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RBI buys three long-term securities worth Rs 10,000 cr in 3rd special OMO

January 8, 2020

In the third special open market operation in many weeks, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) bought three long-term securities worth 10,000 crore rupees each while selling the same amount of three short-term bonds.The RBI had announced simultaneous purchase and sale of Government Securities (G-Secs) under Open Market Operations (OMOs) for 10,000 crore rupees each.

Though the RBI offered to sell four securities in the auction, it accepted bids for three bonds. In the current OMO purchase auction, the RBI offered to purchase three securities including 10-year benchmark government bond, as against just one bond in the previous two auctions. It got bids worth 64,505 crore rupees for the three bonds but choose to accept only bids of 10,000 crore rupees under the OMO purchase auction.

Bhubaneswar declared as ODF++ city

January 8, 2020

A day before commencement of Swachh Survekshan-2020, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) declared the Capital an open defecation-free (ODF) ++ city. BMC Administrator and Director of Municipal Administration Sangramjit Nayak stated the ODF++ status will be open for third party verification following the declaration. Nayak also pinned hope that the Smart City will do better in the Swachh Survekshan this year.

ODF++ status is accorded to a city where not a single person is found defecating and, or urinating in the open, all community and public toilets are functional and well maintained, faecal sludge and sewage are safely managed and treated with no discharge or dumping of untreated in drains, water bodies or open areas at any point of a day.

As many as 4,830 urban local bodies will participate in the survey to be carried out by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs across the country from January 4. The total mark for the survey is 6,000 of which 25 per cent will be given to cities on the basis of the performance in Swachh Survekshan League 2020 held in three different quarters last year.

Mizoram govt to organise “Zo Kutpui” to unify Mizo tribes

January 8, 2020

Mizoram government will organise Zo Festival under the banner Zo Kutpui in at least 10 different cities across the globe. The first festival would be held at Vanghmun, a hub town of Mizos in neighbouring Tripura from January 9 to 11. The event aims at re-unifying and strengthening brotherhood among different tribes of Mizo. It will also be organised in Maryland in USA, Tahan in Myanmar, Churachandpur in Manipur and Bangladesh.

Finland PM Sanna Marin proposes four-day working week

January 8, 2020

Finland’s newly elected Prime Minister has proposed a four-day working week arguing that such a measure will enable people to spend more time with their families. Marin, 34, who is the world’s youngest Prime Minister is a social democrat, assumed office in December and leads a coalition that includes greens, leftists and centrists.

She also added that the standard working day should be reduced from eight to six hours. The working week in Europe has gone through a significant transformation over the 20th century but change has been slower in recent decades with the five-day week and eight-hour workday becoming the standard benchmark.

India, top sourcing market for Sri Lankan tourism

January 8, 2020

India continued to be the top sourcing market for Sri Lankan tourism with Indian tourists constituting maximum 19 per cent of total tourist arrivals to the island nation in 2019.

The latest data released by Sri Lankan Tourism revealed that 3,55,002 Indian tourists visited Sri Lanka last year against total arrival of around 1.91 million. Over 48 thousand Indians visited Sri Lanka during last month of December alone including over thousand by sea route.

India, United Kingdom, China, Germany and Australia were Sri Lanka’s top five international tourist generating markets last year. Sea beaches and religious places connected to Ramayana circuit remain the top attractions for Indian tourists.

Indo-Iranian Writers’ Meet organized in New Delhi

January 8, 2020

In continuation of the cultural exchange programme between India and Iran, Sahitya Akademi in collaboration with Embassy of Iran organized an Indo-Iranian Writers’ Meet in New Delhi. The objective of the meet is to further deepen cultural ties between the two nations and heighten literary awareness among the readers at both sides.

The meet was also aimed at providing a platform for meaningful-dialogue between writers of both countries. Culture Counsellor of Iran Mohammad Ali Rabbani, Secretary Sahitya Akademi K Sreenivasarao and eminent writer and scholar Nasera Sharma were present in the meet. The events also witnessed a panel discussion on Indo-Iranian Cultural Bonds.

President lays foundation stone of Super Specialty Hospital in Lakshwadeep

January 8, 2020

President Ram Nath Kovind laid foundation stone to Lakshadweep’s first Super Specialty Hospital at Kavaratti. On his two days visit to the union territory, President Kovind assured special focus for the development of Lakshadweep and directed Lakshadweep Administrator to give special attention for the completion of Super Specialty Hospital.

President received guard of honour from a joint group of 160 different forces. At the event in Kavaratti, President congratulated Rahmath Begum, the only woman who won Padmashri from Lakshadweep.

RBI allows to offer 24×7 rupee trading via select banks

January 8, 2020

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has enabled select banks in India to offer round-the-clock (24×7) trading in the Indian rupee to allow Indians to safeguard their foreign exchange (Forex) risks at any time. The select banks in India offered Indian customers foreign exchange rates only in inter-bank market hours from 9 am – 5 pm. This decision will also make the offshore currency markets in countries like Dubai & Singapore less attractive for Indian investors.

Vikram Sarabhai Children Innovation Center to be set up in Gujarat

January 8, 2020

The Vikram Sarabhai Children Innovation Center (VSCIC) will be set up in Gujarat. The VSCIC will identify, nurture and promote innovative abilities of children in the state. The above announcement was made during the Children’s Innovation Festival (CIF) taking place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Only School-going children up to 18 years old were allowed to participate in the Children’s Innovation Festival (CIF). The CIF is being organized by Gujarat University Start-ups and Entrepreneurship Council (GUSEC). GUSEC is an incubation centre created by Gujarat University in collaboration with UNICEF.

