Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 22nd and 23rd March 2020. These are important for the upcoming Exams. Candidates who were preparing for the examination can use these current affairs and also you can download the same as PDF.
Current Affairs Today – 22nd and 23rd March 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- World Down Syndrome Day was observed on 21st March every year.
- World Water Day is observed on 22nd March every year.
- The World Meteorological day is observed on 23 March.
- Bihar State observed the Statehood day on 22 March.
- India celebrates “Shaheed Diwas” annually on 23 March to pay tribute to martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru.
- Ram Manohar Lohia’s birth anniversary was observed on 23 March.
- Reserve bank of India extended the regulatory restrictions on Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC) Bank by another three months.
- The State Bank of India has launched an additional liquidity facility “Covid-19 Emergency Credit Line (CECL)”.
- Axis bank will waive off charges for savings account, current account and prepaid card customers (wherever applicable) towards online IMPS and financial and non-financial ATM transactions between March 23 and March 31 (both dates inclusive).
- ICICI Lombard a private sector non-life insurance company has launched a 1 year-long “COVID-19 Protection Cover”.
- Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on Monday said it has provided an initial support of Rs 5 crore to the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to help tackle the Covid-19 outbreak.
- The United Nations (UN) has announced that it is to create a fund to support the treatment of coronavirus patients worldwide.
- The Union Cabinet approved the inclusion of the AYUSH health and wellness centre component of Ayushman Bharat in National Ayush Mission.
- The Union Cabinet approved a scheme to promote medical device parks for financing common infrastructure facilities.
- The South Asia Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Disaster Management Centre has launched a website for information related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the region.
- Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released a slew of measures for airlines and airports on social distancing aginst COVID-19.
- Actor Priyanka Chopra works jointly with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to spread awareness over COVID-19.
- The Indian government has asked all state-owned lenders to extend emergency credit lines to corporate borrowers, three government and banking sources said, as it rushes to tackle the fallout from the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak that has grounded business across the globe
- Uttar Pradesh govt announced several actions and measures in its fight against coronavirus.
- The world’s largest streaming media service, Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) has announced the formation of $100 million fund.
- The United Kingdom (UK) was confirmed as the first co-chair of the governing council of India-led global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
- United Nations released the World Happiness Report 2020
- Indian mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta entered ‘Limca Book of Records’ (LBR) for his extraordinary achievements, as the first Indian to climb the highest volcanoes of each of the 7 continents.
- The number of women matches officials across different International Cricket Council panels has gone up to 12 as Janani Narayanan, and Vrinda Rathi of India was named in the International Panel of ICC Development Umpires.
- Veteran Tamil director Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanathan passed away due to kidney failure on 22 March in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- American music singer Kenny Rogers who was known around the world for his global hits such as “The Gambler”, “Lady”, “Lucille” and “Islands in the Stream”, has passed away.
NEWS IN DETAILS
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
World Down Syndrome Day was observed on 21st March
- World Down Syndrome Day was observed on 21st March every year.
- The observation of the day aims to raise public awareness and understanding of Down syndrome.
- The congenital disorder is caused by an extra 21st chromosome.
Aim:
- The day aims to showcase the abilities and accomplishments of people with Down syndrome.
- It also focuses on encouraging independence, self-advocacy, and freedom of choices for people with Down syndrome.
World Water Day is observed on 22nd March
- World Water Day is observed on 22nd March every year.
- The day aims to create awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water.
- Water is the essential building block of life.
- It is essential to protect the health, and hence water is vital for creating jobs and supporting economic, social, and human development.
Aim:
- The day marks the importance of freshwater and spreads awareness for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
- The day aims to revive initiatives and measures to save water.
Theme:
- The theme for the 2020 World Water Day is ‘Water and Climate Change.’
- The theme explores how the two issues are inextricably linked.
- The 2020 campaign promoted messages around hand-washing and hygiene and gave guidance on staying safe while supporting the campaign, in view of the growing COVID-19 pandemic
Extra Shots:
Background:
- The observation of the day was initiated in the year 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution to observe 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water. The day was first observed on 22 March 1993. The day focuses on the importance of freshwater.
World Meteorological Day is observed on 23rd March
- The World Meteorological day is observed on 23 March.
- The day is celebrated by the World Meteorological Organization.
- The day marks the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization.
Theme:
- The theme of the 2020 World Meteorological day is “Climate and Water.”
- The theme focus on climate change for the year 2020 is “Count Every Drop, Every Drop Counts.”
