18 April 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

18 April 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

18 April 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. IDBI Bank launches ‘NRI-Insta-Online’ Paperless Account Facility

  • IDBI Bank has launched ‘NRI-Insta-Online’ account opening process for NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) residing in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) member countries.
  • The person will not be required to furnish physical documents as well as KYC proofs for opening an account with the bank.
  • On the successful uploading and verification of the scanned documents, the account is instantly opened & electronic advice is sent to the customer.
  • The body has 38 member countries, including the US, UK, India, Japan, China and France, among others.
Note:
  • FATF is an inter-governmental body which devices policy and sets standards to promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.
Source: Business Line

2. Bajaj Finserv launches industry first proposition to pay electricity bill on EMIs

  • Bajaj Finance Ltd. has launched the #BijliOnEMI campaign wherein customer buying air conditioners will also have the option to pay for their electricity bill on EMI.
  • Customers buying air conditioners of Rs 20,000 and above will be eligible for an Instant Credit loan of Rs 5000.
  • For those purchasing air conditioners above Rs 40,000 will receive Rs 7000 as an Instant Credit loan to their Wallet.
  • This will assist the customer to pay the installations charges of the air-conditioner and their electricity bills on EMI.
Note:
  • Bajaj Finserv (part of Bajaj Holdings & Investments Limited) is an Indian financial services company focused on lending, asset management, wealth management and insurance.
Source: Business Standard

3. 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.
  • The approval has been made under sub-section (1) of Section 31 of the Competition Act, 2002.
  • The merger move was taken to bring down promoter holding in the bank to 61% from 82.3%.
  • The bank, which had received RBI nod for the scheme, had recently got approval from the BSE and the NSE.
Source: The Business Line

Appointments

4. PNB appoints Rajesh Kumar Yaduvanshi as Executive Director

  • Punjab National Bank (PNB) has appointed Rajesh Kumar Yaduvanshi as the Executive Director of the bank.
  • Now, PNB has three Executive Directors, the others being L V Prabhakar and A K Azad.
  • He had joined PNB as a management trainee in 1985.
  • Mr Yadivanshi holds a doctorate in science from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi and certified associate member of the Indian Institute of Bankers.
Source: Business Today

5. Mohammad Ishtayyeh Sworn in as new Prime Minister of Palestine

  • The President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas has confirmed the appointment of Dr. Mohammad Ishtayyeh (61 year) as the new Prime Minister of the country.
  • Mr. Ishtayyeh will succeed Rami Hamdallah.
  • The Prime Minister of the State of Palestine is the head of government of the State of Palestine.
Source: Business Standard

Important Days

6. World Heritage Day being observed today

  • The 'World Heritage Day' is being observed across the globe on 18th April every year to celebrate cultural heritage and encourage people to conserve our rich past.
  • The theme of this year is ‘Rural Landscapes’.
  • The day aims to spread awareness of the importance of protecting and preserving various sites around the world that have achieved world heritage status.
  • There are over 1000 World Heritage Sites (man-made and natural) recognized by UNESCO.
Note:
  • In the year 1982, the International Council on Monuments and Sites declared 18th April as World Heritage Day to raise awareness about monuments and other sites which form a part of our history and culture.
  • The World Heritage sites are officially recognized by the UN and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Source: Hindustan Times

Science & Defence

7. 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.
  • NepaliSat-1 is a low orbit satellite developed by the Nepalese scientists.
  • 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.
  • NAST initiated the launch of the country's own satellite under the BIRDS project of the Japanese Kyushu Institute of Technology.
  • The BIRDS project has been designed in association with the United Nations and aims at helping countries launch their first satellite.
Source: AIR News

8. Sri Lanka’s 1st satellite ‘Raavana-1’ launched into space

  • Today, Sri Lanka’s first satellite ‘Raavana-1’ has been 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.
  • Its camera mission is to capture images of Sri Lanka and its neighbouring countries.
Source: AIR News

9. China makes the world’s 1st armoured amphibious drone boat

  • China has successfully tested the world’s first armed amphibious drone boat ‘Marine Lizard’.
  • It is 'capable of forming a combat triad with aerial drones and other drone ships.
  • Built by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group under China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.
  • Having a maximum operation range of 1,200 km, the Marine Lizard can be remotely controlled via satellites.
Source: The Times of India

National Affairs

10. NGT directs govt to submit a report on the constitution of Biodiversity Management Committees

  • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to submit a report on the constitution of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) at the local level in every state within three months.
  • A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel also asked the states who have not constituted the committees to file an affidavit stating the reason for the delay.
  • The tribunal on August 8 last year had directed a monitoring committee comprising officials from the Ministry of Environment and Forests and National Biodiversity Authority to furnish a report.
Source: Outlook

11. Supreme Court bans mining activities along Kaziranga park

  • The Supreme Court has banned all mining activities along the ‘Kaziranga National Park’ and catchment area of rivers originating in Karbi Anglong Hills in Assam.
  • A bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra and Deepak Gupta issued a notice to the Assam government and sought its reply within three weeks.
  • The mining activity in this area was resulting in environmental degradation and habitat destruction in an important elephant and tiger habitat.
  • It is famous for one-horned rhinoceros.
Note:
  • Kaziranga National Park is a national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam, India.
  • Kaziranga located on the edge of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, the park combines high species diversity and visibility.
Source: Hindustan Times
Obituaries

12. Renowned space scientist SK Shivakumar passes away

  • Former Director of Indian Space Research Organisation Satellite Centre (ISAC), SK Shivakumar passed away in Bengaluru.
  • He was part of the team which had developed telemetry system for India’s first moon mission Chandrayan - I.
  • He contributed to several missions like Bhaskara, INSAT, IRS-1B, and IRS-1C. He was Padma Shree awardee and honoured with Karnataka Rajyotsava award (2008).
Source: Indian Express
Sports

13. 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.
  • The FIH has given the Pakistan sports body time until 20th June to pay the fine or else the penalty would be doubled.
  • PHF Secretary General Shahbaz Ahmed said in Karachi today that he has requested the FIH to reduce the fine and allow it to be paid in instalments.
Source: AIR News

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