Vinay Sahasrabuddhe appointed as President of ICCR

President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe as President of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). He will succeed scholar and thinker Lokesh Chandra, who was appointed by the NDA government in October 2014 and has completed his three-year-term.

US and Turkey open gates for visa services

The US embassy in Turkey announced it is resuming normal visa services for Turkish citizens, saying Turkish authorities fulfilled assurances no local staff would be detained or arrested for performing their duties. But Turkey swiftly denied having granted such assurances in the affair that has tested relations since the two local employees of the U.S. consulate in Istanbul were held on suspicion of ties to last year’s failed coup against President Tayyip Erdogan. The United States suspended visa services at its missions in Turkey in October and Turkey reciprocated.

Bilateral Meeting held between External Affairs Minister of India and Jordan

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Jordanian counterpart Ayman Al Safadi held a bilateral meeting in New Delhi and discussed deepening bilateral ties across multiple sectors. Mr Safadi discussed steps to set up a robust agenda for deepening and diversifying areas of cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, defence and security and people-to-people contact.

Cristiano Ronaldo wins best player at Globe Soccer Award

Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid was awarded the Globe Soccer’s Best Player award, in Dubai. Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award for the second consecutive year and fourth time overall. Also, Real Madrid club was named the best club of the year. Also, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane was given the best coach award.

Nirmala Sitharaman launches Start-up Incubation Centre in Mangalore

Nirmala Sitharaman launched a start-up incubation center called the Centre for Entrepreneurship Opportunities and Learning (CEOL) in Mangaluru, Karnataka. She has allocated Rs. 1.5 crore from her MPLAD (Member of Parliament’s Local Area Development) scheme for the development of CEOL. She represents Karnataka as an MP in the Rajya Sabha.

78th Session of Indian History Congress held in Kolkata

The three-day long 78th session of the Indian History Congress begun in Kolkata, West Bengal. The Indian History Congress had six sections this time – Ancient India, Medieval India, Modern India, Countries Other than India, Archaeology and Contemporary India. The aim of conducting Indian History Congress is for promotion and encouragement of the scientific study of Indian History.

China successfully tested its first Photovoltaic road

China successfully tested its first photovoltaic (solar) highway based on home-grown technology in country’s eastern Shandong province. With this, China became the second country in the world to construct a photovoltaic highway. China’s photovoltaic highway is constructed using solar panels which have a thin sheet of transparent concrete on top of them, protecting the surface.

Delhi govt launches mobile app that would connect 1600 SMC members

The Delhi government has launched a mobile app that would connect around 16,000 members of School Management Committees (SMCs). It is aimed at helping the schools, parents and students in better coordination and result oriented performance. The launch was conducted by Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the capital itself.