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Jasprit Bumrah, Smriti Mandhana named Wisden’s leading cricketers of 2024 [22 Apr 2025]
India duo Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana have been crowned the world’s leading cricketers in the latest edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. Bumrah won the honour in the men’s section after a stellar 2024 when he excelled across formats and was named player of the tournament as India won the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies.
Opener Mandhana won the women’s honour after a prolific 2024 that included five hundreds, four of them in one-day internationals. Mandhana also led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their first Women’s Premier League title last year. West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran was named the ‘Leading T20 Player in the World’. England’s Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith, and Sophie Ecclestone were named among Wisden’s five ‘Cricketers of the Year’, alongside Liam Dawson and Dan Worrall. The Almanack, often called “the Bible of cricket”, has been published every year since 1864.
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Rafael Nadal, Armand Duplantis, Simone Biles emerge as winners at Laureus World Sports Awards 2025 [22 Apr 2025]
Former tennis player Rafael Nadal and Paris 2024 Olympic champions Armand Duplantis, Simone Biles, and Rebeca Andrade were among the top winners at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards held in Madrid. The event marked the 25th edition of the prestigious awards ceremony, celebrating the world’s most outstanding athletes. Eleven-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award, while Nadal was honoured with the Laureus Sporting Icon Award to a standing ovation from a hall filled with sporting legends.
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India Wins ICC Champions Trophy 2025 [20 Apr 2025]
India won its third ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after beating New Zealand by 4 wickets in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. After winning the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, India has become the most successful team in the ICC Champions Trophy. They were joint-winners with hosts Sri Lanka in 2002 and beat England in Birmingham for their second title in 2013.
Rohit Sharma of India was awarded the Player of the Match of the ICC Champions Trophy Final. Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand was adjudged the Player of the Tournament of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He scored 263 runs in four innings at an average 68.75 and a strike rate of over 106. His highest score of 112 came against Bangladesh.
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PM Modi inaugurates new Pamban bridge in Tamil Nadu [06 Apr 2025]
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Pamban sea bridge, providing a rail link between Rameswaram island and the mainland, and flagged off the new Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) train service here. The PM also flagged off a Coast Guard ship, which passed under the bridge. The bridge is all set to improve connectivity to this spiritual destination flocked by devotees throughout the year from across the country. Built at a cost of over Rs 550 crore, this is India’s first vertical sea-lift bridge.
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14th edition of the Indian - Russia bilateral naval exercise INDRA [28 Mar 2025]
The 14th edition of the Indian - Russia bilateral naval exercise INDRA, a cornerstone of the enduring maritime partnership between India and Russia, is taking place off Chennai from 28 Mar to 02 Apr 25. Since its inception in 2003, Exercise INDRA has epitomised the long-term strategic relationship between the two Navies. The exercise has evolved into a symbol of maritime cooperation, showcasing the two nations' commitment to enhancing naval interoperability and operational synergy. The exercise is being conducted in two phases - Harbour phase from 28 to 30 Mar 25 at Chennai, and Sea phase from 31 Mar to 02 Apr 25 in the Bay of Bengal. The exercise will see participation of Russian Federation Naval Ships Pechanga, Rezkiy, and Aldar Tsydenzhapov, along with Indian Naval Ships Rana, Kuthar, and Maritime patrol aircraft P8l. The Harbour Phase will include an Opening ceremony, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), reciprocal visits, sports fixtures, and pre-sail briefings between personnel from both navies. The Sea Phase will witness advanced naval drills, including tactical manoeuvres, live weapon firings, anti-air operations, underway replenishment, helicopter cross-deck landings, and exchange of sea-riders. These exercises and interactions are intended to enhance maritime cooperation, strengthen bridges of friendship, exchange best operational practices, and bolster diplomatic ties between the two nations.
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Lukashenko Sworn In for 7th Term as Belarus President [26 Mar 2025]
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko takes office for the seventh time in a low-key ceremony in Minsk. Despite past protests and Western criticism over election fraud claims, Lukashenko solidifies his grip on power. He remains a key ally of Russia, echoing Putin's stance on NATO and offering Belarusian territory for Russian weapons.
