25th April 2015 Important Current Affairs Updates

1) Bharatiya Mahila Bank won the Asian Banker Achievement Award 2015:

--> Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) Ltd on 23 April 2015 won the Asian Banker Achievement Award 2015.

--> It was awarded for Technology Implementation in the category of Best Outsourcing Project (New Bank).

--> The award was received by Usha Ananthasubramanian, the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of BMB at a function held in Hong Kong during the Asian Banker Summit 2015. 

2) Marathi novelist Bhalchandra Nemade presented 50th Jnanpith Award:

--> Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 25 April 2015 presented Jnanpith award to renowned literary figure Bhalchandra Nemade.

--> Speaking after the presentation of the 50th Jnanpeeth Award to Prof Bhalchandra Nemade, the Prime Minister said creative writing has the capacity to touch lives of several generations.

--> Seventy-six-year-old Nemade hails from Jalgaon Maharashtra.

--> Nemade 1963 novel Kosala(Cocoon) which was written in just 16 days changed the dimensions of Marathi novel.

3) Yashwant Sinha gets highest French honour of Officier de la Légion d’Honneur:

--> French Government has honoured former Union Finance Minister and veteran BJP leader Yashwant Sinha with Officier de la Légion d’Honneur (Officer of the Legion of Honour).

--> It is the highest French civilian distinction bestowed upon him in recognition of his international action taken during his stint as Union Minister of Finance, Minister External Foreign Affairs and for his invaluable contribution to international issues.

4) Indian-origin scientist won Heinz Award:

--> An Indian-origin scientist at MIT Sangeeta Bhatia, who has developed artificial human microlivers for drug testing, has won a prestigious $2,50,000 Heinz award for her work in tissue engineering and disease detection.

--> Sangeeta Bhatia at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been named the recipient of the 2015 Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy, and Employment.

--> The award includes an unrestricted prize of $ 2,50,000.

--> The Heinz Awards annually recognise individuals for their extraordinary contributions to arts and humanities; environment; human condition; public policy; and technology, the economy, and employment.

5) Powerful earthquake rocked Nepal:

--> A powerful earthquake measuring 7.9 on Richter scale struck Nepal on 25 April 2015 killing and injuring thousands of people.

--> The quake and a series of serious aftershocks delivered a severe blow to Nepal, one of the world's poorest and least-developed nations.

--> The earthquake with epicentre at Lamjung, around 80 kilometers northwest of Kathmandu, had its impact in Northern India as well.

--> Kathmandu's Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was completely damaged in the quake.

--> The nearly two-century old 9-storey landmark Dharhara tower in the centre of the capital collapsed and several people are feared trapped.

6) World Malaria Day observed:

--> World Malaria Day is observed globally on 25 April 2015.

--> The theme for the 2013-2015 campaign is Invest in the Future. Defeat Malaria.

--> The day is observed to recognise the global efforts to control malaria.

7) Bank of Baroda tied up with UAE Exchange for instant money transfer:

--> Leading Indian public sector bank Bank of Baroda (BoB) has partnered with UAE Exchange to offer Non-resident Indian (NRI) customers an instant cash transfer facility.