that are being made to the generation companies. Later, the performance of the discoms will be ratified on the basis of payments that were made.

The app will allow people to know the tariffs at which the power was procured by the discom.

11. Ministry Of Women And Child Development Signs MoU With UP.

The Ministry of Women and Child and Development, Government of India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh, in New Delhi today for management of Home of Widows at Sunrakh Bangar, Vrindavan.  The Ministry of Women and Child Development has constructed this shelter home for widows with a capacity of 1000 inmates. 

The MoU shall be in force for a period of 2 years which may be renewed for further period on satisfactory running of the Home.  The Home shall be run by the Government of Uttar Pradesh themselves or by any state government institution or by any civil society or by any reputed non-government organization to be decided by the State Government.

According to the MoU, the Government of Uttar Pradesh shall be responsible for activities including setting up mechanism for identifying beneficiaries, providing residential care to the widows, deploying staff as per norms with prescribed qualification and experience.  The MoU further states that senior officials of Government of Uttar Pradesh shall visit and check the security staff periodically and monitor their performance.  The MoU also includes provisions for facilitating Aadhar Cards for all inmates and medical/geriatric care for inmates.

12. Statehood Day Of Goa: 30 May.

PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is undergoing treatment in the US, today greeted Goans on the statehood day and hailed the developmental projects undertaken by the Centre in the coastal state.

The Goa Statehood Day is celebrated every year on May 30.

"I wish all Goans on the occasion of the 31st Goa Statehood Day. The state has witnessed development during the last 31 years," Parrikar said in a video message in Konkani which was released by his office this morning.

"During the last four years, several developmental works have been initiated in Goa by the Narendra Modi-led government (at the Centre)," he said referring to the infrastructural projects going on in the state.

The works to build the third Mandovi bridge (near Panaji) and the Galjibag-Tolpon bridge (near Canacona in South Goa) are inching closer to completion while the construction of Zuari bridge is going on in full-swing, he mentioned.

He said the state has witnessed development in the social sector due to various schemes. The state government is committed towards creating employment in the information technology and industrial sectors, the chief minister said.

"We intend to continue the pace of development witnessed by the state in the last 31 years, for which we would require the cooperation of people, which is very important," he added.

13. Gujarat Government Launches `Reuse Of Treated Waste Water Policy`.

The Gujarat government today unveiled its `Reuse of Treated Waste Water Policy` which aims to reduce the state`s dependence on fresh water sources like the Narmada river.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel launched the policy at a function held in Gandhinagar today.

The policy will promote the use of treated waste water and will see the setting up of sewage treatment plants (STP) in all major towns and cities of Gujarat.

An official release said that under this policy, the state government planned to construct 161 sewage treatment plants to treat waste water and use it for non-drinking purposes.

The treated water would be used in industrial units, thermal power plants, gardening and in the construction sector, it added.

At present, around 2,600 million litres per day (MLD) of waste water was being treated by 52 STPs in the state.

The policy aims to double the existing water treatment capacity to around 5,000 MLD in the next two years, the release informed.

Rupani, speaking at the function, stressed on the use of treated waste water in order to conserve other ground and fresh water sources.

Under this policy, the state government will make it mandatory for thermal power plants located within a radius of 50 kilometres of an STP to use treated water.

This would also apply to industries or industrial parks which are consuming over 1 lakh litres of water per day, the release said.

The policy document said that once these industries got a connection for treated water, the state government would disconnect the fresh water connection given to them.

14. ‘Gaj Yatra’ Flagged Off In Meghalaya.

The initiative aims to secure 100 routes across the country for safe passage

In acknowledgement of that gesture, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) on Monday rolled out the ‘Gaj Yatra’ from Tura, the principal town of Garo Hills.

People’s initiative

’Gaj Yatra’, a “journey celebrating India’s national heritage animal”, aims at securing 100 elephant corridors across India. Four of these are in Meghalaya, including the Siju-Rewak corridor that some 1,000 elephants use to travel between the Balpakram and Nokrek National Parks in the State.

“The campaign has aptly been launched in the Garo Hills, where the people have created community forests for human-elephant harmony and conservation of animals such as hoolock gibbon,” Vivek Menon, executive director of WTI, said after the four-day campaign was flagged off.

The event involves taking an elephant mascot across districts frequented by jumbo herds for generating awareness among the people.

Meghalaya Home Minister James K. Sangma said the ‘Gaj Yatra’ could go a long way in providing space for elephants to move. “There have been 14,700 cases of man-animal conflicts that may have occurred due to space constraint and less food available,” he said.

