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In a mark of respect for the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, India has declared a one-day state mourning on May 21st. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to engage with 25,000 women in Kashi during a conference. Several listed companies, including BHEL and JKTyres, will be announcing their Q4 earnings today. To combat the intense heatwave, Punjab schools will remain closed from May 21st to June 30th. Additionally, Riyadh is preparing to host the World Annual General Assembly of aviation leaders from May 21st to 23rd.
Airbus Helicopters and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the financing of Airbus helicopters in India. This partnership aims to make civil helicopters more accessible to operators, supporting the growth of the helicopter industry in the country.
Elon Musk’s recent visit to Indonesia to launch Starlink internet services has sparked discussions about a potential trip to Sri Lanka. While Musk had planned to visit India in April, the trip was canceled due to heavy obligations, and no update has been provided on Tesla’s entry into the Indian market. Despite Musk’s active foreign trips, including a surprise visit to China, India awaits official plans for Tesla’s domestic entry.
The 2007 T20 World Cup was the first time many players had experienced the format, and South Africa’s successful chase of over 200 runs against the West Indies in the tournament opener showed that batters could take advantage of the shorter format. The tournament also saw the introduction of the Super Over, now a standard way to decide tied matches in limited-overs cricket. However, the Super Over was not yet in use in 2007, and instead, there was a ‘bowl-out,’ where teams bowled at stumps from short range to determine the winner. MS Dhoni, the winning captain, admitted that he did not like the idea of bowl-outs deciding matches. Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik also said that his team was unaware of the rule before their match against India. India won the bowl-out 3-0, with all three Indian bowlers hitting the stumps while Pakistan missed. Dhoni said after the match that he did not want to see matches decided in this manner, and the bowl-out has not been used since.
Google has created a special doodle to mark the fifth phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in India. The doodle features an index finger with an ink symbol, representing the act of voting. Voting is underway in 49 seats across 8 states today, with over 379 constituencies already having completed the process in previous phases.
Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, has been gripped by mob violence over the past few days, resulting in injuries and threats against foreign students, including those from India and Pakistan. The violence erupted following a brawl at a hostel between locals and foreign students, sparking protests and vandalism. India and Pakistan have issued advisories for their nationals, and the Kyrgyz foreign ministry has assured that the situation is under control.
As the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues, Russia is turning to India to reinvigorate its tourism industry. At the SATTE 2024, Russia’s significant presence highlighted India’s importance as a priority market. Plans include visa-free group travel for Indian tourists and strategic promotions tailored to Indian preferences.
India is planning to export 14,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice to Mauritius and 7,500 tonnes of onions to Qatar through the National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL). This move comes after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) requested relaxation in the export ban. Despite the export ban on non-basmati white rice since last July and onions since last December, the government is lifting the ban for key strategic countries to keep domestic prices in check. The government has also imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of $550 per tonne and a 40% export duty on onions to control domestic prices.
Foreign students in Kyrgyzstan, including those from India and Pakistan, have become the targets of threats from locals following mob violence directed towards international students. The Indian Embassy in Kyrgyzstan has advised students to remain indoors for their safety. The situation is reported to be calm, but students are urged to stay in touch with the embassy. The Kyrgyz health ministry has reported that four Pakistani students received first aid, while one is still undergoing treatment. The Pakistani government has dispatched officials to assist and support Pakistani students in Kyrgyzstan.
