NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Maharashtra is first state in India to launch a bus service with a totally
digital ticketing system: Maharashtra State Environment Minister Aditya Thackeray
inaugurated the tap-in tap-out service on the Gateway of India to Churchgate
route in an effort to make commuting across Mumbai easier. Aditya Thackeray
stated during the event that Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport
(BEST) is India’s first fully digital bus service. Key Points:
a)
In
a few days, all 10 buses on this route will be equipped with this technology,
which will eventually be expanded to all 438 routes.
b)
According
to Lokesh Chandra, BEST’s General Manager (GM), this is the country’s
first-ever 100 percent digital bus service, with the goal of increasing the
digitalisation of the bus ticketing system.
c)
It
provides travellers with comfort and convenience because they can tap-in using
their smart card or the ‘Chalo’ app on their cellphones.
d)
If
the tourist taps out using the app, they will receive a receipt on their phone,
and if they used the smart card, they will be able to collect their ticket.
2.
Rajiv Kumar, Niti Aayog’s vice chairman resigns from his post: The government-run
organisation, Niti Aayog’s Vice Chairperson, Rajiv Kumar has resigned due to a
government order. Suman Bery, an economist, will take over as the new head of
the planning agency.
Key Points:
a)
The
government has authorised Rajiv Kumar’s resignation and Suman Bery’s
appointment, according to an order issued by the Cabinet Appointments
Committee. Rajiv Kumar will be relieved of his duties, according to the ruling.
b)
The
reason for Rajiv Kumar’s resignation was not stated in the order.
c)
After
Arvind Panagariya resigned from the job in August 2017 to return to academia,
Rajiv Kumar, an economist, was named vice chairman of the Niti Aayog.
3. As
Co-Chair, Ashwin Yardi, CEO of Capgemini India, joins the UNICEF YuWaah Board: YuWaah
(Generation Unlimited India) in India announced that Ashwin Yardi, CEO of
Capgemini in India, has joined the organisation, starting immediately,
alongside Yasumasa Kimura, UNICEF Representative, as being the co -chair of the
organisation. Key Points:
a)
The
YuWaah Board would now serve as a decision-making body, with the majority of
founding partners and board members providing time and resources to help the
YuWaah Secretariat with money and functional expertise.
b)
They
will play a critical role in influencing YuWaah’s long-term strategy and
execution, as well as actively crafting shared-value partnerships with
governments and the private sector to genuinely establish a collaborative
platform.
c)
YuWaah
has set a lofty goal of enlisting 300 young people as changemakers. Bold
strategies and quick actions will be required to achieve this goal.
d)
The
new YuWaah Board will work to provide the essential tools and assistance to
youth in India, particularly those who are most marginalised, so that they can
effectively traverse the challenges of the twenty-first century.
4.
Khongjom Day was observed in Manipur at the Khongjom War Memorial Complex: Rich tributes
were paid in Manipur to the valiant sons of the state who made tremendous
sacrifices fighting against the British in the battle of Khongjom during the
1891 Anglo-Manipuri War to maintain Manipur’s independence. Key Points:
a)
Every
year on the 23rd of April, Manipur commemorates Manipuri warriors who battled
against the British, especially Major Paona Brajabashi.
b)
The
Governor and Chief Minister of Manipur joined the people of Manipur in a floral
homage to the heroes. At Khebaching, two minutes of silence were held, as well
as a gun salute.
c)
Chief
Minister also thanked the Centre for renaming Mount Harriet in the Andaman
& Nicobar Islands as Mount Manipur. He explained that the decision was made
in honour of Manipur fighters’ sacrifice.
Note: Chief Minister of Manipur: Biren
Singh; Governor of Manipur: Ganeshan
5. Lt
Gen. Manoj Kumar Katiyar named as next DG of Military Operations: Lieutenant General
Manoj Kumar Katiyar has been appointed as the next Director-General of Military
Operations. He would take charge of the new office on May 1st. An alumnus of
the National Defence Academy, Lieutenant General Katiyar was commissioned in
the 23rd Battalion of the Rajput Regiment in June 1986. Lieutenant General
Katiyar is presently the General Officer Commanding of 1 Corps, a strike
formation responsible for offensive operations against both Pakistan and China.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
India to give additional $500 million Fuel Aid to Sri Lanka: India will provide
an additional $500 million in financial aid to help the Srilanka island nation
buy fuel, and that Bangladesh was willing to postpone $450 million in swap
repayments to help Colombo. This is the second $500 million in gasoline credit
that India has given to a Sri Lankan government grappling with the country’s
greatest financial crisis in living memory. Key Points:
a)
After
a shipment of 120,000 tonnes of diesel and 40,000 tonnes of gasoline earlier
this month, the first line of credit was exhausted. India has supplied
approximately 400,000 tonnes of petroleum so far.
b)
After
fuel stockpiles were depleted, massive protests erupted. AFP claimed that
thousands of irate motorists torched tyres and blocked a major road leading
into Colombo, citing police and local officials. The protests erupted after the
state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation increased the price of 92 octane
gasoline to LKR 338 per litre, an increase of LKR 84.
c)
The
CPC raised its prices for the second time this month.
d)
The
Lankan Indian oil giant raised its pricing for the fifth time in six months.
