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By admin: March 23, 2024

World Meteorological Day - 23 March

Tags: Important Days

World Meteorological Day is celebrated every year on 23 March.

An Overview of the News

• This day commemorates the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1950.

• WMO operates as a specialized agency within the United Nations

Theme of World Meteorological Day

• The theme of World Meteorological Day 2024 is "At the Frontier of Climate Action".

• This emphasizes the critical need to address climate change and its potentially severe impacts.

History of World Meteorological Day

• World Meteorological Day began with the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on March 23, 1950.

• WMO was created with the primary purpose of forecasting weather patterns and predicting climate change.

• One year after its establishment, WMO launched World Meteorological Day to celebrate its establishment and promote understanding of the importance of weather and climate forecasting.

Sharath Kamal Named Indian Flagbearer for Paris Olympics 2024

Tags: Sports News

On March 21, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) named Sharath Kamal as the flag bearer for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

An Overview of the News

Achievements of Sharath Kamal

• Kamal, who is ranked 88th in the world rankings, has a record 10 national table tennis championship titles.

• Won 13 medals including seven gold in the Commonwealth Games.

• Earned two medals in Asian Games and three bronze medals in World Championships.

Chef de Mission appointed: MC Mary Kom

• MC Mary Kom, the first woman boxer to win six world titles, has been appointed as the Chef de Mission for Paris 2024.

• Mary Kom won a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games, becoming the first female boxer from India to do so, and won a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics.

• Mary Kom's illustrious career began at the age of 18, when she showcased her talent at the inaugural World Competition in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Gagan Narang will Supervise the Shooting Village Operations

• Gagan Narang, bronze medalist in the 10 meter air rifle event at the London 2012 Olympics, was given the responsibility of operating the shooting village.

• Shooting, which has been important for India since the Beijing 2008 Olympics, aims to achieve success in Paris.

Paris Olympics Program

• The Paris Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11.

PolicyBazaar Ventures into Payment Aggregation with Launch of PB Pay Pvt Ltd

Tags: Economy/Finance

PolicyBazaar, a leading player in insurance and financial services, announced the formation of 'PB Pay Pvt Ltd' to diversify its offerings.

An Overview of the News

• The Board of Directors of Policybazaar approved the incorporation of PB Pay Private Limited on March 20, 2024.

• The subsidiary's focus on payment aggregation services awaits regulatory approval, particularly from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Business Scope and Capitalization

• PB Pay Private Limited will operate as a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) focusing on payment aggregation services.

• The authorized share capital for the subsidiary has been set at Rs 50,00,00,000, with a proposed paid-up capital of Rs 27,00,00,000.

Ownership and Transaction Details

• As a wholly owned subsidiary of Policybazaar, PB Pay Private Limited will be considered a related party.

• Despite the absence of a visible promoter for Policybazaar, the transaction is expected to be at a considerable distance, reflecting the status of its professionally managed entity.

Titan SBI Card Launch: Exclusive Benefits and Easy Enrollment

Tags: Economics/Business

SBI Cards & Payment Services Limited has partnered with Titan Company Limited to unveil the Titan SBI Card, which offers exclusive benefits worth ₹2,00,000 annually.

An Overview of the News

• With a nominal joining fee of ₹2,999, users get a generous cashback of 7.5% on purchases from Titan brands.

Enrollment options

• Digital Convenience: Individuals can apply for Titan SBI Card digitally through SBI Card Sprint on the official website, ensuring ease of enrolment.

• In-store access: Enrollment is also available at Titan stores, providing access to potential cardholders.

Fees and Platform

• Affordable Fees: The Titan SBI Card includes a nominal engagement and annual renewal fee of ₹2,999, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

• Payment Versatility: Available on both RuPay and VISA payment platforms, ensuring wide acceptance and convenience for users.

Cashback Benefits

• Special Rewards: Enjoy attractive 7.5% cashback on purchases from Titan watches, Taneira women's ethnic wear, Titan EyePlus eyewear and other non-jewellery Titan brands.

