Myanmar Media Group Inks MoU With Prasar Bharati

Prasar Bharati and Mizzima Media Group of Myanmar signed an MoU to realize cooperation and collaboration in broadcasting and content sharing. The agreement was signed in the presence of Prasar Bharati CEO, Shashi Shekhar Vempati and Editor-in-chief and MD, Mizzima in New Delhi. 
The Agreement will realize cooperation and collaboration in broadcasting and envisions content-sharing covering a wide range of genres, including culture, entertainment, education, science, news and sports along with other areas of mutual interest. 
Source- AIR World Service

Exercise SCO Peace Mission 2018 Started In Russia

Exercise Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Peace Mission 2018, the latest in ‘Peace Mission’ series formally started at Chebarkul, Russia. The opening ceremony was conducted in Chebarkul, Russia with military contingents of the all eight SCO member nations participating in this exercise. 
The SCO Peace Mission Exercise is one of the major defence cooperation initiatives amongst SCO nations and will be a landmark event in the history of SCO defence cooperation. 

Source- Press Information Bureau (PIB)

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization founded in Shanghai on 15 June 2001 by six countries, People’s Republic of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
  • SCO Headquarters in Beijing, China. 
  • The 8 member nations of SCO are China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan. 

India, Singapore Sign 2nd Protocol Amending Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement

India and Singapore have signed the Second Protocol amending the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement in New Delhi which will boost bilateral trade between the two countries. The Protocol was signed in New Delhi by Rajneesh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Francis Chong, Senior Director, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Government of Singapore.
Both sides agreed to expand the coverage of tariff concessions, liberalize the Rules of Origin, rationalize Product Specific Rules and include provisions on Certificate of Origin and Cooperation on its verification. 
Source- AIR World Service

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Mdm Halimah Yacob is the Present President of Singapore.

India To Grow At 7.5% In 2018, 2019: Moody’s Report

The Indian economy is expected to grow by around 7.5% in 2018 and 2019 as it is largely resilient to external pressures like those from higher oil prices, according to Moody’s Investors Service. 

In its Global Macro Outlook for 2018-19, Moody’s stated the run-up in energy prices over the last few months will raise headline inflation temporarily but the growth story remains intact as it is supported by strong urban and rural demand and improved industrial activity. 
Moody’s put G-20 growth at 3.3% in 2018 and 3.1% in 2019. The advanced economies will grow 2.3% in 2018 and 2% in 2019, while G-20 emerging markets will remain the growth drivers at 5.1% in both 2018 and 2019. 
Source- The Economic Times

World Bank Launches World’s 1st Blockchain Bond

The World Bank launched ‘bond-i’, the world’s first bond to be created, allocated, transferred and managed by using distributed ledger technology. This two-year bond successfully raised 110 million Australian dollars (USD 80.48 million).

This was the first time that investors supported the World Bank’s development activities in a transaction that is fully managed using the blockchain technology from start to finish. 
Source- The Reuters

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Bond-i is a Blockchain Operated New Debt Instrument. 
  • President of the World Bank- Jim Yong Kim. 
  • Headquarters of World Bank- Washington, DC. 

NGT Appoints Justice S J Vazifdar As Chairman Of Panel To Decide Vedanta’s Plea

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has appointed former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice S J Vazifdar as head of a three-member committee to decide mining company Vedanta’s plea challenging closure of its Sterlite copper plant at Tuticorin. 
A bench headed by chairperson A K Goel had stated a credible mechanism, through which rival contentions can be balanced and final view taken, has to be evolved. It appointed Vazifdar as the head of the committee. 
Source- The Economic Times

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • NGT Chairman: A K Goel, Headquarters: New Delhi. 

EU Wind Survey Satellite ‘Aeolus’ Launched From French Guyana

A new European satellite named ‘Aeolus’ using advanced laser technology to track global winds and improve weather forecasts has been successfully put into orbit on a Vega rocket from French Guyana. 
It is part of a European project to monitor environmental damage and help disaster relief. The “Aeolus” satellite has been named after the guardian of wind in Greek mythology that took place at the European spaceport in Kourou. 

Source- BBC News

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Aeolus is the fifth mission in ESA’s Earth Explorer series and also Arianespace’s 50th launch for the European Space Agency. 
  • Aeolus is part of the Copernicus project, a joint initiative of the European Union and the European Space Agency (ESA) to track environmental damage and aid disaster relief operations.

Asian Games 2018: Bopanna, Sharan Win Tennis Maiden Doubles Gold

Top seeds Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan notched up their maiden men’s tennis doubles gold medal at the Asian Games, in Palembang, Indonesia. Bopanna and Sharan defeated Aleksander Bublik and Denis Yevseyev of Kazakhstan. 
India have claimed the men’s doubles gold on four occasions at the Games, the last pair being Somdev Devvarman and Sanam Singh in the 2010 Guangzhou edition. Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes remain the most successful Indian men’s doubles pair in the Asian Games history, having claimed back-to-back gold medals in the 2002 and 2006 Games. 
Source- The Hindu

Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Launches Overdraft Facility For MSEs

Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ujjivan Financial Services Ltd, has launched an overdraft (OD) facility for micro and small enterprise (MSE) customers across its branches nationally. 
The facility is an add-on product to the existing MSE term loans offered by the bank. The OD facility is offered to all MSEs with a turnover of Rs 50 lakh or more, at a competitive rate of interest. This interest rate is for one year, with a credit limit between a minimum of Rs 11 lakh to a maximum of Rs 50 lakh, which can be renewed annually.


Source- The Hindu Business Line

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 

  • Samit Ghosh is the Managing Director & CEO of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Ltd. 
  • It Headquarters in Bengaluru, Karnataka. 

Government Unveils Draft UDAN Scheme For International Routes

The Centre unveiled a draft scheme for extending the affordable air travel programme UDAN to international circuits, with state governments identifying the routes for operation. The draft International Air Connectivity (IAC) scheme envisages to increase the international ticketing to 20 crore by 2027. 
According to the draft scheme, state governments will identify the routes to be connected, and airline operators will assess demand on the identified routes and submit proposals for providing connectivity. Operations under the scheme will be permitted through fixed-wing aircraft only with more than 70 seats. 
Source- Business Standard

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) was launched in 2016 to make air travel affordable for people through subsidised ticket rates and to provide air connectivity to smaller towns.