Daily News

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Project Luna 25: Russia plans to return to the moon later this year

Luna 25, also designated the Luna-Glob-Lander, is a Russian lunar lander mission planned for launch in October 2021.

It is targeted to the south polar region of the Moon. There are two primary scientific objectives of the mission: to study composition of the polar regolith, and to study the plasma and dust components of the lunar polar exosphere.

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The last spacecraft ‘Luna 24’ was launched in August 1976 by the Soviet Union.

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World Press Freedom index: India retains 142 of 180 spot

India has not slipped further on the World Press Freedom Index 2021 published by the international journalism not-for profit body, Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The latest index released ranks 180 countries, topped, yet again, by Norway followed by Finland and Denmark, while Eritrea is at the bottom. In the South Asian neighbourhood, Nepal is at 106.

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FirstRand Bank, South Africa's second largest bank, to exit India after 12 years

FirstRand Bank, South Africa's second largest bank with $118 billion in assets is the latest foreign bank to completely exit India ending almost 12 years of trying to build a local franchise in the country.

The bank's net NPAs had risen to 5.18% of loans in fiscal ended March 2019 from next to nothing in March 2018.

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World Bank’s IFC to make debt investment of $150 mn in Bajaj Finance

World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) will make a debt investment of $150 million (about Rs 1,132 crore) in non-bank lender Bajaj Finance Limited.The five-year loan is essentially to support micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) loans.

The Bajaj Group holds 56.12% stake in Bajaj Finance through Bajaj Finserv Ltd.

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Tamil Nadu’s Arjun Kalyan becomes 68th Indian Grandmaster

Tamil Nadu teenager Arjun Kalyan became India’s 68th Chess Grandmaster when he crossed the 2500 ELO mark after beating Dragan Kosic in the fifth round of GM Round Robin “Rujna Zore-3” in Serbia.

Viswanathan Anand became the country's first Grandmaster, in 1988.

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The World Chess Federation, known as FIDE headquarters : Lausanne (Switzerland).

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J.K. Rowling children's story 'The Christmas Pig' to be released on October 12

Author J.K. Rowling announced that her latest children's book is titled "The Christmas Pig."

Rowling said the story is about a boy named Jack and his toy Dur Pig, who goes missing on Christmas Eve."The Christmas Pig" is Rowling’s first children’s novel since Harry Potter.

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Miguel Diaz-Canel becomes 1st non-Castro Cuban leader in 6 decades

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba formally chose Miguel Diaz-Canel to succeed President Raul Castro. Raul Castro appointed Miguel Diaz-Canel vice president in 2012 after he took over for Fidel Castro, who died in 2016.

Tomas Estrada Palma was the first President of Cuba.

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Havana is the capital city of Cuba.

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International Mother Earth Day : April 22

Earth Day is observed on April 22 every year and dedicated to Mother Earth. The theme for Earth Day 2021 is "Restore Our Earth and it ''focuses on natural processes and emerging green technologies that can restore the world's ecosystems.

Earth Day is observed on April 22 since 1970. In 1990, Earth Day became an ''environmental movement.

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Cabinet approves pact between CCI, Brazil's Administrative Council for Economic Defense(CADE)

The Union Cabinet approved the signing of a pact between fair trade regulator CCI and the Administrative Council for Economic Defense of Brazil.

As per the Competition Act, 2002, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) can enter into any memorandum or arrangement with any agency of any foreign country for discharging its duties or performing its functions under the Act.

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PNB signs MOU with SwitchON for Solar Pump Financing

SwitchON Foundation, a West Bengal-based not-for-profit organization, has partnered with Punjab National Bank to facilitate solar pump financing for small and marginal farmers. Under the partnership, SwitchON Foundation shall set up a first loss default guarantee fund through which Punjab National Bank will be financing solar pumps.

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