“AWARDS”

Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana Award

The Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana is the highest civilian honour awarded by Sri Lanka. It recognises foreign leaders who have encourageed strong ties with the nation. Recently, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi received this award during his state visit to Sri Lanka.

“DEFENCE”

India Clears Mega Deal to Buy 26 Rafale Marine Fighter Jets from France for Navy

India has taken a significant step in bolstering its naval aviation strength by approving a Rs. 63,000 crore (over $7 billion) inter-governmental deal with France for the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for the Indian Navy. This long-anticipated deal was formally cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and is poised to strengthen the Navy’s air power, especially on the INS Vikrant, India’s indigenously built aircraft carrier.

“APPOINTMENT”

Gabon Elects New President Junta Chief Brice Oligui Nguema Frontrunnert

Gabon is set to hold a pivotal presidential election on April 12, 2025, with junta chief Brice Oligui Nguema widely seen as the leading candidate. The election marks a critical moment for the oil-rich central African nation as it transitions from military to civilian rule after the August 2023 coup that ended over five decades of Bongo family rule. Nguema, who led the coup, has campaigned as the “candidate of the people”, attempting to soften his image as a military leader while embracing populist strategies and social media to garner public support.

Thomas Cook India taps Kartik Aaryan as brand ambassador for forex business

Thomas Cook India Limited has appointed Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan as brand ambassador for its foreign exchange business. The strategic move aims to target India’s millennial and Gen Z travellers, who the company identifies as powerful drivers in the country’s outbound travel growth.

Viral Davda Appointed Deputy CIO at Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)

In a significant move to strengthen its technological capabilities, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has appointed Viral Davda as its new Deputy Chief Information Officer (CIO). With over two decades of experience in the tech and financial sectors, Davda’s appointment aligns with BSE’s vision to modernize and scale its IT infrastructure in response to the rapidly evolving financial ecosystem. His proven leadership in managing complex IT transformations and innovations will play a critical role in enhancing BSE’s operational excellence and technological resilience.

“NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS”

India’s First Agentic AI Hackathon

India’s first-ever Agentic AI Hackathon, organized by Techvantage.ai in collaboration with CrewAI, marks a significant milestone in the country’s AI ecosystem. The event, which took place during Agentic AI Week, attracted over 1,500 participants from across the nation, signaling the growing interest in autonomous AI systems. These AI agents are designed to solve complex business challenges, and the hackathon served as a platform for innovation in the rapidly evolving field of Agentic AI.

Hurun Global Rich List 2025: Shanghai overtakes Mumbai as Asia’s Billionaire Capital

The Hurun Global Rich List 2025 has been released, revealing major shifts in billionaire rankings worldwide. Notably, Shanghai has overtaken Mumbai as the billionaire capital of Asia, and India ranks third globally with 284 billionaires.