DAILY GK 5 APRIL 2019
1. 113
MN PEOPLE OF 53 COUNTRIES FACED SEVERE HUNGER IN 2018, AS PER GLOBAL REPORT ON
FOOD CRISES 2019
✔According
to 2019 Global Report on Food Crises, around 113 million people across 53
countries faced severe huger in 2018.
✔The
report examined 53 countries that are vulnerable to food crises and provided
the causes of severe food insecurity for 27 countries which were mainly
persistent conflict and adverse weather events.
✔The
two-thirds of the total numbers of people facing acute food insecurity are in 8
countries viz. Yemen, Congo, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Syria, Sudan, South Sudan
and Northern Nigeria.
2. FITCH
KEPT INDIA’S RATING UNCHANGED AT BBB- WITH STABLE OUTLOOK
✔Fitch
Rating affirms India’s Rating sovereign rating unchanged at the lowest
investment grade of BBB- with a stable outlook. The growth rate of India
forecasted by Fitch Is 6.8% in financial year 2019-20 and 7.1% in FY 2020-21.
✔According
to Fitch, FDI regulations has been eased and there is reduction in red tape but
still there are some difficulties in doing business in India due to which
India’s rating is not upgraded.
✔India’s
rating is also based on the recent opinion polls which showed that the upcoming
government will have smaller majority and due to this it will be difficult for
the new government to make majors reforms like Goods and Services Tax.
3. US
APPROVES THE SALE OF 24 MH-60 ‘ROMEO’ SEAHAWK HELICOPTERS TO INDIA FOR $2.6 BN
✔At
an estimated cost of $2.6 billion, the United States has approved the sale of
24 multi-mission Lockheed Martin-built MH-60 ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopters to
India. These choppers designed for targeting ships, hunting submarines and
conducting search-and-rescue operations at sea would replenish the age-old fleet
of British-made Sea King helicopters used by India.
✔This
particular sale proposal would help in strengthening the US-India strategic
relationship by aiding the foreign policy and the national security of the US.
4. UAE
HONOURS PM MODI WITH HIGHEST CIVILIAN AWARD ZAYED MEDAL
✔The
UAE honoured PM Narendra Modi with the prestigious Zayed Medal for giving a
“big boost’ to bilateral strategic ties. President of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa
bin Zayed Al Nahyan conferred PM Modi with the award, the highest decoration
awarded to kings, presidents, and heads of states.
5. VIPIN
ANAND TAKES OVER AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LIC
✔Vipin
Anand has taken charge as Managing Director of Life Insurance Corporation of
India. Prior to this, he was in charge of LIC’s Western Zone, headquartered at
Mumbai.
✔During
his service of more than 35 years with the organisation, Anand has handled
several assignments in various capacities and departments across different
locations in India.
6. FORMER
BOLLYWOOD ACTRESS, MAYOORI KANGO HAS APPOINTED THE INDUSTRY HEAD OF GOOGLE
INDIA
✔Ex-Bollywood
actress and Managing Director of Performics (A Performance Marketing Agency),
Mayoori Kango has been appointed as the Industry head of Google India. She will
lead Google engagement with Publicis (Parent Company of Performics) and DAN.
7. WHATSAPP
LAUNCHES TIP LINE TO CURB FAKE NEWS
✔WhatsApp
launched an India-focused fact-checking feature to combat fake news and rumours
starting with the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
✔Developed
in collaboration with India-based media skilling startup PROTO, the tip line
feature will help create a database of rumours to study misinformation during
elections as part of a research project commissioned and assisted by WhatsApp.
