ISSF World Cup Shooting Championship begins
- International Shooting Sports Federation- ISSF World Cup Shooting Championship is being organised in Bhopal, MP from 20-27 Mar’23.
- Around 325 shooters from 33 countries and more than 75 technical officials will participate in the World Cup Shooting Championship.
- It is the 8th World Cup organised in India and the first international shooting tournament to be held outside New Delhi.
India to host 2023 SAFF Championships in Bengaluru
- The 2023 edition of the SAFF Championship, South Asia’s marquee international tournament, will be held in Bengaluru from June 21 to July 3, 2023.
- This was announced by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
- India will be hosting the tournament for the fourth time and first since the 2015 edition when it was held in Thiruvananthapuram.
Bombay Jayashri to be conferred with Sangita Kalanidhi award
- Renowned Carnatic vocalist and musician Bombay Jayashri has been chosen for the coveted Sangita Kalanidhi award of the prestigious Music Academy, Chennai.
- The Music Academy also declared names for Nritya Kalanidhi, Sangita Kala Acharya, TTK, and Musicologist awards for the year 2023.
- The awards will be presented to the winners on January 1 and 3 2024.
Sergio Perez wins the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
- Sergio Perez won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on 19 March 2023.
- Max Verstappen came second.
- Two-time champion Fernando Alonso finished third in his Aston Martin.
- He was closely followed by the Mercedes pair George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Vikash, Paramjeet qualify for 2024 Olympics and 2023 World C’ships
- India’s 20 km race walkers Vikash Singh and Paramjeet Singh Bisht have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics as well as 2023 World Championships during the Asian Championships.
- Vikash and Paramjeet finished second and third in the open category men’s section of the Asian 20km Race Walking Championships, clocking 1:20:05sec and 1:20:08sec respectively, behind Qian Haifeng (1:19:09) of China.
Riya wins a double crown in Asian tennis
- Riya Sachdeva won both the singles and doubles titles in the Asian under-16 tennis tournament at the Singha Sports Academy.
- Riya beat Aakruti Sonkusare 6-2, 6-4 in the girls’ final.
- She partnered Sejal Bhutada to beat Akanksha Ghosh and Arzan Khorakiwala 6-0, 6-3 in the doubles final.
- Aradhya Kshitij won the boys’ title, beating second seed Levin Safoor Mydeen.
Indian junior archers clinch 10 medals
- The junior Indian archers won 10 medals in the Asia Cup Stage 1 World Ranking Tournament in Taoyuan.
- They emerged as the top-ranked contingent with 10 medals, including 5 gold.
- The Indian contingent also won four silver and a bronze in a field of 156 archers from 13 countries.
- The compound women’s teams of Pragati, Aishwarya Sharma and Parneet Kaur clinched gold defeating Kazakhstan.
Global Terrorism Index 2023: Afghanistan tops the list
- Afghanistan retains the top spot in the list of country impacted by terrorism in the new Global Terrorism Index report.
- Afghanistan has topped for the fourth consecutive year.
- Pakistan saw the second-largest increase in terror-related fatalities globally in 2022.
- India ranked 13th on the index, marking only a marginal decrease from the previous year.
World Oral Health Day: 20 March
- World Oral Health Day is observed on March 20, every year.
- The day aims to create awareness about the significance of oral health.
- It also tries to educate individuals about the different oral hygiene practices that one should be following on daily basis.
- In the year 2021, a three-year-long theme was launched for World Oral Health Day, that is, “Be Proud of Your Mouth.”
International Day of Happiness: 20 March
- International Day of Happiness is celebrated every year on 20 March.
- The day is celebrated to promote the importance of happiness, well-being, and mental health in our lives.
- The theme for 2023 is “Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind.”
- The General Assembly of the United Nations on 12 July 2012, proclaimed 20 March the International Day of Happiness.
Aerator cum Dancing Fountains inaugurated in Srinagar
- In Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated Aerator cum Dancing Fountains in Dal Lake in Srinagar on 19 March 2023.
- The Aerator cum Dancing Fountains is installed in six clusters along the periphery of the Dal Lake.
- The project has been completed by J&K Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LC&MA) at an estimated cost of 10 crore rupees.
UBS to buy Credit Suisse in a historic deal brokered by Swiss Govt.
