The first BRICS Sherpa meeting, under the presidency of Brazil, has identified countering terrorism as one of its priority areas, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday.

The BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) Sherpa meeting was held in Brazil's Curitiba city between March 14 and March 15.

T.S. Tirumurti, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the MEA, led the Indian delegation at the meeting.

"It is worth mentioning that Brazil has identified countering terrorism as one of its priority areas for BRICS nations under its presidency. Brazil's priorities for its presidency includes, inter-alia science, technology and innovation, digital economy, New Development Bank and BRICS Business Council as well as countering transnational crime and terrorism," said the Ministry.

The Ministry said India conveyed its support for the priority set out by Brazil, particularly to take forward BRICS cooperation on countering terrorism in a meaningful and concrete manner with the member countries of the group, which represents billions of people.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar passed away in Panaji this evening after a prolonged illness. He was 63. Mr. Parrikar was diagnosed with a pancreatic ailment in February last year. Since then, he received treatment at various hospitals across Mumbai, New Delhi, Goa and the US. 
A six-time MLA and former Defence Minister, Mr Parrikar was born on 13th December, 1955. He graduated from Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai with a B.Tech degree in metallurgical engineering. Mr Parrikar was first elected to the Goa assembly in 1994. 

He served as Chief Minister of the state during October 2000 to February 2005; and March 2012 to November 2014. From November 2014 till March 2017, he served as the Union Defence Minister. Mr Parrikar returned to Goa in March 2017 as the State Chief Minister. 

He served as a Rajya Sabha MP from November 2014 to September 2017. The popular leader would be remembered for his efforts in infrastructure and education development in the state and bringing the International Film Festival of India to Goa in 2004. for his role as the union defence minister and his dynamism. 

JP Duminy has announced his intention to retire form one-day international cricket after the ICC Men's cricket World Cup 2019 in England. Duminy's statement came just a few days after Imran Tahir announced that he too will retire from ODI after the conclusion of the premiere event.

Proteas all-rounder has already announced his retirement from Test Cricket in September 2017. Duminy has played 46 matches in the longest format in which he accumulated 2,103 runs and 42 wickets.

“The last few months on the sidelines have given me an opportunity to re-assess my career going forward and to plot some goals I'd like to achieve in the future," ICC quoted Duminy as saying. The left-handed batsman added that he will be there for the team in the T20Is.

“While a decision like this is never easy, I also feel that it is the right time for me to pass on the baton. I will still be available to play international and domestic T20 cricket, but would also like to invest more time towards my growing family, who are my number one priority,” he added.

Whereas the 34-year-old has featured in 193 ODIs so far and amassed 5,407 runs and picked up 68 wickets. This year's WC will be his third appearance in the World Cup which is scheduled to begin on May 30.

While praising the sport, teammates, family, friends and fans he said: “I have been privileged to live out my dream playing a sport I love, and I am forever grateful for the support I have received from my teammates, coaches, family, friends and fans throughout the years.”

India were awarded the rights to host the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in 2020. The decision to award the rights to India was taken at the FIFA Council meeting in Miami on Friday (March 15).

By virtue of being the host country, India will take part in the tournament for the first time in its history. In 2017, India had hosted the Under-17 Men’s FIFA World Cup.

“I would like to thank FIFA for keeping their trust in us and granting us the rights to host the tournament. I am also grateful to the Government of India and the State Governments for their support and providing us the necessary assurances which made winning this bid a reality,” AIFF President Praful Patel said.

“We felt the football evolution which India attained in the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 needed to continue, and as part of AIFF’s commitment towards development of Women’s Football, we decided to bid for the U-17 Women’s World Cup. The tournament will be massive as this time it will also galvanise the girls of the country, making it more popular,” he added.

After the first-ever vulnerability assessment of 12 Himalayan states to climate risks, the Department of Science and Technology has now decided to carry out a climate vulnerability assessment of all states and union territories (UTs).

The assessment would be based on the global methodological framework of 2014 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), where vulnerability is defined by how ‘sensitive’ a specific eco-system is to climate change risks and what is the current adaptive capacity to mitigate the risks.

