21-22 April 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. 'Services' lifts their sixth Santosh Trophy Football

'Services' has won the 73rd edition of premier domestic football tournament ‘Santosh Trophy’ by defeating Punjab 1-0 in the final at Ludhiana, Punjab.
In the second half, Services scored the lone goal and held on till the final whistle.
In the 1^st semi-final, Punjab (eight-time champions) had defeated five-time winners Goa (five-time winners) 2-1 to enter their 15th final.
In the 2^nd semi-final, Services beat Karnataka 4-3 via a penalty shootout to book a place in the title clash for the 11th time.

Note:

Santosh Trophy is an annual Indian football tournament started in 1941.
The trophy is named after the late Maharaja Sir Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhary of Santosh (now in Bangladesh).
It is knock-out competition contested by the regional state associations and government institutions under the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Season	Host	Winner	Runner-up
2018–19	Ludhiana	Services	Punjab
2017–18	Kolkata	Kerala	West Bengal
2016–17	Goa	West Bengal	Goa

Source: The Times of India

2. Hardik & Rahul fined 20 lakh rupees each by BCCI ombudsman

India cricketers Hardik Pandya & K.L. Rahul were fined 20 lakh rupees each by the BCCI ombudsman Justice D.K. Jain for their sexist comments on a popular TV chat show.
Justice Jain wrote that no further action will be taken against Pandya and Rahul.
In the order published on the official BCCI website, they have already served a provisional suspension and tendered an unconditional apology for their loose comments on women.

Source: AIR News

3. Asian Weightlifting Championships begin in China

The Asian Weightlifting Championships 2019 has begun in Ningbo, China.
As many as 278 participants from 28 nations and regions, including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Iran and North Korea have registered for the competition.
Former World Champion, Mirabai Chanu (in 49kg category) will spearhead India’s challenge at the Championship.
Medals will be won across 20 categories, 10 for men and 10 for women, till the 28th of April 2019.

Note:

The Asian Weightlifting Championships is a weightlifting championship organised by the Asian Weightlifting Federation for competitors from the Asian countries.
It is the 48th men's and 29th women's championship.

Source: AIR News

4. Fognini beats Dusan Lajovic to win the 2019 Monte Carlo Masters

Italian Tennis Player Fabio Fognini has won the 2019 Monte-Carlo Masters.
He defeated Dusan Lajovic (Serbia) 6−3, 6−4.
Croatia’s Nikola Mektic & Franko Skugor has won the 2019 Monte-Carlo doubles title, defeating Robin Haase & Wesley Koolhof in the final, 6–7, 7–6, [11–9].

Note:

The 2019 Monte-Carlo Masters (113th edition) is an annual tennis tournament (outdoor clay courts) for male professional players held in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France.

Source: BBC

5. Bajrang regains top spot in world wrestling rankings

India's Bajrang Punia has regained the world number one spot in the men's 65-kilogram freestyle category rankings.
Punia secured 58 points ahead of Akhmed Chakaev of Russia.
The rankings were released by United World Wrestling.
Punia won Gold in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games as well as a silver in the World Championships last year.
He won gold at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov tournament in Bulgaria last month.

Source: AIR news

Important Days

6. 'International Mother Earth Day' observed across the world

The International Mother Earth Day has been celebrated every year around the world on ‘22nd April’ to remind each of us that the Earth and its ecosystems provide us with life and sustenance.
The Day (the largest secular world event) provides an opportunity to raise public awareness around the world to the challenges regarding the well-being of the planet and all the life it supports.
The theme for 2019 International Mother Earth Day is " Protect our species", which aims to draw attention to the rapid extinction of species across the world.

Note:

International Earth Day was established in 2009, by the United Nations General Assembly.
The term Mother Earth is used because it "reflects the interdependence that exists among human beings, other living species and the planet we all inhabit".

Source: UN.Org

7. 21 April: World Creativity and Innovation Day

The World Creativity and Innovation Day (WCID) has been celebrated on 21^st April to raise awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in problem-solving and by extension, in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
On this day the world is invited to embrace the idea that innovation is essential for harnessing the economic potential of nations.
The Day is a part of the United Nations resolution entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
Source: UN.Org

8. Civil Services Day not being observed due to general elections'

The civil services day is not being observed due to the general elections.
The civil services day is celebrated on 21^st April every year when bureaucrats rededicate themselves to public service, and awards for excellence in public administration are also conferred.
It was on this day that Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, addressed the first batch of civil servants in Independent India at the Metcalf House where he referred to civil servants as the 'steel frame of India'.

Honours & Awards

9. Cipla chairman Hamied receives UK Royal Society honour

Prominent scientist and businessman ‘Yusuf Hamied’(82-year) is among a host of Indian-origin experts honoured in the 2019 list of new fellows of the UK's Royal Society.
Mr. Hamied’ is the chairman of pharmaceutical major Cipla.
The Royal Society is an independent scientific academy of the UK and the Commonwealth, dedicated to promoting excellence in science.

Note:

Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS) is an award granted to individuals that the Royal Society of London judges to have made a 'substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathematics, engineering science and medical science'.

Source: The Pioneer

Obituaries

10. Noted Bengali folk singer Amar Pal dies in Kolkata

Noted Bengali folk singer Amar Pal (86-years) passed away in Kolkata after a prolonged illness.
His playback in Satyajit Ray directed Hirak Rajar Deshe 'Kotai Ranga Dekhi Duniya' was one of the hit songs among Bengali circles.
He was an old artist of Akashvani Kolkata and remained closely associated with this prestigious institution.
The West Bengal Government conferred Sangeet Mahasamman on him in 2012 for his outstanding contribution in the field of music.

Source: AIR News

Defence

11. Indian Navy launches Guided-missile destroyer 'Imphal'

The Indian Navy launched guided missile destroyer Imphal at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders in Mumbai.
Imphal is the third ship to be launched under a project in which ships are built to carry and operate two multiple role helicopters.
According to enhanced stealth features have been achieved through the shaping of hull and use of radar transparent deck fittings which make the ships difficult to detect.
Navy has become a builder from a buyer and was slated to excel in coming years.

Source: The Economic Times

International Affairs

12. UAE adopts National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031

The UAE Cabinet chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has adopted the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi.
Its aims at positioning the UAE as a global leader in artificial intelligence by 2031 and to develop an integrated system that employs artificial intelligence in vital areas in the country.
According to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, The UAE is moving ahead with its vision and aspirations through a well-defined plan for the UAE Centennial 2071.
The strategy includes eight objectives and number of initiatives, aimed at employing artificial intelligence in vital areas such as education, government services and the community wellbeing.
The strategy implementation is overseen by the Emirates Council for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transactions, in coordination with the number of local and federal entities.

Source: AIR News

13. Comedian Volodymyr Zelensky wins Ukraine's presidential vote

Political newcomer, Comedian ‘Volodymyr Zelensky’ (41-year) has won the 2019 Presidential election of the country in a landslide victory.
He won 73% of the vote in the runoff election, according to national exit poll results broadcast by Ukrainian television.
The president is directly elected by the citizens of Ukraine for a five-year term of office, limited to two terms consecutively.
Mr Zelensky is best known for starring in a satirical television series Servant of the People in which his character accidentally becomes Ukrainian president.
He plays a teacher who is elected after his expletive-laden rant about corruption goes viral on social media.

Note:

Ukraine (more than 40 million people) is a large country in Eastern Europe known for its Orthodox churches, Black Sea coastline and forested mountains.

Source: BBC