India has dropped two places to be ranked 140th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index 2019, released by Reporters Without Borders.

The World Press Freedom Index 2019 is topped by Norway which is followed by Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark. 

 The Index is based on the assessment of the countries' press freedom records in the previous.

Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), or Reporters Without Borders, is a non-profit organisation that works to document and combat attacks on journalists around the world.

World Press Freedom Index 2019

India and France will conduct their largest ever naval exercise 'Varuna' in MAY 2019, with the objective of expanding their strategic partnership in the Indian Ocean region (IOR).

It will witness the participation of aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines, and fighters.

India will deploy its aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya with its MiG-29K fighters. Similarly, the Frech Navy will send its aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle with its Rafale-M naval jets, and other warships for the "Varuna" exercise.

About France

Capital - Peris

Currency - Euro

President - Emmanel Macron

Google has opened its first African artificial intelligence (AI) centre in Accra, the capital city of Ghana.

The research laboratory will host software engineers and research scientists to work on projects dedicated to next-generation technology.

The technology would address economic, political and environmental issues.

About Ghana

Capital - Accra

Currency - Ghanaian cedi

President - Nana Akufo-Addo

About Google

Headquarters - Mountain View, California, United States

Founded - 4th Sept. 1998

Founders - Sergey Brin, Larry Page

CEO - Sundar Pichai

International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have together launched a private blockchain with a pseudo-token.

The new token, called "Learning Coin" and only accessible within the IMF and World Bank, has a purpose to teach relevant individuals within the organizations about blockchain.

Though the coin has no real value hence the description pseudo-token staff members who pass educational milestones will receive the tokens which can then be redeemed for certain rewards.

The objective is to get employees to understand the applications of blockchain technology in the real world.

About IMF

Headquarters - Washington DC, USA

MD - Christine Lagarde

Membership - 189 countries

About World Bank

Headquarters - Washington DC, USA

Established - 1944

President - David Malpass

Membership - 189 countries
 

India's Bajrang Punia has regained top spot in the men's 65-kilogram freestyle category rankings, released by United World Wrestling.

Punis defeated Kazakhstan's Sayatbek Okassov 12-7 in a nail-biting 65kg men's freestyle.

Punia, who won Gold in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games as well as a silver in the World Championships in 2018, secured 58 points ahead of Akhmed Chakaev of Russia