- Sarath Fonseka becomes Lanka’s first field marshal
- Sri Lanka’s new government on Sunday conferred the country’s highest military rank of field marshal to former army chief Sarath Fonseka, who was jailed on alleged treason charges by the previous regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa, for “achieving the victory over terrorism.”
- Fonseka, who became the first Sri Lankan to receive the title, was stripped of his rank, pension and medal he received during his 40-year career, and jailed after he unsuccessfully tried to challenge Rajapksa’s re-election bid in 2010.
- Djokovic Wins Fourth Indian Wells Title
- World No. 1 Novak Djokovic captured his 50th tour-level title on Sunday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden as he lifted the BNP Paribas Open trophy for the fourth time with a 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2 victory over Roger Federer.
- The 27-year-old Djokovic is the 12th player in the Open Era to win 50 titles.
- Singapore founding father Lee Kuan Yew dead
- Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first prime minister and architect of the tiny Southeast Asian city-state’s rapid rise from British tropical outpost to global trade and financial centre, died on Monday, aged 91.
- “Harry” Lee became Singapore’s first prime minister in 1959 and held onto power for over three decades, overseeing the island’s transformation from a malaria-infested backwater into one of Asia’s most prosperous nations.
- World Meteorological Day is observed today
- The United Nations’ (UN) World Meteorological Day is annually held on or around March 23 to remember the World Meteorological Organization’s establishment on that date in 1950.
- Sania Mirza-Martina Hingis Win BNP Paribas Open Title
- Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza have completed a dream first tournament together, beating Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 6-3, 6-4 to win the BNP Paribas Open women’s doubles title.
- Hingis has won 11 Grand Slams in the team discipline (nine in women’s and two in mixed) while Sania has claimed three Grand Slams (all in mixed) — and their doubles partnership was eagerly awaited in the tennis circuit.
- Sebi Board Nod for International Financial Services Centre Guidelines
- Paving the way for creation of India’s first International Financial Services Centre in Gujarat’s GIFT City, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Sunday approved a relaxed set of norms for setting up of stock exchanges and other capital market infrastructure at such centres.
- Stock exchanges and clearing corporations would be provided concessions for setting up ventures in the IFSC.
- All existing exchanges would be allowed to set up their subsidiaries in the IFSC under the relaxed regimes.
- The move is expected to capture an estimated Rs 1,334 crore per day or Rs 2 lakh crore per year worth of trading in rupee derivatives that currently goes to locations outside India.
- Shashi Kapoor to get Dada Saheb Phalke Award for 2014
- Veteran actor-producer Shashi Kapoor has been named for the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award.
- Shashi Kapoor has got the National Award for best actor for the film New Delhi Times in 1986, National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film) for Muhafiz (1993) and the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi (as Producer) for Junoon in 1979.
- Along with acting in movies, he has worked as a film director and assistant director. He worked as an assistant director for the debut movie of Sunil Dutt titled ‘Post Box 999′.
- He has appeared in 160 movies all together, 12 being in English and the rest in Hindi.
- He was also honored with the Padma Bhushan Award by the Government of India in the year 2011.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi Pays Tribute to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru
- March 23 is marked as the Martyr’s Day to honour the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev who were hanged to death on this very day in 1931
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a tribute to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru at the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala village in Punjab’s Ferozepur.
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