1. Recently, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has provided $500 million loan to which bank for providing microloans to women in rural areas? – HDFC bank
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) provided a $500 million loan to HDFC Bank on May 17, 2024.
This loan will support women microfinance borrowers, specifically those in self-help groups (SHGs) and joint liability groups (JLGs) engaged in sustainable livelihood initiatives.
Unlike non-banking finance companies, which charge higher rates, HDFC Bank can offer cheaper loans due to its access to lower-cost funds from CASA deposits.
Science & Technology
2. What is ‘Dyson Sphere’, recently seen in the news? – A hypothetical engineering project to harness a star’s energy
An international team from Sweden, India, the US, and the UK has developed a method to search for Dyson spheres—hypothetical megastructures that advanced civilizations could build to harness a star’s energy.
Proposed by Freeman J. Dyson in 1960, these structures would emit infrared radiation, serving as technosignatures.
Despite scanning infrared maps, no evidence of Dyson spheres has been found yet.
Environment
3. According to a recent report released by the NOAA, how much of the world’s coral reefs have bleached in the past year? – 60%
According to the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 60% of the world’s coral reefs have experienced heat stress severe enough to cause bleaching in the past 12 months, which is a record.
This is the fourth mass coral bleaching event on record, with the previous three occurring between 1998 and 2017.
Bleaching can make reefs more vulnerable to disease and harm the biodiversity they support.
4. Recently which country’s Yellowstone National Park has discovered a 1.5 billion-year-old “giant” virus? – America
The Union Ministry of Law and Justice, with the Assam Government, organized a conference titled ‘India’s Progressive Path in the Administration of Criminal Justice System’ in Guwahati on May 18-19, 2024, to discuss recent changes in India’s criminal justice system.
The event highlighted three new laws: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, replacing outdated British-era laws.
These laws will be implemented on July 1, 2024.
9. Where was the Bharat-Bangla Baul Music Festival organized? – Dhaka