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Shri Ashok Singh Thakur elected as Chairman of INTACH [22 Mar 2025]
The AGM of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was held on 22nd March 2025 at the Head Office in New Delhi. The Elections were held successfully for the post of Chairman and Governing Council members. After following due procedure the results were declared and Shri. Ashok Singh Thakur was elected as Chairman for a period of 3 years.
INTACH is India’s premier heritage conservation organisation formally constituted on 27th January, 1984. It is a national registered Society under the Societies Registration Act (1860). Our mandate is to preserve and conserve the environment, to revitalise intangible heritage and to foster awareness and appreciation of our immense heritage. It also acts as a cultural bank for providing financial and technical expertise towards the preservation of cultural, natural resources and heritage as also of cultural and innovative activities. The INTACH Charter was adopted in 2004 which serves as a foundation document guiding heritage conservation in India. Recognizing the evolving nature of heritage, we are currently working on revising the Charter to make it interdisciplinary, ensuring it encompasses all aspects of heritage from tangible and intangible to natural and cultural dimensions.
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Anju Rathi Rana Appointed as the First Female Law Secretary [21 Mar 2025]
Dr. Anju Rathi Rana has become the first woman to be appointed as Secretary to the Department of Legal Affairs of the Union Ministry of Law and Justice. She has been appointed for an initial period of two years from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders.
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Vidarbha Wins Ranji Trophy 2024 - 25 [21 Mar 2025]
The Vidarbha cricket team won the 2025 Ranji Trophy title by defeating Kerala on the basis of a first innings lead in the final at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. Resuming the second innings on Day 5 at 249-4, Vidarbha batted 54 more overs on the day to extend its total to 375-9.
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India's First PPP Green Waste Processing Plant in Indore [20 Mar 2025]
Indore, which has been ranked India's cleanest city for seven consecutive years, is set to take a major step towards environmental sustainability with the launch of country's first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model-based green waste processing plant under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U). To revolutionise the city's waste management system by converting green waste into valuable resources.
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Jasprit Bumrah, Smriti Mandhana named Wisden’s leading cricketers of 2024 [22 Apr 2025]
India duo Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana have been crowned the world’s leading cricketers in the latest edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. Bumrah won the honour in the men’s section after a stellar 2024 when he excelled across formats and was named player of the tournament as India won the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies.
Opener Mandhana won the women’s honour after a prolific 2024 that included five hundreds, four of them in one-day internationals. Mandhana also led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their first Women’s Premier League title last year. West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran was named the ‘Leading T20 Player in the World’. England’s Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith, and Sophie Ecclestone were named among Wisden’s five ‘Cricketers of the Year’, alongside Liam Dawson and Dan Worrall. The Almanack, often called “the Bible of cricket”, has been published every year since 1864.
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Rafael Nadal, Armand Duplantis, Simone Biles emerge as winners at Laureus World Sports Awards 2025 [22 Apr 2025]
Former tennis player Rafael Nadal and Paris 2024 Olympic champions Armand Duplantis, Simone Biles, and Rebeca Andrade were among the top winners at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards held in Madrid. The event marked the 25th edition of the prestigious awards ceremony, celebrating the world’s most outstanding athletes. Eleven-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award, while Nadal was honoured with the Laureus Sporting Icon Award to a standing ovation from a hall filled with sporting legends.
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India Wins ICC Champions Trophy 2025 [20 Apr 2025]
India won its third ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after beating New Zealand by 4 wickets in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. After winning the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, India has become the most successful team in the ICC Champions Trophy. They were joint-winners with hosts Sri Lanka in 2002 and beat England in Birmingham for their second title in 2013.
Rohit Sharma of India was awarded the Player of the Match of the ICC Champions Trophy Final. Rachin Ravindra of New Zealand was adjudged the Player of the Tournament of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He scored 263 runs in four innings at an average 68.75 and a strike rate of over 106. His highest score of 112 came against Bangladesh.
