Mark Carney, who won Canada's Prime Ministership, has many firsts to his name. An economist by training, he came to the top job after Justin Trudeau resigned, and has now steered his party, the Liberals, to victory.
When Carney became the unelected PM, he was the first Canadian PM to have never held a Cabinet position or even been a lawmaker. He is the first person to have headed the central banks of two G7 economies (Canada and England), and the first non-British person to head the Bank of England.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar Wins Election in Trinidad and Tobago
The opposition in the Caribbean twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago won a decisive victory in parliamentary election.
The victory marks a remarkable comeback for Persad-Bissesar who previously served as Prime Minister from 2010-2015, and remains the only woman ever to have led the country.
SBI, Land Ports Authority of India Sign MoU to Enhance Banking Services at Land pOrts Bordering Neighbouring Countries
The State Bank of India (SBI), the country's largest bank, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) to strengthen banking services infrastructure across 26 land ports bordering our neighbouring countries.
This strategic collaboration will strengthen India's border trade ecosystem and provide modern banking solutions to business and individuals at land ports. SBI will partner with LPAI and aspire to improve the trade transactions for Rs. 80,000 crore at present to Rs. 2 trillion by 2030.
The MoU was signed on behalf of SBI by S. N. Panigrahi, DGM and Vidyadhar Jha, Director (Operations), Land Ports Authority of India.
India Ranks among Top IPO Markets with USD 2.8 Billion Raised in Q1 2025
India's Initial Public Offering (IPO) market continues to demonstrate resilience, securing a 22 per cent share of global IPO activity in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Q1 2025 IPO Trends Report by EY.
With 62 IPOs raising a total of USD 2.8 billion, India remains a leading destination for companies seeking to go public, even amidst a backdrop of global market uncertainties.
As per the EY report, the largest IPO during this period was by Hexaware Technologies Ltd., which successfully raised USD 1.0 billion, highlighting the ongoing demand for technology-related offerings in the Indian market.
Kirthiga Reddy Launches 'AI Kiran' to Empower Indian Women in Artificial Intelligence
To address the underrepresentation of women in GenAI roles, Kirthiga Reddy, the first employee and ex-Managing Director of Facebook India (now Meta), launched a women-centric AI platform called AI Kiran. This initiative seeks to connect, mentor, fund, and certify Indian women in AI, with a focus on impactful sectors like healthcare, education, and sustainability. The platform aims to place Indian women at the heart of the global AI revolution.
Nat Sciver-Brunt Appointed England Women's Captain across All Formats
Nat Sciver-Brunt was appointed the new captain of the England women's side. She replaced Heather Knight, who stepped down after England's 2025 women's Ashes series following a near nine-year stint.
She will captain all three formats in tandem with newly appointed head coach Charlotte Edwards.
She has been a regular member of England's side since her debut in 2013 and is considered one of the most talented cricketers in the world.
Cricket, MMA Confirmed for Asian Games 2026 in Japan
Cricket was confirmed for the 20th edition of the Asian Games to be held in Japan next year (2026) from September 19 to October 4, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced.
A press note on OCA's official website said that cricket and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) were included in the competition.
Cricket has been a part of Asian Games for 2010, 2014 and 2022 editions.
Manush Shah and Diya Chitale Clinch Mixed Doubles Title at WTT Contender Tunis 2025
Manush Shah and Diya Chitale etched their names in history by clinching the mixed doubles title at the 2025 World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender Tunis. This remarkable achievement made them only the second Indian pair to win the mixed doubles title at a WTT Contender event, following the success of Manika Batra and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran in 2021.
The Indian duo of Manush Shah and Diya Chitale faced the Japanese pair of Sora Matsushima and Miwa Harimoto in the final.
