NATIONAL NEWS

RailTel launches PM-WANI

• RailTel, a Mini Ratna PSU, has launched Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme and was launched by RailTel chairman and managing director Puneet Chawla.
• It is based on access to its Public WiFi services across 100 railway stations across the country.
• The government further plans to extend the PM-WANI-based access of RailTel’s public Wi-Fi services to all 6,102 railway stations in a phased manner by the end of June 2022.
• To access this WiFi network, android users can download the mobile app ‘Wi-DOT’ available on Google Play Store and developed by C-DOT.
• PM-WANI is an ambitious program of the Department of Telecom (DoT) to connect all Wi-Fi networks for ease of use.

New UK India Industry Taskforce

• A new UK India Industry Taskforce was launched on 09 May.

• It is a joint commission to increase cross-industry collaboration and push the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
• The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have created the new taskforce as part of a memorandum of understanding to provide a “critical forum”.
• It is to ensure the FTA works to the benefit of businesses in both countries.

YouTube India and Neeraj Chopra

• Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and YouTube India have tied up to create a film for the platform that is aimed at taking the story of his rise, from a village in Khandra, Haryana to the top of the Olympic podium at the Tokyo2020 Olympics.
• Through this association, Chopra directs to use the platform to build awareness about athletics and the sport of javelin amongst the youth across the world.
• JSW Sports, which supports Chopra has facilitated the partnership between the two.

President’s Colours award to Assam Police

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah will present the President’s Colours award to Assam Police in Guwahati for exemplary service during the past 25 years.
• Assam will be the 10th state in the country to receive the honour.
•  President’s Colours, a special flag and is the highest honour to be given to any military or police unit in recognition of exceptional service rendered to the nation both in peace and war.
• The Home Minister will attend an event in Guwahati to mark the first anniversary of the Himanta Biswa Sarma government.
• He will also lay the foundation stones of various development works in Guwahati including the Commissionerate of a police office building.

Poumai Naga Tribe Drug-Free Zone

• Poumai tribe, one of the major Naga tribes in Manipur has declared that Poumai inhabited areas will be a Drug-Free Zone supporting the State government’s War on Drug campaign.
• This has been done in order to help the state government curb the drug menace including illegal poppy cultivation.
• According to reports, a resolution to this effect and against poppy plantation was made.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Arabian Travel Market, Dubai -2022

• The Ministry of Tourism under its 'Incredible India' brand will participate in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Dubai-2022 which is being held from 10th May to 12th May, 2022.

• It will showcase India’s rich and diversified tourism potential and provid a platform to the tourism stakeholders to showcase the various tourism destinations and products.

• It is also to promote India as a ‘Must See, Must Visit’ destination.
  The India Pavilion is showcasing India as a '365-Day Destination' which is a year-round multi-faceted tourist destination such as culture, adventure, cruise wildlife, wellness and medical tourism.

BANKING

HDFC Bank Hikes MCLR Rate

• India’s largest private sector lender HDFC Bank has hiked its MCLR across all tenors.
• The marginal cost of lending rate or MCLR, is a key point in deciding loan interests, has been hiked by 25 basis points.
• Therefore, loan interests will increase by 0.10 per cent with the HDFC Bank MCLR rate hike.
• It will be effective from 07 May, 2022.
• This will raise the cost of housing, vehicle, personnel and other loans.

SPORTS

Sunway Formentera Open Chess Tournament

• Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh emerged as winner in the 1st Chessable Sunway Formentera Open 2022 chess tournament.
• It was a hat-trick of titles for him after he had previously won the La Roda tournament and the Menorca Open.
• He has now moved up to position 64 in the world rankings after this tournament.
• He settled for a draw with American GM Haik M Martirosyan in the final round to win the title with eight points.
• He had defeated compatriot and second-seed K Sasikiran in the ninth round.

Miami Grand Prix

• Red Bull champion Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch) won the first edition of the Formula1 Miami Grand Prix.
• The event was held at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, US.
• Ferrari Driver Charles Leclerc (Monacan) came second in the race.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Romain Rolland Book Prize 2022

• The Bengali translation of French novel Meursault, contre-enqute (The Meursault Investigation) has won the fifth Romain Rolland Book Prize.

• The award event was organized by the French Institute in India.

• The award was announced during the French LitFest 2022 and was given to translator Trinanjan Chakraborty and publisher Patra Bharati.
• 'Meursault, contre-enquêteto' the debut novel of Algerian writer and journalist Kamel Daoud.

Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) Award 2022

• Guruswamy Krishnamoorthy, was awarded The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) Award 2022-Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
• He received award from the Queen at Buckingham Palace, London, UK.
• He started his career with Wipro GE Medical Systems and later co-founded a Med tech start up in Chennai.
• He is the CEO of Penlon that deals with design and manufacture of anesthesia ventilators, anesthesia machines and vaporizers.
• The award is given in recognition of a great achievement or contribution to the community that has a long term, significant impact and serves as an example to others.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

CMD of HPCL

• Pushp Kumar Joshi appointed as the new chairman and managing director of India’s third largest oil refining and fuel marketing company Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL).

• Prior to this, he was Director-HR of the Corporation.

• He succeeded Mukesh Kumar Surana.
• Joshi is also holding the additional charge of Director-Marketing of HPCL.

President of Costa Rica

• Rodrigo Chaves was sworn in as the President of Costa Rica for a four-year term.

• He belongs to Social Democratic Progress Party (SDPP).

• He succeeded Carlos Andres Alvarado Quesada.
• The 60-year-old had served as the finance minister from 2019-2020 under President Carlos Alvarado Quesada.
• He is an economist and has been sworn in as the new President of Costa Rica for the period of 2022-2026, along with his Vice Presidents Stephan Brunner and Mary Munive.