Introduction
Current Affairs is a type of broadcast journalism where the emphasis is on detailed analysis and discussion of news stories that have recently occurred or ongoing at the time of broadcast. The article Current Affairs 19 March 2020 includes News summary on current events of International, National, Education, Banking, Sports, Awards and Obituary importance of 19 March 2020.
INT
Japan's Plan To Boost Economy Amid Coronavirus
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Key Highlights- Japan will look into offering cash payouts to households as part of a stimulus package that could be worth more than $276 billion to combat the widening fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, joining efforts across the world to roll out huge fiscal support to fend of recession risks.
- Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said the stimulus package, likely to be compiled by the government in April, will be bold enough to fend off a crisis he described as potentially more serious than when the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 jolted financial markets.
China Reports Zero New Domestic Coronavirus Cases For First Time
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Key Highlights- China marked a major milestone in its battle against the coronavirus pandemic as it recorded zero domestic infections for the first time since the outbreak emerged, but a spike in imported cases threatened its progress.
- The stark reversal comes as nations across the world have shut down in a desperate effort to contain the pandemic, with more people now infected and having died abroad than in China.
Italy Reports 475 New Coronavirus Deaths, Highest One-Day Count Globally
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Key Highlights- Italy reported 475 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, the highest one-day official toll of any nation since the first case was detected in China late last year.
- Total deaths in Italy have reached 2,978, more than half of all the cases recorded outside China, while the number of infections stood at 35,713.
Saudi Arabia calls for virtual summit of G20 next week
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Key Highlights- Saudi Arabia has called for a “virtual” summit of the Group of 20 (G20) next week to forge a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussing the move with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Saudi Arabia is the current president of the G20, which includes the European Union and major economies such as China, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the US. India is set to assume the G20 presidency in 2022.
National
India Planning Rs 11,900 Crore Bailout For Airlines Hit By Virus
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Key Highlights- India is planning a rescue package worth as much as $1.6 billion (Rs 11,900 Crore) for the aviation sector, which has been battered after the coronavirus outbreak forced countries to close borders and brought air travel to a near-halt, two government sources told Reuters.
- The Finance Ministry is considering a proposal that includes temporary suspension of most taxes levied on the sector, including a deferment of aviation fuel tax, said the sources, who have direct knowledge of the matter.
Lok Sabha Green Lights Supplementary Demands for Grants Amounting to Rs 54,000 Crore
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Key Highlights- The Lok Sabha passed the second batch of supplementary demands for grants authorising the government to spend an additional Rs 54,000 crore, mainly to meet its obligation towards GST compensation to states and defence-related expenditure.
- Capital outlay for defense forces is Rs 7,000 crore, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said while replying to the debate on the final batch supplementary demands for grants for 2019-20 in the lower house.
Govt Issues Gazette Notification for Adaptation of 37 Central Laws in J&K
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Key Highlights- The Centre issued a gazette notification for the adaptation of 37 central laws in the Concurrent List for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
- The gazette notification, issued by the Union Home Ministry’s Department of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs, comes into force with immediate effect.
Karnataka Sets up Rs 200-cr Fund to Fight Coronavirus
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Key Highlights- Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa announced setting up a Rs 200 crore fund to combat the spread of coronavirus in the state where 14 people have tested positive for the virus and one person has died.
- Yediyurappa’s announcement came after an emergency cabinet meeting. Apart from coronavirus, the state is also grappling with bird flu in several parts and Kasyanur Forest Disease (or Monkey Fever) in the Malnad region of the state.
New Rules to Screen Travellers from Virus-Affected Countries
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Key Highlights- The government said flights arriving from coronavirus-affected areas to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport will be staggered to facilitate the hassle-free mandatory screening of passengers.
- The new rules were unveiled after complaints by passengers, who said they faced long waits, confusion and delays in the screening process. Some posted videos and comments on social media, saying the completion of all formalities took as much as six hours.
Education
JEE Main Postponed Due To Coronavirus
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Key Highlights- The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has ordered to reschedule the engineering entrance exam, JEE Main.
- The exam was scheduled to be held on April 5, 7, 9 and 11. New exam dates will be announced on March 31, as per the communique released by the Ministry.
SSC Stenographer Result 2018 Declared
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Key Highlights- Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has declared the stenographer grade C and D skill test results 2018 on its official website.
- Candidates who had appeared for the skill test can check their results online at ssc.nic.in. A total of 3944 candidates have qualified the skill test.
Banking
Yes Bank Gets Rs 60,000-cr Lifeline from RBI, but There is a Caveat
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Key Highlights- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reportedly given Yes Bank credit support of Rs 60,000 crore as the troubled private lender resumed full operation.
- The line of credit (LoC) was provided to ensure that Yes Bank is able to “meet its obligations to depositors,” sources told the Business Standard.
Rupee Breaches 74.50 Mark To New Record Low Against Dollar
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Key Highlights- The rupee tumbled to a record low of 74.99 against the US dollar in tandem with a continuing meltdown in global financial markets in the backdrop of the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic.
- After starting the session at 74.96, down 70 paise compared with the previous close, the rupee depreciated further to as low as 74.99 against the greenback in morning deals. That marked the rupee's lowest level against the US currency ever. Official data early showed the total number of coronavirus cases in India climbed to 169.
Sports
Saurabh Chaudhary Tops 10m Air Rifle Olympic Team Selection Trial Qualification
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Key Highlights- Saurabh Chaudhary and Aishwary Pratap topped the 10m air pistol and 50m rifle 3 positions events respectively in the Olympic team shooting selection trials qualification.
- Chaudhary, who has booked an Olympic quota place, shot a total of 588 to finish ahead of another Tokyo Games quota place holder Abhishek Varma (585) and Annuraj Singh (579) in the 10m air rifle men and women combined qualification.
Too Early To Decide Fate Of 2020 Tokyo Olympics Thomas Bach
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Key Highlights- International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has stressed it's too early to decide the fate of 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
- He said that in a teleconference with representatives of athletes on Wednesday, former Olympic champion Yang Yang told Xinhua news agency.
Appts
Iraqi President Salih Names Adnan Al-Zurfi as New Prime Minister Designate
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Key Highlights- Iraq’s president named little-known former regional governor Adnan Al-Zurfi as prime minister-designate in another attempt to overcome months of unrest and deadlock.
- Zurfi now has 30 days to form a government that must then survive a vote of confidence in Iraq’s deeply divided parliament.
Rajiv Bajaj Re-Appointed as MD and CEO for Next Five Years
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Key Highlights- Pune-based two-wheeler auto major Bajaj Auto said its shareholders have approved re-appointment of Rajiv Bajaj as MD and CEO.
- In a regulatory filing to BSE, the company said, “Rajiv Bajaj whose five-year term expires on 31 March 2020, has been re-appointed for a further period of 5 years
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