NATIONAL NEWS
Indonesia Releases Special Stamp On Theme of Ramayana
Indonesia released a special commemorative stamp on the theme of Ramayana to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties with India. The stamp, designed by renowned Indonesian sculptor Padmashri Bapak Nyoman Nuart, features a scene from Hindu epic Ramayana in which Jatayu valiantly fought to save Sita.
- The stamp, symbolising the resolve of two peoples in the face of adversity will be on display at the Philately Museum in Jakarta.
- Extra info.:
Indonesia Capital: Jakarta
Currency: Indonesian rupiah
India Ranks 19th in Cancer Preparedness Index 2019
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has released the 2019 Index of Cancer Preparedness (ICP) in which India's overall rank is 19th out of 28 countries, with a score of 64.9. Australia tops the ICP, followed by the Netherlands and Germany. Saudi Arabia, Romania, and Egypt are at the bottom in Index.
- The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), created in 1946, is the research and analysis division of The Economist Group and the world leader in global business intelligence
- Extra info.:
EIU Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Garia Festival celebrated in Tripura
Garia festival is an important festival for the Tripuri tribal community of the state. The Garia dance is very popular among the Tripuris and the Reangs. It is held on the seventh day of the month of Vaishakha. This year's Garia puja was on 21 April.
- In Garia puja devotees sacrifice chicken for ritual purpose. It is a three day festival to honour the deity Baba Garia is held annually on the first day of Hindu calender month of 'Vaisakh'.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Israel To Name Town In Golan Heights After Donald Trump
Israel said it would name a new community on the Golan Heights after U.S. President Donald Trump as an expression of gratitude for his recognition of its claim of sovereignty over the strategic plateau.
- Israel captured the Golan from Syria in a 1967 war and annexed it, in a move not recognized internationally. The United States broke with other world powers last month when Trump signed a decree recognizing Israeli sovereignty there.
- Extra info.:
Israel Capital: Jerusalem
Currency: Israeli new shekel
World’s first anti-malaria vaccine launched
The world's first malaria vaccine has been launched in Malawi after concerted efforts of over 30 years to protect children from the deadly disease that claims over 435,000 lives globally every year.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the Government of Malawi's landmark pilot programme. The launch of the first and only malaria vaccine, known as RTS,S, makes Malawi the first of three countries in Africa where it will be made available to children up to 2 years of age.
BANKING & FINANCE
SBI General Insurance Launches Cyber Defence Insurance For Businesses
SBI General Insurance said it has launched a product to protect businesses from financial and reputational losses due to cyber attacks. In the initial phase, the focus will be on SMEs and mid-market businesses, but later the product can cater to larger business conglomerates as well.
- This offers protection against the growing threat of cyber breaches and is designed to protect against major insurable cyber exposures like hacking attacks, identity theft, disclosure of sensitive information and business interruption.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
LSE Names A Professorship After Economist Amartya Sen
With an aim to honour renowned India-born economist Amartya Sen, the London School of Economics and Political Science, has announced a Chair in Inequality Studies in his name. The Nobel laureate served as a professor in the economics department at the institute from 1971-82.
- The person holding the position would also serve in the capacity as the Director of the International Inequalities Institute at LSE. The institute aims to acknowledge one of the world’s greatest thinkers on social equity by naming the chair after Amartya Sen.
'Money Loji' launches App that offers loans to salaried professionals within 5 minutes
Money Loji, a modern money lending platform, has launched its App, which offers quickest and the most secure loans to salaried professionals for an immediate requirement with flexible repayment options starting from 7 days to a maximum of 90 days.
- They follow a unique three-step process - application, approval, disbursement, which is carried out within 3-4 minutes. The eligibility criterion is a minimum in-hand salary of Rs 20,000 per month and a minimum age of 23 years.
SPORTS
Bajrang Punia Wins Gold In Asian Wrestling Championship
Bajrang Punia opened India’s medal tally at the Asian Wrestling Championships with a gold in the 65kg freestyle category, beating Sayatbek Okassov 12-7 in the final in Xi’an, China. Meanwhile, Praveen Rana settled for silver and Satyavrat Kadian won bronze in 97kg category.
- Trailing 2-5 at the end of the first period, World No. 1 Bajrang made a brilliant comeback to beat Okassov from Kazakhstan 12-7 in the final, fetching India’s first medal on Day 1 of the competiton.
APPOINTMENTS
Michelin-star chef Vikas Khanna has been named brand ambassador of Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC)
Vikas Khanna, Michelin-star chef named as brand ambassador of Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC), a leading cultural organisation which will organise the annual New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) that would showcase the chef’s film ‘The Last Color‘ and Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer ‘Photograph’.
- The New York Indian Film Festival is North America’s longest-running and most prestigious Indian film festival that would be organised from May 7 to 12, 2019. The festival will showcase 30 feature-length films, including 3 documentaries, 30 shorts and 19 regional films.
OBITUARIES
S Muthiah, chronicler of Madras, Passes Away
Renowned city-based chronicler and writer-journalist S Muthiah passed away in Chennai. He was 89. Muthiah was born in 1930 in the erstwhile Madras Presidency, in what is today the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu.
- He was best known for his popular column in The Hindu, called Madras Miscellany, which arrived with the newspaper every Monday morning.
IMPORTANT DAYS
National Panchayati Raj Day
The National Panchayati Raj Diwas (Day) is celebrated every year in India on 24th April. This day marks the passing of Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 that came into force with effect from 24 April 1993.
- The first National Panchayati Raj Day was celebrated in 2010. The enactment of 73rd Amendment Act had led a defining moment in the history of India which helped in decentralization of political power to the grassroots level. In turn it had led to institutionalization of Panchayati Raj (PR) through village, Intermediate and District level Panchayats.
International Mother Earth Day
On 22nd April 2009 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 22nd April as the “International Mother Earth Day”. The term ‘Mother Earth’ implies the interdependent relationship which exists between all the species of planet earth and to acknowledge earth’s role in sustaining them all.
- World Earth Day 2019 theme is ‘Protect Our Species’. It will mainly focus on saving species which are on the verge of extinction due to climate change, deforestation, pollution and illegal poaching.
The founder of the Earth Day was Gaylord Nelson.
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