Scientists have developed the fastest man-made rotor in the world

Scientists have developed the fastest man-made rotor in the world, which will help them study quantum mechanics. At more than 60 billion revolutions per minute, this machine is more than 100,000 times faster than a high-speed dental drill. Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics which describes nature at the smallest scales of energy levels of atoms and subatomic particles.

World’s first mission to study the Sun

NASA will launch mankind’s first mission to the Sun – a car-sized probe that will swoop to within 4 million miles of the solar surface. The ‘Parker Solar Probe’ will study the Sun closer than any human-made object ever has. The Parker Solar Probe carries a lineup of instruments to study the Sun. Parker Solar Probe will explore the corona, a region of the Sun only seen from Earth.

Google is working on project “Fuchsia”

Google has been working on software that will replace Android. The project, known as Fuchsia, was created to overcome the limitations of Android as more personal devices and other gadgets come online. It’s being designed to better accommodate voice interactions and frequent security updates and to look the same across a range of devices, from laptops to tiny internet-connected sensors.

J&K’s 1st all women branch at J&K Bank

J&K’s 1st all women branch at J&K Bank
First Lady Usha Vohra inaugurated the 1st All-Women Branch of Jammu & Kashmir Bank at the Sher-i-Kashmir centre. The bank also launched products designed exclusively for women clients which included Pink Gold Saving Scheme, Pink Platinum Saving Scheme, Special Loan Facility for Women Entrepreneurs. J&K Bank started on​ Oct 1 1983, was the 1st bank in India to emerge as a state-owned bank.

Mascots for Olympics & Paralympics unveiled

Mascots for Olympics & Paralympics unveiled
Japan has unveiled the names of its mascots for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The mascot for Olympics is “MIraitowa” which means ‘eternal future’. The mascot for Paralympics is “Someity” which means ‘so mighty’. The Tokyo Olympics are set to begin on July 24, 2020, and run through until August 9. The Paralympics will take place between August 25 and September 6 2020.

Sen clinches Asia Junior C’ship title

Sen clinches Asia Junior C’ship title
Indian badminton player Lakshaya Sen bagged the gold medal after defeating world no. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsaran in the final match of the Badminton Asia Junior Championship held in Jakarata. The Indian shuttler created history by beating the top-seed 21-19 and 21-18, thus clinching the championship. He was previously the runners-up in Tata Open India International, 2017.

Wipro to buy Alight’s India for $117 million

Wipro to buy Alight’s India for $117 million
India’s third-biggest software services exporter, Wipro Ltd, has decided to buy US-based Alight Solutions’ India operations for $117 million in cash. Alight Solutions provides benefits administration and cloud-based HR and financial solutions to 1,400 clients serving 19 million employees and their 18 million family members. The current CEO of Wipro is Abidali Neemuchwala.

Meghalayan Age: Latest Era in Earth’s History

Meghalayan Age: Latest Era in Earth’s History
The last 4,200 yrs have been classified by geologists as a new distinct age in Earth’s history, called the “Meghalayan Age,” named after the northeastern Indian state. The International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) has made it a part of Holocene Era. The Meghalayan goes back 4,200 yrs when a drought severely impacted civilizations in Egypt, Greece, the Indus Valley, Yangtze River Valley.

BIMSTEC summit to be held in Nepal

BIMSTEC summit to be held in Nepal
The 4th BIMSTEC Summit will be held in Kathmandu from 30-31 August 2018, the Nepal government said. Sub-regional connectivity and poverty alleviation will be top of the agenda during the two-day BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multilateral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit. The group formed in 1997 consists of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand.

Myanmar joins International Solar Alliance

Myanmar joins International Solar Alliance
Myanmar joined the India-initiated International Solar Alliance (ISA), becoming the 68th member of the group that is aiming at the optimum utilisation of solar energy. ISA was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then French President Francois Hollande at the Paris climate summit in 2015. ISA is open to all 121 member countries falling between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

MIB panel to be replaced soon

MIB panel to be replaced soon
A committee set up by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to devise ways to regulate online media and other content has been disbanded. The 10-member committee was set up in April. Its mandate will now be handed over to a panel overseen by the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY). The committee has the secretary of MeitY, Ajay Prakash, as convener.

