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CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS
World Heritage Day
- World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18 April to preserve the human heritage and to recognise all the efforts of relevant organizations.
- The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1982 announced, 18 April as the World Heritage Day.
- This was approved by General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983, with an aim of enhancing awareness about the importance of cultural heritage, monuments and to conserve them.
- World Heritage Day is also called The International Day for Monuments and Sites
| USEFUL INFO |
| Theme 2019 | “Rural Landscapes” |
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL
Singapore’s Changi Airport touts the world’s tallest indoor waterfall
- Singapore’s Changi Airport has long been touted as the “best airport in the world.” ,when it will officially open a dazzling presecurity attraction known as Jewel.
- The Jewel Changi Airport is about $1.3 billion dollar project, connecting three of the four terminals at Changi Airport with the aim to increase the number of passengers coming to Singapore for visits and stopovers.
- Inside is a lush four-story tiered garden, more than 280 retail and dining outlets, a hotel, a multi-screen IMAX theater and its centerpiece: a 130-foot-tall Rain Vortex, which is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.
| USEFUL INFO |
| Singapore Capital | Singapore City |
| Currency | Dollar |
| President | Halima Yacob |
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE
Canara Bank becomes the first public sector bank in India to meet RBI’s EMV mandate
- ACI Worldwide, a global provider of realtime electronic payment and banking solutions, announced that Canara Bank has successfully rolled out major new functionality to support EMV card acquiring across its ATM network and Aadhaar Authentication.
- Canara Bank, one of India’s largest public sector banks with nearly 6,300 branches and a network of more than 10,000 ATMs, is the first public sector bank to shift to EMV chip and PIN for card present transactions across the country’s vast ATM network.
- The EMV shift, as in other major global markets, is aimed at reducing lost and stolen card fraud and making counterfeit card fraud more difficult. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had set a deadline of December 31, 2018 for the switch, mandating use of an embedded chip to replace the traditional magnetic stripe card.
| USEFUL INFO |
| Canara Bank CEO | Sankara Narayanan |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru |
| Tagline | Together We Can |
The IMF and World Bank launches ‘Learning Coin’ to explore blockchain technologies
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank are launching their own blockchain and digital currency to familiarize staff with the concepts.
- The currency will only be accessible within the organizations and will not be able to buy real-world goods and services. But a model digital currency economy will operate, as a kind of trial run.
- Staff will earn the tokens by achieving training goals, then exchange their earnings for rewards of some kind.
- The tokens will be accessed on an app called ‘Learning Coin’ to emphasize its educational use. The app will also support the institutions’ blogs, research and video content.
RBI Issues Rs. 50 notes with Governor Shaktikanta Das’ signature
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday issued banknotes of Rs. 50 denomination bearing the signature of Governor Shaktikanta Das.
- The design of these notes is similar in all respects to Rs. 50 banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi (new) series.
- The dimension of 50 note is 66 mm x 135 mm.
- In the back side of the note has Hampi with chariot as motif.
| USEFUL INFO |
| RBI Headquarters | Mumbai |
| RBI Governor | Shaktikant Das |
| RBI Deputy Governor | BP Kanungo, N S Vishwanathan, Viral Acharya and Mahesh Kumar Jain |
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
ETMONEY becomes India’s first comprehensive financial services app to integrate UPI
- India’s largest app for financial services, ETMONEY has integrated Unified Payment Interface (UPI) as a payment method on its platform as it looks to double its monthly user base by the end of the year.
- The integration of UPI will simplify the mutual fund payment experience for millions of ETMONEY users as the company continues its journey to simplify the financial lives of new age Indians.
- They can select from a list of UPI-enabled apps installed on their phone including Google Pay, BHIM UPI and PhonePe among others.
CRISIL board gives nod for transfer of ratings business to new subsidiary
- CRISIL Ltd, a diversified global analytics company, will transfer its ratings business to its proposed new wholly-owned subsidiary. The board of CRISIL gave the nod for the transfer
- CRISIL covers more than 28,000 large and mid-scale corporates and financial institutions.
- SEBI had last year modified its regulations for credit rating agencies and mandated the segregation of rating and non-ratings businesses of credit-rating agencies.
- CRISIL proposes to undertake the transfer of its ratings business through a scheme of arrangement in terms of Section 230 to 232 of the Companies Act, 2013, to be approved by the stock exchanges and the National Company Law Tribunal.
Bandhan Bank gets CCI nod for merger with Gruh Finance
- Bandhan Bank has received approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for the proposed scheme of amalgamation of Gruh Finance with the bank.
- Gruh Finance, the affordable housing finance arm of HDFC Ltd, was taken over by Bandhan Bank in a share-swap deal in January
- The approval has been made under sub-section (1) of Section 31 of the Competition Act, 2002.
- As part of the deal, Bandhan Bank has to transfer 14.9% stake to HDFC for merging Gruh Finance with itself.
| USEFUL INFO |
| Bandhan Bank CEO | Chandra Shekhar Ghosh |
| Headquarters | Kolkata |
CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS
3 Indian teams win awards at NASA rover challenge
- Three Indian student teams won awards in NASA’s annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge at the US Space and Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama.
- The team from KIET Group of Institutions in Ghaziabad won the “AIAA Neil Armstrong Best Design Award” in the college/university division.
- The Mukesh Patel School of Technology Management and Engineering from Mumbai won the “Frank Joe Sexton Memorial Pit Crew Award”.
- Lovely Professional University from Phagwara, Punjab, won the STEM Engagement Award.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATION
US appoints Indian Sanjay kumar to geospatial advisory committee
- Delhi-based Sanjay Kumar, CEO of Geospatial Media and Communications and Secretary General of World Geospatial Industry Council, is the first Indian to be inducted to NGAC.
