International Women’s Day observed on 8 March

International Women’s Day was observed across the world on 8 March 2015. It is  an annual event that celebrates women’s accomplishments and promotes global gender equality. The theme for the year 2015 is” Make it Happen” and it encourages effective action for advancing and recognizing women. The first International Women’s Day was held in 1911 and is celebrated annually on 8 March with thousands of events across the world.

In a first, mutual fund assets hit a record Rs 12 lakh crore

Buoyed by good inflows and strong showing by equity schemes, the assets under management of the mutual fund industry has zoomed past the Rs 12 lakh crore mark or around $200 billion for the first time ever in February. Equity schemes alone have gained about Rs 1.3 lakh crore in assets or over $20 billion since the postpoll rally started in May.

Veteran journalist Vinod Mehta passes away

Senior journalist Vinod Mehta, editorial chairman of Outlook magazine, died in New Delhi on 8 March 2015 at the age of 72. Mehta was a distinguished editor who successfully launched a number of publications such as the ‘Sunday Observer’, ‘Indian Post’, ‘The Independent’, ‘The Pioneer ‘(Delhi edition) and, finally, ‘Outlook’ in 1995. He wrote the best-selling autobiography ‘Lucknow Boy’ in 2011. He also authored biography of Meena Kumari and Sanjay Gandhi and published in 2001 a collection of his articles under the title ‘Mr. Editor, How Close Are You to the PM’?’.

All England Badminton Championship: Saina Nehwal loses to Carolina Marin

Spain’s Carolina Marin, the reigning world champion and present World No. 6, defeated Olympic bronze medallist and World No. 3 India’s Saina Nehwal by 16-21, 21-14, 21-7 in the women’s singles final. Saina Nehwal is first Indian woman badminton player to reach the finals of All England Badminton Championship.

Kumar Sangakkara set to retire after India Test series in August

Ace batsman Kumar Sangakkara on Sunday said he will retire from Test cricket “by the end of August” when Sri Lanka hosts India in a three-match series. In 130 Tests, Sangakkara has 12,203 runs, which makes him the fifth highest scorer. Only Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), Ricky Ponting (13,378), Jacques Kallis (13,289) and Rahul Dravid (13,288) are above him in the elite list. Sangakkara is also second-highest run-scorer in ODI matches to score 14,000 ODI runs after Sachin Tendulkar. In ICC World Cup 2015, Kumar Sangakkara created a record by becoming first batsman to score hundreds in three consecutive World Cup matches.