- Dangal’ wins Best Asian Film award at AACTA
“Dangal” was unanimously chosen the Best Asian Film at the seventh Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards.
Veteran actor Shabana Azmi, who served as one of the jury members on the panel, led by Hollywood star Russell Crowe, for this year’s inaugural category, took to Twitter to laud the film’s team.
- ‘Pihu’ bags 2 awards at Trans-Saharan International Film Fest
Director Vinod Kapri’s “Pihu” has won two awards at the 14th Trans-Saharan International Film Festival.
The film won the Grand Prize for Best Feature Film in the International Competition category and the People’s Choice award for Best Film at the movie gala, which is held annually in Zagora, Morocco.
- Special child-friendly court to come up in Hyderabad
The city police’s ‘Bharosa’ support centre for women and children will soon have a designated children’s court to try cases of sexual offences against the minors. The police is hopeful that the court will conduct speedy trials to ensure justice to the children.
The Hyderabad High Court has accepted the proposal for permitting the designated court for offences to be tried under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO) Act at the Bharosa centre for speedy disposal of child sexual abuse cases.
- Rajasthan government to start ‘Guru-Shishya’ programme
The Rajasthan government will soon introduce ‘Guru-Shishya’ programme in all districts, under which college students can raise discuss with their teachers the issues and problems related to their institutes.
According to state Higher Education Minister Kiran Maheshwari, the programme will be held in one nodal college in each district where students selected on merit and elected members of students union would participate.
- IRFC issues green bond on London Stock Exchange’s ISM
The Indian Railway Finance Corporation’s (IRFC) has issued a USD 500 million green bond with a yield of 3.835 per cent which is listed on the London Stock Exchange’s new International Securities Market (ISM).
The ten year dated bond was more than three times oversubscribed and has received strong international investor support.
IRFC will use the proceeds of the bond to finance or refinance infrastructure for dedicated freight railway lines and public passenger transport.
- RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 6%
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) monetary policy committee (MPC) kept the key interest rate unchanged. The repurchase rate—the rate at which the central bank infuses liquidity in the banking system— was left unchanged at 6%.
The central bank has a medium-term consumer price index-based (CPI-based) inflation target of 4%.
- HDFC ERGO launches solar energy shortfall insurance policy
Non-life insurance provider HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company has announced the launch of the solar energy shortfall insurance policy to account for non-traditional and non-physical damage related risks that solar projects regularly face.
The policy will cover utility-scale solar farms, green fields across India, portfolios of rooftop installations for commercial and residential builds, among others.
- Indian and Italy sign a new MoU for cooperation in Agriculture and Phytosanitary issues
India and Italy Ministers signed a new MoU for cooperation in Agriculture and Phytosanitary issues that will replace the one signed in 2008. The MOU provides a good framework for cooperation in this field.
India has always had an active association with IFAD ever since it was set up in 1977 as the 13th specialized agency of the United Nations. India is a founder member of IFAD, a key contributor among the member Countries, participates actively in the Fund’s governing bodies, and holds a permanent seat in IFAD Executive Board.
- India and Cuba sign MoU for enhanced cooperation in the health sector
India and Cuba signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for enhanced cooperation in the health sector. Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Dr Roberto Tomas Morales Ojeda, Public Health Minister of Cuba signed the MoU in the presence of senior officers from the Health Ministry and a high level delegation from Cuba.
The relations between Cuba and India are historical and based on shared values of equality and justice, common aspirations and convergence of interests on global issues.
- France’s biggest rock star Johnny Hallyday dies at 74.
France’s biggest rock star, Johnny Hallyday, the leather-trousered “French Elvis” who sold more than 110m albums over a career spanning more than half a century, has died aged 74.
- Noted musician Adithan passes away
Noted South Indian music director, Adithan, died in Hyderabad. He was 63. The musician is known for his numbers in films such as the super hit gangster flick ‘Amaran’, besides ‘Seevalaperi Pandi,’ in the early 90s.
- Sushil Kumar and Mary C. Kom resign as National Sports Observer
Wrestler Shri Sushil Kumar and Boxer Ms Mary C. Kom have submitted their resignation as National Sports Observers. As both the top athletes are still active in their respective fields, wrestling (Men) and Boxing (Women), they felt that this could be seen as conflict of interest. Keeping in mind the best of the sporting traditions the athletes submitted their resignation.
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