Alisson is world’s most expensive goalie

Alisson is world’s most expensive goalie
Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper when he joined Liverpool from Roma. Roma said the deal for Brazil’s starting goalkeeper at the World Cup in Russia “could be worth up to 72.5 million euros” ($84.5 million). He has been at Roma for two years, playing 37 Serie A games in 2017-18. Alisson became Brazil’s starting goalkeeper in 2016.

Odisha to host mega triennial in Dec-Jan

Odisha to host mega triennial in Dec-Jan
Odisha will host to what is billed as India’s first private sector triennial in December-January that will see the convergence of artists from the national and international scene. Named the Odisha Triennial of International Art , the events under it will take place in Bhubaneshwar, Puri and Konark. OTIA is the brainchild of Artists Network for Promoting Indian Culture

International Army Games 2018, Moscow
Indian Army team has reached Moscow to participate in the International Army games scheduled from July 28 to August 11. India is participating in 2 competitions including the Tank Biathlon and Elbrus Ring – which is mountain warfare combat patrol competition near Elbrus Mountain. The Army games 2018 will be held in 7 countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Iran, Kazakhstan & Russia.

2018 BRICS Media Forum in South Africa

2018 BRICS Media Forum in South Africa
A decision to establish a BRICS Media Academy and a BRICS news portal was taken at the 2018 BRICS Media Forum at Cape Town in South Africa. The Forum, a high-level dialogue among media organizations from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, was held over 2 days under the theme — ‘Fostering an Inclusive, Just World Order’. The forum unanimously agreed to adopt the above declaration.

Amazon hits $900 billion valuation

Amazon hits $900 billion valuation
Amazon.com’s stock market value reached $900 billion for the first time in its 20 year history. It has now become only the second company after Apple to achieve this milestone. The Current market cap of Amazon.com stands at $902 billion as of 18th July 2018. Apple is currently the world’s most valuable company with a market cap of $935 billion.

IOC adds 7 medal events to 2022 Winter Games

IOC adds 7 medal events to 2022 Winter Games
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has added seven medal events to the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. The next Winter Olympics will now include: women’s monobob, Big Air freestyle skiing for men and women, plus mixed team events in short track speed skating, ski jumping, ski aerials and snowboardcross. Women’s ice hockey will grow by two teams to become a 10-nation lineup.

Nelson Mandela International Day 2018

Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual international day in honor of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s 1st black president which is celebrated each year on 18 July. The day was 1st celebrated as UN Mandela Day on 18 July 2010 and 2018 marks the 100th birth anniversary. Mandela is remembered for his anti-apartheid activities and fight against poverty and promoting justice for all.

Chopra wins Gold at Sotteville Athletics Meet

Neeraj Chopra, India’s javelin star, struck Gold in the Meeting International de Sotteville-les-Rouen in France. Chopra’s throw of 85.17m was enough to clinch the top spot on the podium. The winning distance from Chopra was, however, less than the 86.47m he achieved for gold at Gold Coast CWG. Neeraj is a part of India’s squad for the Asian Games 2018.

Steel Ministry announces pension scheme

The steel ministry has agreed to introduce a pension scheme for its CPSEs (Central Public Sector Enterprises) like SAIL and RINL. The pension scheme is estimated to cost an additional financial burden of Rs 540 crore. The pension scheme will be subject to factors like affordability, capacity to pay and sustainability by the CPSEs. The current Steel Minister is Chaudhary Birender Singh.

Chopra wins Gold at Sotteville Athletics Meet

Neeraj Chopra, India’s javelin star, struck Gold in the Meeting International de Sotteville-les-Rouen in France. Chopra’s throw of 85.17m was enough to clinch the top spot on the podium. The winning distance from Chopra was, however, less than the 86.47m he achieved for gold at Gold Coast CWG. Neeraj is a part of India’s squad for the Asian Games 2018.

India to remain fastest growing economy

The International Monetary Fund has projected a growth rate of 7.3% in 2018 & 7.5% in 2019 for India as against 6.7% in 2017. The latest growth rate projection for India is slightly less 0.1% in 2018 and 0.3% in 2019 than its April projections. According to IMF, India will remain the fastest growing major economy in 2019.

