Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to win re-election after his main rival former Army chief Benny Gantz conceded defeat. This comes after a dramatic finish to a tightly-fought race Parliamentary elections in which Gantz accepted that Netanyahu had won. 

With more than 99 percent of votes counted, Netanyahu's Likud tied with Gantz's Blue and White, gaining 35 seats each. No party has crossed the half way mark in the 120 seat Parliament (Knesset). However, since a number of right-wing parties have expressed their support for Netanyahu, a coalition between Likud and smaller right-wing parties could form a 65 seat majority.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Mr Netanyahu for a victory in the polls. In a tweet, Mr Modi described him as a great friend of India, saying New Delhi is looking forward to continuing to work with him to take the bilateral partnership to new heights.

Scientists have developed a novel sensor that can be used in smartphone-sized devices to detect dangerous chemicals based on a unique fingerprint of absorbed and emitted light.

Devices called spectrometers are light-splitting instruments that have long been both bulky and expensive, preventing their use outside the lab.

However, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US have now developed a spectrometer so small and simple that it could integrate with the camera of a typical cellphone without sacrificing accuracy. 

Zhu Wang, who was among the team of engineers that created the device, said that this is a compact, single-shot spectrometer that offers high resolution with low fabrication costs. 

Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to secure a record fifth term as a Prime Minister after almost complete results from Israel's election suggest a new right-wing coalition. 

His Likud party is expected to finish with a similar number of seats as his rival, ex-military chief Benny Gantz's centrist Blue and White alliance. But local media said Likud and right-wing allies are set to be the largest bloc with 65 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. 

The 69-year-old premier is facing corruption allegations. 

Project Wing, which is part of Google’s parent company Alphabet is getting ready to introduce the world’s first drone delivery service in Australia’s capital Canberra after it received approval from Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) on Tuesday.

For the past 18 months, Project Wing has been doing trials for delivering food and drinks, medication and chocolate, The Guardian reported.

The Australian aviation watchdog said it had signed off on the scheme. The report quotes CASA spokesman Peter Gibson as saying that “safety of the drones, traffic management system, maintenance, drone pilot training and operational plans have been examined.”

The drone delivery service is expected to start with 100 eligible homes in the suburbs of Crace, Palmerston and Franklin in the coming weeks, before expanding into Harrison and Gungahlin, the report adds.

India is projected to grow at 7.3 per cent in 2019 and 7.5 per cent in 2020, supported by the continued recovery of investment and robust consumption, thus remaining the fastest growing major economy of the world, according to the IMF.

In 2018, India's growth rate was 7.1 per cent, as against China's 6.6 per cent. In 2019, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected a growth rate of 6.3 per cent for China and 6.1 per cent in 2020, according to the latest World Economic Outlook projections released ahead of the annual spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

SUN Group Chairman Vikramjit Singh Sahney Monday elected as the new president of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) - India.

He said the chamber would work with the government to promote India's external trade.

"We will pro-actively support initiatives of government to promote India-US trade and reducing trade deficit with China," Sahney said at the annual general meeting of ICC India.

He added that ICC was founded in the aftermath of first world war when no world system of rules covered trade, investment, finances and commercial relations.

"To mark our centenary, ICC will host a mega summit in Paris during May featuring leaders from business, government and international organisations to discuss pressing global challenges and role of business in 21st century," he added.

The State Bank of India has re-priced home loans up to Rs 30 lakh by 10  basis points. 

Accordingly, the interest rate on housing loans of such size will now be in the range of 8.6 to 8.9 per cent. 

The bank has also lowered its lending rates by a nominal five basis points across all tenors. 

In a statement, the SBI said the new one-year marginal cost of funds-based lending rate is down to 8.50 per cent now from 8.55 per cent. This is the first reduction by SBI in over 17 months. 

The reduction in lending rate by the bank follows a 50 basis point cut in repo rate by the RBI in the course of two monetary policy reviews held in February and April this year. 

Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid has said that the friendship between India and Maldives has reached new heights since Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the swearing in of President Solih. 

In an interview to AIR correspondent, he said that development cooperation agenda is being implemented at quick pace. Mr. Shahid said that his government’s promise for people-oriented projects like water and sewage facilities, are being implemented with generous assistance from the Government of India. 

The Indian government had announced a 1.4 billion US dollars assistance to Maldives and details of projects are being formulated. Maldives requested for assistance in construction of a cricket stadium during the recent visit to Male of External affairs minister and the details are being worked out. 

Mr. Shahid also said that there is a very fruitful defence cooperation between the two countries. 

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is celebrating its 54th Valour Day today. On this day in 1965 a small contingent of 2nd Battalion of CRPF, successfully fought and repulsed an attack by a Pakistani Brigade on Sardar Post in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. They eliminated 34 Pakistani soldiers and captured four soldiers alive. 

In this conflict, six valiant CRPF men attained martyrdom. As a tribute to the brave personnel of the Force, 9th April is celebrated as Valour Day in the Force. Never in the history of military battles have a handful of policemen fought back a full - fledged infantry Brigade in such a manner. 

On the Occasion, President Ram Nath Kovind paid homage to the martyrs of police at National Police Memorial in New Delhi.

The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) Monday handed over six indigenously built Dhanush artillery guns to the Army in a ceremony held at the Gun Carriage Factory. The OFB handed over six Dhanush guns to the Army in the first phase. It is the first lot of the 114-piece order.

Dhanush is the first indigenously built 155 mm x 45 calibre long-range artillery gun with strike range of 38 kilometres. The indigenisation to the extent of 81 per cent of the artillery guns has already been achieved. By the end of 2019, indigenisation will go up to 91 per cent, a press release read. The guns are now inducted in the Indian Army and is said to increase the Fire Power of the Indian Artillery manifold.

The OFB recently received a bulk production clearance from the Army and the Defence Ministry for 114 Dhanush artillery guns. “The weight of the gun is under 13 tonnes, making it easy to mobilise in hilly terrain and remote areas. It is a versatile weapon that can operate in all climatic conditions,” PTI quoted OFB chairman Saurabh Kumar as saying.