- The day focuses on the challenges posed by the water crisis, floods and droughts, and lack of access to clean supplies.
Extra Shots:
World Meteorological Organization:
- Formation: 23 March 1950
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- President: Gerhard Adrian, Germany
- Secretary: General: Petteri Taalas, Finland
- Member states: 193
Bihar Diwas was observed on 22 March
- Bihar State observed the Statehood day on 22 March.
- Bihar Diwas celebrates the birth of Bihar as an independent state.
- The day aims to celebrate freedom and show gratitude for the beautiful land of Bihar.
Extra Shots:
Bihar
- Capital: Patna
- Chief Minister: Nitish Kumar
- Governor: Phagu Chauhan
- Literacy Rate: 63.82%
India celebrates “Shaheed Diwas” on 23 March
- India celebrates “Shaheed Diwas” annually on 23 March to pay tribute to martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru.
- This day has a very important significance in the Indian freedom struggle.
- On 23 March 1931, three Indian freedom fighters namely Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru were hanged by the British rulers in Lahore jail.
- The three brave freedom fighters were sentenced to death in the Lahore conspiracy case.
- In this manner, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru sacrificed their lives for the goal of attaining freedom for our nation and became the face of nationalism.
- On this day, in India, Schools and colleges conducts various activities including poetry, speech or drama to pay tribute as well as to salute the revolutionaries who were not deterred even in the face of death.
Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia birth anniversary was observed on 23 March
- Ram Manohar Lohia’s birth anniversary was observed on 23 March.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia for social empowerment and his service-oriented philosophy that continues to inspire the citizens of the country.
Extra Shots:
Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia:
- Ram Manohar Lohia was born on 23 March 1910 at Akbarpur, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India. He studied at the Banaras Hindu University. He earned his BA degree in Vidyasagar College, University of Calcutta. The socialist political leader was an activist in the Indian independence movement. He participated in the Quit India Movement, the Indian independence movement.
BANKING AND FINANCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
RBI extends restrictions on PMC Bank for three more months
- Reserve bank of India extended the regulatory restrictions on Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC) Bank by another three months.
- The central bank also added that it has been in talks with various authorities for the quick sale of securities and recoveries of loans.
- The validity of the directive dated 23 September 2019, stands modified from 23 March 2020 to 22 June 2020.
- RBI imposed restrictions on PMC bank under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act.
- This was aimed at preventing a run on the bank that could end up endangering the stability of the entire financial system because of a contagion effect.
- These curbs were put in place after the central bank saw gross under-reporting of bad loans, financial irregularities by the bank’s officials, and failure of internal controls and systems.
Extra Shots:
RBI: The Reserve Bank of India is India’s central banking institution, which controls the issuance and supply of the Indian rupee.
- Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Governor: Shaktikanta Das
- Deputy Governors: B P Kanungo, M K Jain, Michael Debaprata Patra
SBI launches “Covid-19 Emergency Credit Line”
- The State Bank of India has launched an additional liquidity facility “Covid-19 Emergency Credit Line (CECL)”.
- The facility has been launched by India’s largest lender State Bank of India to meet any liquidity mismatch for its borrowers in order to tide over the current crisis situation.
Covid-19 Emergency Credit Line (CECL):
- With CECL, SBI will facilitate funds up to Rs 200 crore which will be available till June 30, 2020.
- CECL will be in the form of a 12-month demand loan at an interest rate of 7.25 per cent.
- The facility would be available for all standard accounts which have not been classified as Special Mention Accounts (SMA) 1 or 2 as on March 16, 2020.
- Under CECL facility, borrowers will be allowed to avail a maximum of 10% of the existing fund based working capital limits subjected to a cap of Rs 200 crore.
Extra Shots:
SBI: The State Bank of India is an Indian multinational, public sector banking and financial services statutory body. It is a government corporation statutory body.
- Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar
- Headquarters: Mumbai
Axis Bank to waive charges on online IMPS, ATM transactions from March 23-31
- Axis bank will waive off charges for savings account, current account and prepaid card customers (wherever applicable) towards online IMPS and financial and non-financial ATM transactions between March 23 and March 31 (both dates inclusive).
- Bank has set aside Rs 100 crore to support customers, employees, vendors, government agencies and the community at large towards curbing the spread of coronavirus.
Extra Shots:
Axis Bank is the fifth-largest bank in India offering a wide assortment of financial products. The bank has its head office in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It has 4,050 branches, 11,801 ATMs and 4,917 cash recyclers spread across the country as of 31 March 2019 and nine international offices.
- CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry
- Headquarters: Mumbai
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
ICICI Lombard launches policies to cover Covid-19 patients
- ICICI Lombard a private sector non-life insurance company has launched a 1 year-long “COVID-19 Protection Cover”.
- This policy will pay 100% of the sum insured to the COVID-19 positive individual, irrespective of hospitalization expenses.
- The insurance policy is in group insurance mode.
- It will provide value-added benefits such as Health Assistance and CHAT/Virtual assistance, teleconsultation and ambulance assistance, as part of the offering.
Highlights:
- The health cover of policy is priced at a premium of Rs 149 and provides a sum insured of Rs 25,000 including value-added benefits.
- The insurance policy will cover all individuals across the age group of 18-75 years.
- The period of the policy is restricted to 1 year and the scope of the coverage is limited to the geographical boundaries of India.
- The cover also excludes people with travel history to any location overseas post-December 31, 2019 and if the insured has been quarantined for suspected COVID-19 or diagnosed with COVID-19 prior to the risk inception date or within the initial 14-Day waiting period.
- The policy is introduced on the lines of ICICI Lombard’s ethics of “Nibhaaye Vaade” (Keeping Promises) to introduce industry-first initiatives for its customers.
Extra Shots:
ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited is a general insurance company in India. It is engaged in general insurance, reinsurance, insurance claims management and investment management. The company has a Gross Written Premium of Rs 147.89 billion.
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- CEO: Bhargav Dasgupta
- Parent organization: ICICI Bank
RIL donates Rs 5 crore to Maharashtra CM relief fund
- Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on Monday said it has provided an initial support of Rs 5 crore to the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to help tackle the Covid-19 outbreak.
- India has now 425 confirmed cases, with death toll at eight. World over, 349,211 people have been infected by the novel coronavirus, which was first reported in China’s Wuhan in December, with death toll at 15,308.
- RIL said it has initiated a multi-pronged prevention, mitigation, and ongoing support strategy.
- “This approach can be ramped up further to scale as required by the nation.
- RIL has deployed the combined strengths of Reliance Foundation, Reliance Retail, Jio, Reliance Life Sciences, Reliance Industries, and all the 6,00,000 members of the Reliance Family on this action plan against COVID-19.
Extra Shots:
RIL: Reliance Industries Limited is an Indian multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Reliance owns businesses across India engaged in energy, petrochemicals, textiles, natural resources, retail, and telecommunications.
- CEO: Mukesh Ambani
- Owner: Mukesh Ambani (47.35%)
- Founder: Dhirubhai Ambani
UN to create global coronavirus fund
- The United Nations (UN) has announced that it is to create a fund to support the treatment of coronavirus patients worldwide.
- The announcement was made by Norway’s Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soereide.
- A formal announcement is yet to be made.
Highlights:
- The move aims to provide predictability to the partners and help to make the efforts more effective.
- The fund will assist developing countries with weak health systems to address the crisis and to tackle the long-term consequence.
- Almost 340,000 people have been infected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) across the world, and more than 14,500 have died.
Extra Shots:
UN: The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations.
- Secretary general: António Guterres
- Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
- Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Cabinet approved inclusion of AYUSH health and wellness centre
- The Union Cabinet approved the inclusion of the AYUSH health and wellness centre component of Ayushman Bharat in National Ayush Mission.
- It is expected that it will provide enhanced accessibility to achieve universal health coverage for affordable treatment.
Highlights:
- The proposal entails an expenditure of Rs.3399.35 crore. The cost includes a central share of Rs.2209.58 crore and Rs.1189.77 crore as state share.
- The wellness centre will be operationalized within a period of five years.
- The proposal will establish a holistic wellness model based on AYUSH principles and practices focusing on preventive promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative healthcare by integration with the existing public health care system.
- A total of 12,500 Ayush health and wellness centres throughout the country will be operationalized under the mission.
Cabinet approved scheme to promote medical device parks
- The Union Cabinet approved a scheme to promote medical device parks for financing common infrastructure facilities.
- The Cabinet also approved a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to promote domestic manufacturing of medical devices.
Aim:
- The scheme aims to provide a mechanism to compensate for the manufacturing disability.
- The target will provide financial assistance for common infrastructure facilities for four medical device parks.
Highlights:
- The medical device is a growing sector, and its potential for growth is the highest among all sectors in the healthcare market.
- In the year 2018-2019, the sector valued at Rs.50,026 crore, and it is expected to reach Rs.86,840 crore by 2021-22.
- India depends on imports up to the extent of 85% of the total domestic demand for medical devices.
