Israeli researchers have discovered the world’s longest salt cave named ‘Malham’.
The cave stretches for over 10-kilometres (6.25 miles), through Mount Sodom (Israel's largest mountain) and spills out to the southwest corner of the adjacent Dead Sea.
It was mapped out over two years by cavers from nine countries, led by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
In 2006, researchers mapped over six-kilometres of the N3 cave in southern Iran's Qeshm island.
Source: BBC News
2. Nepal Investment Summit 2019 commences in Kathmandu
Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli has inaugurated "Nepal Investment Summit 2019" at ‘Hotel Soaltee’ in Kathmandu.
Over 600 investors (265 from China, 120 from India) and delegates from 40 countries including India are participating in the two-day summit.
The main objective of the event is to project Nepal as a favourable investment destination.
Summit will unveil potential opportunities for investment in various sectors in Nepal including Hydropower, Tourism, Infrastructure, Industry, Transport, Agriculture and Information and Communication Technology.
This unique forum will also be utilized to unfold a range of policy reforms and legal initiatives taken by the Government to attract investors.
77 projects (50 public & 27 private projects) worth 31.93 billion dollars in various sectors will be showcased and 12 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) will be signed during the summit.
Source: The Himalayan Times
3. India, Bangladesh start cruise service from today
Today, India and Bangladesh have started a cruise service that would take passengers through the Sunderbans to Dhaka.
The objective of the move to strengthen inland waterway routes between the two countries.
The MEA (External Affairs Ministry) official said, as the movement of goods starts using inland waterways, so goods from India can go in the cheapest possible form up to Narayanganj and Dhaka in Bangladesh.
People would have the option to travel through the Sunderbans on luxury vessels up to Dhaka and back with border formalities being done at the crossing points in both countries.
About 26 lakhs Bangladeshi nationals visited India last year.
Note:
A cruise ship is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages when the voyage itself, the ship's amenities, and sometimes the different destinations along the way form part of the passengers' experience.
Source: AIR News
4. Pakistan approves the proposal to open Sharda Peeth corridor
The Pakistan government has approved a proposal to establish a corridor to visit Sharda Peeth in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Sharda Peeth is an ancient Hindu temple and cultural site in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
It will be the second religious tract after Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan-controlled territory that will connect the two neighbouring nations.
The Sharda Peeth (130km from Srinagar) went under the control of Pakistan after Partition in 1947.
Kashmiri Pandits consider Sharada as their “kuldevi” or principal deity.
Source: Business-Standard
5. UN council passes a resolution to combat terrorist financing
The UN Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously passed the first-ever resolution ordering members to enforce laws against terror financing.
It demands all states "ensure that their domestic laws and regulations establish serious criminal offences" to collect funds or financial resources to terrorist groups or individual criminals.
The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression.
Note:
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN).
The main organs of the UN are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat.
The Security Council was created following World War II to address the failings of a previous international organization, the League of Nations, in maintaining world peace.
Source: FOX News
6. Venezuela′s Juan Guaido barred from public office for 15 years
According to Venezuela's Comptroller General Elvis Amoroso, Venezuela has barred opposition leader Juan Guaido from holding public office for 15 years.
The decision was taken following an investigation that shows irregularities in his financial records.
The decision will be for the maximum period established in the decree with the scope, courage and strength of the law against corruption.
Source: AIR News
Books & Authors
7. Former Governor’s book titled ‘Indian Fiscal Federalism’ launched
Mr. N.K. Singh (Chairman-15th Finance Commission of India) has launched the book “Indian Fiscal Federalism”.
The book has been written by Dr. Y. V. Reddy (former RBI Governor) and Chairman of the 14th Finance Commission of India along with Dr. G. R. Reddy, Advisor (Finance) to the Government of Telangana.
Source: The Indian Express
Banking and Finance
8. Govt. decides to infuse around Rs 5000 Cr into Bank Of Baroda
The Union Government has decided to infuse around 5,042 crore rupees into Bank of Baroda (BoB) ahead of the merger of two other public sector lenders Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda.
The merger of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda would be effective from 1st April 2019.
In September 2019, the 'Alternative Mechanism' (AM) headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had decided to merge Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda.
After the entity formed by the merger of BoB, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank will be second the third biggest in the Indian banking sector, by virtue of assets and businesses.
Source: Economic Times
9. Bank of Baroda set to Develop Digital Agri Platform ‘Baroda Kisan’
Bank of Baroda (BoB) has signed an MoU with agriculture services companies to develop an agriculture digital platform ‘Baroda Kisan’ for agricultural requirements solutions.
The initiative is being executed by ITCoE of Bank of Baroda, in partnership with IBM India.
Bank of Baroda (BoB) has signed the agreement with Skymet Weather Services, Weather Risk Management Services, BigHaat, Agrostar India, EM3 Agri Services, and Poorti Agri Services.
The platform intends to make a holistic approach towards solving agricultural plights by means of providing reliable and customised information and market linkage for the sale of agriculture produce.
Source: The Hindu Business Line
Sports
10. Breakdancing makes next move to Olympic status at Paris 2024
The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recommended adding breakdancing, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games when the full membership meets in June.
IOC President Thomas Bach said at a news conference in Switzerland that making the Olympics more affordable and responsive has been a key aim for the committee.
He said the addition of these four sports to the Paris medal program offers the opportunity to connect with the young generation.
All four sports will be assessed in terms of how they are managed, the integrity of competitions and judging, before being finalized for Paris.
Source: The Times of India
11. Veselin Matic set to be India’s Basketball Coach
Veselin Matic, who took Iran to an Asian Games bronze medal in 2010, is set to be appointed as the new head coach of the Indian men’s basketball team.
The Serbian’s name had been cleared by the sports ministry.
A veteran international coach, Matic helped Iran qualify for its first ever World Championship (2010) with victory in the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship.
Note:
The India men's national basketball team represents India in international men's basketball.
It is controlled by the Basketball Federation of India.
Source: The Hindu
12. Justice (Retd.) DK Jain will be BCCI's ad-hoc Ethics Officer: COA
According to the Committee of Administrators (COA), Justice (Retd.) DK Jain (newly appointed ombudsman by the BCCI) will also be its ad-hoc Ethics Officer.
The COA had requested the Supreme Court to appoint an Ethics Officer in addition to an Ombudsman for looking into the matters of Conflict of Interest.
Earlier, the three-member COA requested Justice Jain to take over as Ethics Officer on an ad-hoc basis till a permanent appointment takes place.
