Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh conferred the Dr Kalam Smriti International Excellence Award 2019 in Dhaka on Monday. The award has been instituted in the memory of former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

The award citation lauded Prime Minister Hasina for her vision of a peaceful and prosperous South Asia, free of tension, conflicts and terrorism. It acknowledged her contribution in fostering cooperation between India and Bangladesh.

Speaking after receiving the award Prime Minister Hasina said that the award will inspire her government to strive for the achievement of greater inclusive development of people.

Chief Adviser of the Dr Kalam Smriti International Advisory Council former Ambassador T.P. Sreenivasan handed over the award to Sheikh Hasina.

Film editor Sanjib Kumar Datta, who has movies like Iqbal, Ek Hasina Thi and Mardaani to his credit, passed away on Sunday. He was 54.

His frequent collaborator and filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor, who is currently in Canada, confirmed news about Sanjib’s demise to indianexpress.com.

“What I have heard is that he went in for a bypass but never came out of it. I am still gathering details. It is a big loss. He was the silent architect behind 13 of my films,” Kukunoor said.

An alumnus of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Sanjib Kumar Datta initially worked as an assistant to late editor Renu Saluja. His first big project was the 1998 film Bada Din.

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer | The United Nations General Assembly on December 19, 2000, designated the day in memory of the date in 1987 when nations inked the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The celebrations are also known as World Ozone Day.

According to the United Nations, the theme for the World Ozone Day, 2019 is - 32 Years and Healing, celebrates over three decades of international cooperation to protect the ozone layer and the climate under the Montreal Protocol. The Montreal Protocol has led to the phase-out of 99 percent of ozone-depleting chemicals in refrigerators, air-cooling systems and other products.

Spain beat Argentina 95-75 to win the Basketball World Cup in Beijing, their first title for 13 years.

The Spaniards scored 14 of the first 16 points and never lost their lead to the 2004 Olympic champions.

Phoenix Suns point guard and tournament MVP Ricky Rubio managed 20 points and three assists, while NBA champion and Toronto Raptors' Marc Gasol added 14 points and seven assists.

Both teams had previously qualified for next year's Tokyo Olympics.

One of India's most consistent sportspersons, Pankaj Advani, has clinched a record 22nd world titles by winning a fourth straight final in the 150-up format at the IBSF World Billiards Championship in Myanmar. Advani yesterday defeated Nay Thway of Myanmar.  The 34-year-old has brought home a world trophy every year ever since returning from a professional stint in the UK in 2014. In the short format of billiards, this is Advani's fifth title in the last six years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Pankaj Advani for winning a fourth straight final at World Billiards Championship. In a tweet, Mr Modi said the entire nation is proud of Advani's accomplishments. He also offered best wishes for his future endeavours.

In Badminton, Sourabh Verma clinched the Vietnam Open Super 100 title, defeating China’s Sun Fei Xiang in a thrilling Men's Singles summit clash at the Ho Chi Minh City today.

Second seed Verma recovered from a mid-game slump to beat Sun 21-12, 17-2, 21-14. The match lasted an hour and 12 minutes.

This victory marks Verma's second Super 100 win in the ongoing calendar year. He had won the Hyderabad Open earlier in August. 

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar has congratulated ace Indian shuttler Sourabh Verma for an outstanding performance to clinch the Men's singles title at Vietnam Open Super 100 badminton tournament. In a tweet, Mr Javadekar said, nation is proud of his achievement.

Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju today flagged off Great Ganga Run-2019 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi today.

It was organized to create awareness about the river Ganga. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shekhawat said, participation of the people in the run corroborates the fact that people are not only aware of the importance of water but are active to conserve the important resource. He said, support of common people was needed to make Ganga, its basin and its tributaries clean and pure. The Minister said, government's efforts alone will not bear fruits. He said, the society as a whole will have to connect with it with a sense of collective social responsibility.

President Ram Nath Kovind has invited Swiss companies to invest in India for mutual benefit in technology and skill development. Addressing the India-Switzerland business round table in Berne, Mr Kovind asked Swiss industry to visit India investment grid online portal to know about opportunities to invest in India.

He said Switzerland is home to high-end technology and India is producing world-class human capital. Mr Kovind said there is vast scope to combine our relative advantages in capital, technology, science and skills for mutual benefit. He said, India ranks as a major global player in areas such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare services, information technology, solar energy, automobiles, space and biotechnology.

BJP President and Home Minister Amit Shah today launched a week-long programme 'Seva Saptah' to mark the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17th of this month. He launched the campaign by joining cleanliness drive and distributing fruits among the patients at AIIMS in Delhi.

During the week-long programme, BJP leaders and workers will organize blood donation and health camps and also visit hospitals and orphanages to provide help and relief. Party MPs, MLAs and other representatives will join the events in different parts of the country.

Five Indian women police officers were honoured by the United Nations for their commendable services in UN mission in South Sudan. Officials informed today that Reena Yadav, Inspector, Chandigarh Police; Gopika Jahagirdar, DSP, Maharashtra Police, Bharati Samantray, DSP in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ragini Kumari, Inspector in the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Kamal Shekhawat, ASP, Rajasthan Police were conferred the UN medal. 

The Indian women police officers received the UN medal at a medal parade in the United Nations Mission in Juba in South Sudan on Tuesday, Home Ministry official said.