Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2020

Notes:
Europe’s largest bank and multinational investment bank HSBC recently announced that it appointed Noel Quinn as Chief Executive officer.
Noel Quinn joined the HSBC bank in 1987 and took interim charge of HSBC last August after the sudden exit of the previous CEO John Flint. There have been several speculations regarding the appointment, which ended now as an insider has been appointed.

Notes:
Centre for Media Studies (CMS) in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO) is implementing a media fellowship programme on road safety, called WHO Road Safety Media Fellowship.
Recently it was offered to 12 journalists based in Delhi and Karnataka from print, broadcast and online media of Hindi, English and Kannada languages. The fellowship is aimed at improving the capacities of journalists in coverage of news related to road safety.

Notes:
America-based Private space agency owned by Elon Musk, SpaceX will send astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time in May.
This was announced by NASA, which also revealed that the first crewed launch from the United States to the ISS platform since 2011 is to be sent through SpaceX. The space company will launch a Falcon 9 rocket to transport NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the station.

Notes:
International ratings agency S&P Global Ratings has recently estimated the cost of COVID-19 outbreak for 14 Asia-Pacific countries at $620 billion.
Though a country-wise break-up was not provided for its estimate, it said that the total and permanent income loss will affect the balance-sheets of government, banks, corporates and households. Last week, S&P cut India’s growth rate to 5.2% in 2020-21.

Notes:
World Meteorological Day is celebrated on 23rd March of every year, which commemorates the inception of the Convention which established the World Meteorological Organization on the same day in 1950.
Since 1961, the Geneva headquartered World Meteorological Organization has been celebrating World Meteorological Day with a unique theme. “Climate and Water” is the theme of this year’s World Meteorological Day.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the inclusion of AYUSH Health and Wellness Centre (AYUSH HWC) component of Ayushman Bharat in National AYUSH Mission (NAM).
This project an expenditure of Rs. 3399.35 Crore for making AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres operational within a period of five years from 2019-20 to 2023-24.

Notes:
Bihar Day (Bihar Sthapana Diwas) is celebrated in the state of Bihar on March 22, every year. IT marks the anniversary of the date of formation of the state, when the British bifurcated it from the then Bengal Presidency on the same day in 1912.
Every year, the state holds several events and celebrations on the Bihar Day. But due to coronavirus scare, the events have been postponed this time

Notes:
Invest India is India’s national Investment Promotion & Facilitation Agency, which comes under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
It was seen in news recently as Invest India has launched the ‘Invest India Business Immunity Platform’. This platform is hosted on the Invest India website and it provides real-time updates on the latest initiatives of the government of India to tackle Covid-19.

Notes:
Tamil Nadu-based Karur Vysya Bank has launched a pre-paid card called ‘Enkasu’, which can be used both online and offline, in Karur district of the state.
The card aims to reduce the usage of cash in the district of Karur. The cardholder can make tap & go payments for all small purchases to merchants for a minimum of Re. 1/-. The card can be recharged through their mobile App ‘DLite’, UPI, NEFT or through any of their branches. The cards are given to both customers and non-customers after KYC verification.

Notes:
A specialised agency of the United Nations- International Telecommunication Union (ITU) launched ‘The Global Network Resiliency Platform’.
The platform aims to ensure availability of telecommunication services during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. The new platform will assist governments and the private sector by ensuring that the networks are kept strong and telecommunication services are made available to all.