18 JANUARY 2014

Ø  Sunanda Pushkar, the wife of Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor, was found dead in a New Delhi hotel late on Friday evening. Ms. Pushkar, police sources said, had been staying in Room 345 of the upmarket Leela Palace Hotel in New Delhi’s diplomatic enclave since Thursday evening, having arrived there after treatment for an undisclosed illness at the Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS). The police said they got a call from the hotel informing them that Ms. Pushkar was lying dead inside her room. Family sources told that Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, was deeply stressed for the past several days after she dramatically tweeted messages suggesting a romantic relationship between her husband and Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar.

Ø  Legendary Bengali actor Suchitra Sen, who was undergoing treatment at a private health facility, died of a massive heart attack here on Friday morning.

Ø  The seventh edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival began on the sprawling lawns of Diggi Palace. Rajasthan Governor Margaret Alva inaugurated the five-day event by lighting lamps. In his keynote address, Prof. Amartya Sen used an anecdote about his divine encounter with the “Goddess of Medium Things” to throw light on his vision for a vibrant and democratic Indian society and the welfare state taking care of vulnerable sections. As many as 240 authors will be speaking at 175 sessions spread over six venues at the heritage resort. The festival organisers are expecting a turnout of two lakh visitors.

Ø  Naval Dockyard (Visakhapatnam) won the Poorvi Nau Sena Kaman Rajbhasha Trophy for the year 2013-14, for exhibiting excellence in the implementation of the official language.

Ø  Hery Rajaonarimampianina, a former Finance Minister backed by strongman Andry Rajoelina, was on Friday declared President of Madagascar following elections to restore democracy on the island nation.

• The Reserve Bank of India will pump Rs.10,000 crore into the market on Wednesday by buying government securities to ease the liquidity situation.