The Supreme Court granted  two weeks more time to Centre to decide whether the mythological Ram Setu could be declared a national monument. Earlier, the Supreme Court bench had on March 27, 2012 directed the government to file an affidavit regarding its decision within two days.

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RBI has called for banks to improve their ability to control strained assets, but RBI held that there was nothing startling about an unanticipated rise in the Non-Performing Assets (NPA) levels this fiscal. RBI held that the Banks need to improve their ability to manage NPAs and for this they have to improve their information system.

Following the sustained slowdown in economic activities on the back of rising interest rate regime, banks, in particular the state-run ones, have been reporting higher NPAs in their books since the second quarter. But private lenders are better off. SBI reported record gross NPAs in Q3 at Rs 40,080 crore and saw an 87.5% spike in its provisioning.

The total NPAs in the system are set to top 3% of the total assets this fiscal, against a 2.3% last fiscal at Rs 98,000 crore. But what's worrying RBI is an over 300% spike in corporate debt recast this fiscal, which has already touched Rs 76,251 crore, against Rs 25,054 crore in the previous fiscal. Thus overall CDR asset in the system to over Rs 1,90,000 Crore.

Earl Scruggs(88), one of the most influential instrumentalists in American music, passed away. Scruggs developed a three-finger picking style that revolutionized banjo playing and was essential to the development of bluegrass and country music.

Sri Lanka accused US of following double standards by citing US's close friend Israel's decision to dissolve ties with the UNHRC. Sri Lanka alleged that US was against any global involvement in the Jewish state (Israel) but did not follow the same policy for Colombo (Sri Lanka).

Sri Lanka held that in spite of losing the vote (against it) 36 to 1 Israel cut off links with UNHRC and only US backed Israel. Israel has decided that UNHRC mission would not be granted permission to enter the country.

While in case of Sri Lanka, a few days ago, the US moved resolution which had sought to commit Sri Lanka for expeditious implementation of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) was adopted by 24-15 with 8 abstentions. Sri Lanka baulked the move to present the resolution laying claim that it was a biased action by US to prop up the pro-LTTE Diaspora.

• Countering Piracy;
• Countering Terrorism;
• Growth and trade enhancement in BRICS countries;
• Development of Infrastructure in BRICS region;
• Experience sharing in order to resolve troubles originating from urbanisation.
• Equitable and fair distribution of income;
• For WB President's post, supporting a candidate from developing nation;
• Jobs creation and skill development;
• Mutual collaboration for stabilization of Afghanistan;
• Prioritizing food, water and energy security solutions;
• Reforms in UNSC, WB, IMF through increase in representation from developing nations;
• Revitalize WTO's Doha Round;
• Solution to problems in Iran, North Africa and Syria, West Asia via diaglogue and UN;