23.02.19 Kerala (KPSC) Current Affairs

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KERALA

  • Kerala University plans programmes for promoting research activities

 

  • Kerala University is set to launch a flurry of programmes aimed at promoting research activities in the oldest varsity in the state.
  • As part of this, the university has decided to start post-doctoral fellowship programmes for attracting research fellows to science departments under the varsity.

 

  • The varsity has also decided to set up a university level advisory committee comprising of retired vice chancellors, statutory officers and professors. 

    INTERNATIONAL

     

     

    • China has unveiled its ‘first female AI news anchor’

     

    • China’s state-owned TV channel Xinhua unveiled the world’s first female Artificial Intelligence(AI) news anchor.

     

    • The AI anchor has been developed by state-run news agency Xinhua in collaboration with tech firm Sogou Inc.

     

    • The AI robot anchor, Xin Xiaoment, can mimic human facial expressions and mannerisms while reading reports.

     

    • The AI anchor will make her professional debut during the upcoming two sessions Political meetings of China’s nations legislature in March.

     

    • Oscars 2019: Full list of winners

     

    • The 91st Academy Awards has been announced at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

     

    • The full list of winners are:
    • Best Picture: “Green Book”
    • Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron for “Roma”
    • Best Actress: Olivia Colman for “The Favourite”
    • Best Actor: Rami Malek for “Bohemian Rhapsody”
    • Best Supporting Actress: Regina King for “If Beale Street Could Talk”
    • Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali for “Green Book”
    • Best Foreign Language Film: “Roma” (Mexico)
    • Best Animated Feature Film: “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse”
    • Best Original Screenplay: “Green Book”
    • Best Adapted Screenplay: “BlacKkKlansman”
    • Best Original Score: “Black Panther”
    • Best Original Song: “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born”
    • Best Documentary Feature: “Free Solo”
    • Best Documentary Short Film: “Period”

     

     

    NATIONAL

     

    • PM Modi launched PM-KISAN scheme by transferring 1st installment of Rs 2,000 to farmers

     

    • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, PM-KISAN scheme at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.

     

    • Mr Modi marked the launch of the PM-KISAN scheme, through press of button, to electronically transfer the first installment of 2 thousand rupees to selected farmers.

     

    • The amount will be transferred directly to the bank account of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer.

     

    • The amount will be given in three installments of 2 thousand rupees each

     

    • The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana was announced in the interim Budget 2019-20.

     

    • Under the Scheme, Rs 6,000 will be given per year to small and marginal farmer families having combined land holding of up to 2 hectares.

     

    ·         Phase-II of Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme Approved

     

    • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Chaired by the Prime Minister,  Narendra Modi has given its approval for the Phase-II of Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Programme that aims to achieve cumulative capacity of 40,000 MWfrom Rooftop Solar (RTS) Projects by the year 2022.
    • The programme will be implemented with a total central financial support of 11,814 crore.

     

    ·         FDI during Apr-Dec 2018-19 falls 7 percent to USD 33.49 billion

     

    • Foreign direct investment(FDI) into India contracted by 7 per cent to USD 33.49 billion during April-December in the current fiscal.
    • Foreign fund inflows during April-December 2017-18 stood at USD 35.94 billion.
    • Singapore was the largest source of FDIduring April-December 2018-19 with USD 12.97 billion inflow, followed by Mauritius (USD 6 billion), the Netherlands (USD 2.95 billion), Japan (USD 2.21 billion), US (USD 2.34 billion), and the UK (USD 1.05 billion).

     

     

    • Govt launches Rail Drishti Dashboard

     

    • Railway Minister Piyush Goyal launched Rail Drishti Dashboard in New Delhi.

     

    • The Dashboard has been launched to keep people informed about the work going on in the Railways across the country.

     

    • The customer or railway passenger will get an exposure through this dashboard to the multifaceted transformation underway in Indian Railways across the country.

     

    • This dashboard can be accessed using a desktop/laptop or a mobile device such as a phone or tablet and the url of the dashboard is “raildrishti.cris.org.in”.

     

     

     

    • President presented Gandhi Peace Prize

     

    The recipients of the award are as follows:

     

    • Vivekananda Kendra for the year 2015.

     

    • Akshaya Patra foundation and Sulabh International for 2016.

     

    • Ekal Abhiyan Trust for 2017.

     

    • Yohei Sasakawa for 2018

     

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