CURRENT AFFAIRS SNIPPETS 25th March 2022

 

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS SNIPPETS

25th March 2022

International News

 

Finland's state rail operator to suspend trains to Russia from Mar 28

inland's national railway operator will suspend trains between Helsinki and Russia's Saint Petersburg from March 28, said Director of Passenger Traffic Topi Simola. However, the Russia-Finland border is open for private crossings. Meanwhile, Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering Tytti Tuppurainen said trains were allowed to operate till now to allow Finns in Russia to return home.

Won't allow arms supplies to Ukraine through our territory: Hungary

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on Friday said the government won't allow supply of arms and ammunition to Ukraine through Hungary. "These shipments will immediately become a military target to be destroyed and we are not willing to risk the lives and security of the Hungarian people," added Szijjártó. He also said government doesn't support sanctions on Russian energy sector.

India's position unsatisfactory, but also totally unsurprising: US on Ukraine

White House National Security Council's Mira Rapp-Hooper said, "I think we would certainly all acknowledge and agree that when it comes to votes at the UN, India's position on the [Russia-Ukraine] crisis has been unsatisfactory, to say the least." "But it's also been totally unsurprising," she added. India abstained from voting on multiple resolutions at UN on Russia-Ukraine war.

Russia, Ukraine exchange prisoners for first time since war began

Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began on February 24. "In exchange for 10 captured occupiers, we rescued 10 of our servicemen," Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. As per Russia's human rights ombudsman Tatiana Moskalkov, nine Russian prisoners were exchanged for the mayor of Ukraine's southeastern city of Melitopol.

Iran ready to supply wheat to Lebanon: Lebanese President

Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Friday said Iran is ready to supply wheat to the country amid the war between Russia and Ukraine. Citing Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Aoun said the Iranian government has assured cooperation in nearly all fields. Notably, Lebanon bought the bulk of its wheat from Ukraine until Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Russian commander who said 'war will be over in hours' killed in Ukrainian strike

Russian President Vladimir Putin has lost his fifth general to the Ukraine war as 48-year-old Russian commander Lieutenant General Yakov Rezantsev was killed in a strike by the Ukrainian armed forces, reports said. Rezantsev had reportedly said on the fourth day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, "It's no secret...that there are only a few hours until this...operation is over."

 

First wildlife bond issued by World Bank to save Africa’s black rhino

The World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD) has issued the Wildlife Conservation Bond (WCB) to support of South Africa’s efforts to conserve endangered species of Black Rhino. Wildlife Conservation Bond (WCB) is also known as “Rhino Bond”. It is a five-year $150 million Sustainable Development Bond. It includes a potential performance payment from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The bond will contribute to protecting and increasing black rhino populations in two protected areas in South Africa namely the Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) and the Great Fish River Nature Reserve (GFRNR).

NATIONAL NEWS

 

Oct 5 to be celebrated as National Dolphin Day: Environment Min

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Friday took to Twitter to announce that October 5 will be celebrated as National Dolphin Day from this year. The decision was taken during the 67th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife. "Generating awareness and community participation is (are) integral for conservation of this indicator species," he said.

Haryana only state to geotag 18,104 water bodies: State govt

Haryana has become the only state in India to geotag 18,104 water bodies to optimally manage groundwater resources, the state's Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal informed Union Jal Shakti Ministry on Friday. Further detailing the state's progress on 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan', Kaushal said, "As many as 35 Micro Irrigation NABARD projects amounting to ₹206 crore have been allotted."

 

Yogi Adityanath take Oath as UP Chief Minister for 2nd Term

Yogi Adityanath takes oath as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh for his second term in office. Governor Anandiben Patel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Adityanath at Lucknow’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and other central ministers.  Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak also took oath as the Deputy Chief Ministers in the new government. The BJP-led NDA secured 274 seats out of 403, becoming the first party in over three decades to form a government for a second consecutive time in the state.

Hisashi Takeuchi named as MD and CEO of Maruti Suzuki

Hisashi Takeuchi (from Japan) has been appointed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Maruti Suzuki for a period of three years with effect from April 1, 2022.  Takeuchi will succeed Kenichi Ayukawa as the MD and CEO. Ayukawa will now be designated as Executive Vice-Chairman for a period of six months with effect from 1st April, 2022 till 30th September 2022. Ayukawa joined as MD, MSIL in 2013.  Takeuchi, is a graduate from the Faculty of Economics, Yokohama National University, Japan. He joined Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) in 1986 and started his professional journey with Overseas Marketing Department, Europe Group of SMC.
Prior to his joining as Joint Managing Director (Commercial) in MSIL in April last year, he was working as Managing Officer, Executive General Manager- Asia Automobile Marketing/ India Automobile Department at SMC.