Kumar was conferred the Global Geospatial Industry Ambassador award by the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management. - The NGAC gives advice and recommendations on National Geospatial Policy and management issues, the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI), and the implementation of the Geospatial Data Act of 2018.
Mali’s PM Soumeylow Boubeye Maiga resigns
- Mali’s Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga has resigned along with his whole government.
- President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita accepts the resignation of the prime minister and that of the members of government.
- Legislators had discussed a possible motion of no confidence in the government because of last month’s massacre and failure to disarm militias. Last month, some 160 Fulani herders were killed by an ethnic vigilante group.
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| Mali Capital | Bamako |
| Currency | CFA Franc |
| President | Ibrahim Boubacar Keita |
Jaideep Sarkar appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to S Africa
- Jaideep Sarkar has been appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to South Africa.
- He served in Indian Missions in Tokyo, Seoul and Bangladesh as well.
- The government also appointed Suhel Ajaz Khan, presently serving as India’s Deputy Chief of Mission in Saudi Arabia, as next Ambassador to Lebanon
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| South Africa Capital | Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein |
| South Africa Currency | South African rand |
| South Africa President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE
The Indian and Vietnamese Navies Conclude Bilateral Exercise (IN – VPN BILAT EX)
- The Indian Navy undertook the second edition of the bilateral maritime exercise between Indian Navy and Vietnam People Navy at/ off Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam from 13 to 16 Apr 19. The maiden edition was conducted from 21 to 26 May 18 at Da Nang, Vietnam.
- The exercise was undertaken as a part of the ongoing Overseas Deployment of Eastern Fleet ships to South East Asian countries.
- IN Ships Kolkata under the command of Capt Aditya Hara and Shakti under the command of Capt Sriram Amur participated in the exercise, comprising a harbour and a sea phase.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING
Mukesh Ambani, Arundhati Katju, Menaka Guruswamy among TIME’s list of 100 most influential people
- Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and public-interest litigators Arundhati Katju and Menaka Guruswamy, who spearheaded a historic legal battle for LGBTQ rights in India, are among the Indians who have been named by TIME magazine in its prestigious list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
- The list includes Indian-American comedian and TV host Hasan Minhaj, US President Donald Trump, Pope Francis, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, iconic golfer Tiger Woods and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
- The illustrious list also includes US Open winner Naomi Osaka, actor Mahershala Ali, Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek, former first lady Michelle Obama, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, Oscar-winning singer and actor Lady Gaga, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed, Special counsel Robert Mueller and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHORS
Rushdie’s new novel inspired by Spanish ‘Don Quixote’
- Spanish classic “Don Quixote”, which remains the most-translated book in the world after the Bible, has inspired a new novel by Man Booker Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie, publisher Penguin Random House India.
- The novel “Quichotte” which is expected to hit Indian stands in August this year.
- Rushdie’s “Quichotte” is the story of “an ageing travelling salesman who falls in love with a TV star and sets off to drive across America on a quest to prove himself worthy of her hand”.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Nepal successfully launches its 1st satellite NepaliSat-1 into space
- Nepal successfully launched its first satellite NepaliSat-1 into space from Virginia in the United States. The satellite, developed by two Nepalis — Abhas Maskey and Hariram Shrestha — at Japan’s Kyushu Institute of Technology
- NepaliSat-1 is a low orbit satellite. It will be stationed at the International Space Station for a month and then it will be sent to orbit the earth.
- The satellite will take photographs on a regular basis to gather geographical information of the country. It weighs 1.3 kilograms, making it a small satellite with limited capability.
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| Nepal Capital | Kathmandu |
| Currency | Nepalese rupee |
| President | Bidya Devi Bhandari |
Sri Lanka’s 1st satellite ‘Raavana-1’ launched into space
- Sri Lanka’s first satellite ‘Raavana-1’ was launched into space from NASA’s Flight Facility on Virginia’s east shore. ‘Raavana 1’ weights around 1.05 kg and the lifespan of the satellite is around one and a half years.
- The satellite was designed and built at the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan by two Sri Lankan research engineers.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU
BoM joins M1Xchange TReDS platform for MSME bill discounting
- Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has partnered with M1Xchange Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platform for MSME bill discounting.
- TReDS is a digital platform to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to get their bills financed at a competitive rate through an auction where multiple registered financiers can participate.
- Mynd Solutions is a technology management firm which runs the TReDS platform of M1Xchange.
- The cost of funds will be reduced for MSMEs as banks will be bidding based on the risk rating of a corporate.
| USEFUL INFO |
| Bank of Maharashtra CEO | A. S. Rajeev |
| Bank of Maharashtra Headquarters | Pune |
| Bank of Maharashtra Tagline | One family one bank |
IIT Hyderabad to set up drone development centre for India
- IIT Hyderabad has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japanese firm Terra Drone Corporation and its Indian subsidiary to set up a first-of-its-kind Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or drones. Terra Drone India
- It will help IIT Hyderabad in organising workshops, seminars, lectures and joint projects. It plans to offer internship programmes to students.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS
International Hockey Federation imposes fine on Pakistan
- The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has imposed a hefty fine of one lakh seventy-six thousand Euros on Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for not honouring the Pro League commitments.
- PHF was fined for not sending the national team for the Pro League matches in Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARY
Former UP CM ND Tiwari’s son Rohit Shekhar Tiwari passed away
- Rohit Shekhar, son of late Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand chief minister N D Tiwari has died.
- Senior Congress leader Narayan Dutt Tiwari, who was the only politician to have served as the chief minister of two states, died at New Delhi on October 18, 2018.
- He was a three-time chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and also served as the CM of Uttarakhand between 2002 and 2007. He later served as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh from 2007 to 2009.