Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa Resigns amid Worst Economic Crisis
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned amid unprecedented economic turmoil, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office, leaving at least 130 people injured and prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy army troops in the capital. Prime Minister Mahinda, 76, sent his resignation letter to the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after violent scenes were witnessed in Colombo.
Sri Lanka is currently in the throes of unprecedented economic turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948. The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.
Zelenskyy Awards Ukraine's Four-legged Hero Patron for Mine-sniffing Efforts
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the medal of 'Excellence in Service' to Patron, a four-legged member of the country's armed forces. The Jack Russell terrier, a service dog, was credited with locating and preventing the detonation of at least 200 explosives since the beginning of Russia's war on Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Patron received his award during a press conference that Zelenskyy held with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who made a surprise visit to the war-torn nation. The award also went to Patron's owner, a major in the Civil Protection Service, Myhailo Iliev.
Patron has won hearts of the people from around the globe for his heroic services to Ukraine amid the ongoing war. Earlier, Ukraine's foreign ministry had hailed the four-legged hero for discovering over 150 explosive devices in the city of Cherchiv.
President Vladimir Putin Addresses Annual Victory Day Parade in Moscow
Russia held its annual Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square to honor the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. This year's traditional parade featured 11,000 participants and 131 armored vehicles. President Vladimir V. Putin used a speech delivered from his rostrum near the Lenin Mausoleum to try and turn Russian pride in the 1945 victory into increased support for what he has called the "special military operation" in Ukraine. The Russian leader again scolded the West for failing to heed Russian demands for security guarantees and a rollback to NATO's expansion, arguing that it left Moscow no other choice but to launch an action in Ukraine.
Putin claimed that Russian troops were fighting for the country's security in Ukraine and observed a minute of silence to honour the troops who fell in combat. He noted that some of the troops taking part in the parade have previously fought in Ukraine.
MG Motor Reaches 1 lakh Customer Base in India, Aims 50% Women Employees by 2023
MG Motor India announced that it has crossed the 1,00,000 sales milestone in India. The British car manufacturer entered into the Indian market in 2019 with the Hector midsize SUV.
Following the same, MG Motor India introduced the ZS EV and India's first Autonomous Level 1 luxury SUV, the MG Gloster and then the Autonomous Level 2 SUV, the MG Astor in the Indian market.
Moreover, the brand has secured the second position among 4-wheeler mass-market vehicles in dealer satisfaction as per the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA).
MG Motor India has integrated 37% of women employees into its workforce including the factory.
MG Motors aims to achieve 50% by December 2023.
Indian Bank Launches Digital Broking Solution 'E-Broking'
Indian Bank, a public sector bank, introduced its digital broking solution – 'E-Broking', as a strategic move toward comprehensive digitalisation of its customer products. E-Broking, an instant and paperless demat & trading account opening service, is now available through the bank's mobile banking app, IndOASIS. The product was introduced in collaboration with Fisdom, the bank's financial technology partner.
The E-Broking initiative will assist the bank in increasing its CASA (Current Account Savings Account).
IndOASIS, the bank's mobile banking app, would provide users with a unified experience ranging from Demat and trading account opening to reduced broking services backed by research-based investment in the secondary market, starting with equity, futures, options, and initial public offerings on a single platform.
Pushp Kumar Joshi Appointed HPCL Chairman and Managing Director
Pushp Kumar Joshi, who had taken over as the interim chairman and managing director of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), was appointed to the Board of the nation's third-largest oil refining and fuel marketing company. Joshi is also holding the additional charge of Director-Marketing of HPCL. Prior to this Dr. Joshi was Director-HR of the Corporation from August 01, 2012.
Joshi, the senior-most director on the HPCL board, was in January 2022 picked by the government headhunter PESB to replace Mukesh Kumar Surana. Surana superannuated from services on April 30, 2022, but in absence of a formal order from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by the Prime Minister, Joshi was named interim head.
RailTel Launches PM-WANI Based Access to its Wi-Fi at 100 Railway Stations across the Country
RailTel, a Mini Ratna PSU, launched Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme based on access to its Public WiFi services across 100 railway stations across the country. This public-friendly service was virtually launched by RailTel chairman and managing director Puneet Chawla. To access this WiFi network, android users can download the mobile app 'Wi-DOT' available on Google Play Store. This app has been developed in close coordination with C-DOT.
This method of accessing Wi-Fi through the 'mobile app' will be in addition to the existing method of accessing WiFi at these stations through the conventional method of selecting RailWire Service Set Identifier (SSID).