He underlined the role of Nokmas, traditional custodians of the land, in supporting the move towards co-existence between man and animal and helping conservationists for the success of the initiative. Expansion of human settlements have resulted in fragmented elephant habitats in the Garo Hills, leading to conflicts.

15. New User Interface Of Next Generation E-Ticketing System Launched.

Railway`s Online Travel Portal - www.irctc.co.in has now launched beta version of its new User Interface in line with Union Minister of Railways Shri Piyush Goyal`s vision to ensure better user experience by recommending best Information Technology industry practices.

The new link has more user friendly features for easier navigation.

The `Digital India` initiative has paved way for government organizations to harness power of technology and in making lives easier for citizens of India. By creating Next Generation e-Ticketing (NGeT) system the new online ticket booking system of Railways provides easy and fast way of booking rail tickets by automating the journey planning and purchase of tickets.

E-ticketing today constitutes about two third of total reserved tickets on Indian Railways.

Salient features of the New User Interface:

With the launch of new interface of e-Ticketing Website, user can now enquire / search trains and check availability of seats without login also, thereby saving precious time of the users. User can now change font size throughout the website for comfortable viewing experience.

The new look and feel will have enhanced class-wise, train-wise, destination-wise, departure/arrival time wise and quota-wise filters for facilitating customer while planning their journeys. Single screen information about the train including the train no, train name, originating and destination station and distances between them, arrival and departure time and journey time has now been arranged.

In addition, more features such as new filters on `My Transactions` where user can also view their booked tickets based on Journey Date, Booking Date, Upcoming Journey and completed journey.

16. 3rd Meeting Of India-UK Home Affairs’ Dialogue Held In New Delhi.

The Third Home Affairs’ Dialogue between India and U.K. was held here today. The Government of India Delegation was led by Shri Rajiv Gauba, Union Home Secretary and the Delegation from Home Office of the U.K. was led by its Second Permanent Secretary, Ms. Patsy Wilkinson.

The Dialogue covered a wide range of issues including cyber security, women safety, organized crime, terror financing etc.  and a need to put in place a mechanism  for timely exchange of information and intelligence inputs on such issues. Detailed exchange of views took place between the two sides on Indian fugitives/economic offenders  residing in the U.K. The Indian delegation impressed upon the UK authorities the need to expedite the process of extradition.

An important topic taken up for discussion related to streamlining the process of various categories of visas for Indian Students and highly skilled professionals and other categories. It was agreed that there will be further interactions on the issues.

The Indian side communicated our concerns on the recent activities of certain extremists and radical elements in UK. The UK delegation were urged to maintain vigil over the activities of such elements and take appropriate action including timely sharing of intelligence.

It was agreed to maintain the momentum for enhanced security cooperation between the two countries.

17. Joint Military Exercise SURYA KIRAN-13 Begins In Uttarakhand.

A joint military exercise between India and Nepal began at Pithoragarh on Wednesday with  soldiers from both the countries sharing their experiences of counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations. The military exercise, which is set to conclude of June 12, is called ‘Surya Kiran’ and is conducted alternatively in India and Nepal every six months.

Notably, Surya Kiran with Nepal is India’s largest military exercise in terms of troop participation, a release from central command headquarters (Lucknow) said. Over 300 soldiers from both the countries are taking part in the exercise, the release added.

According to the official release, the aim of this exercise is to conduct battalion level joint training with emphasis on counter terrorism operations in mountainous terrain. The joint military exercise will enhance the level of defence cooperation between the two neighbours which will further strengthen bilateral relations, it said.

18. India Releases Rs33.10 Cr To Nepal For 2 Road Projects.
India has released 33 point 10 Crore rupees to Nepal towards cost of two road packages of Birgunj-Thori Road being implemented under Postal Highway Projects in Nepal with Government of India’s grant assistance.

Deputy Chief of Mission in the Indian Embassy, Dr. Ajay Kumar handed over a Cheque of the grant to Secretary, Ministry for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Nepal, Madhusudan Adhikari in Kathmandu on Tuesday. The amount has been released towards 25% of tendered cost (including 10% mobilization advance) of the Postal Highway Projects.

The Government of India has so far released a total of 117.63 Crore rupees to the Government of Nepal for implementing 14 packages of the Postal Highway Projects. The construction of Dhangadhi-Bhajaniya-Satti road and Lamki-Tikapur-Khakraula road has been completed. 

Since 1950, the Government of India has been supporting infrastructure development of Nepal and has provided financial assistance for construction of various Highways, Roads, Bridges, Airports, etc. as part of its multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme.