1. Indian-American journalist Brahm Kanchibotla dies of COVID-19 in New York

• Indian-American journalist Brahm Kanchibotla has died of COVID-19 that is ravaging New York, the epicentre of the pandemic in the US. The journalist died in after nine days in a hospital.
• Brahm Kanchibotla, 66, was a correspondent for United News of India.During his 28-year career in the US, he had worked for 11 years as a content editor for Merger Markets, a financial publication, and also did a stint with News India-Times weekly newspaper.
• He had emigrated to the US in 1992 after having worked for several publications in India.

2. Three HC judges in Jammu & Kashmir High Court administered oath by Chief Justice

• Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul, Justice Sanjay Dhar and Justice Puneet Gupta were sworn in as permanent Judges of the common High Court for the Union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
• The newly appointed Judges were administered the oath of office by Chief Justice J&K High Court, Justice Gita Mittal in a simple but impressive ceremony in the Jammu wing of the High Court.
• The sitting Judges of the High Court of J&K joined the oath ceremony through Video Conference while sitting in their respective residences.

Foot Notes: About Jammu & Kashmir
Capitals: Srinagar (May-October)
Jammu (November-April)

3. CCI approves Hitachi's proposed acquisition of 80.1% in power grid business of ABB Limited

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves the proposed acquisition of 80.1% stake by Hitachi in the power grid business of ABB Limited.
• The proposed combination envisages acquisition of 80.1% share capital of ABB Management Holding AG (ABB Management) by Hitachi Limited (Hitachi) from ABB Limited (ABB). 
• ABB Management will hold the entire power grid business of ABB (Target Business).Hitachi, headquartered in Japan, is the parent company of the Hitachi group of companies. 
• It is active in a variety of business segments including IT Solution, Energy Solution, Industry Solution, Mobility Solution, and Smart Life Solution.

Foot Notes: About CCI
Headquarters– New Delhi, India
Chairman– Ashok Kumar Gupta
Founded: 14 October 2003

4. Brazilian Prez Bolsonaro thanks PM Modi, people of India for helping Brazil tackle COVID-19 outbreak

• Brazil President Bolsonaro in his address to the nation thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India for helping Brazil tackle the COVID-19 outbreak by providing raw materials for Hydroxychloroquine production.
• Mr. Bolsonaro said that Brazil would receive the raw materials following his direct conversation with Prime Minister Modi. 
• He expressed gratitude towards the Prime Minister and the people of India.

Foot Notes: About Brazil
Capital: Brasília
President: Jair Bolsonaro
Official language: Portuguese
Currency: Brazilian Real

5. SAARC Development Fund allocates $5 million for Covid-19 projects

• The SAARC Development Fund (SDF) has allocated USD 5 million (about Rs 38 crore) for COVID-19 projects in eight member countries as the virus pandemic threatens economic activities across the globe.
• This COVID-19 project shall be funded by SDF under its social window thematic areas.
• The objective of the USD 5 million allocation is to provide fund support to the member states in their efforts and to protect the people of the SAARC member states by mitigating the financial losses and severe socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The SAARC Development Fund is mandated to build regional integration and economic cooperation through project funding in all the member countries through its economic, infrastructure and social windows.

Foot Notes: About SAARC

• 8 members– Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
• Headquarters– Kathmandu, Nepal
• Secretary-General– Amjad Hussain B Sial
• Founded: 8 December 1985, Dhaka, Bangladesh

6. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust manages to continue its operations smoothly

• In Maharashtra, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Raigad district near Mumbai which is considered to be the busiest container port in the country has managed to continue its operations smoothly even during the nationwide lockdown.
• After the announcement of lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19, JNPT faced several difficulties to continue the regular operation as there was shortage of contract employees, shortage of truck drivers, sealing of state and district borders and difficulty in the movement of the staff.  
• But, the container port facilitated smooth operations bringing together all stakeholders including 33 CFS and more than 15 empty containers yard operators. It provided PPE’s to all personnel entering Port premises.

7. 1960s ‘James Bond’ girl Honor Blackman passed away at 94 

• On April 7, 2020, Honor Blackman, one of the memorable co-stars of the early James Bond films, passed away at the age of 94 in Lewes, Sussex, England. She was born on August 22, 1925 in Plaistow, Essex, England.
• Honor Blackman shot to fame in her late 30s after playing legendary Bond girl Pussy Galore in the 1964 movie Goldfinger.
• She was well known in Britain for playing the character Cathy Gale in the popular 1960s Television (TV) spy series The Avengers and she had guest appearances on TV shows such as “Doctor Who”, “Colombo” and “Coronation Street”.
• Blackman also played the goddess Hera in the 1963 film “Jason and the Argonauts”, & appeared in “Bridget Jones’s Diary”.

8. England's Ben Stokes named as leading cricketer in the world by Wisden

• England all-rounder Ben Stokes ended Virat Kohli's 3-year reign to be named Wisden's leading cricketer in the world.
• Stokes was later named both BBC Sports Personality of the Year and received an OBE in the New Year's Honours List before claiming ICC Men's Player of the Year honors.
• Andrew Flintoff was the last English player to win the award in 2005.
• Before Stokes, India captain Virat Kohli had won the award three straight times.

9. Parag Raja appointed as MD & CEO of Bharti AXA Life Insurance

• Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company appointed Parag Raja as the new MD (Managing Director) & CEO (Chief Executive Officer). The appointment will be subject to the requisite approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). Parag Raja will be the successor of Vikas Seth.
• Raja served as the Chief Distribution Officer at Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI) where he is responsible for planning & executing the strategic direction for expanding the company’s footprint across India.
• He was also one of the founding members of the Max Life Insurance and worked with the company for 15 years.
• Raja has a total experience of nearly 21 years, including 19 years in the life insurance industry.

Foot Notes: About Bharti AXA Life Insurance
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Founded: 2005

10. India's GDP for FY21 projected at 4.8%: UN report

• According to a UN report, India's GDP growth for the current fiscal is expected to slow down to 4.8 percent.It warned that the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to result in significant adverse economic impacts globally.
• The UN 'Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) 2020: Towards sustainable economies' said that COVID-19 is having far-reaching economic and social consequences for the region, with strong cross-border spillover effects through trade, tourism and financial linkages.
• India's GDP growth for the fiscal year 2019-2020 was estimated at 5 percent and is forecast to slow down to 4.8 percent for the current fiscal 2020-21. 
• Economic growth for the country could stand at 5.1 percent for the fiscal year 2021-22.
• The report noted that these are very preliminary forecasts based on the data and information available up to March 10.