PM-WANI is an ambitious program of the Department of Telecom (DoT) to connect all silo Wi-Fi networks for ease of use and proliferate broadband usage for the masses. The government further plans to extend the PM-WANI-based access of RailTel's public Wi-Fi services to all 6,102 railway stations in a phased manner by the end of June 2022.
Priyanka Mohite Becomes First Indian Woman to Climb Five Peaks above 8,000 Metres
Priyanka Mohite from Maharashtra's Satara district became the first Indian woman to climb five peaks above 8000 metres. Priyanka achieved the milestone after climbing Mount Kanchenjunga. Priyanka works for a pharmaceutical research company in Bengaluru. In 2020, she also won the prestigious Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award. The 30-year-old climbed Mount Everest in 2013, Mount Lhotse in 2018, Mount Makalu in 2019 and Annapurna 1 in 2021. Notably, she is also the first Indian woman to climb Annapurna 1 and Makalu.
After 2013, she climbed the second mountain in 2018 as the snowstorm devastated Nepal in 2014 and the earthquake in 2015.
Notably, Priyanka wanted to climb Mount Kanchenjunga in 2020, but could not do so due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a teenager, she started climbing mountains in the Shayadri of Maharashtra.In 2012, Priyanka climbed Bandarpunch. Bandrapunch lies in the mountain massif of Uttarakhand's Garhwal division. In 2015, Priyanka climbed Mt. Menthosa which is 6443 m above sea level. It is the second-highest peak in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul and Spiti district.
Max Verstappen Won Miami Grand Prix 2022
F1 world champion Max Verstappen won the inaugural Miami Grand Prix for Red Bull after defeating the Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc. Leclerc (Ferrari) finished second and Spanish teammate Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) placed third in the Miami Grand Prix 2022. The victory cut Leclerc's lead over Verstappen to 19 points in the championship, while the Monegasque's Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz completed the podium.
Verstappen's third victory of the season was hard fought, even though he led for the majority of the race. A crash between Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris on Lap 41 triggered the safety car, and when racing resumed on lap 47, Leclerc pushed hard to retake the lead.
Carlos Alcaraz Wins Madrid Open Title 2022
Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) clinched the men's singles Madrid Open title 2022 after beating the defending champion Alexander Zverev (Germany). Alcaraz has also defeated Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic (world No.1) to reach the final. It is his second Masters 1000 crown after Miami 2022 and his fourth title of the year. The 19-year-old is the youngest player since start of the ATP Tour in 1990 to defeat three top-five players at the same event.
Ons Jabeur (Tunisia) clinched the women's singles title to become the first African player to win a WTA 1000 event.
PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY Complete 7 Years of Providing Social Security
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) completed seven years of providing social security net. The schemes were launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9th May 2015 in Kolkata, West Bengal. These schemes have been successful in providing affordable insurance and security to people.
These three social security schemes are dedicated to the welfare of the citizens, recognizing the need for securing human life from unforeseen risks or losses and financial uncertainties. In order to ensure that the people from the unorganized section of the country are financially secure, the Government launched two insurance schemes – Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and introduced Atal Pension Yojana to cover the exigencies in the old age.
The cumulative enrolments under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana have been more than 28.37 crore and an amount of one thousand 930 crore rupees has been paid for over 97 thousand claims. More than 4 crore individuals have subscribed to Atal Pension Yojana.
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Stresses Need for Innovation to Make India Drone Hub by 2030
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stressed the need for innovation to make India a drone hub by 2030. Speaking at a function in NITI Aayog, he said, the industry should work to create intellectual properties in the drone sector. Mr. Scindia said, along with hardware, the industry needs to work on software aspects to make country's drone industry robust. He added that the government's Drone Shakti initiative will commercialize the use of drones in different industries.
Kisan Drones initiative will play a critical role in crop assessment, spraying of pesticides and insecticides, as well as digitization of land records. With active participation from the industry and the government the drone industry is set on a path of exponential growth and adoption in the country for years to come. This will ensure quality services for customers.
Home Minister Amit Shah Says Next Census will be Fully Digital with 100 % accuracy; Birth and Death Register to be Linked with Census
Home Minister Amit Shah said that the next census will be fully digital with 100 percent accuracy. Birth and death register will be linked with the census. With the electronic process and enumeration of people, the Census will be updated automatically after every birth and death in the country. Mr Shah inaugurated the new office building of the Directorate of Census Operations in Assam at Amingaon in Kamrup district.
