Current Affairs – March 8, 2021 [Today’s News Headlines]

Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for March 8, 2021

India

PM dedicates 7500th Janaushadhi Kendra to nation in Shillong

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the 7,500th Jan Aushadhi Kendra at North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong on March 7, 2021. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana endeavours to provide quality medicines at an affordable price.

March 7 celebrated as ‘Janaushadhi Diwas’

March 1-7 was celebrated as ‘Janaushadhi Week’ across the nation, with the theme of ‘Jan Aushadhi – Seva bhi, Rozgar bhi’. The last day of the week- March 7 was celebrated as ‘Janaushadhi Diwas’.

President Inaugurates conservation works at Singorgarh Fort in Damoh (MP)

President Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation stone for the conservation works of Singorgarh Fort in Singrampur village of Damoh district in Madhya Pradesh on March 7, 2021. The President also inaugurated the newly carved Jabalpur Circle of Archaeological Survey of India.

ICG intercepts 3 Sri Lankan Boats off Minicoy island in Lakshadweep

In a swift sea-air coordinated operation Indian Coast Guard on March 7, 2021 intercepted three Sri Lankan Boats with 19 crew suspected of carrying contraband off Minicoy island in Lakshadweep. Indian Coast Guard said, the boats were escorted to Vizhinjam in Kerala for further joint investigation.

Economy & Corporate

India Inc’s business confidence highest in decade: FICCI Survey

FICCI’s Overall Business Confidence Index has witnessed a decadal high of 74.2 in the current round on account of improvement in present conditions as well as expectations. The Index had stood at 70.9 in the previous survey as opposed to score of 59 in 2020. It revealed recovery of demand conditions, improved capacity utilisation and a promising outlook on various operational parameters.

World

Nepal’s SC quashes unification of CPN (UML) and CPN (Maoist Center)

Nepal’s Supreme Court has quashed the unification of the erstwhile Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. The CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) merged in May 2018 to form a unified Nepal Communist Party following victory of their alliance in the 2017 general elections. The court on March 7, 2021 issued the verdict giving authenticity of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) to Rishiram Kattel, who had registered the party at the Election Commission (EC) in his name prior to the formation of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) led by Oli and Prachanda. The court said that a new party cannot be registered with the Election Commission when it already has a party registered with a similar name.

Iraq: Pope Francis and Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani meet in Najaf

Pope Francis and Iraq’s top Shiite cleric delivered a powerful message of peaceful coexistence on March 6, 2021, urging Muslims in the war-weary Arab nation to embrace Iraq’s long-beleaguered Christian minority during an historic meeting in the holy city of Najaf. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said religious authorities have a role in protecting Iraq’s Christians, and that they should live in peace and enjoy the same rights as other Iraqis.

UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice held in Kyoto, Japan

The UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice started in Kyoto, Japan on March 7, 2021. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres took part in the opening session online. The conference adopted the Kyoto Declaration, which emphasizes the need to promote digitalization of criminal justice systems and develop partnerships with community volunteers.

Sports

Srinu Bugatha (2:14:59), Sudha Singh (2:43:41) win New Delhi Marathon

Srinu Bugatha clocked a personal best to comfortably win the sixth edition of the New Delhi Marathon, while Asian Games gold medallist Sudha Singh (2:43:41) bagged the top honours in the women’s category on March 7, 2021. Bugatha clocked a personal best of two hours, 14 minutes and 59 seconds.

Swiss Open Badminton in Basel: P. V. Sindhu loses in final

World Champion P V Sindhu finished a distant second best in the Swiss Open Badminton final after being completely routed by Olympic gold medallist Carolina Marin of Spain in a lop-sided women’s singles title clash in Basel on March 7, 2021. Sindhu lost to Marin 12-21, 5-21 in the final that lasted only 35 minutes.

Boxam International Boxing in Spain: Indian women return with 3 silver, 1 bronze

Simranjit Kaur (60kg), Pooja Rani (75kg) and Jasmine (57kg) signed off with silver medals at the 35th Boxam International Boxing Tournament in Castellon, Spain on March 6, 2021. M C Mary Kom (51kg) had ended with a bronze after a semifinal loss. Jasmine (57kg) ended with a silver after going down to Irma Testa of Italy. Simranjit could not take the ring against Rashida Ellis of USA after her semifinal opponent tested positive for COVID-19. Pooja lost 0-5 to another American Melissa Graham. The Indian women boxers thus ended their campaign with three silver and one bronze medal.

Vinesh Phogat wins gold at Matteo Pellicone Rankings Series Wrestling in Rome

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat won the 53kg title at the Matteo Pellicone Rankings Series in Rome. Vinesh, 26, beat Canada’s Diana Weicker 4-0 and has thus won gold without dropping a point throughout the tournament.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2021