Daily GK Updates - 5th May, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. HUL appoints Razdan, Sanzgiri as EDs: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has announced the appointments of Anuradha Razdan as executive director, Human Resources, and Vibhav Sanzgiri as executive director, Research and Development. Both Ms. Razdan and Dr. Sanzgiri will join HUL’s management committee with effect from June 1. Ms. Razdan joined HUL as a management trainee in 1999 and has now returned to India after a stint in Unilever. She succeeds B.P. Biddappa, who is moving to a global role with Unilever. Dr. Sanzgiri joined HUL in 1997 and has held global and regional R&D roles in skin care and skin cleansing categories.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. King Maha Vajiralongkorn crowned Rama X of Thailand: Thailand has crowned its new King Maha Vajiralongkorn, marking the first ascension of a new monarch in seven decades. The key rituals of the elaborate three-day coronation ceremony began in Bangkok. King Vajiralongkorn is the tenth monarch of the Chakri dynasty, which has reigned since 1782. The last coronation was held in 1950 for the king’s father Bhumibol Adulyadej. Thailand has been run by an arch-royalist junta since 2014. The monarchy takes primacy in the country but it is buttressed by the army.

2. North Korea launches ‘short-range projectiles’: U.S. President Donald Trump voiced confidence that Kim Jong-un would not “break his promise”, following what if confirmed would be North Korea’s first short-range missile launch for more than a year. Since their historic summit meeting in Singapore in 2018, Mr. Trump has said Mr. Kim remains committed to the “complete denuclearisation” of the Korean peninsula.

3. More than 1,000 dead in DR Congo Ebola epidemic: More than 1,000 people have now died of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities said, as aid workers warned that the highly contagious virus combined with insecurity in the restive region was creating a “deeply worrying situation.” The current outbreak is the second deadliest on record, after an epidemic killed more than 11,300 people in West Africa in 2014-2016.

4. India, Australia agrees to further deepen counter-terrorism co-operation: India and Australia have agreed to further deepen counter-terrorism co-operation through regular exchange of information and sharing of best practices on countering extremism and radicalization. The two countries held the 11th Meeting of Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism at Canberra. In a release, the External Affairs Ministry said, the two sides discussed contemporary counter terrorism challenges such as financing of terrorism, the use of the internet for terror purposes, radicalization and Foreign Terrorist Fighters.

5. World Laughter Day: 5 May 2019: World Laughter Day is being observed worldwide on the first Sunday of May every year (5th May 2019). It is a day to raise awareness about laughter and its many healing benefits. The first time this day was celebrated on May 10, 1998, by Dr. Madan Kataria (founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement) in Mumbai.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Diamond league: Semenya wins Doha 800m in first race since gender ruling defeat: Caster Semenya won the 800 metres at the Doha Diamond League meeting in her first race since losing her appeal over a controversial gender ruling, claiming “actions speak louder than words”. The South African, a two-time Olympic champion, timed 1min 54.98sec to defeat Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba, who clocked 1min 57.75sec and Ajee Wilson of the United States in 1min 58.83sec. Semenya’s victory could be her last over 800m before new International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules governing testosterone levels come into operation on May 8.

2. Saurav Ghosal,Joshna Chinappa to play for titles of Asian Individual Squash Championship: Ace Indian Squash players - Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa - will play for the titles of the Asian Individual Squash Championship in Kuala Lumpur. Ghosal, Men's top seed, will take on Leo Au Chun Ming of Hong Kong, while Joshna, the reigning champion, will face Annie Au, also from Hong Kong

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI slaps Rs 11 lakh fine on Yes Bank for violating money transfer norms: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) vide its speaking order dates April 22, 2019, imposed a penalty of Rs 11,25,000 under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 on Yes bank. The RBI has identified certain violations of its circular of 2011 on Domestic Money Transfer – Relaxations and master directions issued in October 2017 on issuance and operation of prepaid payment instruments in connection with certain product features for an open loop prepaid card (co-branded) previously issued by the bank.

DEFENCE

1. After 36 years, Indian Navy’s frontline missile destroyer INS Ranjit to be decommissioned: INS Ranjit, the Indian Navy’s frontline missile destroyer, will be decommissioned at the naval dockyard in Visakhapatnam on May 6 after having served for 36 years. INS Ranjit was the third of the five Kashin-class destroyers built by erstwhile USSR, and was commissioned in 1983. INS Ranjit was constructed as Yard 2203 in the 61 Communards shipyard in the town of Nikolev in present-day Ukraine. The keel of the ship was laid on 29 June 1977 and she was launched on 16 June 1979. The ship was given its Russian name “Lovkly” which means “Agile.

OBITUARIES

1. Former Sports Editor Krishnan passes away: S. Krishnan, The Hindu’s former Sports Editor, passed away here on Saturday. He was 74 and is survived by his daughter, son-in-law and grandson. A grandson of Kasturi Srinivasan, The Hindu’s former Editor, Krishnan was an active sportsman in his youth and dabbled in cricket and tennis besides playing table tennis. He used to write a column on horse racing under the pseudonym Spotlight in the Saturday Sports supplement during the 1970s before being appointed as the Sports Editor of The Hindu in September, 1980.