Conference of Heads of AYUSH Institutes

All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) under Ministry of AYUSH is organizing two days Conference of Heads of AYUSH National Institutes at India International Centre, New Delhi. Minister of Human Resource Development Shri Prakash Javadekar will inaugurate the conference. Health Universities and research institutes sign MoUs with Sports Authority of India, Indian Institute of Technology.

South Africa launches powerful new telescope

South Africa has unveiled the 64-dish MeerKAT radio telescope, slated to be the world’s largest and most powerful telescope on its completion in 2030. Built for $330 million, MeerKAT will be integrated into an array of 3,000 dishes. The telescope is being built by an international consortium, including Australia, Britain, Canada, China, India, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden and the Netherlands.

World’s cheapest clean drinking water

With the launch of the cost-effective innovative water project, Bihar will soon provide the cheapest drinking water in the world. The first of such project was launched in Bihar’s Darbhanga district, by Sulabh International. With the help of this project, people will be able to get clean water in 50paisa/litre. The project converts contaminated pond & river water into safe drinking water.

INS Tarangini to take part in Tall Ship Races

INS Tarangini arrived at her 7th port, Sunderland in the UK, during her Lokayan-18 voyage and to take part in the prestigious ‘Tall Ship Races 2018’. The vessel commenced Lokayan-18 on 10 Apr from Kochi & is set to cover a distance of 20,000 nautical miles. ‘Sail Training International’ organises tall ship races to promote international friendship between sailors and the visitors.

PM Modi begins his two-day visit to UP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his two-day visit to eastern Uttar Pradesh. He will lay the foundation stone of a 304km long Poorvanchal Expressway in Azamgarh that will connect Lucknow, to Barabanki, Amethi, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Mau and Ghazipur districts. He will also lay the foundation stone of International Convention Centre in Varanasi and Namami Ganga Programme.

First-ever global compact for migration

For the first time ever, United Nations member states, except the U.S., have agreed on a deal to better manage international migration, address its challenges, strengthen migrant rights and contribute to sustainable development. Known as the Global Compact for Migration, the agreement will be formally adopted by world leaders in Morocco in December.

MoU on exchange of experience by legal experts

India and UK have signed an agreement on exchange of experience by legal professionals and government functionaries for resolution of disputes before various courts and tribunals. The MoU aims to enhance the bilateral cooperation in legal affairs between the two countries. The two countries would also exchange information regarding current issues of international significance.

India’s GM crop area fifth largest in world

According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, India has the world’s 5th largest cultivated area under genetically modified (GM) crops, at 11.4 million hectares (mh). The ranking is topped by the USA (75mh) followed by Brazil (50mh). The GM crop area in India is under a single crop — cotton. The GM traits make crops resistant to pest and weather.

India Climbs To 57th Position in GII rankings

India was ranked 57th in the latest Global Innovation Index (GII) rankings. Switzerland maintained its number one position in the Global Innovation Index rankings. Other countries that fell in the top 10 list were Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America, Finland, Denmark and Germany. GII rankings are published by the World International Property Organisation (WIPO).

Dhoni played 500 international matches

The Indian team’s senior-most player Mahendra Singh Dhoni reached the coveted milestone of playing 500 international matches during the second T20 International against England. In doing so, Dhoni became the third Indian after Sachin Tendulkar (664) and Rahul Dravid (509) to breach the 500 match barrier in international cricket. He has played 90 Test matches and 318 One Day Internationals.

Round Table Conference on Data for New India’

The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation will organise a 2 day International Round Table Conference at New Delhi. The objective of the conference is to identify innovative ideas for improving the statistical system in India, taking cue from the best practices followed in advanced countries. Such a Conference is being organized in India for the first time.

Government launches ‘technology challenge’

To eliminate human entry into septic tanks for cleaning, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched a ‘technology challenge’ seeking suitable solutions. The challenge is a part of the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention to be held on 2 October. The proposals will be adopted on the basis of operational effectiveness, life of machinery, & ease of use among others.

India to operate ‘World’s Emptiest Airport’

Indian Civil Aviation Ministry has communicated Sri Lankan Parliament about operating it’s lost making Mattala Rajapaksa International airport in Hambantota. The airport is named after former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, which is dubbed as ‘world’s emptiest airport’ due to lack of flights. The final terms of the agreement are yet to be decided as Sri Lanka.

