20 April 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

20 April 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

20 April 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. UN Chinese Language Day being observed today

  • The ‘UN Chinese Language Day’ is observed every year on 20th April to promote the use of Chinese language in United Nation (UN).
  • The day was chosen as the date for the Chinese language to pay tribute to Cang Jie, a mythical figure who is presumed to have invented Chinese characters about 5,000 years ago.
Source: UN.Org
Obituaries

2. NASA’s first female Astronaut candidate Jerrie Cobb passes away

  • America’s first female astronaut candidate pilot Jerrie Cobb(88-years) passed away in Florida following a brief illness.
  • In 1961, Cobb became the first woman to pass astronaut testing.
  • Altogether, 13 women passed the arduous physical testing and became famous as the Mercury 13.
Source: Business Standard

3. Scotland all-rounder Con de Lange passes away

  • Scotland all-rounder Con de Lange (38-years) passed away after a lengthy battle with a brain tumour.
  • The South Africa-born player played 21 international matches for Scotland, making his debut in a T20I against Ireland in June 2015.
  • The left-arm orthodox spinner achieved his career-best figure of 5/60 against Zimbabwe which handed Scotland its first ever ODI win over a Full Member
Source: Times of India
Books and Author

4. Salman Rushdie’s New Novel “Quichotte” to Release in August

  • The British Indian Novelist Salman Rushdie’s new novel “Quichotte” will be released in August 2019.
  • It 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.
  • This book "Quichotte", acquired by Penguin Random House India, will be published in India under the Hamish Hamilton imprint in August.
  • Rushdie is the author of 13 novels including "Midnight's Children", for which he won the Man Booker Prize and Booker of Bookers Prize, and one collection of short stories.
Source: Outlook

5. Book on Jallianwala Bagh poem 'Khooni Vaisakhi' released in UAE

  • India's Ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Singh Suri has launched a book containing English translation of the 100-year-old classic Punjabi poem about Jallianwala Bagh massacre, 'Khooni in Abu Dhabi.
  • The poem was translated by Mr Suri whose grandfather Nanak Singh (Jallianwala Bagh survivor) wrote it after witnessing first-hand the events of April 13, 1919.
  • On this ill-fated day, British troops fired upon crowds of protesters peacefully demonstrating against the Rowlatt Act of the British Raj, leading to the loss of well over a thousand lives.
Source: AIR NEWS
National Affairs

6. Saudi Arabia increases India's Haj Quota to 2 lakhs

  • Saudi Arabia has issued a formal order increasing the Haj quota of India to two lakhs from one lakh seventy five-thousand.
  • In February 2019, the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin had announced that Indian Haj quota would be increased by 25 thousand to two lakhs.
  • This is the third hike in three consecutive years.
  • As many as 2,340 Indian Muslim women will go for the pilgrimage without a male companion or Mehram.
Note:
  • The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims, and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey.
  • It is one of the five pillars of Islam, alongside Shahadah, Salat, Zakat, and Sawm.
Source: DD news

7. Government suspends LoC trade in J&K

  • The Union government has suspended the LoC trade in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The decision was taken as the government has been receiving reports that the Cross LoC trade routes are being misused by the Pakistan-based elements for funnelling illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency.
  • The trade is allowed through two Trade Facilitation Centres located at Salamabad, Uri, District Baramulla and Chakkan-da-Bagh of District Poonch.
  • The main objective of allowing LoC trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir was to encourage local trade and exchange of locally made and grown products.
  • The trade is based on the Barter system and zero duty basis.
Source: AIR News
International Affairs

8. 7th China International Technology Fair kicks off in Shanghai

  • The 7th China International Technology Fair (CSITF) opened in Shanghai, China.
  • The national-level professional fair has five exhibition areas including professional technologies, technological innovation, and trade services.
  • Nearly 1,000 companies and organizations are attending the fair, including more than 20 companies and organizations from the British city of Liverpool.
  • Research centres from Germany displayed their air filters and other latest technologies.
  • The CSITF has become an important showcase for the latest technologies worldwide since 2013 when the first exhibition was held.
Source: AIR NEWS

9. Mali's PM resigns along with his entire government

  • Mali's Prime Minister has resigned along with his entire government after it came under mounting pressure over handling the violence in the restive Mopti region.
  • The rage was rising especially after a massacre in which 160 people were killed in the village of Ogossagou near the border with Burkina Faso (on 23rd March 2019).
  • Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Bamako on April 5 to protest the upsurge of violence, accusing the government of not doing enough to stop it.
Note:
  • Mali has been struggling to restore stability since Islamist extremists linked to Al-Qaeda took control of the country's vast desert north in early 2012.
Source: Telegraph

10. Pakistan's Finance Minister Asad Umar resigns

  • Pakistan's Finance Minister Asad Umar abruptly quit the Cabinet before securing a multi-billion dollar International Monetary Fund bailout package for the cash-strapped country.
  • Pakistan is seeking eight billion dollars from the IMF to bail itself out from a severe balance-of-payments crisis that threatens to cripple the country's economy.
Note:
  • The Ministry of Finance is a ministry of the Government of Pakistan tasked to ensure a strong Pakistani economy by developing policies of sound economic management and providing expert advice to the government.
Source: Gulfnews
Appointments

11. Jaideep Sarkar appointed as India's next High Commissioner to S Africa

  • Jaideep Sarkar (1987-batch Indian Foreign Service officer) has been appointed as India's next High Commissioner to South Africa.
  • Currently, Sarkar is serving as India's ambassador in Bhutan.
  • He served in Indian Missions in Tokyo, Seoul and Bangladesh as well.
  • The government also appointed Suhel Ajaz Khan as India's next High Commissioner to Lebanon.
  • Currently, he is serving as India's Deputy Chief of Mission in Saudi Arabia.
Source: AIR

12. Deutsche Bank appoints Kaushik Shaparia as CEO for India

  • Germany-based lender Deutsche Bank has appointed Kaushik Shaparia as the chief executive officer (CEO) for India.
  • Kaushik Shapariao succeeds Ravneet Gill (joined Yes Bank last month).
  • Shaparia served as Asia Pacific Head of Corp­orate Banking Coverage within Institutional and Treasury Coverage, as well as Global Head of Subsidiary Coverage.
Note:
  • Deutsche Bank AG is a German multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany.
  • The bank is operational in 58 countries with a large presence in Europe, the Americas and Asia.
Source: Business Standard

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