Current Affairs May 5, 2017

NATIONAL

President Pranab Mukherjee approves banking ordinance on Non-performing Assets:

President Pranab Mukherjee approved an ordinance on Non-performing Assets (NPA) which will provide greater powers to Reserve Bank of India to tackle mounting bad loans. Earlier, the Cabinet had approved promulgation of the ordinance to amend the Banking Regulation Act for resolution of the non-performing asset (NPA) crisis.

INTERNATIONAL

Russia, Iran and Turkey ink Syria deal:

    Syrian regime allies Russia and Iran and rebel supporter Turkey signed a memorandum on a Moscow-backed plan to create safe zones in Syria to bolster a fragile truce.

The aim is to “put an immediate end to the violence” and “provide the conditions for the safe, voluntary return of refugees” as well as the immediate delivery of relief supplies and medical aid.

Banking & Business

NPCI enables acceptance of JCB cards across ATMs in India:

     India-Japan economic relationship reached a new milestone with the public launch of acceptance of JCB cards at NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) network in India.

With this development, visitors from Japan can now use their JCB cards across ATMs & POS terminals in India. JCB (Japan Credit Bureau) is a global payment company and leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan.

SPORTS

FIFA rankings: Indian football team breaks into top 100 for 1st time in 21 years

    The Indian men’s national football team has made it into the top 100 of the FIFA world football rankings for the first time in 21 years. This upward movement is the result of away wins against Myanmar and Cambodia.

As per the updated rankings, India, with a total of 331 points, have climbed a spot and are now placed 100th alongside Nicaragua, Lithuania and Estonia.