• Partner Store Benefits: Avail attractive 5% cashback on shopping both online and offline at partner stores like Mia, Caratlane and Zoya.

Gift Voucher Prize

• Enhanced Shopping Experience: Earn Titan Gift Vouchers worth 3% of the transaction value for purchases made at Tanishq outlets, further enriching your shopping experience.

Ashwini Kumar elected as the new President of FIEO

Tags: Person in news

Ashwini Kumar, partner at Victor Forgings in Jalandhar, was unanimously elected as the new president of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO).

An Overview of the News

• Renowned business entrepreneurs and exporters from Jalandhar, Punjab, representing the engineering sector.

• Previously held positions in FIEO include Chairman (Northern Region) and Managing Committee Member.

• Also served as a member of the Governing Body of NIT, Jalandhar.

• Held roles as Convenor of Hand Tools Panel (Pan India) and Deputy Regional Chairman (Northern Region) in EEPC India.

• Apart from his national roles, Ashwini Kumar also contributes at the local and regional levels.

• Ashwini Kumar represents various forums in Jalandhar including:

  • Focal Point Industries Association

  • Effluent Treatment Society

  • management association

  • Badminton Association

  • Integrated Association of SMEs

  • Doaba Airport Association

• K L serves as a trustee of the Sehgal Memorial Trust.

About FIEO

• Established in 1965, it is India's apex trade promotion body.

• Established by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India in partnership with the private sector.

• Represents and assists Indian entrepreneurs and exporters in foreign markets.

• Serves as a vital link between Indian businesses and international trade opportunities.

• Plays an important role in advancing India's global trade interests and promoting economic growth through exports.

Headquarters -Export Building, Rao Tula Ram Marg

Vice President - Khalid M Khan

Director General & CEO - Dr. Ajay Sahay

Operation Indravati Begins: Evacuation of Indian Citizens from Haiti

Tags: Latest International News

Operation Indravati was launched to evacuate Indian citizens from Haiti amid increasing gang violence.

An Overview of the News

• Armed gangs have attacked the suburbs of Port-au-Prince, prompting India to intervene.

• The evacuation plan includes relocating Indian nationals to the Dominican Republic.

• More than 15 Americans are being airlifted to Santo Domingo.

• Haiti is facing a crisis exacerbated by gang violence following the 2010 earthquake.

• Gangs are carrying out attacks, burning police stations and spreading anarchy.

• The airport was closed, prisoners were released, a state of emergency was declared, and a curfew was imposed.

• Gang leader Jimmy Charizier demanded the resignation of acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Ariel Henry announced his decision to step down but remained in power. Henry is currently in exile in Puerto Rico.

About Haiti:

• Haiti, located in the Caribbean, shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic to its east.

• Despite ongoing efforts to recover from the devastating 2010 earthquake, Haiti has preserved many sites dating back to the early 19th century.

• These sites include the Citadelle La Ferriere, which sits atop a mountain and serves as a fortress.

• The Sans-Souci Palace, the Baroque former royal residence of King Henry I, is located in nearby ruins, offering a glimpse of Haiti's historic past.

Capital - Port-au-Prince

Official languages - Haitian Creole, French

Currency - Haitian Gourde

Continent - North America

New Zealand Implements Ban on Disposable E-Cigarettes and Vapes

Tags: Popular International News

Following the recent repeal of legislation aimed at phasing out tobacco smoking, the New Zealand government has implemented a ban on disposable e-cigarettes and vapes.

An Overview of the News

Government action:

• To prevent sales to minors, fines for retailers selling to those under 18 will increase.

• Retailers may face fines of up to NZ$100,000, while individuals can be fined NZ$1,000 for the same offence.

Youth Safety Measures:

• The rules also restrict the sale of e-cigarettes with packaging or branding that appeals to youth, with the aim of preventing youth from being attracted to vaping.

Reasoning behind the ban:

• Associate Health Minister Casey Costello says e-cigarettes are recognized as a smoking cessation tool, but the ban is intended to discourage minors from taking up the vaping habit.

