Indian Railways launches its First ‘Restaurant on Wheels’

1.US, Taliban sign peace deal for phased withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan

The US signed a historic peace deal with the Taliban in Doha to end America’s presence in Afghanistan in a phased manner.India attended the historic event as Observer.

India has been an important stakeholder in the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

The landmark peace deal will see a phased withdrawal of thousands of US soldiers from Afghanistan.

It was more than 18 years ago that the United States had ordered an attack on the Taliban following the tragic 9/11 happening in America.

Ahead of the signing of the deal, the US and the Taliban had agreed to a seven-day cooling-off period which passed off peacefully.

2.Month long Ekushey book fair ends in Dhaka

The month-long Ekushey book fair ended in Dhaka.Large crowds gathered at the exhibition ground in Dhaka to visit the fair and buy books on the concluding day of the largest and longest book fair of Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had inaugurated the book fair on February 2.

The organising committee of the book fair said that this year a total of 4919 new titles were released.

Kotha Prakash publications received the Chittaranjan Saha Memorial Award for publishing the highest number of quality books.

On the birth centenary year of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, also known as Bangabandhu,  this year’s fair was dedicated to him.

3.Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla launches ‘Suposhit Maa Abhiyaan’ in Kota

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has launched the ‘Suposhit Maa Abhiyaan’  in his constituency Kota.Under this Abhiyan, 1,000 pregnant women would be given food items for one month.

At the same time, the health of the child, including medical examination, blood tests, medicines, delivery, would be covered.

It is a campaign to preserve and maintain the health of our future generations.

4.Two-day unique Chilli Festival begins at Kasrawad in Khargone district of MP

In Madhya Pradesh, the two-day unique Chilli Festival begins at Kasrawad in Khargone district.The Chilli Festival is a big business opportunity for traders, investors and exporters.

It will also help in fulfilling the Central Government’s goal of doubling the income of farmers.

The festival aims to promote the Nimari brand of chillies.

Nimar and Malwa regions are the highest chilli producing regions of the state. The red chillies of these regions are exported to China, Pakistan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

5.Indian Railways launches its First ‘Restaurant on Wheels’

Indian Railways has launched its first ”Restaurant on Wheels” at the circulating area of Asansol railway station for the use of passengers as well as the general public.The Restaurant on Wheels was developed by refurbishing two over-aged MEMU coaches.

This unique effort will not only improve the facilities at Asansol station but will also generate non-fare revenue earnings approximately Rs 50 lakh in the next five years.

6.Muhyiddin Yassin sworn in as Malaysia’s new Prime Minister

In Malaysia, the King has appointed seasoned politician Muhyiddin Yassin as the new Prime Minister.The appointment came after this week’s shock resignation of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, a move that plunged the country into crisis following a weekend of political wrangling and the collapse of the ruling alliance.

The announcement came hours after Mahathir struck a new deal to work with his former ruling alliance led by rival Anwar Ibrahim.

7.Assam’s forest man to be conferred with Swami Vivekananda Karmayogi Award

Assam’s eminent environmental activist Jadav Payeng will be awarded with Swami Vivekananda Karmayogi Award.He has been conferred for his efforts in creating a man-made forest through reforestation.

Padma Shri Jadav ‘Molai’ Payeng is a Mishing tribe environmental activist and forestry worker from Jorhat, India.

Over the course of several decades, he planted and tended trees on a sandbar of the river Brahmaputra turning it into a forest reserve.

The forest, called ‘Molai’ forest after him, is located near Kokilamukh in Jorhat, Assam and encompasses an area of about 1,360 acres/550 hectares.

8.Rafael Nadal wins Mexican Open title after beating Taylor Fritz

In Tennis, World Number 2 Rafael Nadal captured his first title of the year, defeating unseeded Taylor Fritz in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, in the final of the ATP Mexico Open.Nadal, playing in his first tournament since losing in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open last month.

Nadal ceded the world number one ranking to Novak Djokovic after the Australian Open, where the Serb won a record eighth title.

In the women’s final, seventh-seeded Heather Watson captured her first WTA title in three years by grinding out a 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 win over Canadian teen Leylah Fernandez.

9.Dutee Chand clinches Gold in 100 meters race at Khelo India University Games in Bhubaneswar

India’s fastest woman Dutee Chand clinched gold in the 100 meters race while long-distance runner Narendra Pratap Singh bagged his second title at Khelo India University Games in Bhubaneswar.Representing Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Dutee Chand raced ahead of her competitors to bag gold with a timing of 11.49 seconds.

Savitribai Phule Pune University is leading the tally with 16 gold, 11 silver and 8 bronze medals.