Ahmedabad: 31st International Kite Festival begins

January 8, 2020

The 31st International Kite Festival has been launched at Sabarmati river front in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Ahmedabad is hosting this festival since 1989. A large number of kite artists from across the world are participating in the festival to exhibit their skills. The festival is also taking place at nine other places across the state including Statue of Unity-Kevadiya, Surat and Vadodara.

4th ‘Buxa Bird Festival’ begins in West Bengal

January 8, 2020

The 4th edition of ‘Buxa Bird Festival’ has started in Buxa National Park in West Bengal’s, district Alipurduar. More than 50 birdwatchers from pan India and abroad have registered in the festival. Over 300 rare species including the Sultan Tit, Greater Spotted Eagle and Great Hornbill visit the national park during this festival.

1st ‘Maha-Navy Connect 2020’ started by Indian Navy in Mumbai

January 8, 2020

Indian Navy starts its 1st Maha-Navy Connect 2020 Tri-Dimensional Expedition started from Mumbai, Maharashtra. The aim of the expedition is to promote the maritime heritage of India and spread awareness about Coastal Security amongst the coastal communities in Maharashtra.

The tri-dimensional expedition consisting of yachting, running and cycling teams of 50 naval personnel. This expedition will cover more than 555kms from Maharashtra’s northernmost fort Arnala to its southernmost Sindhudurg fort.

Axis Bank and ICICI Bank to end their operations in Sri Lanka

January 8, 2020

The two Indian private sector lenders Axis Bank and ICICI Bank to close their operations in Sri Lanka after the Central Bank of Sri Lanka has permitted. The licenses issued by Central Bank of Sri Lanka will be cancelled once the winding-up operations are complete. The two banks are no longer to carry their banking operations, including accepting deposits from the public in Sri Lanka.

NSO projects India’s GDP growth rate for 2019-20 at 5%

January 8, 2020

National Statistical Office (NSO) projects India’s GDP growth rate for 2019-20 at 5%. The decline has been mainly on account of deceleration in manufacturing sector growth, which is expected to come down to 2 per cent in 2019-20 from 6.2 per cent in the year-ago fiscal. The deceleration was also witnessed in sectors like agriculture, construction and electricity, gas and water supply.

India-Oman will conduct bilateral naval exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr’

January 8, 2020

India and Oman will conduct 12th edition of bilateral maritime exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ in Mormugao Port, Goa. ‘Naseem-Al-Bahr’ (or sea breeze) is a naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the RNO, being conducted since 1993. Indian Navy ships Beas and Subhadra and Oman Navy ships RNOV Al Rasikh and RNOV Khassab are participating in this exercise.

‘Karmayoddha Granth’ a book on the life of PM Modi launched

January 8, 2020

Union Home Minister, Amit Shah released a book ‘Karmayoddha Granth’ on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A ‘Karmayoddha’ is a man with a beating heart for people, a statesman, a hard taskmaster, an able administrator and an ideal leader who leads by example. All these qualities have been personified by Narendra Modi.

Germany’s 1966 World Cup goal-keeper Hans Tilkowski passes away

January 7, 2020

Hans Tilkowski, the West Germany goal-keeper in the 1966 World Cup final against England passes away at age 84. Tilkowski was best known outside Germany for conceding England’s third goal in extra time in the 1966 final, with the score at 2-2, when Geoff Hurst’s shot hit the bar and bounced downward. The decision to award the goal started decades of debate and much-disputed video analysis. Tilkowski always said he was sure the ball did not fully cross the line.

Veteran former Italy international, Daniele De Rossi announces retirement

January 7, 2020

AS Roma legend and World Cup winner – Veteran former Italy international, Daniele De Rossi announced his retirement from football , just six months after joining Argentine giants Boca Juniors. De Rossi played only seven matches for the Buenos Aires outfit, scoring once, but stated that he needed to return home for family reasons.

Lucknow: PM Modi to inaugurate Defence Expo 2020

January 7, 2020

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that ‘Defence Expo-2020’ will be held in Lucknow in February this year. Defence Expo 2020 will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 5. The theme of the Defence Expo India – 2020 will be ‘India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub’ and focus will be on ‘Digital Transformation of Defence’.

Uttar Pradesh will become a destination for defence manufacturing and aerospace manufacturing. This is only the second time that the biennial event will be held outside Bengaluru. In 2018, Chennai hosted the biennial show for the first time ever. A number of foreign defence firms will bring their top-tier products to the Def Expo. The event offers an opportunity for Indian firms to get engaged in Business-to-Business (B2B) interaction with foreign companies.

‘Retinuz’ App for visually challenged to read currency

January 7, 2020

Retinuz, an Android mobile application using artificial intelligence, can rightly identify the denomination of the newly introduced currency notes for visually challenged at a single tap. It can be downloaded for free from Google Play Store.

Retinuz comes alongside Reserve Bank’s MANI (Mobile Aided Note Identifier). Both apps scan currency notes, identify them and read out the information, but Retinuz can be used offline, unlike MANI. Retinuz works at night as well, as the app automatically switches on the torch on the mobile phone to scan the currency notes. The app scanner reads the colour pattern and width of the printed denomination for identification.

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