12th April 2015 - Important Current Affairs updates

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International Affairs

• US President Barack Obama met Cuban President Raul Castro in Panama
• This is the first formal meeting between the two countries' leaders in half a century.
• Mr Castro has called for the lifting of the US economic blockade on Cuba, in place since 1959.
• United States‬, ‎France‬ and ‎Israel‬ have expressed grave concern over the release of UN-designated terrorist and Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman ‪Lakhvi‬. 
• While the US said it has communicated its concerns to Pakistan, French President Francois Hollande expressed his country's indignation over the development. 
• Israel also termed the release as a setback.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Hannover, Germany on the second leg of three-nations tour.
• He holds meeting with top businessmen of the country.

National Affairs

• The Union Home Ministry has notified new set of rules to “regulate” official visits of Governors outside their States, mandating prior permission from the President and putting a cap of 73 days in a year as the duration of such visits.
• The new 18-point set of rules notified by Home Ministry said Governors will have to stay in their respective states for at least 292 days in a year
• Note : Amending the Governors (Allowances and Privileges) Rules, the MHA on February 10, 2015 issued a notification stating that all out-station visits of Governors will require prior approval of the President. 

Sports

• ISSF Shooting World Cup 2015 : Ace shooter of Indian Army Jitu Rai has won a bronze
  
  medal in the 10 meter Air Pistol (Men) event.
• This competition is being held at Changwon in South Korea.
• Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tournament 2015 : India beat South Korea to clinch bronze medal. 
• Lewis Hamilton wins 2015 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix.
• Sania Mirza today created history by becoming the first female tennis player from India to achieve the World Number One rank in doubles
• Rafael Nadal will play for the Indian side in the second edition of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL).
• Japan Warriors will be the new franchise in the competition.
• This competitive is scheduled to start on 2nd December2015.
• Note : Roger Federer had played for the Indian team in the inaugural edition but this time the Swiss star will turn out for UAE Royals.

People in News

• Bangladesh executes Jamaat-e-Islami leader Muhammad Qamaruzzaman today.
• He was hanged today for committing war crimes and mass killings during Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war against Pakistan.

Business & Economy

• State Bank of India announced a cut in home loan rate by up to 0.25 %. 
• The rate cut will be effective from tomorrow.
• Note : The cut in interest rate on home loans  is higher than the reduction of 0.15 per cent in base rate that came into force on April 10.

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