The 2021 Census was delayed due to the Covid pandemic and it will be completed by 2024. Shah pointed out that without a perfect Census, planning for any development work or project is not possible.
The new software will have multi-dimensional uses as it will be linked with the registration of births and deaths. As soon as someone is born, their details will get updated in the software, he said. Once that person turns 18, their names would get registered in the voters' list from the census office itself. The names would get d from the voters' list, from the census office, once that person dies. Shah said details like people shifting residences will also get updated through the software.
MHA Launches 'CAPF Punarvaas' to Facilitate Retired CAPF
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) launched a portal for the benefit of personnel belonging to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) like CRPF and BSF seeking re-employment after their retirement. The portal, "CAPF Punarvaas", will help retired personnel seeking re-employment to find an appropriate match by uploading their personal details on the Welfare & Rehabilitation Board (WARB) along with their area of expertise and preferred employment location.
With the increase in the number of business establishments requiring security services, there has been a substantial growth of private security agencies (PSA), thereby increasing the requirement of security personnel. The initiative is a step towards the welfare of CAPF personnel and will go a long way in meeting their rehabilitation requirements.
Noted Author, Jagannath Culture Expert Rajat Kar Passes Away
Eminent writer, educationist and scholar of Sri Jagannath culture Rajat Kar passed away. He was 87. Born on October 2, 1934 at Mahanga of Cuttack district, he was the elder brother of former Speaker of the Odisha assembly, Sarat Kar.
He was conferred the Padma Shri in 2021 for his contribution in the field of education and literature. A veteran commentator of Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri for the last six decades, his contribution for the dying art of Pala in Odisha was immense.
A prolific writer, he was also a motivational speaker, poet, a radio personality and literary critic. He has written seven non-fiction books and several books on Sri Jagannath culture. Besides, he was also well-known for his writings on Upendra Bhanja literature. He was also an efficient administrator and worked for many years in the education department.
The day is observed every year to raise awareness about Lupus which is an autoimmune disease that can cause damage to any part of the body. An autoimmune disease is one in which the immune system is unable to recognise the difference between healthy cells in the human body and the foreign cells it fights to remove.
Dr. Uma Kumar, Head of the Department of Rheumatology at AIIMS, New Delhi said that the most common symptoms of Lupus disease are intermittent fever, recurrent mouth ulcers, joint and muscle pain, and extreme fatigue. Dr. Kumar suggested that early diagnosis and right treatment can drastically improve the outcome of the disease.
Home Minister Amit Shah Confers President's Colours Award to Assam Police
Home Minister Amit Shah presented the President's Colours Award to Assam Police at a Special Ceremony at Guwahati. Assam is the 10th state in the country to receive this honour which is conferred as recognition for exceptional services. Mr. Shah said that almost all militant organisations have joined the mainstream of the society and government has rehabilitated all of them. Insurgency and bloodshed has come to an end and peace has returned after decades.
The President's Colours, a special flag, also known as 'Nishaan' is the highest honour to be given to any military or police unit in recognition of exceptional service rendered to the nation, both in peace and war. It is an emblem worn by all the officers in the unit on the left-hand sleeve of their uniform.
Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Gujarat and Tripura are the other states which have received the President's Colour Award so far. Delhi is the only Union Territory to bag this prestigious award.
The U.K. health authorities confirmed a case of monkey pox, which is a virus passed from infected animals such as rodents to humans, in someone with a recent travel history to Nigeria where they are believed to have caught it. Monkeypox is a rare viral infection that does not spread easily between people and is usually a mild "self-limiting illness" and most people recover within a few weeks. However, severe illness can occur in some cases.
Initial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body. The rash changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.
IRCTC's Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train to Stop at Nepal's Janakpur
The Indian Railway Catering and Ticketing Corporation (IRCTC) will launch its maiden Bharat Gaurav Tourist train, with a stop in Nepal's Janakpur. This train will go around the Ramayana Circuit, which has been identified under the Swadesh Darshan scheme and includes major locations related with Lord Shri Rama's life, such as the Ram Janaki temple in Janakpur, Nepal. The projected 18-day Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train Tour begins in Ayodhya, Lord Rama's birthplace, with visits to Shri Ram Janmabhumi temple and Hanuman temple, as well as Bharat Mandir in Nandigram, dedicated to Lord Ram's younger brother Bharat.
The train will then return to Delhi on the 18th day of its voyage, having covered nearly 8000 kilometres throughout the full Ramayana tour.
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