NCW launches WhatsApp number to report domestic violence during COVID-19 lockdown

1.Global coronavirus death toll crosses 100,000; WHO warns against lifting of restrictions

The global coronavirus death toll crossed 100,000 as Easter celebrations around the world began in near-empty churches with billions of people stuck indoors to halt the pandemic’s worldwide march.The grim milestone came as the World Health Organization issued a dire warning that prematurely lifting lockdown restrictions could spark a deadly resurgence of the disease.

The International Monetary Fund said the world now faces the worst downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

This week, China started to ease months-old lockdown orders in Wuhan, where the virus first emerged in December.

WHO Director-General: Tedros Adhanom

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

Founded: 7 April 1948

2.National Safe Motherhood Day: 11 April

National Safe Motherhood Day is observed every year on April 11.Every year the day is celebrated to create awareness about the day that is dedicated to enhancing healthcare and maternal facilities for pregnant women and her postnatal needs.

The Government of India had declared 11 April as National Safe Motherhood Day in the year 2013 and it coincides with the anniversary day of Kasturba Gandhi’s birth, wife of Mohan das Karam Chand Gandhi, the father of the nation.

3.Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan participates in G20 Extraordinary Energy Ministers’ virtual meeting

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan participated in the G20 Extraordinary Energy Ministers’ virtual Meeting.The meeting was called by Saudi Arabia, in its capacity as the G20 Presidency, and chaired by Saudi Arabia Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz.

The meeting was attended by Energy Ministers of G20 countries, guest countries and heads of international organizations including OPEC, IEA and IEF.

The G20 Energy Ministers’ focused on ways and means to ensure stable energy markets, which are affected due to demand reduction as result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

4.Vice President Venkaiah Naidu pays homage to Jyotiba Phule

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu paid homage to Jyotiba Phule on the occasion of Phule’s Jayanti.Jyotiba Phule, was an Indian social activist, thinker, anti-caste social reformer and writer from Maharashtra.

His work extended to many fields including eradication of untouchability and the caste system, and women’s emancipation.

He is mostly known for his efforts in educating women and lower caste people.

On 24 September 1873, he, along with his followers, formed the Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth) to attain equal rights for people from lower castes.

5.NCW launches WhatsApp number to report domestic violence during COVID-19 lockdown

The National Commission for Women (NCW) launched a WhatsApp number to report cases of domestic violence, which have seen a rise during the coronavirus lockdown period.The NCW said the WhatsApp number, ‘7217735372’, is in addition to the online complaint links and emails which are already operational.

The NCW urged people to report such cases through WhatsApp on the number so that the agency can provide support and assistance to the women in distress or experiencing domestic violence.

The number has only been launched for the period of lockdown till normal offices resume.

National Commission of Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma had recently said that domestic violence complaints were increasing by the day since the nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 25, with 69 complaints received just through email.

6.Jana Small Finance Bank Launches DIGIGEN – Simple Digital Banking for Savings Account & Fixed Deposits

Jana Small Finance Bank, a scheduled commercial bank, launched DIGIGEN platform.DIGIGEN is a digital banking platform where customers can digitally open a Savings Account and Fixed Deposit instantly; anytime, anywhere.

DIGIGEN onboarding is a hassle-free, three-step process to open an account.

True to its brand promise ‘paise ki kadar’, customers are eligible for an attractive 4.5% p.a. interest rates on Savings Account with no minimum balance and up to 7.50%* p.a. interest on Fixed Deposits.

7.RBI urges bank customers to adopt digital payment modes, launches Twitter campaign

Reserve Bank of India urged bank customers to adopt digital modes of payment that are convenient and safe.The usage of digital modes to make transactions has become all the more important as the ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown, imposed to maintain social distancing to contain the spread of the coronavirus, has restricted the movement of people.

In a Twitter campaign launched in public interest, the RBI emphasised on transacting digitally as it gives the convenience of making payments anytime and anywhere.

The face of the campaign is Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan.

The RBI, through the campaign, reiterated the multiple digital payment options such as NEFT, IMPS, UPI and BBPS that are available 24*7.

8.Flipkart, ICICI Lombard, Go Digit to offer COVID-19 focused health insurance

E-commerce marketplace Flipkart, in partnership with ICICI Lombard and Go Digit General Insurance, has launched health insurance policies on its platform that distinctly cover COVID-19.Enabling health cover for consumers combating the global pandemic, the two health insurance policies come with instant claim benefits and do not require any medical tests at the time of purchase.

The COVID-19 Protection Cover by ICICI Lombard provides an instant ₹25,000 benefit plan paid to the customer on positive diagnosis of COVID-19.

It is priced at an annual premium of ₹159.

Additionally, the policy provides health assistance benefit, virtual and teleconsultation benefit, and ambulance assistance.

It allows Flipkart’s customers to submit digital copies of the claim document to the insurer for processing.

9.IMF MD ropes in Raghuram Rajan, 11 others to key external advisory group

IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva named former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan and 11 others to her external advisory group.The group will provide perspectives from around the globe on key developments and policy issues, including responses to the exceptional challenges the world now faces due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Rajan, 57, who was the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor for three years until September 2016, is currently working as a professor at the prestigious University of Chicago.

10.India retains 108th slot at FIFA’s latest ranking

India football team retained its 108th spot in the latest FIFA rankings issued in the latest rankings.In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole raft of international fixtures including qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup and other major tournaments has been postponed.

Belgium and France retained their first and second positions respectively in the latest rankings. Brazil is in third place followed by England.

11.Former cricketer Jackie du Preez passes away

The former Zimbabwean cricketer Jackie du Preez passed away.The leg-spinner played for South Africa in Zimbabwe’s pre-independence days.

He played two Tests for South Africa in 1967.

Du Preez didn’t represent South Africa thereafter but enjoyed a long and successful first-class career.

He also enjoyed enough success with the bat so as to be labelled an all-rounder, scoring 4,063 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 23.76, including one century and 19 fifties.

12.Hindustani classical singer and Padma Shri awardee, Shanti Hiranand, passes away

Renowned Hindustani classical singer and Padma Shri awardee Shanti Hiranand Chawla passed away.The singer was trained in thumri, dadra and ghazal singing by Begum Akhtar, and was world renowned for keeping the legendary ghazal singer’s style alive in her performances, which she staged all across the world, including Lahore, Islamabad, Toronto, Boston, New York, and Washington.

During her illustrious career, she has received numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri, which was awarded to her in 2007.