NATIONAL AFFAIRS

National Theatre Festival begins in Kerala:

National Theatre festival begins in the capital city of Kerala. The festival will be organised by the Information and public relations Department. There will be a total of 17 plays. Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the function.

Chennai Port trust signed MoU with Puducherry:

In order to promote Industrial growth, create more employment opportunities and attract investment from industries Port trust of Chennai and Puducherry government signed an MoU in New Delhi. The MoU is all about handling of EXIM cargo that originates in Puducherry.

TN ranks 3rd in India in medium investment decision – NCAER

Tamil Nadu ranks third in the country’s medium investment decisions, according to the report of National Council of Applied Economic Research’s (NCAER) State Investment Potential Index (N-SIPI) survey. D. Jayakumar, the state’s finance minister stated that the government has benchmarked Rs.75 crore for the next Global Investors Meet 2017-18.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Changi Airport of Singapore becomes world’s best Airport:


In the survey of the research firm Skytrax, Changi airport in Singapore named as the world’s best airport for the fifth time. The Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Incheon airport in South Korea, Munich Airport in     Germany and Hong Kong Airport complete the top five.   

Women in Politics 2017 – India ranks 148th:

India ranks 148th globally in terms of representation of women in executive government and parliament, according to a report published by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women. The report showed that women make up only 11.8% of the parliament. This level of gender representation is better than the Asian average of 11%. Indonesia tops the index with 25.6%.The report was launched on the sidelines of the 61st Commission on the Status of Women.

BANKING AND BUSINESS

Parliamentary panel suggests BSNL-MTNL merger for long-term survival:


  

A Parliamentary panel has suggested merger of state-run telecom firms Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) for their long-term survival.  

Paytm is globetrotting enters Canada with an app for bill payments:

   Becoming one of the few Indian start-ups to make a global entry, online mobile wallet major Paytm that it had launched a bill payments service in Canada. 

    Users there would be able to pay for their cell phone, cable, internet, electricity and water bills via a Paytm Canada app.  It is available on both Android and iOS in Canada. 

Stage set for July 1 rollout: GST Council caps cess on luxury goods at 15%:


The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council cleared a proposal to cap the cess on luxury cars and aerated drinks at 15 per cent over the peak rate of 28 per cent.

Paan masala, the cap would be 135 percent. On tobacco and cigarettes, the cap would be 290 percent or Rs 4,170 per 1,000 cigarette sticks.

    The cess on coal and lignite (environment cess) would have an upper limit at Rs 400 per tonne.  

Policy seeks to raise health spend to 2.5% of GDP:


  The central government unveiled the National Health Policy, which entails raising public expenditure on health to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) from the current two per cent and introducing yoga more widely in schools and workplaces.

The policy envisions increasing life expectancy to 70 years from 67.5 years. The policy aimed at reducing the under-five mortality rate to 23 (per 1,000 births) by 2025 and the maternal mortality rate to 100 (per 100,000 live births) by 2020.   

ONGC invests Rs. 21,528 crore to develop India deepest gas find by 2023:


Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will invest Rs. 21, 528 crore to develop India’s deepest gas find by 2022-23 to double its output from prime KG basin block. The oil explorer plans to drill nine wells and will produce a peak output of 19 million standard cubic metres a day.  Last year, the company finalized a $5.07 billion plan for developing finds by 2019-20 and start flowing from March 2020.  

Snapdeal patners with Japan’s JETRO:


India’s E-Commerce major Snapdeal has partnered with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to showcase Japanese SME products on the online marketplace. “Customers can now purchase JETRO products directly from Snapdeal”.  

De Beers and Volcan Investments Ltd. buys stake in South Africa’s Anglo American Plc.


Anil Agarwal billionaire plans to buy stake in South Africa’s Anglo American Plc. for £2 bn to gain a foothold in diamond mining business.  De Beers, the world’s leading diamond exploration, mining and marketing company is owned by Anil Agarwal. Volcan Investments Ltd announces that it intends to make an investment for about £2 bn.  

Muthoot Fin to rise up to Rs. 2000 Cr via Non-Convertible Debentures:


Muthoot Finance plans to rise up to Rs.2000 crore through a public issue of Non-Convertible Debentures to support its lending activities. The Kerala based gold financing company said in the draft prospectus filed with SEBI. The issue comprises of secured and unsecured re-deemable NCDs which comprises an aggregate total of Rs.2000 crore.  

APPOINTMENTS

Ravi Viswanath – CEO of Reliance Health Insurance

Ravi Viswanath has been appointed as the first CEO of newly formed Reliance Health Insurance, which is a wholly owned subsidiary departed from Reliance General Insurance. He has 20 years of experience in health insurance sector. 

FIFA signs Hero MotoCorp as national supporter of FIFA U-17 World Cup:


Hero MotoCorp has become the second Indian company to sign up as a national supporter for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, scheduled to be held across 6 host cities between October 6 and 28.

Hero MotoCorp has filled the second of six national supporter slots – after Bank of Baroda – for the first ever FIFA event in India. Hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup is a significant landmark for India and Indian football and at Hero MotoCorp, we are immensely proud of being associated with this event. 

CMD and CEO of Hero MotoCorp: Pawan Munjal

The vice president of the 2017 U-17 FIFA world cup: Babul Supriyo  


Sports Authority of India appointed Jwala Gutta as a member:

Badminton specialist Jwala Gutta appointed as the member of the governing body of Sports Authority of India. Jwala won 14 time national championship. She also won bronze medal twice in Olympic at the 2011 World Championship.  

Nine Indian race walkers to compete in Asian race walking championship:


A nine-member Indian team will compete in the 20km Asian race walking championship in Nomi City, Japan, on March 19. The Indian team will be headed by Olympian K.T. Irfan and Priyanka. The team: Devender Singh, Ganapathi Krishnan, Jai Bhagwan, Eknath Sambhaji Turambekar, Sunil, KT Irfan Priyanka, Rani Yadav, Shanti Kumari. R  

 

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