• International

Pakistan's Finance Minister Asad Umar resigns

• Pakistan’s Finance Minister Asad Umar abruptly quit the Cabinet before securing a multi-billion-dollar International Monetary Fund bailout package for the cash-strapped country.
• Pakistan is seeking eight billion dollars from the IMF to bail itself out from a severe balance-of-payments crisis that threatens to cripple the country’s economy.

• International

India rebuild Kundeling monastery in Nepal

• India has rebuilt Chhyoiphel Kundeling Monastery in Nepal.
• Shyalpa Tenzin Rinpoche inaugurated newly reconstructed Monastery at Lisankhu village in Sindhupalchok district on 19 April 2019.
• The Chhyoiphel Kundeling Monastery was established in 1946 with the active initiation and contribution of Lisankhu villagers.

• Economy and Business

Tata Sponge to shift base to Kolkata

• Tata Sponge Iron Ltd has decided to shift its registered office from Keonjhar in Odisha to Kolkata.
• Tata Sponge has recently acquired Kolkata- based Usha Martin’s steel business at a cost of Rs 4,090 crore.
• In 1991, Tata Steel acquired Ipicol’s entire stake and Tata Sponge became an associate company of Tata Steel.

• Sports

Ravi Shastri appointed as corporate ambas.

• Former Cricketer Ravi Shastri was appointed as Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) exclusive Corporate Ambassador to the Indian Business Community.
• As a brand Ambassador Ravi Shastri may attract more Indian business leaders to set up or expand their operations in UAE through RAKEZ.

• Sports

Int. Hockey Fed imposed fine on Pakistan

• The International Hockey Federation (FIH) imposed a fine of 1,76,000 Euros on Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for not honouring the Pro League commitments.
• The FIH has given the Pakistan sports body time until 20th June to pay the fine or else the penalty would be doubled.
• PHF was fined for not sending the national team for the Pro League matches in Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.

• Awards

Cipla Chairman Yusuf Hamied Receives UK Royal Society Honour

• Prominent scientist and businessman Yusuf Hamied are among a host of Indian-origin experts honoured in the 2019 list of new fellows of the UK’s Royal Society.
• The 82-year-old chairman of pharmaceutical major Cipla has been made an Honorary Fellow of the prestigious body, comprising of many of the world’s most eminent scientists.

• Appointments

Jaideep Sarkar appointed as India's next High Commissioner to S Africa

• Jaideep Sarkar (1987-batch Indian Foreign Service officer) has been appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to South Africa.
• Currently, Sarkar is serving as India’s ambassador in Bhutan.
• He served in Indian Missions in Tokyo, Seoul and Bangladesh as well.
• The government also appointed Suhel Ajaz Khan as India’s next High Commissioner to Lebanon.
• Currently, he is serving as India’s Deputy Chief of Mission in Saudi Arabia.

• Appointments

Deutsche Bank appoints Kaushik Shaparia as CEO for India

• Germany-based lender Deutsche Bank has appointed Kaushik Shaparia as the chief executive officer (CEO) for India.
• Kaushik Shapariao succeeds Ravneet Gill (joined Yes Bank last month).
• Shaparia served as Asia Pacific Head of Corp­orate Banking Coverage within Institutional and Treasury Coverage, as well as Global Head of Subsidiary Coverage.

• Science and Tech

Christina Koch To Set Record for Longest Spaceflight by A Woman

• NASA astronaut Christina Koch is going to have her mission on the International Space Station (ISS) extended to 328 days, which would set a record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman.
• Koch, who arrived at the space station on March 14 is scheduled to remain in orbit until February 2020, will eclipse the record of 288 days set by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson in 2016-17.

• Obituaries

NASA’s first female Astronaut candidate Jerrie Cobb passes away

• America’s first female astronaut candidate pilot Jerrie Cobb(88-years) passed away in Florida following a brief illness.
• In 1961, Cobb became the first woman to pass astronaut testing.
• Altogether, 13 women passed the arduous physical testing and became famous as the Mercury 13.

• Miscellaneous

Salman Rushdie’s New Novel “Quichotte” to Release in August

• The British Indian Novelist Salman Rushdie’s new novel “Quichotte” will be released in August 2019.
• It is the story of an ageing travelling salesman who falls in love with a TV star and sets off to drive across America on a quest to prove himself worthy of her hand.
• This book “Quichotte”, acquired by Penguin Random House India, will be published in India under the Hamish Hamilton imprint in August.
• Rushdie is the author of 13 novels including “Midnight’s Children”, for which he won the Man Booker Prize and Booker of Bookers Prize, and one collection of short stories.

• Miscellaneous

Book on Jallianwala Bagh Poem ‘Khooni Vaisakhi’ Released In UAE

• A book containing English translation of the 100-year-old classic Punjabi poem about Jallianwala Bagh massacre, ‘Khooni Vaisakhi’ has been released in Abu Dhabi.
• India’s Ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Singh Suri commended the launch of the book.
• The poem was translated by Mr. Suri whose grandfather, revolutionary poet and novelist Nanak Singh, a Jallianwala Bagh survivor, wrote it after witnessing first-hand the events of April 13, 1919.