1. Emirates claims to be first airline to conduct on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for passengers

• The Emirates Airline claimed to have become the first airline to conduct on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for its passengers. Emirates in coordination with Dubai Health Authority (DHA) will be introducing additional precautions.
• The quick blood test, according to the statement, was conducted by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and results were available “within 10 minutes”. This test was conveniently done at the Group Check-in area of Dubai International Airport Terminal 3.
• The airline said its check-in and boarding formalities have also been adapted with social distancing in mind.

2. Jim Corbett National Park of Uttrakhand becomes India’s 1st quarantine centre for animals

• Jim Corbett National Park , the India’s oldest forested wildlife sanctuary located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, has become the India’s 1st quarantine centre for animals with symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).
• At least 10 quarantine centers are being set up within the complex to handle the coronavirus prey animals & Cameras will be installed in the park to monitor the cold and cough symptoms of animals.
• After humans, the threat of COVID-19 is now hovering over wildlife. The NTCA (National Tiger Conservation Authority) has alerted the officials of country’s sanctuaries, forests, and zoos after the Coronavirus infection was detected in the Malayan tiger ‘Nadia’ in the Bronx zoo of US (United States).

Foot Notes: About Jim Corbett:
Named after tiger hunter turned conservationist Jim Corbett, this national park is one of the famous tiger destinations in India.
It has rich biodiversity including around 110 tree species, 50 species of mammals, 580 bird species. The park covers more than 1288 sq km over 3 districts of Uttarakhand, Pauri Garhwal, Nainital, and Almora.
About Uttrakhand:
Chief Minister: Trivendra Singh Rawat
Governor: Baby Rani Maurya
Capitals: Dehradun, Gairsain (Summer)

3. BSNL in partnership with SBI launches Bharat InstaPay a UPI-based payment platform

• Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in partnership with the State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) based payment platform, Bharat InstaPay to enable all types of channel partners of BSNL to digitize their payment transactions on a round the clock basis/ real- time basis.
• In particular it will help the prepaid sellers to buy the services immediately for sale. It will improve BSNL’s credibility towards partners, & will help in the growth of partners’ business at a faster pace.
• 1-time online verification process is introduced, which is to be done by the partners themselves by visiting the portal.

Foot Notes: About BSNL
Headquarters– New Delhi, India
Chairman & Managing Director– Pravin Kumar Purwar
About SBI:
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Chairman– Rajnish Kumar

4. MS Dhoni appointed as the brand ambassador of PokerStars India

• PokerStars India has appointed former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni as its new brand ambassador. Prior to MS Dhoni’s appointment, popular Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui was the brand ambassador of the company.
• Muskan Sethi and Sharad Rao are the other brand ambassadors of PokerStars India, while Aditya Agarwal quit the brand in December 2019.
• PokerStars India’s motive to bring MS Dhoni on board is aimed at increasing its market share in the industry as the cricketer has a fan following among millions of Indians.
• Currently, the brand is at rank four for player traffic among poker sites.

Foot Notes: About PokerStars
PokerStars is an online poker cardroom owned by The Stars Group. It can be accessed through downloadable poker clients for the Windows, macOS (Macintosh Operating System), Android and iOS(iPhone Operating System). It is the largest real-money online poker site in the world, controlling over two-thirds of the total online poker market.
Headquarters– Isle of Man.
Founder: Isai Scheinberg and Mark Scheinberg
Founded: September 11, 2001

5. China dispatched a total of 650,000 kits to India

• A consignment of 550,000 antibody testing kits and 100,000 RNA extraction kits was dispatched by Chinese firms to India. They will be used in the country’s efforts to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19.
• The consignment includes part of the large orders placed by India for medical supplies and equipment with Chinese firms.
• Chinese companies have been contracted for nearly 15 million personal protective equipment (PPE) kits comprising gowns, gloves, masks and goggles, and 1.5 million rapid testing kits for Covid-19 by the Indian government and private companies.

• Union Home Ministry has made spitting in public without caring as a punishable offence under the strict Disaster Management Act in its revised guidelines for lockdown.
• The guidelines issued by the ministry also make wearing of face masks in public places mandatory. The Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation has imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 if anyone is caught spitting in public. 
• Similar measures are also in place in municipal corporations of Delhi, and several other states.

7. Tata AIA becomes the first Life Insurance company to announce Additional Benefits Related to COVID-19

• Tata AIA Life Insurance announced additional benefits for its Policyholders and Agents. As part of Tata AIA Life's initiative, its individual policyholders will get COVID-19 related additional benefits up to Rs 500,000 at no additional cost.
• Further, to extend the Circle of Protection to its own Agents, all 'active' Agents of Tata AIA Life Insurance along with their spouse and children will be reimbursed up to Rs 25,000 in case of hospitalisation due to COVID-19. This is a first of its kind initiative in India.
• All policyholders of Tata AIA will get an additional benefit equal to the base sum assured or Rs 500,000 whichever is lower for valid death claims due to COVID-19. 
• This benefit is applicable for all valid death claims with a date of death on or before June 30 2020.

Foot notes: About AIA
CEO: Rishi Srivastava 
Headquarters: Mumbai
Founded: 2000

8. Ajay Mahajan appointed as MD & CEO of CARE Ratings

• CARE Ratings has appointed Ajay Mahajan as the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer for a period of 5 years commencing from 15 April 2020 up to 14 April 2025.
• Mahajan started his career with Bank of America in 1990 and went on to become the MD and Country Head of Global Markets Group. CARE Ratings Limited is a credit rating agency. 
• The Company is engaged in providing financial services other than securities dealing activities.

9. Vineet Arora appointed as MD, CEO of Paytm General Insurance

• Digital payments major Paytm has named Vineet Arora as the managing director and chief executive officer of Paytm General Insurance Ltd.
• The appointment, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is a step for Paytm to further its journey into the insurance sector with an immediate focus on General Insurance.
• Arora will lead the efforts to provide industry-leading solutions in the general insurance space, where Paytm continues to explore options to enter the sector.
• Previously, Arora served as the managing director and chief executive officer of Aegon Life Insurance Company and was part of the India Leadership team.

10. Actor Ranjit Chowdhry passed away at 65

• Actor Ranjit Chowdhry, best known for his roles in Baton Baton Mein, Mississippi Masala and Bollywood/Hollywood among more, passed away.
• Son of renowned theatre actor Pearl Padamsee, Ranjit Chowdhry made his silver screen debut with Khatta Meetha in 1978. He went on to star in Hindi films like Baton Baton Mein, Khubsoorat, Bandit Queen and Kaante among more.
• Ranjit found fame overseas starring in crossover films like Lonely in America, Mississippi Masala, Bollywood/Hollywood, Fire and Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love. He also featured in US shows like The Office and Prison Break.