DAILY GK 24-25 MAY 2020


DAILY GK 24-25 MAY 2020
1. IDB VIRTUAL CELEBRATION ON MAY 22, 2020
·        Prakash Javadekar launched the following five key initiatives towards conservation of biodiversity during the virtual celebration of “International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB)” on the theme “Our solutions are in nature”.
·        The virtual event also saw the launch of the Campaign on Illegal Trafficking of Endangered Species: ‘Not all Animals Migrate by Choice’ by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).
·        It was conducted by World Wide Fund (WWF) India, in partnership with MoEFCC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change), NBA, UNEP and UNDP on May 22 and 23, as part of the International Day for Biological Diversity.

2. MARUTI SUZUKI LAUNCH ‘BUY NOW PAY LATER’ OFFER
·        Maruti Suzuki India Limited, an automobile manufacturer in India, has joined hands with the Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited (CIFCL) to launch ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ financing scheme to make the purchase of its cars even more convenient.
·        Under the scheme, customers have the option to avail a 60-day surcharge on their EMI (equated monthly instalments). However, this offer is available on select Maruti Suzuki models and is applicable on loan payments due on or before 30 June 2020.

3. KHUDOL INITIATIVE OF MANIPUR
·        United Nations (UN) has listed Khudol (gift),a crowdfunded initiative of Imphal (Manipur) based NGO Ya_All, among the top 10 global initiatives for an inclusive fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
·        NGO Ya_All’s this initiate aims to provide food, health and hygiene of the LGBTQI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, people living with HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus), daily-wage earners, children and adolescents.
·        Through the network of 100 volunteers, the organization has provided over 1,000 health kits, 6,500 sanitary pads and 1,500 condoms to 2,000 families and individuals.

4. WORLD’S HIGHEST PAID FEMALE ATHLETE
·        Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka, 22 years old, became the highest paid female athlete in the world, topping American great Serena Williams. Osaka has been ranked No.1 by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).
·        Osaka earned $37.4 million in the last 12 months from prize money and endorsements, $1.4 million more than Williams, setting an all-time earnings record for a female athlete in a single year.

5. WORLD BANK NEW VICE PRESIDENT
·        World Bank named Carmen Reinhart as its new Vice President (VP) and chief economist, tapping an expert on financial crises who also serves on the advisory board of the New York Federal Reserve.
·        Reinhart’s appointment is effective on June 15, 2020.
·        She served as a professor at Harvard University, United States (US), has published a book entitled “This Time is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly,” together with economist Kenneth Rogoff of Harvard University in 2009.
·        Also Abhas Jha, Indian economist was appointed to a key position on Climate change and disaster management in South Asia by the World Bank.

6. RITES SIGNED PACT TO ACQUIRE 24% STAKE IN IRSDC
·        Infrastructure consultancy and engineering company RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) has signed an agreement for acquiring 24% stake in Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC) for Rs 48 crore.
·        IRSDC, a joint venture of Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) and IRCON International is tasked with redeveloping railway stations across the country.

7. WORLD TURTLE DAY- MAY 23
·        The ATR’s theme for World Turtle day 2020 is “Adopt, Don’t Shop”