“The project for the 12 Himalayan states is completed and now it would be extended to all other states and union territories. This would enable us to compare vulnerability profiles of all states and prioritize action on climate change," said Dr Akhilesh Gupta, head, climate change programme, Department of Science and Technology (DST).

It would be the first-such climate vulnerability index for all states, as there is no such national rating at present to determine which states are more vulnerable to climate risks based on a common set of indicators — socio-economic, demographic, health, sensitivity of agricultural production, forest-dependent livelihood and access to information.

Observing that trade has been an area of frustration in bilateral ties, the US has said that the door is open if India is prepared to bring a serious proposal to the table to address the issues related to trade and market access.

The US in November last year revoked duty-free concessions on import of at least 50 Indian products, mostly from handloom and agriculture sectors, reflecting the Trump administration's tough stand on trade-related issues with New Delhi.

A senior State Department official said Friday that the US is proud to be India's largest export market and most important economic partner.

"But we have struggled with regulatory issues that get in the way of the ease of doing business and market access for American companies and products," said the official.

"Trade has frankly been an area of frustration in the relationship, but the door is open if India is prepared to bring a serious proposal to the table," he said.

Daily supply of milk, upto four large glasses a day, from a gaushala run to provide for the nutritional needs of trainees at a sports gurukul and the sacrifice of a father, who converted farmland into a sports field to train his daughter, helped 15-year-old hammer thrower Harshita Sherawat win silver at the Asian Youth Championships underway in Hong Kong.

Harshita’s best of 61.93 metres on Friday morning was the third time the teenager has broken the national record in the hammer throw (3kg) in a span of one year. Just 12 months ago, at the first edition of the Khelo India Games, Harshita had first written her name in the record books with a throw of 58.53 metres. Her progression chart gives hope that she could have a bright future in the women’s hammer throw, an event which has not been India’s strength. Chinese Taipei’s Chi-Hsien Hung won gold (62.80m) and Jaiyi Ye of China took the bronze (59.90m) at the Tseung Kwan-o stadium.

Harshita knows she will have to keep the celebrations in check because in less than a week she has to appear for her Class X examinations. The day before she left for the Asian Youth Championships she had given another paper.

President Ram Nath Kovind will confer the remaining Padma awards on prominent personalities at a civil investiture ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan today. 

This year, 112 personalities were selected for the Padma awards, which was announced on the eve of Republic Day. The first set of padma award was given on 11th of this month in which Mr Kovind had presented one Padma Vibhushan, eight Padma Bhushan and forty-six Padma Shri Awards.

President Ramnath Kovind on Friday awarded National Grassroots Innovators at Grambharti near Gandhinagar in Gujarat. 

Prakash Singh Raghuvanshi from Uttar Pradesh has been awarded lifetime achievement award for his innovations in new varieties of agriculture crops.

The first prize in Veterinary, Herbal medication for coccidiosis was presented to Periyasami Ramasami of Salem, Tamil Nadu.

The President also inaugurated the exhibition of the Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Our correspondent reports that Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship - FINE is an initiative to recognise, respect, showcase, and reward innovations and foster supportive ecosystem for innovators. This festival is being organised by the National Innovation Foundation in association with the department of science and technology - Government of India. 

The Supreme Court has set aside the life ban on cricketer S Sreesanth, imposed by the BCCI. 

A bench comprising justices Ashok Bhushan and K M Joseph said the disciplinary committee of the BCCI may reconsider within three months the quantum of punishment to be given to Sreesanth. 

The disciplinary committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, BCCI imposed the ban on Sreesanth for his alleged involvement in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal.

The bench made it clear that Sreesanth will get the opportunity of being heard by the committee on the quantum of the punishment.

The apex court also said that its verdict shall have no effect on the criminal proceedings pending against the former cricketer in the Delhi High Court. 

The bench passed this order on Sreesanth's plea challenging the decision of a division bench of the Kerala High Court which had restored the life ban imposed on him by the BCCI.