Centre approved WIPO treaties

The Union Cabinet approved the WIPO Copyright Treaty and WIPO Performers and Phonograms Treaty, 1996. It extends coverage of copyright to the internet and digital environment. The approval is a step towards the objective laid in the National Intellectual Property Rights Policy. It will enable creative right-holders enjoy the fruit of their labour, through international copyright system.

UNESCO to set up Design University for Gaming

UNESCO has come into an agreement with the Andhra Pradesh government to set up a ‘Design University for Gaming’ in Visakhapatnam. A UNESCO delegation met with CM Chandrababu Naidu and asked for 100 acres of land to develop the city as an ‘International Gaming and Digital Learning Hub’. They will develop edutech gaming in the state, with the target of providing 50,000 jobs in 10 years.

Asia’s first patent arbitration centre

1 : Asia’s 1st arbitration centre specialised in intellectual property will open in Tokyo to resolve growing number of disputes in the region. International Arbitration Centre in Tokyo is set to have around a dozen arbitrators from around the world, who would try to resolve disputes within a period of 1 year. IACT is due to handle disputes between non-Japanese companies, if both parties agree.

Vitorino to be the head of UN migration agency

Portugal’s Antonio Manuel de Carvalho Ferreira Vitorino has been elected as the new head of the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM). Vitorino succeeds William Lacy Swing, who is leaving the IOM after serving two five-year terms as director general. Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration.

India clinch Kabaddi Masters title

Putting up yet another superlative show, India thrashed Iran 44-26 to emerge champions of the six-nation Kabaddi Masters Dubai. India is the reigning world champions and has won gold medals in all the Asian Games to date, and all World Cup events so far. The six-nation invitational tournament was organised by International Kabaddi Federation.

Mount Agung volcano erupts in Bali

Bali closed its international airport Friday after Mount Agung volcano began spewing volcanic ash and vapor higher than two kilometers (6,500 feet) into the air. Over 300 flights have been canceled, according to airport authorities, impacting the travel plans of thousands of people. Indonesia is the world’s most active volcanic region and lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” .

NASA’s ECOSTRESS to correct water imbalances

ECOSTRESS, an instrument on the International Space Station (ISS) will measure the temperature of plants from space to determine plant water use & to study how drought conditions affect plant health. ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) will monitor evapotranspiration. It is a part of NASA’s Earth System Science Pathfinder program.

Deepika won gold at Salt Lake World Cup

Archer Deepika Kumari won her first individual gold medal in six years at the Salt Lake World Cup following a 7-3 win over Germany’s Michelle Kroppen in the recurve final. The last time she won at a stage event on the international circuit goes back to Antalya in 2012. She had won a gold medal in the 2010 Commonwealth games in the women’s individual recurve event.

IIFA Awards 2018

Indian International Film Awards (IIFA), held in Bangkok, late star Sridevi won Best Actress (posthumously) for MOM. Irrfan Khan was given the Best Actor Award for Hindi Medium. Vidya Balan’s Tumhari Sulu was awarded the Best Film trophy. Saket Chaudhary was awarded the Best Director for Hindi Medium. Anupam Kher was awarded Outstanding Achievement by an Actor in Indian Cinema.

Kannur Int’l Airport to begin operations

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu has announced the opening of the Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL) in September in 2018. Kannur aerodome will become the fourth international airport in Kerala. With this, Kerala will be the state with the most number of international airports (4) in the country.

Sunil Mittal becomes honorary chairman of ICC

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder & Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, will step down as the Chairman of International Chamber of Commerce. He will now function as the Honorary Chairman of ICC commencing July 1, 2018. He will be succeeded by Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, as ICC Chairman. Mittal was only the 3rd Indian to have been appointed the chairman of the ICC since it was constituted in 1919.

International Widows’ Day

June 23, the world is commemorating International Widows’ Day as stipulated by the United Nations. According to UN Women’s 2018 Turning Promises into Action: Gender Equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to assist nearly 10% of the 258 million widows globally live in extreme poverty. It was formally adopted on December 21, 2010 by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon.

FICCI awarded at X international IT forum

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) was awareded at X International IT Forum at Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. FICCI was awarded for its support and active participation at the forum, consecutively for two years. The forum brought together industry leaders from BRICS and SCO nations to interact in the fields of information technology and digital transformation.

