Emirates claims to be first airline to conduct on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for passengers

1.Emirates claims to be first airline to conduct on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for passengers

The Emirates Airline claimed to have become the first airline to conduct on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for its passengers.Emirates in coordination with Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will be introducing additional precautions.

The quick blood test, according to the statement, was conducted by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and results were available “within 10 minutes.”

This test was conveniently done at the Group Check-in area of Dubai International Airport Terminal 3.

The airline said its check-in and boarding formalities have also been adapted with social distancing in mind.

2.IMF proposes to deploy its full 1 trillion US Dollar lending capacity to support countries

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has proposed to deploy its full 1 trillion US Dollar lending capacity to support countries battling COVID-19 outbreak.Describing the COVID-19 pandemic as a crisis like no other, International Monetary Fund head Kristalina Georgieva said, the world is now in the worst recession since the Great Depression.

The IMF Board has already approved debt relief for 25 of its poorest members.

The IMF chief expressed satisfaction that during the G20 Finance ministers discussion, there was unanimous support for the Fund to raise more capacity for concessional funding poor countries.

3.44th session of World Heritage Committee of UNESCO scheduled in Fuzhou, China postponed

China’s Ministry of Education announced that the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, initially scheduled from 29th of June to 9th of July, in Fuzhou of eastern China’s Fujian Province, has been postponed.The decision to host the 44th session in China took place at the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee in Baku.

Also at the meeting, Chinese Vice Minister of Education Tian Xuejun was elected as chairman of the 44th session of the committee.

The World Heritage Committee selects the sites to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

4.Air India flight carrying four tonnes of medical items arrives in Seychelles

An Air India flight carrying four tonnes of medical items including essential lifesaving medicines being gifted to Seychelles arrived at Victoria airport.The flight carried 4 tonnes of medical items being gifted to Seychelle.

It said the medicines have been requested by the Seychelles government.

India has reached out to countries in its neighbourhood and beyond with help in the form of medicines and other things as they battle with the coronavirus pandemic.

The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa.

Seychelles Capital: Victoria

Currency: Seychellois rupee

5.China dispatched total of 650,000 kits to India

A consignment of 550,000 antibody testing kits and 100,000 RNA extraction kits was dispatched by Chinese firms to India.They will be used in the country’s efforts to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19.

The consignment includes part of the large orders placed by India for medical supplies and equipment with Chinese firms.

Chinese companies have been contracted for nearly 15 million personal protective equipment (PPE) kits comprising gowns, gloves, masks and goggles, and 1.5 million rapid testing kits for Covid-19 by the Indian government and private companies

6.Spitting in public now an offence under Disaster Management Act

Union Home Ministry has made spitting in public without caring as a punishable offence under the strict Disaster Management Act in its revised guidelines for lockdown.The guidelines issued by the ministry also make wearing of face masks in public places mandatory.

The Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation has imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 if anyone is caught spitting in public.

Similar measures are also in place in municipal corporations of Delhi, and several other states.

7.IMD announces that it expects monsoon rainfall to be normal this year

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that it expects monsoon rainfall to be normal this year.Southwest monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall over the country as a whole is likely to be normal (96-104%).

It said that quantitatively, the monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall is likely to be 100% of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a model error of 5%.

The LPA of the season rainfall over the country as a whole for the period 1961-2010 is 88 cm.

Monsoons are expected to hit Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram on June 1.

Monsoons are expected to withdraw in south India on October 15.

Neutral El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions are prevailing over the Pacific Ocean and Neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions are prevailing over the Indian Ocean.

IMD will issue the updated forecasts in the last week of May/ first week of June as a part of the second stage forecast.

8.Tata AIA becomes the first Life Insurance company to announce Additional Benefits Related to COVID-19

Tata AIA Life Insurance announced additional benefits for its Policyholders and Agents.As part of Tata AIA Life’s initiative, its individual policyholders will get COVID-19 related additional benefits up to Rs 500,000 at no additional cost.

Further, to extend the Circle of Protection to its own Agents, all ‘active’ Agents of Tata AIA Life Insurance along with their spouse and children will be reimbursed up to Rs 25,000 in case of hospitalisation due to COVID-19.

This is a first of its kind initiative in India.

All policyholders of Tata AIA will get an additional benefit equal to the base sum assured or Rs 500,000 whichever is lower for valid death claims due to COVID-19.

This benefit is applicable for all valid death claims with a date of death on or before June 30 2020.

9.Ajay Mahajan appointed MD & CEO of CARE Ratings

CARE Ratings has appointed Ajay Mahajan as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer for a period of 5 years commencing from 15 April 2020 up to 14 April 2025.Mahajan started his career with Bank of America in 1990 and went on to become the MD and Country Head of Global Markets Group.

CARE Ratings Limited is a credit rating agency.

The Company is engaged in providing financial services other than securities dealing activities.

10.Vineet Arora appointed MD, CEO of Paytm General Insurance

Digital payments major Paytm has named Vineet Arora as the managing director and chief executive officer of Paytm General Insurance Ltd.The appointment, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is a step for Paytm to further its journey into the insurance sector with an immediate focus on General Insurance.

Arora will lead the efforts to provide industry-leading solutions in the general insurance space, where Paytm continues to explore options to enter the sector.

Previously, Arora served as the managing director and chief executive officer of Aegon Life Insurance Company and was part of the India Leadership team.

11.Algerian author wins top Arab fiction prize for ‘Spartan Court’

Algerian author Abdelouahab Aissaoui won a prestigious prize for Arabic fiction with his novel “The Spartan Court”.Backed by the UK’s Booker Prize Foundation, the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) is financed by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism.

Aissaoui will receive $50,000 and funds will be provided to translate the book into English.

Published by Dar Mim, “The Spartan Court” is a historical novel that relates the power struggle between Ottoman and French colonial powers in Algeria at the start of the 19th century.

12.BCCI suspends IPL 2020 indefinitely due to Covid-19 pandemic

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to postpone the IPL 2020 tournament indefinitely owing to the global coronavirus pandemic.All the eight franchises were informed of the decision by IPL COO Hemang Amin.

The tournament’s stakeholders including franchises and the players will now be facing a financial setback due to the event’s suspension.

According to the report, eight franchises bought a total of 62 players spending ₹140.30 crore overall.

The 2020 Indian Premier League was scheduled to be the thirteenth season of the IPL.

13.Actor Ranjit Chowdhry passes away

Actor Ranjit Chowdhry, best known for his roles in Baton Baton Mein, Mississippi Masala and Bollywood/Hollywood among more, passed away.Son of renowned theatre actor Pearl Padamsee, Ranjit Chowdhry made his silver screen debut with Khatta Meetha in 1978.

He went on to star in Hindi films like Baton Baton Mein, Khubsoorat, Bandit Queen and Kaante among more.

Ranjit found fame overseas starring in crossover films like Lonely in America, Mississippi Masala, Bollywood/Hollywood, Fire and Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love. He also featured in US shows like The Office and Prison Break.