Sports
1. Gujarat wins maiden Ranji title
- Gujarat has won maiden "Ranji title 2016-17" by defeating Mumbai (defending champions) by five wickets at Holkar Stadium in Indore.
- With this win, Gujarat has become the only the fourth team to be crowned domestic champions in all three formats.
- It was the second time that Gujarat had made the final of the prestigious domestic tournament and first in 66 years.
- Skipper Parthiv Patel (143) led from the front and score a century under pressure and batting almost through the day.
Final score
- Gujarat : 328 and 313 for 5 (Parthiv 143, Juneja 54).
- Mumbai : 228 and 411 by five wickets.
Note:
- The Ranji Trophy is a domestic first-class cricket championship played in India between teams representing regional cricket associations.
- The competition is named after first Induian Cricketer "Ranjitsinhji" who was also known as "Ranji".
2. Premier Badminton League 3: PV Sindhu finally prevails over Saina Nehwal
- Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu produced a disciplined performance to outwit Saina Nehwal in straight games in a much-anticipated encounter as Chennai Smashers entered the finals of the Premier Badminton League season 2 with a 4-1 win over Awadhe Warriors in New Delhi.
- China Open champion Sindhu has never defeated Saina in a tournament.
- Finally exorcised the ghosts of her losses with an 11-7, 11-8 victory over her senior colleague in a crucial women's singles clash which was Chennai's trump match.
National Affairs
3. 4th International Kite Festival begins in New Delhi
- Today, the three-day International Kite Festival (fourth) has begun in New Delhi.
- Professional kite flying experts from across India like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jaipur, Chennai, Kerala, Punjab, Delhi and the globe are taking part in the festival.
- A special kite making demonstration has been also organized where professional kite flyers will showcase their expertise and demonstrate the art of kite making.
International Affairs
4. US lifts 20-year economic embargo on Sudan
- The United States has announced the end of a 20-year economic embargo on Sudan.
- The USA has lifted a trade and financial sanctions in an effort to foster ties with the Sudanese government.
- Now, Sudan will be able to receive imported goods and services from the US.
5. Ecuador takes chair of UN group of 134 developing countries
- Ecuador has taken over from Thailand as chair of the Group of 77 which promotes the interests of the 134 developing countries it represents at the United Nations.
- The group will continue promoting "social and economic equality".
- The G-77 is his preferred forum to implement his vision including seeing the new goals become reality and reforming UN operations.
6. Chinese base jumper achieves world-first
- A Chinese base jumper Adam (29-year) has successfully completed the world's first jump from the world's highest bridge in southwest China's Yunnan province.
- He completed the jump from the newly-opened Beipanjiang Bridge (565-meters high).
- The whole jump took 81 seconds with Adam opening his parachute ten seconds into the jump, when he was 200 meters above the ground.
Obituaries
7. Exorcist writer William Peter Blatty passes
- The US author and filmmaker William Peter Blatty (89-year) has passed away at a hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.
- He was best known for writing the Exorcist, published as a novel in 1971.
National Affairs
8. Madhya Pradesh: Week-long Anand Utsav begins today
- Today, a week-long happiness Festival “Anand Utsav” has begun across the Madhya Pradesh on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.
- Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to set up Happiness Department.
- The state government is also setting up “Anandam Kendra” at district headquarters of the state.
- Sports events like 'kho-kho', 'wrestling', kabaddi and cultural functions will be organized at village panchayat level to bring happiness and joy to the people during the festival.
9. Kerala Launched its first Solar Powered Boat Aditya
- The Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan has inaugurated the first solar-powered boat of the state water transport department "Aditya" at a function held in Vaikom boat Jetty in Kerala.
- The boat will do service between Vaikom and Thavanakkadavu.
10. World’s first gender literature fest to be held in Patna
- The world’s first "Gender Literature Festival" is scheduled to be held in the second week of April 2017 in Patna (Bihar).
- This festival will be organized by Gender Resource Centre of Bihar’s Women Development Corporation.
- The festival will act as a platform to increase visibility for gender equity and advocacy in the State of Bihar.
- The main aim of the fest to create a platform to exchange ideas and to share and learn experiences of renowned people in the field of gender literature.
National & International Appointment
11. Ashish Shelar appointed as MCA president
- The BJP Mumbai unit chief Ashish Shelar has been appointed as Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) president.
- He takes over from the former ICC president Sharad Pawar.
- Earlier,he was elected as Vice President of Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) in 17th June, 2015.
Thought of the Day
“It is more important to do the right thing than to do things right.”
“काम को सही करने से अधिक महत्त्वपूर्ण यह है कि सही काम ही किये जावें।”
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