England women make highest T20 total

England made the highest total of 250-3 in women’s Twenty20 internationals as they beat South Africa by 121 runs. They overtook the previous record set by New Zealand of 216-1 against South Africa a day before. Tammy Beaumont hit 116 off 52 balls and made the second fastest century off 47 balls.

WHO releases new ICD 11

The World Health Organization in Geneva released the latest edition (11th) of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). The ICD is the standard disease coding for statistics and information regarding diseases around the world. These codes are common for healthcare professionals worldwide and provides a common sharing platform for reporting diseases and condition.

World’s 1st Humanitarian Forensics Centre

The world’s 1st International Humanitarian Forensics Centre was launched at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It is a joint venture of International Committee of the Red Cross in India, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives. The Centre will conduct various academic and professional programmes, training, research and provide technical expertise to support operations in the field of humanitarian forensics.

England set a new ODI world record with 481/6

England made the highest one-day international total of 481-6 as they defeated Australia by 242 runs at Trent Bridge. The England broke their own record of 444-3 set against Pakistan in 2016 at same venue. With this the England captain, Eoin Morgan became the highest ODI run scorer for his country. This is England’s biggest ODI win and Australia’s heaviest defeat in terms of runs.

Telangana Police launched “Cop Connect”

The Telangana police have launched a mobile-based app ‘Cop Connect’, dedicated to provide real time information to over 60,000 police officers in the State. The internal messaging app, developed on the lines of WhatsApp but has no limitation like restricted number of users in a group. The app is secure as a separate server for this purpose in the data centre of the IT wing of the department.

4th International Yoga Day

21 : The 4th International Yoga day is being celebrated across the world. In India PM Narendra Modi started the event at Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. The theme for Yoga Day 2018 is “Yoga for Peace”. June 21 is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, hence day was selected by UN Assembly. The first International Day of Yoga was observed all over the world on June 21,2015.

Nerella Venumadhav passes away

Father of Indian mimicry, Nerella Venu Madhav died after a brief illness at his home in Mattewada in Warangal city in Telangana. Venumadhav served as an MLC in 1971 in the undivided Andhra Pradesh. He rose to international fame after his enthralling performance at the United Nations. He has been conferred scores of awards, including the Padma Shri in 2001.

World Refugee Day

World Refugee Day, international observance observed June 20 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world. On 4 December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 55/76 decided that, from 2001, 20 June would be celebrated as World Refugee Day. UNHCR host World Refugee Day events in order to draw the public’s attention.

India to open 4 new air gateways to Nepal

India has agreed to open 4 new air gateways to Nepal in the eastern and western part of the country, aimed to facilitate international traffic. The eastern part would connect Patna and Kolkata of India with Kathmandu and Dhaka while the western part would connect Kathmandu with Delhi. The routes will be operational till 2019.

Yoga Camp at Muktinath Temple

The 4th international Yoga day in Nepal was celebrated by locals by participating at Yoga camp at Muktinath Temple at a height of 12500 feet above sea level. The yoga camp was organised by Indian embassy in Kathmandu. The International yoga day is celebrated on 21st June each year since 2015 and was declared unanimously by United Nations General Assembly.

Peggy Whitson retires as astronaut

NASA’s record-breaking astronaut, Peggy Whitson, retired after returning from her last and longest spaceflight. Whitson was the first woman to command the International Space Station, holding the position twice, and the oldest woman ever to fly in space. She was also the only woman to have served as chief of NASA’s male-dominated astronaut corps.

IGI airport expansion plan gets clearance

The Union Environment Ministry has approved the proposal for the expansion of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. The expansion will increase the overall capacity of the airport to 85 million per annum as against the current 70 million per annum. Further, phase two of the expansion will include the construction of a new terminal.

Simran-Ritika win Mauritius Open

India’s young women’s doubles pair of Simran Singhi and Ritika Thaker won the Mauritius International title. This was just the second international tournament that Singhi and Thaker had participated in this year. Singhi and Thaker had won the All India Junior Ranking Tournament in Tirupur, which secured them a spot in India’s squad for the Badminton Asia Junior Championships.

