IAS officer A. N. Jha is new Finance Secretary, succeeds Hasmukh Adhia

  • Ajay Narayan Jha, the Secretary of Department of Expenditure, will be the country’s new Finance Secretary.
  • Jha succeeds Hasmukh Adhia who is a 1981-batch Gujarat cadre officer of the Indian Administrative Service.

ECB launches TIPS instant payment system

  • European Central Bank (ECB) has launched a new system that is aimed at letting banks settle payments instantly across Europe.
  • The system is named TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS).
  • ECB’s system will let people and companies in Europe transfer money (in euros) to each other within seconds and regardless of the opening hours of their local bank.

India’s first engine-less train is also India’s fastest, break 180km barrier

  • India’s first locomotive-less less train, known as Train 18, breached the 180 kmph speed limit during a test run.
  • This makes it the country’s fastest train.
  • Train 18 will replace the current Shatabdi Express.
  • With 16 coaches, Train 18 will have the same passenger capacity as that of the Shatabdi Express.
  • The train also has an advanced regenerative braking system, which recovers power when the brakes are applied.

Delhi minister Imran Hussain gets PETA ‘Hero to Animals’ award

  • The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has conferred the Hero to Animals award on Delhi Enviornment Minister Imran Hussain.
  • Hussain received the award for banning all forms of Manjha in Delhi.
  • Imran Hussain is Delhi Minister of Food Supplies, Environment and Forest and Elections.

Ullas Narayan wins India’s first international medal in ultra running

  • Ullas Narayan became the first ever Indian individual medal winner in an international ultra running event.
  • He clinched bronze in the 2018 International Association of Ultra Running (IAU) 24 Hour Asia & Oceania Championships in Taipei.
  • Narayan completed 250 km, coming behind two Japanese runners Yoshihiko Ishikawa (253 km) and Nobuyuki Takahashi (252 km).

Jon Ridgeon appointed CEO of IAAF

  • The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has announced the appointment of Jon Ridgeon as its new CEO.
  • Ridgeon will take up the new role in March 2019.

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