- The scheme aims to promote medical device parks in the country in partnership with the states.
- The Centre will provide a maximum grant-in-aid of Rs.100 crore per park to the states.
SDMC launched website for information related to Coronavirus
- The South Asia Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Disaster Management Centre has launched a website for information related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the region.
Website:
- SAARC has launched the website, www.covid19-sdmc.org., in aid to the pandemic.
- The website will show the number of coronavirus cases in the member states and update the numbers regularly.
- The website reported that around 960 coronavirus cases had been reported in the SAARC region. Also, five people have lost their lives in India, three in Pakistan, and two died in Bangladesh due to COVID-19.
- Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the website during the recent video conference with SAARC leaders and representatives of the member states. He also launched SAARC COVID-19 Emergency Funds.
Extra Shots:
SAARC Disaster Management Centre :
- SDMC is the Interim Unit (IU) of SAARC. It was set up under the premise of Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM). The eight Member States, namely, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, are served by the SDMC (IU).
DGCA released guidelines on Social distancing to prevent Coronavirus
- Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released a slew of measures for airlines and airports on social distancing aginst COVID-19.
Highlights:
- The guidelines stated to ensure adequate space between passengers and check-in counters and leaving one seat vacant between two passengers, among others.
- It asked to maintain adequate spacing, minimum one metre, at check-in counters between passengers and also between individual counters.
- Airlines should ensure the availability of adequate staff for guiding the passengers at check-in counters and during security checks.
- Airlines must ensure that boarding is done in a manner to avoid bunching of passengers at any time and also ensure adequate spacing between passengers in boarding lines.
- The airlines must provide sanitizers for staff and passengers at the entry of the aircraft.
- The cabin crew should maintain adequate distance while serving the passengers.
- Seat allocation at the time of check-in should be done in a manner to ensure that the seat between two passengers is kept empty.
- Any other action as deemed appropriate to ensure social distancing is maintained.
Extra Shots:
DGCA: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is the statutory body formed under the Aircraft Bill, 2020. This directorate investigates aviation accidents and incidents. It is headquartered along Sri Aurobindo Marg, opposite Safdarjung Airport, in New Delhi.
- Sector: Civil aviation
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Parent agency: Ministry of Civil Aviation
- Founded: 1997
- Jurisdiction: India
- Subsidiary: Airports Authority of India
Priyanka Chopra works jointly with WHO to spread awareness over COVID-19
- Actor Priyanka Chopra works jointly with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to spread awareness over COVID-19.
- Priyanka urged followers to rely on authentic sources of information about coronavirus and arranged an Instagram live with top personnel of the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about the pandemic.
- The actor documented her videos on Instagram stories where she expressed the importance of only relying on authentic information about the highly contagious disease.
- Priyanka and her husband Nick Jonas are on day 8 of self-isolation and taking all the recommended precautions to combat the spread of the virus.
Extra Shots:
WHO: The World Health Organization is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. It is part of the U.N. Sustainable Development Group.
- Head: Tedros Adhanom Trending
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- Founded: 7 April 1948
Indian government asks banks to provide liquidity support to corporates
- The Indian government has asked all state-owned lenders to extend emergency credit lines to corporate borrowers, three government and banking sources said, as it rushes to tackle the fallout from the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak that has grounded business across the globe
- Banks have been asked to make available an additional 10 percent in funds over and above sanctioned working capital loans, but not exceeding 2 billion rupees ($26.33 million) per loan account as part of the emergency measures
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
UP govt announces one month free food grains to poor
- Uttar Pradesh govt announced several actions and measures in its fight against coronavirus.
- Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced to provide one-month free food grains to poor people along with Rs 1,000 as compensation to daily wage workers who have been affected due to the outbreak of the deadly virus.
Extra Shots:
Uttar Pradesh:
- Capital: Lucknow
- Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
- Governor: Anandiben Patel
- State formed in: 24 January 1950
- Literacy Rate: 67.68%
- Nation Park: Dudhwa National Park
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Netflix establishes $100 mn fund for film and TV workers
- The world’s largest streaming media service, Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) has announced the formation of $100 million fund.
- The fund has been created to help workers on film and television productions that have been impacted due to the global coronavirus outbreak.
- The fund will help cast and crew members such as electricians, carpenters, drivers and other hourly workers.
- Out of $100 million fund, company will contribute $15 million to third parties and non-profit organizations that were providing emergency relief suspended crew and cast members in countries where Netflix has a large production base.