India’s Stand for Srilanka:
a)
India
has given two credit lines totaling more than $2 billion to help with the
purchase of food (rice has already been sent), medicines, and other
necessities.
b)
India
also requested the IMF, or International Monetary Fund, to offer financial
support to Sri Lanka as soon as possible. On the sidelines of the IMF-World
Bank spring conference in Washington, DC, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman
met with IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva.
c)
Sri
Lanka had sought India’s assistance in securing foreign support for bridging
funding as it started bailout talks with the IMF.
d)
Crisis-hit
Sri Lanka defaulted on its external debt, which was estimated to be worth more
than $51 billion. Foreign debt payments have been temporarily halted, according
to officials, in order to prevent a hard default and conserve limited reserves
for crucial imports. Sri Lanka is negotiating with the IMF for a rescue of at
least $4 billion.
Note: Sri Lankan Foreign Minister: GL
Peiris; Srilanka President: Gotabaya Rajapaks
2.
India’s participated as the Guest of honour at the Paris Book Festival 2022: As announced in the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi – President Emmanuel Macron Joint Statement
released in 2018 during the French President’s visit to New Delhi, India has
been designated as the Guest of Honour Country at the Paris Book Festival 2022,
which took place from April 21 to April 24, 2022. On April 21, 2022, the Paris
Book Festival was launched. On the same day, the India Pavilion at the Paris
Book Festival. The National Institute of Design (NID) developed the India
Pavilion, which comprises over 15 digital and physical exhibitions showing over
400 books published in various Indian languages, representing the work of 65
Indian publishers.
Note: PrimeMinister of France: Jean Castex
3.
World Malaria Day: 25th April: Every year on April 25th, World Malaria
Day is commemorated to raise awareness about this life-threatening disease that
continues to be a menace to humanity. The theme for World Malaria Day this year
is “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives”.
Malaria is spread through the female Anopheles mosquito’s bite (which is
infected with the malaria-causing plasmodium parasite).
History: The day grew out
of African Malaria Day. Since 2001, African governments have observed Malaria
Day. However, it was only in 2007, during the World Health Organization’s 60th
session, that it was recommended to designate Africa Malaria Day as World
Malaria Day in order to recognise the disease’s global impact. In 2008, the
inaugural World Malaria Day was observed.
4.
International Delegate’s Day: 25th April: Every year on April 25th, the world
celebrates International Delegates Day. This day is commemorated to increase
awareness of the function of Member States‘representatives and delegates at the
United Nations. The delegates speak and vote on behalf of their country at the
UN General Assembly and other fora, such as the UN Security Council, unless a
higher-ranking politician is present. The delegates are chosen by their
respective governments.
History: The first day of
the San Francisco Conference, also known as the United Nations Conference on
International Organization, is commemorated on International Delegates Day.
Delegates from fifty countries met in San Francisco for the first meeting on
April 25, 1945. Following the devastation of WWII, they came together to form
an organisation that would restore world peace and enforce rules on the
post-war world order. The General Assembly, in resolution 73/286 dated 2 April
2019, recalls the accomplishments of the San Francisco Conference and declares
25 April as International Delegates Day.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
F-1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2022 won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen: Formula One
champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Netherlands) won the Emilia-Romagna Grand
Prix in Italy. It was Verstappen’s second win this season after Saudi Arabia,
which has also included two retirements, and the 22nd of his career. Sergio
Perez (Red Bull-Mexico) finished second and Lando Norris (McLaren-UK) finished
third.
List of 2022 F1 Race Winners:
Bahrain Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc
(Ferrari-Monaco);
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen
(Red Bull – Netherlands);
Australian Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc
(Ferrari-Monaco).
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Elon Musk to acquire Twitter in $44 Billion 2022: Elon Musk, the
world’s richest man, agreed to acquire Twitter for $44 billion, ending a drama
that included hostile takeover threats before handing him personal control of
one of the world’s most powerful social media networks.
Key Points:
a)
According
to Twitter, the publicly traded corporation will now become a private entity
owned by Musk, who negotiated a $54.20 per-share purchase price.
b)
Musk
secured $46.5 billion in funding last week to complete the deal, and Dan Ives,
an analyst at Wedbush Securities, predicted earlier in the day that the board
would likely approve his offer because no other buyer could be found.
c)
Twitter
stock was trading 5.9% higher on Wall Street.
Elon Musk and Twitter: Musk, who has
blasted Twitter’s overzealous moderation, bought a 9% interest in the firm in
April and then offered to buy the entire company altogether, citing a goal to
preserve free speech.
Note: Twitter Founder: Jack Dorsey is an
American Web developer and entrepreneur who co-founded the online microblogging
service Twitter with Evan Williams and Christopher Stone in 2006; Twitter CEO:
Parag Aggarwal
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gets John F. Kennedy Award: The John F.
Kennedy Library Foundation, for the first time ever, awarded the John F.
Kennedy Profile in Courage Award 2022 to five individuals. The award will be
presented by Caroline Kennedy and her son, Jack Schlossberg on May 22, 2022, at
the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, Boston, USA. These five
individuals are:
a)
Ukrainian
President: Volodymyr Zelenskyy
b)
United
States (US) Representative: Liz Cheney
c)
Michigan
Secretary of State: Jocelyn Benson
d)
Arizona
Representative: Russell “Rusty” Bowers
e)
Fulton
County, Georgia, elections worker: Wandrea “Shaye” Moss
About the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award: John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award was created by the family of the late president John Fitzgerald Kennedy to honour public figures who risk their careers by embracing unpopular positions for the greater good, and is named after Kennedy’s 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, ”Profiles in Courage”.
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