EU pledges 20 mn euros to ease Jordan

European Union announced 20 million euros (USD 23.5 million) in aid for Jordan following a wave of anti-austerity protests that led to the prime minister’s resignation. Cash-strapped Jordan is struggling to rein in its debt after securing a USD 723-million loan from the International Monetary Fund in 2016. The World Bank says Jordan has “weak growth prospects” in 2018.

NSE IFSC issues ‘omnibus’ trade framework

NSE IFSC, a subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange, has put in place a framework for ‘omnibus’ trade. It will help overseas investors escape direct registration process and go through authorised brokers. The move will also help in smooth transition of liquidity from Singapore Exchange (SGX) to Indian offshore exchange at Gujarat International Finance Tech (GIFT) City.

PM Modi heads to China for SCO Summit

9 : PM Narendra Modi departed for China’s Qingdao to attend the two-day long 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit. Modi will also hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO summit. The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation that focuses on strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states.

Facial recognition system: Varanasi airport

Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport will become India’s first airport to have an automated smart facial recognition system at its entry, security and boarding points. The initiative, which is part of the DigiYatra scheme, will ensure quicker entry into airports by facilitating automated check-ins. It will be functional within the next 4 months as per Airport Director AK Rai.

RBI hikes repo rate to 6.25%

The six-member monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increased the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.25%. This is the first rate hike in four-and-a-half years; the last was in January 2014. The MPC arrived at the unanimous decision as the outlook for inflation had become ‘uncertain’ following a surge in international crude oil prices.

Asia’s first 13 ‘Blue Flag’ beaches

Environment-friendly, clean & equipped with amenities of international standards for tourists, 13 Indian beaches will soon get the Blue Flag certification. Beaches of Odisha, Maharashtra & other coastal states will be the 1st in not just India, but in Asia, to get the Blue Flag certification. The Indian beaches are being developed by the Society for Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM).

PM Modi launched 3 Indian digital payment apps

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the International Rupay Card, Bhim app and UPI enabled remittance App by State Bank of India in Singapore. The RuPay digital payments system was linked up with Singapore’s 33-year-old Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS). Singapore branch of the SBI is the first to launch this new mode of remittance in collaboration with NPCI.

FIFA lifts suspension on Guatemala

FIFA lifted a suspension imposed on Guatemala over its failure to comply with anti-corruption rules. The suspension prevented Guatemalan teams from participating in international competitions such as the Gold Cup, the Central American Games and the CONCACAF Champions League. FIFA imposed ban on Guatemala in October 2016.

RIMPAC from June 27, 2018

As many as 26 countries, including India, would participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercise from June 27 to August 2, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. RIMPAC is known as the world’s largest international maritime exercise. Four countries — Brazil, Israel, Sri Lanka and Vietnam — are participating in RIMPAC for the first time in 2018.

Dehradun to host main event on yoga day

Dehradun will be the venue for this year’s national programme on the International Yoga Day on June 21 2018. The main International Yoga Day event was held at Lucknow in 2017. International Day of Yoga is celebrated annually on 21 June since 2015.An international day for yoga was declared by the United Nations General Assembly.

Ceat Cricket Rating awards for 2017-18

India skipper Virat Kohli won the International Cricketer of the Year Award at the CEAT Cricket Ratings awards. Opener Shikhar Dhawan was presented the International Batsman of the Year Award, while New Zealand’s Trent Boult won International Bowler of the Year Award. Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan, was presented with the T20 Bowler of the Year Award.

‘AI arm, IndiGo among lowest cost worldwide’

Air India’s low-cost international arm Air India Express and budget carrier IndiGo are among the top five lowest cost airlines in the world, according to Melbourne-based travel planning site Rome2rio. India ranks fourth among 46 countries with lowest average air fares. The study ranks 200 airlines in the world on the basis of average price per kilometre.

Queen Maxima of Netherlands arrives India

Queen Maxima of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who is also the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development arrived in New Delhi on a four-day visit to India. Netherlands is the 5th largest investor in India. During Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s visit to India, the former became an official partner of the International Solar Alliance.