 

Pralay Mondal named as interim MD and CEO of CSB Bank

The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of Pralay Mondal as the interim Managing Director and CEO of CSB Bank. Presently he is the Managing Director at CSB Bank.  The post of MD and CEO at CSB Bank was lying vacant after its full-time MD and CEO, C V R Rajendran announces early retirement on health grounds (w.e.f March 31, 2022).  RBI has approved the appointment of Pralay for three months from April 1, or till the appointment of a regular Managing Director and CEO of CSB Bank, whichever is earlier.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw named for Fellow of Royal Society of Edinburgh

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the executive chairperson of Biocon and Biocon Biologics, has been elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) in Scotland.  She will be joining RSE’s current fellowship of around 1,700 fellows who are recognised as being some of the greatest researchers and practitioners working in or with Scotland.  RSE is one of the world’s oldest and most respected academic societies. Fellows are elected to join the RSE from across the fields of science, arts, education, business and public life in recognition of their impact in improving the world around them. The Biocon chief is among the 80 luminaries to be appointed to the RSE’s Fellowship this year.

Banking, Business and Economy News

 

Anil Ambani steps down from board of Reliance Power & Reliance Infrastructure

Anil Ambani on Friday stepped down from the board of Reliance Infrastructure and Reliance Power. The development comes over a month after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) restrained him from associating himself with any listed public company. He was also barred from the securities market for allegedly siphoning off funds from Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL).

 

 

PFRDA and Irdai granted licence to FinMapp to sell NPS, insurance

FinMapp, a financial services firm, announced that it has been granted a licence under the National Pension Scheme by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). It has also obtained a registration certificate as a corporate agent from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai).  On its app, the organisation offers a variety of financial goods, from mutual funds to bank accounts. "A one-stop marketplace for all financial products made digitally available by prominent banks, NBFCs, insurance companies, mutual funds institutions, and capital markets," according to the company."

SPORTS

 

Who has hit the most number of sixes in IPL history?

Chris Gayle holds the record for hitting the most sixes in IPL history with 357 maximums in 141 innings. He is followed by AB de Villiers, who has hit 252 sixes in IPL. Among the players who will take part in IPL 2022, MI captain Rohit Sharma has hit the most sixes (227), followed by ex-CSK captain MS Dhoni (219).

Awards News

Mario Marcel wins the Governor of the year award 2022

Mario Marcel, the Governor of the Central Bank of Chile, has won the Governor of the year award at the Central Banking Awards 2022. Banco Central de Chile is the name of the central bank of Chile.  When Mario Marcel was named governor of the Central Bank of Chile (BCCh) in October 2016, he took over the leadership of an institution that had secured a reputation as one of the most independent and well-run central banks in Latin America.

Books and Authors News

A Children’s Book ‘The Little Book of Joy’ authored by Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu

A picture book edition co-authored by Nobel Peace Prize winners 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) & Archbishop Desmond Tutu, titled “The Little Book of Joy” will be released in September 2022.  The illustrations provided by artist Rafael López and Rachel Neumann & Douglas Abrams collaborated on the text. This book focuses on the meaning of true happiness, which is not in the materialistic world but lies in the nature of human beings.  In 2016, they also co-authored the book titled “The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World”, which became a bestseller & sold more than 1 million copies and translated into more than 40 languages.

Important Days

International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members 2022

The United Nations observes the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members on 25 March every year. This is a day to mobilize action, demand justice and strengthen our resolve to protect UN staff and peacekeepers, as well as our colleagues in the non-governmental community and the press.  The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members is marked each year on the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett, a former journalist who was working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) when he was abducted by armed gunman in 1985. His body was finally found in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in 2009.

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 2022

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is marked on 25 March every year to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice.  The Day is observed with ceremonies and activities at United Nations Headquarters in New York and at United Nations offices around the world.  2022 Theme: “Stories of Courage: Resistance to Slavery and Unity against Racism”.  International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is a United Nations international observance designated in 2007 to be marked on 25 March every year. It was first observed in 2008 with the theme "Breaking the Silence, Lest We Forget".

Obituaries News

Former Chief Justice of India R C Lahoti passes away

Former Chief Justice of India Ramesh Chandra Lahoti passed away at the age of 81 years. Justice Lahoti was appointed as the 35th chief justice of India on June 1, 2004. He retired on November 1, 2005.  After serving in the post for a year, Justice Lohati resigned in May 1978 and returned to the Bar to practice mainly in the High Court.  He was appointed an additional judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on May 3, 1988, and made a permanent judge on August 4 the next year.  He was transferred to Delhi High Court on February 7, 1994, and later appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court on December 9, 1998.

Creator of the GIF format, Stephen Wilhite passes away

Stephen Wilhite, the creator of the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) format passed away at the age of 74 years due to Covid-19 related issues. Wilhite devised the Graphics Interchange Format, or GIF, in 1987 while working at Compuserve.  The Oxford American Dictionary named GIF the word of the year in 2012. He was honoured with a Webby Lifetime Achievement award in 2013. 

 

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