Approval for a Worldwide Monitoring System to Track Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• The World Meteorological Congress has granted approval for a groundbreaking greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring initiative. 
• This initiative aims to bolster immediate measures in curbing the release of heat-trapping gases that contribute to rising temperatures. 
• The newly established global GHG watch aims to bridge significant information gaps and establish an integrated and operational framework. 

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The GHG watch will comprise four primary components: 

• A comprehensive and continuous global network of surface-based and satellite-based observations, encompassing carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) concentrations, total column amounts, partial column amounts, vertical profiles, and fluxes. These observations will be accompanied by supporting meteorological, oceanic, and terrestrial variables. The data will be exchanged internationally as swiftly as possible, subject to the capabilities and agreements with the operators of the observation systems. 
• Preliminary estimates of GHG emissions based on activity data and process-based models. 
• A collection of high-resolution Earth System models at the global scale, designed to accurately represent GHG cycles. 
• Data assimilation systems integrated with the models, which will optimally combine the observational data with model calculations to generate more precise and accurate products.  

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Union Finance Ministry to Launch a ₹75 Coin 

• To mark the inauguration of India's new parliament building and coincide with the nation's 75 years of independence celebration, the Ministry of Finance has revealed plans for the introduction of a special ₹75 coin. 
• The coin, with a circular shape and a diameter of 44 millimeters, will be composed of a quaternary alloy consisting of 50 percent silver, 40 percent copper, 5 percent nickel, and 5 percent zinc. 
• The face of the coin shall bear the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the center, with the legend “सत्यमेि जयते” (Satyameva Jayate) inscribed below, flanked on the left periphery with the word “भारत” (Bharat) in Devnagri script and on the right periphery the word “INDIA” in English”.   

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Merger between Maratha Sahakari Bank and The Cosmos Co-operative Bank 

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the voluntary Scheme of Amalgamation of Maratha Sahakari Bank with The Cosmos Co-operative Bank.  
• The scheme will be implemented starting from May 29, 2023, as confirmed by the RBI. 
• On August 31, 2016, the central bank had issued Directions under Section 35 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, to Maratha Sahakari Bank, which was established in 1946 and operates across seven branches in Mumbai. 

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R. Dinesh Appointed as the CII President for 2023-24 

• R. Dinesh, the Executive Vice Chairman of TVS Supply Chain Solutions, officially assumed the role of President for 2023-24 at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) while Sanjiv Puri, the Managing Director of ITC, was named as the President-designate. 
• The CII National Council, which met in New Delhi to elect new office-bearers for 2023-24, also named EY Chairman India Region Rajiv Memani as Vice-President.   

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HDFC Bank Collaborates with Manipal Global to Build Up a Talent Pipeline 

• HDFC Bank, a leading private sector bank in India, has unveiled a strategic partnership with Manipal Global Skills Academy to introduce the Leadership Excellence Program (LXP). 
• This initiative focuses on recruiting and training women branch managers. 
• This collaboration aims to cultivate a pool of skilled professionals with competencies aligned to the industry standards.  

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Magnus Carlsen Won the 2023 Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland 

• Magnus Carlsen, the reigning World Chess Champion and top-ranked player, emerged victorious in the 2023 Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland, the second leg of the prestigious Grand Chess Tour (GCT), held at the Museum of the History of Polish Jews. 
• Carlsen claimed the first-place prize of $40,000 with an impressive score of 24/36. 
  Jan-Krzyzstof Duda, the local favorite and defending champion, secured the second position with a score of 23/36. 

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PhonePe has Become the First Payment App to Link 2 Lakh RuPay Credit Cards to UPI 

• PhonePe has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the pioneer payment app to connect 200,000 RuPay credit cards with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). More 
• The company has successfully facilitated transactions worth a Total Payment Value (TPV) of Rs 150 crore through RuPay credit cards on the UPI platform.