- UBS Group AG, Switzerland’s largest banking group, has agreed to acquire the crisis-hit Credit Suisse Group AG in a historic, government-brokered deal, news agency Bloomberg has reported.
- UBS is paying more than $2 billion to buy its rival, citing sources who are privy to the matter.
Khalistani Protestors Take Down Tricolour at High Commission In London
- The Centre summoned the British Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott.
- The protesters, who were demonstrating against a crackdown by security forces in Punjab on the Waaris Punjab De (WPD) group, shouted Khalistani slogans, while one protester climbed up to the Indian High Commission balcony overlooking the street and brought down the national Tricolour.
1st Bharat Gaurav tourist train from the Telugu States started journey
- The first Bharat Gaurav tourist train originating from the Telugu States commenced its journey from Secunderabad railway station in March 2023.
- The Punya Kshetra Yatra: Puri – Kasi – Ayodhya train is being operated by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
- The tour involves visiting important and historical places in Puri, Konark, Gaya, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj
Jammu and Kashmir gets first FDI project
- Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on 19 March 2023 laid the foundation stone for a ₹250-cr mega shopping mall at Srinagar’s Sempora area.
- It will be constructed by Dubai-based Emaar Group.
- It is the first “foreign direct investment” in the Union territory.
- It will be constructed over an area of 10 lakh (1 million) square feet and is expected to be completed by 2026.
Japan PM Kishida Fumio arrives on a 2-day visit to India on 20 March
- Prime Minister of Japan Kishida Fumio arrived in New Delhi on 20 March 2023 for a two-day visit to India.
- He is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- During the meeting, both sides will discuss bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
- The visiting dignitary will give the 41st Sapru House Lecture.
- Japan is the fifth largest investor in India.
L20 engagement group’s inception meet began
- Labour20 (L20) engagement group’s inception meet, as part of India’s G20 presidency began deliberations in Amritsar in Mar’23.
- Key issues included issues concerning the global workforce to provide direction to the G20 nations and institutions to focus on development reaching to the last person.
- L20 event had delegates from previous presidency, Indonesia, and next presidency, Brazil.
Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden win Men’s Doubles title
- In Tennis, Indian Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden of Australia have won the Indian Wells doubles title in California, United States.
- They defeated top-seeded pair of Dutch players Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski from Great Britain 6-3, 2-6, 10-8.
- Both defeated beat Americans Jack Sock and John Isner 7-6, 7-6 to reach the Summit clash.
4th Asian Kho Kho Championship for Men and Women to begin
- The 4th Asian Kho Kho Championship for Men and Women will begin at Baksa district in Assam on 20 March 2023.
- The event will conclude on the 23 March 2023.
- The event is being organised by the Kho Kho Federation of India in association with the Assam Kho Kho Association and Bodoland Territorial Region government.
Two Indian destinations among Time’s ‘World’s Greatest Places Of 2023’
- The TIME magazine has released its annual list of the ‘World’s Greatest Places’ for the year 2023.
- Two Indian destinations have made it to the list.
- Mayurbhanj and Ladakh, that have been selected for their rare tigers and ancient temples, and adventures and eats, respectively.
- Tampa in Florida is at top followed by Willamette Valley in Oregon.
Sri Lanka’s Bank opens an Indian rupee-denominated Nostro account
- Sri Lanka’s Seylan Bank has opened an Indian rupee-denominated Nostro account in Indian Bank in Mumbai.
- The arrangement will help settle cross-border transactions using Indian rupee between the two nations.
- Sri Lanka’s banks have been opening Nostro accounts in India-based banks.
- Banks from the Indian side have maintained similar accounts in Sri Lanka for a reciprocal arrangement.
4th Defence Cooperation Dialogue between India and Maldives
- The 4th Defence Cooperation Dialogue between India and the Maldives was held in Male on 19 March 2023.
- The dialogue was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and his Maldivian counterpart Major General Abdulla Shamaal.
- The Armed Forces of India and the Maldives continue to seek bilateral cooperation in multiple fields.
Nagaland all set to host G20 Business Summit 2023 at Kohima on April 5
- Nagaland is all set to host the G20 Business Summit 2023 at Kohima on April 5, 2023.
- About 110 delegates are being expected to visit, of which about 100 will be from 28 G20 countries and the remaining from international organizations that are part of the grouping.
- Business summit and cultural events, showcasing the strengths of Nagaland will be another highlight of the event.