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PM Modi inaugurates new Pamban bridge in Tamil Nadu [06 Apr 2025]
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Pamban sea bridge, providing a rail link between Rameswaram island and the mainland, and flagged off the new Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) train service here. The PM also flagged off a Coast Guard ship, which passed under the bridge. The bridge is all set to improve connectivity to this spiritual destination flocked by devotees throughout the year from across the country. Built at a cost of over Rs 550 crore, this is India’s first vertical sea-lift bridge.
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14th edition of the Indian - Russia bilateral naval exercise INDRA [28 Mar 2025]
The 14th edition of the Indian - Russia bilateral naval exercise INDRA, a cornerstone of the enduring maritime partnership between India and Russia, is taking place off Chennai from 28 Mar to 02 Apr 25. Since its inception in 2003, Exercise INDRA has epitomised the long-term strategic relationship between the two Navies. The exercise has evolved into a symbol of maritime cooperation, showcasing the two nations' commitment to enhancing naval interoperability and operational synergy. The exercise is being conducted in two phases - Harbour phase from 28 to 30 Mar 25 at Chennai, and Sea phase from 31 Mar to 02 Apr 25 in the Bay of Bengal. The exercise will see participation of Russian Federation Naval Ships Pechanga, Rezkiy, and Aldar Tsydenzhapov, along with Indian Naval Ships Rana, Kuthar, and Maritime patrol aircraft P8l. The Harbour Phase will include an Opening ceremony, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs), reciprocal visits, sports fixtures, and pre-sail briefings between personnel from both navies. The Sea Phase will witness advanced naval drills, including tactical manoeuvres, live weapon firings, anti-air operations, underway replenishment, helicopter cross-deck landings, and exchange of sea-riders. These exercises and interactions are intended to enhance maritime cooperation, strengthen bridges of friendship, exchange best operational practices, and bolster diplomatic ties between the two nations.
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Lukashenko Sworn In for 7th Term as Belarus President [26 Mar 2025]
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko takes office for the seventh time in a low-key ceremony in Minsk. Despite past protests and Western criticism over election fraud claims, Lukashenko solidifies his grip on power. He remains a key ally of Russia, echoing Putin's stance on NATO and offering Belarusian territory for Russian weapons.
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Shri Ashok Singh Thakur elected as Chairman of INTACH [22 Mar 2025]
The AGM of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was held on 22nd March 2025 at the Head Office in New Delhi. The Elections were held successfully for the post of Chairman and Governing Council members. After following due procedure the results were declared and Shri. Ashok Singh Thakur was elected as Chairman for a period of 3 years.
INTACH is India’s premier heritage conservation organisation formally constituted on 27th January, 1984. It is a national registered Society under the Societies Registration Act (1860). Our mandate is to preserve and conserve the environment, to revitalise intangible heritage and to foster awareness and appreciation of our immense heritage. It also acts as a cultural bank for providing financial and technical expertise towards the preservation of cultural, natural resources and heritage as also of cultural and innovative activities. The INTACH Charter was adopted in 2004 which serves as a foundation document guiding heritage conservation in India. Recognizing the evolving nature of heritage, we are currently working on revising the Charter to make it interdisciplinary, ensuring it encompasses all aspects of heritage from tangible and intangible to natural and cultural dimensions.
-
Anju Rathi Rana Appointed as the First Female Law Secretary [21 Mar 2025]
Dr. Anju Rathi Rana has become the first woman to be appointed as Secretary to the Department of Legal Affairs of the Union Ministry of Law and Justice. She has been appointed for an initial period of two years from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders.
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Vidarbha Wins Ranji Trophy 2024 - 25 [21 Mar 2025]
The Vidarbha cricket team won the 2025 Ranji Trophy title by defeating Kerala on the basis of a first innings lead in the final at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. Resuming the second innings on Day 5 at 249-4, Vidarbha batted 54 more overs on the day to extend its total to 375-9.
-
India's First PPP Green Waste Processing Plant in Indore [20 Mar 2025]
Indore, which has been ranked India's cleanest city for seven consecutive years, is set to take a major step towards environmental sustainability with the launch of country's first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model-based green waste processing plant under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U). To revolutionise the city's waste management system by converting green waste into valuable resources.
