Prez Kovind launches Pulse Polio programme 2018

President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday launched the Pulse Polio programme 2018 by administering polio drops to children below five years of age at the Rashtrapati Bhavan."We need to remain vigilant and maintain the population's immunity and carry out sensitive surveillance till global polio eradication happens as the poliovirus is still circulating in other parts of the world which may reinfect us," Union Health Minister J P Nadda said on the occasion. The government has also introduced several new vaccines to provide additional protection.readmore@Times of India

14 killed in the shootout at Fortaleza, Brazil nightclub

At least 14 people were killed overnight in a shootout at a nightclub in Fortaleza, northeastern Brazil, officials said.“We can confirm 14 deaths,” Andre Costa, security secretary for the state of Ceara. As per reports, up to 15 gunmen started firing as they entered the nightclub.Costa said that other victims are hospitalized in serious condition, but did not say how many people were injured. The local media said that the shootout was a clash between members of two rival drug gangs.readmore@News24

Govt saved ₹65,000cr through DBT schemes: NITI Aayog

NITI Aayog chief executive officer Amitabh Kant has aforesaid the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism in many government schemes helped the govt. save around ₹65,000crore. He added aforesaid that all government schemes should be connected to DBT, otherwise corruption can't be ended. He further said that, at present, about three hundred schemes are enforced through DBT, benefiting nearly 41 crore individuals.readmore@Hindustan Times

GST stabilized in a very short time in India: FM Jaitley

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said "GST has stabilized in a very short time in India," as compared to many other countries. He further that "Therefore, it gives the United States an opportunity in the times to come to increase its base and rationalize the structure as it continues to evolve,".readmore@New Indian Express

US state mulls banning phones with hard-to-replace batteries

Image Credit: iFixit 

The United States of America state of Washington has reportedly tabled a bill that aims to ban devices containing "difficult or impossible to remove" batteries. With a potential start date of Jan 1, 2019, the law would need portable devices to be repairable instead of disposable. This comes after Apple admitted to retardation down older iPhones with iOS updates because of aging batteries.readmore@Venture Beat

Students at Kochi school vacated after the ammonia leak

School students and residents of Kochi's Willingdon Island was evacuated on Saturday after ammonia gas leaked from a lorry stationed at the Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT) industrial plant. The ammonia leaked whereas it was being transferred from the plant to the lorry, reportedly because of the tanker's faulty nozzle. Seven people exposed to it were rushed to the hospital.readmore@Hindustan Times

A first in Test history:120 wickets taken

For the first time in history, all 40 wickets fell in each test in a series of 3 or more matches. there were 3 instances of 118 wickets falling in a three-Test series, whereas the best in a four-Test series is 157. the best over 5 Tests is 197.This was also the first instance of India's fast bowlers taking all 20 wickets in a test.readmore@ESPN Cricinfo

India retain ICC 1st Test Rank

India has maintained the ICC Test Championship mace and have also won a reward of $1million after their triumph in the Johannesburg test ensured that South Africa cannot move ahead of them in the ICC Test Team Rankings at the three April cut-off date, even though they go on to win all four Tests against Australia in March.readmore@ICC

Kohli: 'One of our sweetest wins'

India’s jubilant captain hailed one of his team’s “sweetest wins” at Johannesburg after witnessing a staggering turnaround in his team’s fortunes.“A lot of people didn’t have belief in us,” said Virat Kohli. “But as a team, we knew that we were very close in the first 2 Tests too, and we knew that if we played better in pressure-situations than them, then we would win. when no one is believing in you, no one’s backing you, it’s very important to back yourselves as individuals. so we never really cared about what people are saying about us.”readmore@ICC

India wins a test in SA for the first time in seven years

India recorded a 63 run-victory in the last test in Johannesburg on Sat to register their 1st test victory in South Africa after over seven years. With this, Virat Kohli has currently led India to twenty-one test wins, joint 2nd-most for an Indian captain, along with Sourav Ganguly. India also extended their test unvanquished record in Johannesburg to 5 matches.readmore@ICC

Karthik kept wickets after 9 years

Dinesh Karthik, who wasn't a part of India's playing XI, kept wickets in place of wounded Parthiv Patel in the final session of the third test against South Africa on Sat. The rules, that came into effect in Oct last year, allow a substitute to keep wickets. Karthik had not kept wickets for India in Tests since Jan 2010.readmore@Times of India