• US space agency NASA is set to launch SpaceX Crew Dragon's second flight to the International Space Station on April 22.
• The Crew-2 with four astronauts on board will lift off at 6:11 a.m. EDT on April 22, from Launch Complex 39A at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
• The Crew-2 flight will carry NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur who will serve as the mission's spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively along with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut-Akihiko Hoshidea and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomasa Pesquet, who will serve as mission specialists to the space station.
• The mission is the second of the six certified, crew missions NASA, and SpaceX will fly as a part of the agency's Commercial Crew Programme. Crew-1 successfully docked into the ISS in November, last year.

• World Hemophilia Day is an international awareness day for hemophilia and other bleeding disorders. It is held annually on April 17, the date of the birthday of Frank Schnabel, founder of the World Federation of Hemophilia.
• Since 1989, World Hemophilia Day is the day the whole bleeding disorders community comes together to celebrate the continuous advances in treatment while raising awareness and bringing understanding and attention to the issues related to proper care to the wider public.
• The theme of 2021 World Hemophilia Day is Adapting to Change, sustaining care in a new world.

• Microsoft is buying AI speech tech firm Nuance for $19.7 billion, bolstering the Redmond, Washington-based tech giant’s prowess in voice recognition and giving it further leverage in the health care market, where Nuance sells many products. Microsoft will pay $56 per share for Nuance, a 23 percent premium over the company’s closing price.
• Nuance is best known for its Dragon software, which uses deep learning to transcribe speech and improves its accuracy over time by adapting to a user’s voice.
• The $19.7 billion acquisition of Nuance is Microsoft’s second-largest behind its purchase of LinkedIn in 2016 for $26 billion. It comes at a time when speech tech is improving rapidly, thanks to the deep learning boom in AI, and there are simultaneously more opportunities for its use.

• Centre has approved over 50 crore rupees for developing all-weather ROPAX, Roll-on/Roll-off Passenger Jetty and allied infrastructure connecting Kaninali in Bhadrak district and Talachua in Kendrapara district, Odisha under the Sagarmala initiative. In
• 110 crore rupees ROPAX Jetty project will come up on river Dhamra in Odisha. This project will reduce travel time for passengers from 6 hours by road to one hour by waterway.
• Kaninali in Bhadrak district and Talachua in Kendrapada district, are located on the northern and southern banks of River Dhamra.
• The people of Talachua and nearby villages largely depend upon Dhamra port for their livelihood, which is approximately four kilometres from Kaninali Ghat. The connectivity will increase the commercial and business activities and uplift the socio-economic status of the surrounding region.

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has restored electronic visa (e-visa) facility for foreigners from 156 countries, who intend to visit India for the purposes of business, conferences, and for medical reasons, including in the case of medical attendants.
• The e-visa system is an innovation introduced by the government in 2014. The facility was expanded in 2017-2018.
• The process has its roots in the 2010 Tourist Visa on Arrival (TVOA) scheme for Japan, Singapore, Finland, Luxembourg and New Zealand.
• The government merged the TVOA with Electronic Travel Authorisation, thereby creating the e-visa.
• Five Categories: An e-visa also called Electronic Visa is provided in five categories—tourist, business, conference, medical, and medical attendant.

• Indian Railway will impose a fine of up to 500 rupees for not wearing a face mask in trains and stations premises.
• The decision has been taken in line with the preventive measures taken by the Centre against the coronavirus disease.
• Railways is taking various measures to contain the spread of the resurgence of Covid-19 pandemic, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Centre.

• RBL Bank and Mastercard announced their partnership to launch a mobile based consumer-friendly payment solution – the Pay by Bank App, a first-of-its-kind payment functionality in India. RBL Bank account holders can now enjoy contactless transactions across the world through their mobile banking application both in-store and online. This functionality will be available at all Mastercard accepting merchants, worldwide that accept contactless and online payments.
• To provide enhanced security, ‘Pay by Bank App’ ensures that Bank customer’s payment credentials are never exposed to the merchant, making the transaction completely secure. Customers will continue to receive the Mastercard consumer protection benefits that they currently enjoy on their debit cards.

• Oscar-winning Italian director-actor Roberto Benigni of 'Life is Beautiful' fame has been honoured with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement of the 78th Venice International Film Festival.
• The decision to honour Benigni, a two-time Oscar winner was made by the board of La Biennale di Venezia. The writer-director-actor's name was proposed by the Festival's Director, Alberto Barbera.

• Virat Kohli was named the cricketer of the decade for the 2010s by Wisden Almanack, a cricket reference book annually published in the United Kingdom. Wisden is actually celebrating 50 years of one-day international cricket. The have announced one cricketer each for each of the decades from 1971 to 2021. Three of these five ‘player of the decade’ awards went to Indian cricketers. Read the entire article to know who the other four cricketers are.
• The Sri Lankan off spinner was a difficult customer to face. He picked up 335 wickets in the ten years which is more than any other bowler in any decade. Muralitharan reached the cricket world cup final in 2007 and also in 2011. He was Sri Lanka’s go to spinner in all conditions.

• Famous Tamil film actor and Padma Sri awardee Vivek passed away in Chennai on 17^th April. He was admitted at a private hospital on 16^th April following a massive heart attack. He was 60 years old. An incredible comedian, Vivek had entertained people of Tamil Nadu for over three decades through his 200 plus films. A disciple of former President Abdul Kalam, Vivek was involved in afforestation and other social welfare activities. 
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the demise of noted actor Vivek. In a tweet, Mr. Modi said, his comic timing and intelligent dialogues entertained people. Prime Minister said, both in his films and his life, his concern for the environment and society shone through.

Download Daily GK PDF of 17 April 2021