- RBI signs $400 million currency swap pact with Sri Lanka
- RBI today signed a USD 400 million currency swap agreement with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for three years that will allow the island nation to draw the amount in dollars or euros in multiple tranches.
- The swap arrangement is intended to provide a backstop line of funding for the SAARC member countries to meet any balance of payments and liquidity crises till long-term arrangements are made.
- Bangladesh wins international award for women’s empowerment
- Bangladesh has won an international award for women’s empowerment and reducing gender gaps, securing a place among the top 10 countries that reduced gender gaps in politics significantly.
- The Women in Parliaments (WIP) Global Forum presented this award to Bangladesh in its annual summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
- The WIP is the global network of female parliamentarians at the national level, including those from the European parliament, of whom there currently are around 9,000.
- Indian toddler Dolly sets national archery record
- A two-year-old Indian girl groomed from birth to be an archery champion after the tragic death of her older siblings set a new national record.
- Shivani Cherukuri became the youngest Indian to score 200 points over five and seven-metre distances.
- PM Narendra Modi launches PRAGATI platform for redressal of grievances
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched his ambitious multi-purpose and multi-modal platform, PRAGATI, which is aimed at addressing the common man’s grievances and monitoring important programmes and projects.
- Modi said the step is to ensure that governance in India becomes more efficient and responsive as the whole world is now observing India keenly.
- PRAGATI, or Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation, is a unique integrative and interactive platform.
- Vikas Swarup to replace Syed Akbaruddin as MEA spokesperson
- The ministry of external affairs (MEA) will have a new spokesperson next month with Vikas Swarup of Slumdog Millionare fame taking over as joint secretary of the external division from Syed Akbaruddin.
- Akbaruddin who is being promoted to the rank of additional secretary will work as chief coordinator for India Africa Forum Summit.
- The screenplay of Oscar sweeping movie Slumdog Millionaire was based on Swarup’s novel Q and A.
- Agonising end to Indian campaign; loses to Australia
- India’s near flawless title defence came to an agonising end on Thursday as they succumbed to pressure against the clinical Australians.
- Australia decimated the defending champions by 95 runs to romp into the finals and break a million Indian hearts.
- In an engrossing semifinal clash, four—time champions Australia rode on Steve Smith’s classy 105 to post an imposing 328/7 before bundling out India for 233 in 46.5 overs to set up a summit clash with trans—Tasmanian rivals and co—hosts New Zealand in Melbourne on Sunday.
- After a dream run which saw them win seven matches on the trot, India’s quest for a second successive World Cup title was finally thwarted by the formidable Australians.
- Artist Bharti Kher knighted with top French award
- Artist Bharti Kher has been conferred with the prestigious ‘Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres’ (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters), France’s highest cultural award for her contribution in contemporary art landscape.
- Kher’s artworks span several mediums like painting, sculpture and installation
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