Extra Shots:
Netflix, Inc. is an American media-services provider and production company headquartered in Los Gatos, California, founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California.
- Founded: 29 August 1997, Scotts Valley, California, United States
- CEO: Reed Hastings
- Founders: Reed Hastings, Marc Randolph
- Owned by: Morgan Stanley, Reed Hastings
SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES
UK Confirmed as 1st co-chair in India-Led Climate Change Initiative CDRI
- The United Kingdom (UK) was confirmed as the first co-chair of the governing council of India-led global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
- Governing Council of CDRI is the highest policy-making body of the society.
- The council is co-chaired by India and a representative of another national government nominated by rotation every two years.
- The UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, represented the UK at the first council meeting.
- The minister is President of the 2020 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).
- He held a meeting with Pramod Kumar Mishra, the Indian Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary, over videoconference. The UK will host COP26 in Glasgow in November 2020.
Extra Shots:
CDRI:
- The proposal to establish CDRI was initiated and approved by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 13 August 2019. The supporting secretariat was set up in New Delhi, India. The memorandum and regulations of the CDRI society was prepared by the National Disaster Management Authority. CDRI is a voluntary international grouping, linking governments, UN agencies, banks, private sector groups, and academia to develop the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks.
- CDRI aims to bring together the largest number of state heads to generate commitments to combat the effects of climate change and resulting disasters. India has announced Rs.480 crore to the CDRI for the next five years. It will help fund technical assistance and research projects, setting up offices and covering recurring expenditures under the initiative.
RANKS AND INDICES
UN releases World Happiness Report 2020
- United Nations released the World Happiness Report 2020.
- The World Happiness Report ranks 156 countries by how happy their citizens perceive themselves.
- The report is a landmark survey of the state of global happiness.
- This is the 8th edition of the World Happiness Report.
- The special focus of the World Happiness Report 2020 was on environments for happiness, which emphasizes more specifically on social environments for happiness, as reflected by the quality of personal social connections and social institutions.
- World Happiness Report 2020 covers the period of 2017-2019 and analyses the countries on the following six variables:
- GDP per capita
- Social support
- Healthy life expectancy
- Freedom to make life choices
- Generosity
- Perceptions of corruption
Ranking of countries as per the World Happiness Report 2020:
- Finland
- Denmark
- Switzerland
- Iceland
- Norway
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- New Zealand
- Austria
- Luxembourg
- India
APPOINTMENT
Satyarup Siddhanta becomes 1st Indian to complete volcanic Seven Summit
- Indian mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta entered ‘Limca Book of Records’ (LBR) for his extraordinary achievements, as the first Indian to climb the highest volcanoes of each of the 7 continents.
- He also holds the record as the youngest mountaineer in the world to climb both 7 peaks and 7 volcanic summits.
- These 7 continents summits are:
- Ojos del Salado (6,893 m) in Chile
- South America, Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) in Tanzania, Africa
- Mount Elbrus (5,642 m) in Russia, Europe
- Mount Pico de Orizaba (5,636 m) in Mexico, North America
- Mount Damavand (5,610 m) in Iran, Asia
- Mount Giluwe (4,367 m) in Papua New Guinea, Australia
- Mount Sidley (4,285 m) in Antarctica.
Other achievements:
- Satyarup Siddhanta also holds Guinness Book of World Records, Asia book of records, India book of Records, Champion Book of Records, British Book of Records etc.
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Indian umpires Janani Narayanan and Vrinda Rathi named in ICC panel
- The number of women matches officials across different International Cricket Council panels has gone up to 12 as Janani Narayanan, and Vrinda Rathi of India was named in the International Panel of ICC Development Umpires.
- The announcement comes soon after the launch of 100% Cricket, a 12-month campaign anticipated building on the momentum of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020.
- The campaign launched just before 86,174 people watched the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on International Women’s Day.
Extra Shots:
ICC: The International Cricket Council is the global governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from Australia, England and South Africa. It was renamed as the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.
- Chairperson: Shashank Manohar
- Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- CEO: Manu Sawhney
- Founded: 15 June 1909
- Membership: 104 members
OBITUARIES
Tamil director Viswanathan passed away
- Veteran Tamil director Meenakshisundaram Ramasamy Viswanathan passed away due to kidney failure on 22 March in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- He was 74 years old.
American singer Kenny Rogers passes away
- American music singer Kenny Rogers who was known around the world for his global hits such as “The Gambler”, “Lady”, “Lucille” and “Islands in the Stream”, has passed away.
- In his six decade long career, he won three Grammys Awards.
