Private sector lender IndusInd Bank received RBI's approval to buy the securities services arm of IL&FS. In March 2017, the bank entered an agreement with Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services, the promoter shareholder of IL&FS Securities Services Ltd (ISSL), to acquire 100% stake in ISSL.
India Becomes Second Largest Manufacturer of Crude Steel
India has overtaken Japan to become the world's second largest producer of crude steel in February, according to the Steel Users Federation of India (SUFI). At present, China is the largest producer of crude steel in the world, accounting for more than 50% of the production. India's crude steel production was up 4.4% and stood at 93.11 million tonnes (MT) for the period April 2017 to February 2018, compared with April 2016 to February 2017.
NASA Hires Lockheed Martin to Build Supersonic Plane
NASA has inked a deal with Lockheed Martin to develop a supersonic "X-plane" that could break the sound barrier without a sonic boom. The $247.5 million contract allows for the design, building and testing of a plane that would make its first test flight in 2021.
On the first day of competitions at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018, in Australia, India began its campaign with a Silver Medal in Weightlifting. In the 56 kilogram category, P. Gururaja lifted a total weight of 249 kg to finish second in the event. Malaysia took the Gold, while Sri Lanka settled for the Bronze.
India Third Most Vulnerable Country to Cyber Threats
India emerged as the third most vulnerable country in terms of risk of cyber threats, such as malware, spam and ransomware, in 2017, moving up one place over the previous year, according to a report by security solutions provider Symantec. In 2017, 5.09% of global threats detected were in India, slightly less than 5.11% in 2016. The U.S. (26.61%) was most vulnerable to such attacks, followed by China (10.95%), according to 'Internet Security Threat Report'.
Roche Launches New Lung, Bladder Cancer Drug in India
Global pharma major Roche said that it had introduced monoclonal antibody atezolizumab under the brand name Tecentriq in India for treatment of lung and bladder cancer. Tecentriq has been shown to extend survival and improve quality of life in the approved indications, Roche said. The product has been approved in India "for... non-small cell lung cancer and urothelial carcinoma."
Congress Leaders Join BJD in Odisha
Former Union Minister Chandrasekhar Sahu along with several key leaders of the Congress and a large number of supporters joined the ruling Biju Janata Dal in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Berhampur. The Congress leaders who joined the BJD along with Mr. Sahu include former AICC member Bikram Panda, Ganjam district Congress president Bhagaban Gantayat as well as all the eleven Congress corporators of Berhampur Municipal Corporation. Mr. Sahu was the Congress MP of Berhampur and Minister of State for Rural Development from 2004 to 2009 during UPA rule at the Centre.