Donald Trump nominates World Bank critic David Malpass to lead global lender
David Malpass, has formally been confirmed as the U.S.’ choice to head the World Bank, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on February 6 afternoon. Mr. Malpass, the undersecretary of the Treasury for international affairs, is a controversial candidate for the job, owing to his views on multilateralism, multilateral organisations including the World Bank.
Major runway repairs at Mumbai airport set to disrupt 5,520 flights
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport will not operate flights between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursdays, Saturdays and Tuesdays from February 7 to March 30, owing to major runway repairs. Airport officials said the cancellation of around 230 flights on each of these days would end up disrupting 5,520 flights.
Contempt pleas against Prashant Bhushan: Supreme Court may curb advocates from speaking on cases
The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine the possibility of imposing curbs on advocates airing their views in the media about pending cases and the judges handling them, during a hearing on contempt petitions filed by the government and the Attorney General of India against civil rights lawyer Prashant Bhushan. A Bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Navin Sinha agreed that “though the flash of cameras and media attention may seem irresistible to some, a line needed to be firmly drawn.”
“Having personally travelled on local trains as a student, I know the difficulties commuters face,” Piyush Goyal
To ensure that Mumbai has world class infrastructure in keeping with its metropolitan status, the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a number of initiatives to upgrade the suburban system, which will help improve passenger satisfaction and safety, reduce congestion, and adequately plan for the future.
Unregulated deposit schemes to be banned
“The Cabinet has given its approval to move official amendments to the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018, pursuant to the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Finance,” the government said in a release. “The amendments will further strengthen the Bill in its objective to effectively tackle the menace of illicit deposit-taking activities, and prevent such schemes from duping poor and gullible people of their hard-earned savings.”
Last four years hottest on record, U.N. confirms
The U.N.’s World Meterological Organisation said in November that 2018 was set to be the fourth warmest year in recorded history, stressing the urgent need for action to rein in runaway planetary warming. On February 6, it incorporated the final weeks of 2018 into its climate models and concluded that average global surface temperature in 2018 was 1°C (1.8°F) above pre-industrial baseline levels.
Women's T20 international: Smriti Mandhana shines but India fail; New Zealand win opening match
Smriti Mandhana smashed a record half-century but the Indian women’s cricket team failed to make it count, going down by 23 runs in the opening T20 International against New Zealand here Wednesday. Smriti bettered her own record by a ball for the fastest 50 by an Indian during her 58-run knock at the WestPac Stadium. The Indian reached the 50-mark off 24 deliveries and faced 34 balls in all which included seven hits to the fence and three sixes.
Tennis | Fed Cup: India to take on a struggling Thailand
“Thailand is a tricky team. We are ready for them,” India captain Vishaal Uppal said. Despite Thailand’s lack of players with good ranks, India has to play strong to beat the team. It will be a must-win match for Thailand, and that could bring out the best in the team. “The pressure will be on Thailand as they know that if they lose, they are out. That could make them more dangerous also. We have to focus on executing our plans and we will keep the pressure on our opponents,” Vishaal said.
Comment | We need a leap in healthcare spending
While the Interim Budget is responsive to the needs of farmers and the middle class, it does not adequately respond to the needs of the health sector. The total allocation to healthcare is ₹61,398 crore. While this is an increase of ₹7,000 crore from the previous Budget, there is no net increase since the total amount is 2.2% of the Budget, the same as the previous Budget. The increase roughly equates the ₹6,400 crore allocated for implementation of the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).
Opinion | Ayodhya and the challenge to equality
In the real world of dislocation and trauma, Partition witnessed a number of local vigilante efforts to inscribe a narrower identity on the incipient nation. The surreptitious introduction of idols into the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, where a dispute over building rights on an adjacent site had simmered since the late 19th century, was one such act, though by no means the only one.
