 The UK has topped an annual global ranking of nations' soft power, with France placed second on the list of 30 countries which does not feature India. The 2018 'Soft Power 30' index, published by UK-based strategic communications consultancy firm Portland and the University of Southern California Center on Public Diplomacy, ranked Germany as third followed by the US. This year's report also features a chapter dedicated solely to Asia, listing 10 countries in the region, ranking India's soft power as eighth. In the fourth edition of the annual Soft Power 30 Index. |
| Source- AIR World Service |
 India's supersonic cruise missile (SCM) BrahMos was test fired from Odisha's Chandipur range launch pad under extreme conditions. The test was conducted in order to increase the longevity of its life. BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and NPOM of Russia. It is responsible for designing, developing and producing the missile. The missile can cruise at speeds of up to Mach 3.0, or three times the speed of sound. |
| Source- The Economic Times |
 Militaries of India and Pakistan will be part of a mega anti-terror drill in Russia named "Peace Mission" in August 2018 which is being organised by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) with an aim to expand cooperation among the member countries to deal with terrorism and extremism. Around 200 Army and Air Force personnel from India will be participating in the exercise at Chelyabinsk city in Russia. The exercise will be joined by all SCO member countries including Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It will be for the first time since Independence that India and Pakistan will both be part of a military exercise, though the armies of the two nations have worked together in UN peacekeeping missions. |
| Source- The Hindu |
 The Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the Bansagar Canal Project to the Nation in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. This project will provide a big boost to irrigation in the region, and will be greatly beneficial for the farmers of Mirzapur and Allahabad districts of Uttar Pradesh. Mr Modi laid the Foundation Stone of the Mirzapur Medical College. He inaugurated 100 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the State. He also dedicated a bridge over the River Ganga at Balughat, Chunar, which will facilitate connectivity between Mirzapur and Varanasi. |
| Source- DD News |
 External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj co-chaired the second joint commission meeting with her Bahraini counterpart Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa. Issues of trade, investment and counter-terror cooperation discussed at the joint commission meeting. The External affairs minister jointly inaugurated impressive Embassy of India Complex in Manama. The new embassy complex is equipped with State-of-the-art Facilities to cater the growing need of people of both countries. This is Sushma Swaraj's 3rd visit to Bahrain in her capacity as External Affairs Minister. |
| Source- AIR World Service |
 India signed a revised travel agreement with Bangladesh to ease visa restrictions for citizens from the neighbouring country. The agreement was signed between the two countries in Dhaka in presence of visitingHome Minister Rajnath Singh and his counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan. Under the Revised Travel Arrangement (RTA)-2018, freedom fighters and elderly Bangladeshi nationals will get five-year multiple visa from India. The Home Minister called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and discussed issues of mutual concern, including terrorism. |
| Source- AIR World Service |
 The University of Houston, Texas has signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE) to build scientific and technical knowledge through joint research. The agreement was signed at Houston by IIPE founding director VSRK Prasad and UH vice provost for global strategies and studies, Jaime Ortiz. It covers key areas of possible collaboration in faculty exchanges, offshore and onshore petroleum engineering, process control systems and process safety in all chemical engineering fields and non-conventional energy areas. |
| Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB) |
 Bhushan Steel has approved the appointment of TV Narendran as Chairman and Non-Executive Additional Director of the company. Narendran, CEO and MD of Tata Steel, has over 30 years of experience in the metal and mining industry. Tata Steel acquired controlling stake of 72.65% in Bhushan Steel in accordance with Rs35,200-crore resolution plan for the bankrupt steelmaker. |
| Source- The Livemint |
 Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki was given the additional charge of Himachal Pradesh by President Ram Nath Kovind. He has been appointed during the absence of Himachal Governor Acharya Devvrat, who is on leave. |
| Source- Business Standard |
 US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held the first summit at Helsinki in Finland. Trump’s meeting with Putin comes days after a federal grand jury indicted 12 Russian intelligence officials on charges of hacking the servers of the Democratic National Committee and that of its 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Host Finland President Sauli Niinisto is scheduled to meet Trump before Trump and Putin sit down to a bilateral meeting first without aides and then with their teams of support staff. |
| Source- AIR World Service |
You need to login to perform this action.
You will be redirected in
3 sec
