National News

Delhi Police Gets India’s First Ever ‘Thermal Corona Combat Headgear’ to detect body temperature from safe distance

• Delhi Police has launched and inducted in service first-of-its-kind thermal detection headgear named Thermal Corona Combat Gear (TCCH) through which the police personnel will be able to detect temperature of a large number of people from a distance of 10-15 metres.
• The initiative has been launched by the Delhi police in collaboration with Indian Robotics Solution (IRS), to provide safety to frontline warriors.
• The unique equipment will ensure the safety of the frontline warriors and enforce social distancing while detecting the elevated body temperature (EBT), without coming in close contact with them in public areas such as hospitals, supermarkets and crowded areas.
• With the help of this equipment, live imagery can also be sent to a centralised control centre.

Banking & Finance News

FM announces 4th tranche of economic support under the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan

• Coal- Commercial mining of coal on a revenue-sharing basis is being introduced.  Government will introduce competition, transparency and private sector participation through revenue sharing mechanism instead of the current fixed rupee per tonne. Coal Bed Methane will also be auctioned.
• Mineral- To enhance private investments in the mineral sector, a seamless composite exploration -cum-mining – cum production regime will be introduced. 500 mining blocks will be offered through an open and transparent auction process immediately.
• Make in India for  Defence Production- Foreign Direct Investment limit in defence manufacturing under automatic route is being raised from 49% to 74% to boost indigenous defence production.
• Airports and airspace- 6 airports will be put up for bidding by the Airports Authority of India for operation and maintenance on PPP mode.
• Maintenance- Repairs and Operations (MRO)- Tax regime for MRO ecosystem has been rationalised. Convergence between defence sector and the civil MROs will be established to create economies of scale
• Power Sector- Power distribution companies in Union Territories will be privatised.
• Social Infrastructure Projects- Boosting private sector investment in social infrastructure projects through revamped viability gap funding scheme of Rs 8,100 crore. The govt will enhance the quantum of viability gap funding up to 30 per cent each of total project cost as VGF by Centre and state
• Space & Atomic Energy- Private sector will be allowed to use ISRO facilities and other relevant assets to improve their capacities. India to establish a research reactor in PPP mode for production of medical isotopes.

AIIB Signs USD 145 million Loan Agreement with Government of India to improve irrigation services and flood management in West Bengal

• The Government of India, the Government of West Bengal and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has inked a loan agreement worth US$145 million to improve irrigation services and flood management in the Damodar Valley Command Area (DVCA) in West Bengal.
• The loan sanctioned under West Bengal Major Irrigation and Flood Management Project will benefit about 2.7 million farmers from five districts of West Bengal across 393,964 ha area.
• It will provide better irrigation services and improved protection against annual flooding to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Facebook acquires animated graphics startup GIPHY

• Facebook has announced that it has acquired the animated graphics startup GIPHY. Facebook will now integrate GIPHY in its Instagram visual social network.
• GIPHY is known for its use of stickers and other products using the graphics interchange format or GIFs.

Zubair Iqbal Appointed as the New MD of J&K Bank

• The Jammu & Kashmir Government has appointed senior vice president of HDFC Bank Zubair Iqbal, as the new Managing Director (MD) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Bank on 15 May 2020, for a period of three years.
• RK Chibber, who currently holds the position of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of J&K Bank, will continue to serve as the Chairman of the bank for next three years.
• The appointments are based upon the continuous directions by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to separate the positions of Chairman and Managing Director for better governance.

Important Days

International Day of Living Together in Peace: 16 May

• The International Day of Living Together in Peace is observed on 16 May every year to promote peace through a harmonious living together regardless of nationality, gender, language or religion, to build a sustainable world of peace, solidarity and harmony..
• The first ever International Day of Living Together in Peace was observed in 2018.
• The day is recognized by the UN General-Assembly in December 2017.

International Day of Light: 16 May

• The International Day of Light (IDL) is celebrated on 16 May each year to mark the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman.
• The day celebrates the role that light plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy to help achieve the goals of UNESCO – ‘education, equality, and peace’.
• Due to the COVID-19 crises, the 2020 celebrations is being observed digitally through #IDL2020 and #SEETHELIGHT.

World Hypertension Day: 17 May

• The World Hypertension Day (WHD) is celebrated on 17 May worldwide to promote public awareness of increasing high blood pressure (BP) and to encourage citizens of all countries to prevent and control this silent killer.
• The day was held for the first time in May 2005.
• World Hypertension Day (WHD) is an initiative of the World Hypertension League (WHL), an affiliated section of the International Society of Hypertension.
• The theme for World Hypertension Day 2020 is Measure Your Blood Pressure, Control It, Live Longer.
• The WHL has announced that it will postpone the celebration of World Hypertension Day (WHD) 2020 until October 17, 2020, due to global COVID-19 pandemic.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day: 17 May

• The World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is observed every year on 17 May since 1969, to commemorate the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• The theme of 2020 is “Connect 2030: ICTs for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”
• The ITU was founded on 17 May 1865, when the first International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris.
• The main objective of the day is to raise global awareness of the changes brought about by the Internet and new technologies in societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide.

Obituary

Iran’s OPEC Governor Hossein Kazempour Ardebili Passes Away at 67 due to brain hemorrhage

• Hossein Kazempour Ardebili, Iran’s representative at OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), has passed away after falling into a coma following a brain hemorrhage. He was 67.
• He had served as Iran’s OPEC governor for nearly 20 years.
• Kazempour had been Iran’s representative to OPEC since 2013, after previously holding the position from 1995 to 2008.

Renowned Bengali Author and Sahitya Akademi Winner Debesh Roy Passes Away at 84

• Veteran Bengali author Debesh Roy, known for his famous novel ”Teesta Parer Brittanto” has passed away. He was 84
• Roy was conferred with the Sahitya Akademi award for ‘Teesta Parer Brittanto’ (translating to ‘Chronicles of the Banks of the Teesta’) in 1990.

Bangladesh’s National Professor and Recipient of Padma Bhushan Award, Dr Anisuzzaman, Passes Away at 83

• Noted Bangladeshi academic of Bengali literature, Dr Anisuzzaman has passed away aged 83 after a long battle with kidney and lung complications and respiratory problems.
• Anisuzzaman made an immense contribution to Bangla language and literature through his research and writings and was inducted as a National Professor by the Government of Bangladesh in 2018.
• He was conferred with Padma Bhushan in 2014 by the Government of India for his distinguished service in fields of Bangla literature and education.