IBM Corp agreed to acquire US software company Red Hat Inc for $34 billion, including debt, as it seeks to diversify its technology hardware and consulting business into higher-margin products and services.
The transaction is by far IBM's biggest acquisition.
Bangladesh's Former PM Jailed
A special court in Bangladesh's capital has sentenced former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia to seven years in jail involving a charity fund (Zia Charitable Trust Fund) named after her late husband.
Angela Merkel to Step Down as Chancellor
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she would not seek re-election as party chairwoman and that her fourth term as chancellor would be her last, heralding the end of a 13-year era in which she has dominated European politics.
Merkel has been chairwoman of her conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) since 2000 and chancellor since 2005.
India and Japan concluded a $75 billion bilateral currency swap agreement.
As per the Indian government, this measure will improve confidence and stability in the foreign exchange and capital markets.
Vedanta Gets Extension
Vedanta Ltd. has won a 10-year extension of its contract for the prolific Rajasthan oil block, but on the condition that it pays a higher share of profit to the government.
The 25-year contract for exploration and production of oil and gas from Barmer block RJ-ON-90/1 of Vedanta, formerly Cairn India, is due for renewal in May 2020.
NABI Signs Pact for Coloured Wheat
Mohali-based National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) has signed MoUs with four companies for seed and wheat-based product generation for 'coloured wheat' developed by the institute which is rich in nutraceuticals.
Vidisha-based Premier (India) Seed Company, Hisar-based HABITAT Genome Improvement Primary Producer's Company and Bishwanath Agrawal (BNA), Purnea (Bihar) will produce and maintain coloured wheat seeds and will prepare coloured wheat products.
Researchers from University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa have developed the world's first bio-brick grown from human urine, an advance with significant consequences for waste recycling and up- cycling.
The bio-bricks are created through a natural process called microbial carbonate precipitation.
REC Ltd, the state-owned 'Navratna' financier in the power sector, has bagged the Golden Peacock Award 2018 for Excellence in Corporate Governance. The award, conferred by the Institute of Directors, was received by Dr. Shakil Ahamed, senior executive director, REC, and J. S. Amitabh, company secretary, at the 18th London Global Convention held in London.
Asian Champions Trophy
Arch rivals India and Pakistan were declared joint-winners of the fifth Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament after the much-anticipated summit clash was called off due to a heavy downpour.
The Supreme Court collegium cleared the names of justice R. Subhash Reddy, justice Hemant Gupta, justice M. R. Shah, and justice Ajay Rastogi for elevation as Supreme Court judges.
The collegium is a body of the five top judges, which is responsible for all appointments to the top court. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi heads it and also includes justice M. B. Lokur, justice Kurien Joseph, justice A. K. Sikri and justice S. A. Bobde.
President of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan
Prominent Pune-based Marathi author, Aruna Dhere, has been unanimously elected as the president for the 92nd Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, the prestigious Marathi literary meet, which will take place at Yavatmal in January 2019.
The four women in the past who have become president of Marathi literary meet are: Durga Bhagwat , Kusumawati Deshpande, Shanta Shelke and Vijaya Rajyadhyaskha.
'Train 18' Rolled Out
India's first engine-less semi-high speed train, Train 18, was rolled out by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and will eventually replace the Shatabdi Express for inter-city travel.
The 16-coach semi-high speed 'trainset' has been designed for a maximum operating speed of 160 kmph.
It would undergo trials in coming months.
Five more units of the train would be produced by the ICF by the end of 2019-20.
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