The first migrants deported from Greek islands under a disputed EU-Turkey deal were shipped back to Turkey in a drive to shut down the main route used by more than a million people fleeing war and poverty to reach Europe in the last year.
Under a pact criticised by refugee agencies and human rights campaigners, Ankara will take back all migrants and refugees who cross the Aegean to enter Greece illegally, including Syrians.
In return, the European Union will take in thousands of Syrian refugees directly from Turkey and reward it with money, visa-free travel and progress in its EU membership negotiations.
Helen Clark Enters Race to Lead UN
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark entered the race to be the next UN Secretary-General, aiming to become the first woman to head the world body.
The search for a successor to Ban Ki-moon comes at a time of high anxiety in global affairs as the United Nations grapples with the biggest refugee crisis since World War II and raging conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.
Currently the UN`s highest-ranking woman, Clark heads its largest agency, the UN Development Programme, a post she has held for the past seven years.
New Zealand formally put forward Clark, one of the most experienced women in global politics, as its candidate.
Petrol price was hiked by Rs. 2.19 a litre and diesel by 98 paise per litre.
The hike comes on the back of a steep Rs. 3.07 a litre increase and Rs 1.90 a litre hike in diesel rates.
This is the second straight increase in petrol price and this is the fourth straight fortnightly increase in diesel rates.
State-owned fuel retailers revise rates of the fuel on 1st and 16th of every month based on the average oil price and the foreign exchange rate in the preceding fortnight.
India's Manufacturing Growth Rises
India's manufacturing growth rose to an eight-month high driven by strong rise in business orders, leading firms to scale up output.
The index registered above the crucial 50.0 threshold for a third straight month in March. A reading above 50 represents expansion while one below this level means contraction.
This build-up in inflationary pressures may lead Reserve Bank to hold off from cutting rates, especially as solid growth was seen.
Financial Giants Line up to Partner with India Post
The legacy network of India Post is turning out to be its biggest strength. Top global financial firms Barclays, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, Western Union, Visa and domestic giants State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank are among over five dozen companies that have queued up to partner with the payments bank arm of the country's postal department.
Even the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, has shown interest in picking up a stake in the business.
The postal department bagged a licence for a payments bank from the Reserve Bank of India in August last year.
Virat Kohli was named captain of the ICC World Twenty20 XI, which had no place for current skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni but featured veteran seamer Ashish Nehra.
This is the second successive time that an Indian has been named captain of the all-star XI.
Nehra handed India an early breakthrough in almost every game. He took only five wickets but was economical in all five games.
Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav stepped down from the post of party President, bringing an end to his 10-year long tenure.
According to reports, Yadav, who had been serving as the party chief for the last three terms, resigned from the post and is unlikely to contest for party presidency again.
It was Yadav, who himself showed unwillingness to contest for the presidency election again and conveyed to Kumar that a new person should be put in command.
First Woman CM of Jammu and Kashmir
PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti was sworn-in as the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir heading the coalition government with BJP after dropping two of her party leaders.
BJP, which got two of its leaders promoted to cabinet rank, retained Nirmal Singh as Deputy Chief Minister, a post he held under Sayeed who died in January.
She is the 13th Chief Minister of the state and second Muslim woman to become the Chief Minister of any state in India.
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