Netherlands signed framework agreement of ISA

Netherlands has signed the framework agreement of International Solar Alliance (ISA) following a bilateral summit between PM Modi & his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte. ISA was launched by Modi and then French President Francois Hollande at the Paris climate summit in 2015. The objective of the alliance is to work for efficient exploitation of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

US disinvites China from major naval exercise

US has withdrawn an invitation from China to participate in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) drills over China’s expanded military footprint in disputed areas of South China Sea. RIMPAC is world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise. China began participating in the exercise in 2014, as part of an effort during the Obama administration to stabilize military relations with China.

India ranks 44th in terms of competitiveness

24 : India has moved one notch higher, to the 44th place in terms of competitiveness, in the annual rankings compiled by International Institute for Management Development. US is the most competitive economy globally followed by Hong Kong and Singapore in the second and third place. India is ranked the 12th most competitive economy out of the 14 Asian countries on the list.

De Villiers retires from international cricket

Former South Africa Test captain AB de Villiers has announced his retirement from international cricket. De Villiers made his international debut in Test series against England in 2004. He scored 8,765 Test runs and has a batting average of over 50 in both Test & ODI cricket. AB de Villiers holds the records for scoring the fastest fifty, hundred and 150 in ODIs.

Olga Wins Man Booker International Prize

“Flights”, a philosophical rumination on modern-day travel by the Polish author Olga Tokarczuk, won the Man Booker International Prize for works of translated fiction. The Man Booker International Prize is awarded by the same organization that gives the Man Booker Prize for fiction. It is for a single work of fiction that has been translated into English and published in the United Kingdom.

First person to be put on no-fly list

Birju Salla, who created a hijack scare onboard a Jet Airways flight in 2017, has become the 1st person to be put on the “National No Fly List”. He has been banned from flying under highest level of onboard unruly behaviour that entails grounding from 2 years to lifetime. A person put on the no-fly list can’t fly by any flight of that airline, international or domestic, for grounded period.

1st international football tournament in Iraq

Iraq will host a West Asia Football Federation championship in Basra in November 2018, the first international tournament to be staged in the country since the 1990s. Iraq has not played competitive internationals on home turf since its 1990 invasion of Kuwait. In March 2018, FIFA decided to lift a 30-year-old ban from Iraq on hosting the international football.

International Museum Day

International Museum Day is held every year on or around 18 May, coordinated by the International Council of Museums. It aims to raise awareness of the fact that, Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures & development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples. Theme chosen for 2018 is “Hyperconnected museums: New approaches, new publics”.

Kishanganga hydropower project inaugurated

PM Modi has dedicated 330 MW Kishanganga hydropower project in Jammu and Kashmir to the nation. Kishanganga hydropower project will provide 13% free power to J&K including 1% for local area development fund amounting to around Rs 133 crore per year. The project was delayed for several years as Pakistan dragged India to International Court of Arbitration, which ruled in India’s favour in 2013

Rajinder Singh named Hockey India president

Rajinder Singh has been named the president of Hockey India, following Mariamma Koshy’s resignation from the post. He is currently the Senior Vice President of Hockey India. Koshy was appointed as the President of Hockey India in November 2016 following Narinder Batras decision to step down after being elected as the President of International Hockey Federation.

UN to send War Crimes Investigators to Gaza

UN Human Rights Council has voted to send a team of international War Crimes Investigators to probe the deadly shootings of Gaza protesters by Israeli forces.The resolution was backed by 29 members while 2 members US and Australia voted against and 14 abstained. Israel has defended the killing of protesters, saying it was acting in self-defence to protect its borders and communities.

International Rail Coach Expo in Chennai

For the first time, an International Rail Coach Expo (IRCE) is being held in Chennai. The expo which is being held from 17th to 19th May will focus on Rail Coaches and train sets. It will be a unique platform to bring different suppliers under one roof and create synergy for “Make in India”.

Anindita got Jayadev Rashtriya Yuva Puraskar

US-based Kathak dancer Anindita Anaam was honoured with the prestigious ‘Shri Jayadev Rashtriya Yuva Pratibha Puraskar 2018’ for outstanding contribution to the field of art. The award was presented to the Kathak exponent during the ‘Jayadev International Dance Festival’. The festival is organised under the aegis of Odisha’s culture department and National Culture Mission.