Global trend against disposable vapes:

• United Kingdom's ban: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a ban on disposable vapes in 2022, citing concerns about long-term effects and youth addiction.

• Australia's ban: Joining the global movement to address the popularity and potential health risks of vaping among youth, Australia also implemented a ban on disposable single-use vapes this year.

PM Modi Receives Bhutan's 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo' Award

Tags: Popular Awards International News

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created history by becoming the inaugural non-Bhutanese recipient of Bhutan's prestigious 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo'.

An Overview of the News

• PM Modi received this prestigious honor from King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan during his two-day official visit to Thimphu.

Importance of Award:

• The 'Order of the Druk Gyalpo' is Bhutan's premier civilian honor recognizing lifetime achievements.

• It has the distinction of being the highest civilian honor given in Bhutan.

• This prestigious award takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals of the country.

• To date, only four distinguished individuals have been honored with this prestigious award.

Previous Award Winners:

• Her Royal Queen GrandmotherAshi Kesang Choden Wangchuck was awarded this honor in 2008.

• The 68th Je Khenpo of Bhutan, His Holiness Je Thrizur Tenzin Dendup, also received the award in 2008.

• His Holiness Je Khenpo Trulku Ngawang Jigme Choedra was awarded the award in 2018.

• Recipients include Je Khenpo, who holds the position of chief abbot of Bhutan's central monastic body.

About Bhutan

Capital- Thimphu

King - Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk

Currencies - Bhutanese Ngultrum, Indian Rupee

Official language- Dzongkha

Nayana James excels in Indian Open jump competition

Tags: Sports

Kerala's Nayana James won the gold medal in the women's long jump event at the 3rd Indian Open Jump Competition.

An Overview of the News

• Nayana James achieved a personal best mark of 6.67 m, a significant improvement from her previous best of 6.55 m seven years ago.

• National jump coach Denis Kapustin described Nayana's result as "the best jump result" in recent memory.

• Despite her impressive jump, Nayana Anju fell 16 cm short of Bobby George's national record and 19 cm short of the Paris mark.

Men's events:

• High Jump: Karnataka's JC Sandesh topped the list with a height of 2.20 metres.

• Long Jump: Muhammad Anees Yahiya, representing Kerala, emerged victorious with a jump of 7.94 metres.

• Pole Vault: Tamil Nadu'sM. Gautam stood first with a height of 5.10 metres.

Women's events:

• High Jump: Kerala's Athira Somraj won the gold medal by clearing a height of 1.76 meters.

• Triple Jump: Maharashtra's Purva Hitesh Sawant topped the list with a jump of 13.31 metres.

DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman to lead Microsoft's AI division

Tags: Science and Technology Person in news

Google's DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman has been appointed to head Microsoft's AI division.

An Overview of the News

• Suleyman will report directly to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

• Responsibilities Include Overseeing:

  • Integration of AI Copilot into Windows.

  • Incorporating interactive elements into Microsoft's Bing search engine.

  • Consolidating all consumer AI projects under a single leadership.

Key Points on the Background of Mustafa Suleyman

• Mustafa Suleyman comes from a background where his father was a Syrian-born taxi driver and his mother was an English nurse.

• He was brought up in the London Borough of Islington.

• Suleyman studied philosophy and theology at the University of Oxford but discontinued during his second year.

• He founded Muslim Youth Helpline, a charitable organization in the UK.

• At the young age of 22, he provided advisory services on human rights policy to former London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

Mustafa Suleyman's Journey from DeepMind to Inflection AI and Microsoft:

• Co-founded DeepMind in 2010, taking on the role of head of Applied AI, with an emphasis on ethical AI use.

• Left Google in 2022 to found Inflexion AI.

• Inflection AI achieved success with the creation of the popular AI chatbot Pi and secured $1.3 billion in funding.

• Key figure Karen Simonyan, co-founder and chief scientist of Inflection AI, will move to Microsoft as chief scientist for Microsoft AI.