1. World Sparrow Day observed today
i. World Sparrow day observed every year on March 20.The theme for WORLD SPARROW DAY 2015 is I LOVE Sparrows.
ii. The theme has been inspired by the hope that more and more of us
will celebrate the relationship between PEOPLE AND SPARROWS.
iii. The day is observed to create awareness about the decline of sparrow bird and in spreading the awareness on the need of conserving common biodiversity or species.
iv. The first Sparrow day was observed in March 20, 2010.
v. Sparrows are amongst the bird species that we have been seeing since childhood. But, recent surveys have shown that their numbers are declining.
2. Australia beat Pakistan, to clash with India in semis
i. Australia defeated Pakistan by 6 wickets in the third quarter-final of the ICC cricket World Cup, in Adelaide on Friday.
ii. Australia will now take on defending champions India for a place in the final.
Brief Scores: Pakistan: 213 all out in 49.5 overs Australia: 216/4 in 33.5 overs
3. Narendra Modi became new Chancellor of Viswa Bharati University i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been appointed as the new chancellor of Visva Bharati University for the next three years. ii. He replaces former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who stepped down recently.
iii. Visva-Bharati was declared a central university and an institution of national importance by an Act of Parliament in 1951.
About Visva-Bharati University
i. It is one of India’s major Central universities located in Santiniketan, West Bengal.
ii. It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore who called it Visva Bharati, which means the communion of the world with India.
iii. It grew to become one of India’s most renowned places of higher learning, with a list of alumni that includes Nobel-winning economist Amartya Sen, globally renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray and the country’s leading art historian, R. Siva Kumar.
iv. Prime Minister of India is the Chancellor of the University. Sushanta Duttagupta is a Vice – Chancellor of the university.
4. India 2nd largest filer of trademark applications among BRICS
i. India was the second largest filer of international trademark applications among the BRICS nations in 2014, registering an increase of 5.6 per cent, according to an annual review of international patent filings. ii. The UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) said China and the US together accounted for 87 per cent of the total growth in filings under WIPO s Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). iii. After China, India (1,394) is the largest user of the PCT system among BRICS countries, followed by the Russian Federation (890), Brazil (581) and South Africa (297).
5. Amitabh Bachchan to be Brand Ambassdor for Hepatitis B campaign
i. The government of India has roped in Amitabh Bachchan once gain this time as the brand ambassador for its drive against hepatitis B, a critical public health problem in India.
ii. Amitabh Bachchan was a brand ambassador for the Polio Eradication Campaign since 2005 after the number of cases peaked in the nation in year 2002.
iii. According to latest World Health Organisation (WHO) data, hepatitis B is responsible for 1.4 million deaths every year globally, as compared to 1.5 million deaths from AIDS and 1.2 million each from malaria and tuberculosis.
iv. India has over 40 million hepatitis B infected patients (second only to China) and constitutes about 15% of the entire pool of hepatitis B in the world. Every year, nearly 600,000 patients die from HBV (hepatitis B virus) infection in the Indian subcontinent.
Amitabh Bachchan as Brand Ambassador:
i. In 2005, Amitabh Bachchan was made UNICEF goodwill ambassador for Polio Eradication Campaign in India.
ii. In 2012, he was honoured for his contribution to the cause. In 2015, the WHO declared India as polio free country
iii. He was also roped in as the brand ambassador for medical and health department of Andhra Pradesh in 2015
6. Malcolm Fraser, Former Australian PM passed away
i. Malcolm Fraser, the former Australian Prime Minister passed away. He was 84.
ii. He was active in public life until the end and his death shocked the nation. His life after politics was dominated by human rights issues.
7. Dehradun – Varanasi, Janta Express derails, 30 killed
i. Dehradun – Varanasi Janta express train derailed today near Bachhrawan Railway Station, Rae Bareili.
ii. At least 30 person were killed and around 150 others injured when the engine and two coaches of the Janta Express derailed.
iii. Train movement on the Lucknow-Varanasi section of the Northern Railway has been disrupted due to the accident.
iv. Railways have ordered an inquiry and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of those killed in the accident.
v. While Rs 50,000 will be given to those injured seriously, Rs 20,000 will be given to people with minor injuries.
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