MNRE Minister Pralhad Joshi Launches Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) conducted a one-day National Workshop on opportunities for "Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Green Hydrogen Supply Chain", at New Delhi. The workshop was aimed to explore opportunities and discuss key role of MSMEs in development of green hydrogen ecosystem in India. Over 300 delegates participated from different stakeholder groups, including MSMEs, policymakers, technology providers, industry associations, and international partners.
Delivering the inaugural address, Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, highlighted the government's commitment to fostering innovation-led growth and emphasised that MSMEs will serve as the backbone of India's energy transition through their innovative capabilities and localised solutions. He highlighted the critical role MSMEs will play in realising the Mission's objectives of building a self-reliant green hydrogen ecosystem by 2030.
He also launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI). He mentioned that the scheme is a foundational step towards creating a robust framework for certifying green hydrogen production and ensuring transparency, traceability, and market credibility.
Shipping Ministry Hosts Workshop on Digital Transformation
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) organised one-day workshop on IT Procurement and Project Management in New Delhi, aiming to enhance digital efficiency and streamline IT implementation across India's maritime and shipping ecosystem.
The workshop was virtually inaugurated by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, who emphasised the transformative role of technology in modernising port operations and enhancing service delivery for stakeholders.
The event witnessed active participation from senior officials of the Ministry, various ports, and associated organisations. In-depth sessions during the workshop focused on challenges in IT projects, identifying root causes, and exploring actionable solutions to improve project outcomes. Case studies from ongoing projects of the Ministry were discussed to draw practical insights.
IAS Vinod Kumar Gunjiyal Assumes Charge as the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar
In preparation for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections in October-November 2025, the Election Commission appointed IAS officer Vinod Kumar Gunjiyal, a 2007-batch officer of the Bihar cadre, as the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar. Known for his administrative acumen and diverse departmental experience, Gunjiyal brings with him a strong governance track.
He replaced H. R. Srinivas, a 1996-batch IAS officer.
Top Military Spenders of 2024-25: India's Position in the Global Military Expenditure Race
In 2024-25, the global military expenditure saw a remarkable rise, with nations allocating significant portions of their GDP to defence. Among the largest spenders, India secured its place as the fifth-highest military spender globally, reinforcing its growing strategic defence capabilities.
As the world's largest military spender, the U.S. accounted for 37% of global military expenditure in 2024, with a spending of $997 billion. This reflects its ongoing military dominance and strategic investments in defence technologies.
The second-largest spender, China, allocated $314 billion, making up 12% of global defense expenditure. China's rising military budget is indicative of its expanding geopolitical ambitions, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
Despite economic challenges, Russia's military spending reached $149 billion, contributing 5.5% to global military expenditure. The country's defence budget has grown in response to ongoing conflicts, most notably the war in Ukraine.
Ayushman Bharat Diwas is celebrated annually on April 30 in India to raise awareness of the objectives of the government's Ayushman Bharat Yojana. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) is also known as the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. It is a healthcare scheme launched by the Indian government to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to people who are economically disadvantaged.
Ayushman Bharat Diwas was first observed in 2019, a year after the Ayushman Bharat Scheme was launched.
Madhusudan Sai Honoured with Fiji's Highest Recognition for Humanitarian Efforts
Madhusudan Sai's dedication to serving humanity was acknowledged by Fiji as he was conferred with the 'Companion of the Order of Fiji', the country's highest honour. His key initiatives, especially the establishment of the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children's Hospital, have greatly impacted healthcare and social welfare in Fiji, offering vital medical services to children in need, regardless of their background.
India Strengthens Tourism Footprint at Arabian Travel Market 2025 in Dubai
India marked a significantly enhanced presence at the 32nd edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), held from April 28 to May 1 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, organised under the theme 'Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow's Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity', the event brought together 2,800 exhibitors from 161 countries and is expected to welcome 55,000 attendees.
The 'Incredible India' Pavilion, organised by the Services Export Promotion Council under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, hosted tour operators, hotel groups, and tourism stakeholders. Several Indian states, including Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, Goa, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh, showcased their travel offerings. Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the Incredible India pavilion.