NATIONAL NEWS
India Chairs 1st BRICS Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting virtuallyThe first BRICS Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting was held in 2021 in virtual format. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of India, which has assumed the BRICS Presidency in 2021. The meeting was chaired by Shri Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Labour and Employment. India received $83 billion in remittances in 2020: World Bank report
India was the largest recipient of remittances in 2020, as per the report, “Migration and Development Brief “ released by the World Bank. India has been the largest recipient of remittances since 2008. However, the remittance received by India in 2020 was over USD 83 billion, which is a drop of 0.2 per cent from 2019 (USD 83.3 billion).
- Globally, the remittance flow was USD 540 billion in 2020, which is 1.9% lower as compared to that of 2019, when it was USD 548 billion.
Making Covid vaccination registration quick, convenient and hassle-free, the Chhattisgarh government has developed a web portal ‘CGTeeka’ for systematic vaccination of people in the age group 18-44 years. This web portal, developed by CHiPS, was launched by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
- CGTeeka web portal has been developed on the basis of social and geographical conditions in the state. This initiative of the government would save the people from waiting in long queues.
Power regulator Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has approved registration to PTC, BSE and ICICI Bank-led Pranurja Solution Ltd to start the country's third power exchange.
- The other two power exchanges are Indian Energy Exchange and Power Exchange of India Ltd.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Google Pay users in US can now transfer money to India, SingaporeAlphabet Inc’s Google has launched international money transfer partnerships with remittances firms Wise and Western Union Co for users of its U.S. payments app. Google Pay users in the United States can now transfer money to app customers in India and Singapore, with plans to expand to the 80 countries available via Wise, and 200 via Western Union by the end of the year. Harley-Davidson launches all-electric motorcycle brand ‘LiveWire’
Harley-Davidson Inc. has launched an all-electric motorcycle brand “LiveWire,” the latest effort by the company to ramp up bets on the rapidly growing electric vehicle market. The company would create a separate electric vehicle-focused division, as it aims to attract the next generation of younger and more environmentally conscious riders.
BANKING & FINANCE
RBI grants PPI authorisation to Eroute TechnologiesThe Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted authorisation to Eroute Technologies to operate as a prepaid payment instruments (PPI) company. The RBI issued authorisation to Eroute Technologies Pvt Ltd with perpetual validity to commence issuance and operations of semi-closed pre-paid instruments in the country. Geojit sign an ink pact with PNB to offer three-in-one account
Geojit Financial Services has entered into an agreement with Punjab National Bank to provide a three-in-one account to the latter’s customers. The new service gives customers who have a savings account with PNB, a PNB Demat account and a Geojit trading account. Saving and Demat accounts can be opened online in PNB with a hassle-free approach. PayPal introduces digital foreign inward remittance advice
Digital payments provider PayPal has introduced an automated process to obtain monthly foreign inward remittance advice (FIRA), allowing Indian merchants to download their monthly digital FIRA issued by banks.
- The automated process will not require sellers to place manual and individual requests, thereby reducing the time taken to file the paperwork. The initiatives at zero cost are aimed to empower Indian MSME exporters to seamlessly grow their business internationally.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Retail inflation eases to 4.29% in AprilThe country’s retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), eased to 4.29 per cent in the month of April. Separately, India’s factory output, measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), witnessed a growth of 22.4 per cent in March, two separate data released by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI). World food price index climbs in April, highest since mid-2014: FAO
World food prices increased for an 11th consecutive month in April, hitting their highest level since May 2014, with sugar leading a rise in all the main indices, the United Nations food agency said.
- The Food and Agriculture Organization's food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, averaged 120.9 points last month versus a revised 118.9 in March.
APPOINTMENTS
Manisha Kapoor joins executive committee of ICASAdvertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) announced that its general secretary Manisha Kapoor has been appointed to the executive committee of the International Council for Advertising Self-Regulation (ICAS). Until April, ASCI served on the executive committee as a member for a two-year term. Martin Griffiths appointed new UN Humanitarian Chief
Veteran British diplomat Martin Griffiths has been appointed as the new Chief at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), for a period of five years. Griffiths will replace Mark Lowcock as the new Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC) of OCHA. He is currently serving as the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen. Uganda’s Museveni sworn in for 6th term as president
Uganda’s 76-year-old president Yoweri Museveni was sworn in for a sixth term. The move follows his being declared the winner of elections held on Jan. 14 this year after receiving 58% of the vote while his closest rival, Bobi Wine, garnered 35%.
AWARDS
Shakuntala Hark Singh of Indian origin receives World Food Award 2021Indian-origin global nutritionist, Dr Shakuntala Hark Singh Thilstad has received the “World Food Award” of the year 2021. She developed a holistic and nutritionally sensitive approach to seafood and food systems and has received an award for his research.
- The award is also known as the Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture.
OBITUARIES
Arjuna Winning Table Tennis Player V Chandrasekhar passes awayArjune-award winning former India table tennis player V Chandrasekhar passed away due to COVID-19 related complications. Chandra, as he was popularly known, was a three-time national champion.
- The Chennai-born player, who had reached the semifinals of the Commonwealth Games in 1982, was also a successful coach.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
"Klara and the Sun" Novel by Kazuo IshiguroKlara and the Sun, the first novel by Kazuo Ishiguro since he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, tells the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, who, from her place in the store, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her. Ruskin Bond’s New Book Titled “All Time Favourites for children”
India’s favourite writer Ruskin Bond has brought forth a carefully curated and handpicked collection of his short stories in a new book titled ‘All Time Favourites For Children’.
- The Landour-based veteran author, who is also the recipient of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan civilian honours, will release the book on his 87th birthday on May 19.
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