International News
4. New Zealand Bans Assault Weapons
i. New Zealand has imposed an immediate ban on assault weapons following the Christchurch massacre that claimed the lives of 50 mosque-goers.
ii. Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern announced assault rifles and military-style semi-automatic weapons would be banned with immediate effect, making a pledge to ensure that nothing like Christchurch massacre ever occurs in the Pacific nation again.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For LIC AAO Mains Exam:
- New Zealand Capital: Wellington, Currency: New Zealand dollar.
5. First Ever High-Level Dialogue On Indo-Pacific Cooperation (HLD-IPC) Held In Jakarta
i. The Government of Indonesia has hosted the first ever High-Level Dialogue on Indo-Pacific Cooperation (HLD-IPC) in its capital city Jakarta. The theme of the HLD was ‘Towards a Peaceful, Prosperous, and Inclusive Region’.
ii. The objective behind this meet was to urge all participating governments to talk openly about their plans for increasing cooperation and for building trust in the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean region.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for LIC AAO Exam:
- Indonesia Currency: Indonesian rupiah, President: Joko Widodo.
6. Kazakhstan Renames Its Capital Astana To Nursultan
i. Kazakhstan has renamed its capital Astana to Nursultan to honor outgoing leader Nursultan Nazarbayev.
ii. Mr. Nazarbayev, 78, served nearly 30 years as president of the nation. The change was announced after Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was sworn in as president, promising to seek his predecessor’s opinion on key decisions.
Ranks and Reports
7. World Happiness Report Released, India Ranks 140th
i. The World Happiness Report was released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations on March 20, the International Day of Happiness. India is ranked 140th out of 156 nations. India shows a 7 spot decline.
ii. For the second consecutive year, Finland topped the list. Denmark ranked second followed by Norway. Pakistan ranked 67th, Bhutan 95th, China 93rd, Bangladesh 125th, and Sri Lanka 130th while South Sudan ranked last in the World Happiness Report.
Banking/Business/Economy News
8. ADB To Invest $50 million In Solar Power Project Developer Avaada
i. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has inked an agreement to invest USD 50 million in solar energy project developer Avaada Energy Pvt Ltd to help the company scale up rapidly.
ii. The investment will come equally from ADB’s Ordinary Capital Resources and Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP).
Static/Current Takeaways Important For LIC AAO Mains Exam:
- Asian Development Bank Headquarters: Manila, Philippines, President: Takehiko Nakao.
- LEAP is a funding arrangement provided by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which is administered by ADB.
9. SBI Signed MoU With Bank of China For Business Opportunities
i. The country’s largest lender State Bank of India has signed a pact with the Bank of China to boost business opportunities. SBI has signed an MoU to enhance business synergies between both the banks.
ii. Through this pact, both SBI and BoC will gain direct access to their respective markets of operation. Both banks’ clients will be able to use the vast combined network to expand their businesses abroad. SBI has a branch in Shanghai and BOC is opening its branch in Mumbai.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For LIC AAO Mains Exam:
- SBI Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar, Headquarters: Mumbai, Founded: 1 July 1955.
- Bank of China (BoC) is the third-largest bank in the world by capital size.
10. Fitch Cuts India GDP Growth Forecast For FY20 To 6.8%
i. Fitch Ratings cut India’s economic growth forecast for the next financial year starting April 1, to 6.8% from its previous estimate of 7%, on weaker than expected momentum in the economy.
ii. The rating agency has also cut growth forecasts for FY20 and FY21 to 7% from 7.3% and 7.1% from 7.3%, respectively.
Awards
11. Physicist Marcelo Gleiser Wins Templeton Prize 2019
i. Brazilian physicist and astronomer Marcelo Gleiser has been awarded the 2019 Templeton Prize, worth $1.4 million, for his work blending science and spirituality.
ii. Gleiser, 60, is the first Latin American to win the award. Previous winners of the award, started in 1972 by late global investor Sir John Templeton, include the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa.
12. Hindi Writer Leeladhar Jagudi Awarded Vyas Samman 2018
i. Hindi writer Leeladhar Jagudi honoured with Vyas Samman 2018 for his collection of poems “Jitne Log Utne Prem” published in 2013. The award carries an amount of Rs. 4 lakhs and it was started by K K Birla foundation in 1991.
ii. He has received Padma Shri in 2004 and Sahitya Akademi Award, Akashvani National Award and Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman as well.
13. International Day of Forests: 21 March
i. The International Day of Forests is held annually on 21 March to raise awareness of the importance of forests to people and their vital role in poverty eradication, environmental sustainability and food security.
ii. The theme for 2019 is Forests and Education.
14. World Water Day: 22 March
i. International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
ii. The theme for World Water Day 2019 is ‘Leaving no one behind,’ which is the central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For LIC AAO Mains Exam:
- The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.
Sports News
15. Special Olympics Games 2019 Concludes: India Bag 368 Medals
i. India returned with 368 medals (85 gold, 154 Silver, and 129 Bronze) at the Special Olympics World Summer Games, held at Abu Dhabi, UAE.
ii. Indian powerlifters bagged the maximum number of medals 20 gold, 33 silver and 43 bronze. Roller Skating earned India 49 medals 13 gold, 20 silver and 16 bronze. In cycling, the Indians won 11 gold, 14 silver and 20 bronze to total 45 medals.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For LIC AAO Mains Exam:
- The next Special Olympic Games are set to take place in Sweden in 2021.