Today's Current Affairs - 19th October 2022

INTERNATIONAL

Japan seeks Geographical Indication tag for nihonshu, an alcoholic beverage

• This is the first time a product from Japan has filed for a tag at the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai. The Embassy of Japan, New Delhi, has filed an application seeking a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Nihonshu/Japanese sake, an alcoholic beverage. It is learnt that this is the first time a product from Japan has filed for a tag at the Geographical Indication Registry here.
• Nihonshu is regarded as a special and valuable beverage made from fermenting rice. People traditionally drink nihonshu on special occasions, such as festivals, weddings or funerals, but it is also consumed on a daily basis. Thus, it is an integral part of the lifestyle and culture in Japan.
• The sake market (almost all are nihonshu) is the second largest brewed liquor (such as beer) market in Japan. For making nihonshu three main raw materials – rice, koji-kin (a type of fungal spore) and water – are required.

 NATIONAL

World Cup hosts Qatar set to host 2023 AFC Asian Cup

• The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee has confirmed the Qatar Football Association (QFA) as the host association for the AFC Asian Cup 2023. The 11th AFC Executive Committee meeting was chaired by AFC President Shaikh Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.
• He congratulated the QFA on their successful bid and also conveyed the appreciation of the Asian Football Family to the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) and the Korea Football Association (KFA) for their proposals.
• Qatar is the reigning AFC Asian Cup Champions and will be hosting the most prestigious men’s tournament for the third time.
• The AFC Executive Committee also deliberated upon the bidding proposals for the AFC Asian Cup 2027.

India Gate, the flagship brand of KRBL, has been recognized as the world's Number one

• India Gate, the flagship brand of KRBL, has been recognized as the world’s No. 1 Basmati Rice Brand in a market study conducted by a leading global research company. The quantitative study by Mordor Intelligence covers research of White and Brown Basmati Rice Category across continents like the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. The research has been done using methodologies like Primary & Secondary Research, Data Triangulation, and Insight Generation.
• Mordor Intelligence, a leading global research company founded in 2014 has been conducting studies providing insights to 4000+ enterprises across 100+ countries across multiple industries.
• Since its introduction in 1998, India Gate Basmati Rice has been working continuously to deliver its purpose of enriching lives through Basmati Rice, a nutritional wonder of nature.
• Over the years, India Gate has developed a successful global consumer franchise, as evidenced by the fact that it is exported to over 90 countries and sells 8+ cr. packs annually.
• The grains of India Gate Basmati Rice is aged to perfection, which makes them longer, fluffier, non-sticky, and full of beautiful aroma, setting them apart from the others.

PM inaugurates PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi

• The PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 will be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi. More than 13,500 farmers from all around the country and about 1,500 agri entrepreneurs are expected to attend the two-day event.
• The Prime Minister will officially open 600 Pradan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PMKSK) under the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers.
• PMKSK will provide agri-inputs like fertilisers, seeds, and implements; testing facilities for soil, seeds, and fertilisers; awareness-raising activities for farmers; details on various government programmes; and regular capacity building for retailers at block/district level outlets.
• During the occasion, the PM will also introduce the One Nation One Fertilizer initiative, Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana.

 SPORTS

Bernard Dunne is Indian boxing's new high performance director

• Former Irish professional boxer Bernard Dunne has been named the high-performance director (HPD) for Indian boxing. Dunne, who had a five-year (2017-2022) stint with the Irish Athletic Boxing Association, replaces Santiago Nieva. During Dunne’s tenure with the Ireland team, Kellie Harrington emerged as World (2018, Delhi) and Olympic (2021, Tokyo) champion, while Amy Broadhurst and Lisa O’Rourke won golds at this year’s World Championships in Istanbul and Aidan Walsh secured a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.
• The 42-year-old Dunne, who has bagged 13 national titles, has joined the Indian boxing elite programme at Patiala. He has won the WBA World Championship (2009) and the European Championship (2007), will take over the position which was left vacant after Santiago Nieva’s departure.

 APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Yubi appoints Atanu Chakraborty as Independent Chairman of its Board

• Atanu Chakraborty has been appointed as the Independent Chairman of the Yubi board, as told by the company itself.. In addition, Atanu Chakraborty serves as HDFC Bank’s board chairman at the moment. Atanu Chakraborty served as the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and a member of the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India, according to a press release from the Chennai-based debt marketplace.
• Atanu Chakraborty said that Since its establishment, Yubi has worked to provide reliable and effective digital infrastructure to the various players in the Indian financial system. It gives me great pleasure to serve as Chair of the Yubi Board and to support the organization’s aim to invent and unleash the economic growth potential of India.

Cognizant hires former Infosys president Ravi Kumar to lead Americas market

• Former Infosys president Ravi Kumar S, who resigned from the Bengaluru-based IT company last week, is joining as president of Cognizant Americas. Kumar will take on the position from January 16, 2023, and will be reporting directly to Brian Humphries, chief executive officer (CEO) of Cognizant. Kumar succeeds Dharmendra Kumar Sinha who retired from Cognizant last year. At present, Sinha is the president of the public cloud business unit in Rackspace Technology. Surya Gummadi will continue to hold the post of interim president for Cognizant Americas till Kumar joins, after which he will move to lead Cognizant’s $5-billion health sciences business.
• In 2015, Kumar was one of the two presidents appointed by Infosys, and served in that position for almost seven years. He had been with Infosys for 20 years. Cognizant has also announced the appointment of former Bain executive Prasad Sankaran as head of the software and platform engineering (SPE) service line.

JP Morgan Elevates Kaustubh Kulkarni As India Head

• JP Morgan has announced the appointment of its new Country Head of India, Kaustubh Kulkarni. Madhav Kalyan the current country head of India will be serving in the Asia Pacific Payments Division from 1st November 2022. Kaustubh Kulkarni is currently serving as the head of investment banking in JP Morgan India and also as the Vice-chair of Asia Pacific for the bank and also as the co-head of investment banking for Southeast Asia.
• Kaustubh Kulkarni has been serving in JP Morgan for the past 24 years.
• Madhav Kalyan has been serving in JP Morgan since 2009 as head of corporate banking for India.
• Pierpont Morgan was an American financier and investment banker who dominated corporate finance on Wall Street during the Gilded Age. The firm is known as JP Morgan and Co.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

Karnataka Bank launches “KBL Centenary Deposit Scheme” @ 7.60% ROI

• Karnataka Bank has launched a term deposit scheme named the KBL Centenary Deposit Scheme with effect from October 17, 2022. In order to honour the amazing journey towards its Centenary and to thank its customers, the bank has created a special term deposit programme with a higher rate of interest.
• For a period of 555 days, the KBL Centenary Deposit Scheme will enjoy an interest rate of 7.20% p.a. Senior citizens will pay an interest rate of 7.60% annually.
• The Karnataka Bank will join the elite group of banks that are now providing the highest rate of interest on term deposits in the banking market by implementing this deposit programme.

RBL Bank and BookMyShow announce partnership to launch 'Play' credit card

• The launch of a new credit card called “Play” by RBL Bank and BookMyShow will significantly increase the entertainment value for Indian consumers. RBL Bank and BookMyShow collaborated to offer the Fun Plus credit card earlier in 2016. Customers will be able to follow the full procedure on BookMyShow, a first for any entertainment platform in India, from application to delivery of the “Play” credit card.
• Select BookMyShow customers will have access to the “Play” credit card, which will enable them to take advantage of lucrative offers on movie tickets, live entertainment purchases (both online and offline).
• The customers will also have access to binge-watching movies and TV shows on BookMyShow Stream by renting or buying a title, all while earning rewards with each purchase.