Top GKToday’s News Headlines-16 April 2020

Here are Top GKToday’s News Headlines for 16 April, 2020

COVID 19 LOCKDOWN GUIDELINES TILL MAY 3

• Following will remain shut/prohibited:
• Inter-state, inter-district movement of people, metro, bus services
• Educational institutions, coaching centres, domestic, international air travel, train services
• Public places like cinema halls, malls, shopping complexes, gymnasiums, etc.
• Social, political, sports, religious functions, religious places, places of worship

GUIDELINES TO CONTAIN COVID-19

• Spitting in public places made punishable offence under the Disaster Management Act
• Wearing of masks in public places made compulsory
• Sale of liquor, gutka and tobacco totally banned

INDIA

• ICMR study detects presence of bat coronavirus (BtCoV) in two bat species from 4 states, no evidence of transmission to humans
• Chairman, members of UPSC to forego 30% of their basic pay for one year from April 1, 2020 to aid the government’s fight against coronavirus
• Aarogya Setu is world’s fastest app to reach 50 mn download: NITI Aayog CEO
• 73rd foundation day of Himachal Pradesh celebrated on April 15

TRADE DATA

• India’s merchandise trade in 2019-20
• Exports declined by 4.78% to USD 314.31 billion
• Imports declined by 9.12% to USD 467.19 billion
• Trade deficit was USD 152.88 billion as against USD 184 billion in 2018-19

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

• Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation declines to 4-month low of 1% in March
• Industries operating in rural areas (i.e. outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities) allowed to resume production from April 20
• Domestic rating agency Care Ratings appoints Ajay Mahajan as its MD & CEO
• Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman participates in 2nd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) virtual meeting to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic crisis
• Government-appointed committee of experts, headed by IBBI (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India) Chairperson M S Sahoo, recommends setting up National Institute of Valuers
• Agricultural & allied activities allowed to function in 2nd phase of COVID-19 lockdown
• India will receive normal monsoon this season: IMD (India Meteorological Department) Director General M. Mohapatra

WORLD

• Algerian author Abdelouahab Aissaoui wins $50,000 International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) for his novel “The Spartan Court”
• President Donald Trump announces halt of USD 500 million annual US funding to WHO
• Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos tops Forbes annual world’s billionaires list with a net worth of $113 billion

SPORTS

• Tour de France cycling race postponed from June 27 to August 29

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2020