RBI eases setting up of IFSC Banking Units

RBI modified the norms for setting up IFSC Banking Units. In April 2015, the Reserve Bank had formulated a scheme for setting up of International Financial Services Centres (IFSC) Banking Units (IBUs) by banks in IFSCs. To enable IBUs to start their operations, the parent bank will be required to provide a minimum capital of USD 20 million. The government has set up an IFSC in Gujarat.

Shashank Manohar to serve as ICC chairman

Former BCCI president Shashank Manohar will serve a second term as the independent chairman of the International Cricket Council. Manohar, who became the first independent ICC chairman in 2016, will continue for a second two-year term following his unopposed election. During the last two years, Manohar has led to significant reform in the sport.

Heena Sidhu clinched gold

Indian Shooter Heena Sidhu clinched the gold medal in the women’s 10m air pistol at the International Shooting Competitions 2018 in Hannover, Germany. Heena was in a rollicking form in the final where she was tied with France’s Mathilde Lamolle on 239.8 points. She won the tie to win the gold ahead of Mathilde. The finish marks a strong build-up to next week’s ISSF World Cup in Munich.

Sulabh founder awarded Nikkei Asia Prize

The founder of Sulabh International, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, has been honoured with the Nikkei Asia Prize in Japan for his contribution to Asia’s development. Pathak is among the three who have been conferred with the award. Nikkei Inc., one of the largest media corporations in Japan, has been presenting the awards since 1996.

Sustainable practices can create jobs

India could witness the creation of more than 3 million jobs if it adopts sustainable practices for a green economy, the International Labour Organization said in the “World Employment and Social Outlook”. All sectors, except the mining industry, will experience an increase in employment. The transition to a green economy in India will inevitably cause job losses in certain sectors.

Nepal to hold BIMSTEC 2018

Nepal’s PM, KP Oli has announced to host the 2018 Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical& Economic Cooperation summit. BIMSTEC is an international organisation of 7 nations of South & South East Asia, including Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan & Nepal. BIMSTEC aims to enhance technological & economic cooperation among South & South East Asian countries.

UN’s top nuclear inspector resigns suddenly

UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency has informed that its top inspector, Tero Varjoranta, has quit with immediate effect. Varjoranta, who was in the role for almost 5 yrs, will be replaced by Massimo Aparo, an Italian nuclear engineer. The move comes just days after US President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord.

International Nurses day celebrated

International Nurses Day is celebrated every year on May 12 with a view to create awareness among the public about the role and responsibilities of nurses. This year the theme of the day is ‘Nurses: A voice to lead – Health is a Human Right’. International Nurses day also marks the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

KISS Humanitarian Award 2018

Nobel Peace award winner & the founder of Grameen Bank Prof. Muhammad Yunus has been conferred with the prestigious KISS Humanitarian Award 2018. Prof Yunus is the second Nobel laureate to be conferred the award. KISS Humanitarian Award is an international award given to someone who has made an exceptional contribution to the society in various fields relating to social issues.

SpaceX launched most powerful Falcon 9 yet

SpaceX blasted off its newest & most powerful Falcon 9 rocket, known as the Block 5, carrying the first high-orbit communications satellite for Bangladesh.The satellite will provide broadband connectivity to rural areas throughout Bangladesh. Block 5 Falcon 9 is eventually meant to carry astronauts to the International Space Station, with the first launch tentatively planned for Dec 2018.

UN report for social inclusion

“The UN Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2018”, the annual report from the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific was launched on 8th May. The report was launched at the Indian Council for Research in International Economic Relations (ICRIER). The report described South and Southwest Asia as the fastest growing sub-region of the Asia-Pacific region.

India to be the fastest growing economy

International Monetary Fund has reaffirmed that India will be the fastest-growing major economy in 2018, with a growth rate of 7.4% that would further rise to 7.8% in 2019.IMF’s Asia & Pacific Regional Economic Outlook said that India was recovering from the effects of demonetisation and GST. After India, Bangladesh is projected to be the fastest-growing economy in South Asia.

SCO Secretary-General arrived in India

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretary General Rashid Alimov has arrived in India to hold talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj & other Union ministers. India became a full member of SCO in 2017, at the summit held in Astana, Kazakhstan. SCO is an intergovernmental international organisation aimed at strengthening mutual trust & neighbourliness among the member states.