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Current Affairs – May 3, 2018

S.No Topic Page Number

1 Important Days 2

2 World News 3

3 National News 4 - 6

4 State News 7 – 8

5 Banking & Economy 9

6 Sports News 10

7 Awards & Honours 11

8 Appointments & Resignation 12

9 Science & Techonology 13

10 Obituaries 14

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Important Days

World Press Freedom Day – 3rd May

On 3rd May 2018, World Press Freedom Day was celebrated all over the world.

In 1993, the UN General Assembly declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day. 3rd May

is the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek for media pluralism and independence.

World Press Freedom Day is celebrated to highlight the fundamental principles of press

freedom and to offer tribute to journalists who have sacrificed their lives while on duty.

The theme for World Press Freedom Day 2018 is: Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice

and The Rule of Law.

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World News

India, China to set up hotline between military HQs

The militaries of India and China have reportedly agreed to set up a hotline between their

headquarters after an informal summit between Indian PM Narendra Modi and Chinese

President Xi Jinping.

The hotline would enable the militaries to intensify communication in order to avoid

confrontations like the 73-day Doklam standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

India into world's top five defence spenders

India has joined the U.S. and China as one of the world’s five biggest military spenders,

reflecting geopolitical tensions as well as the country’s reliance on imported weapons and

sprawling personnel costs.

India’s defense spending rose by 5.5 percent to $63.9 billion in 2017 and has now passed

France, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said in a report

According to the arms watchdog, the five top military spenders in 2017 were the US,

China, Saudi Arabia, Russia and India.

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National News

Cabinet Approval on May 2 2018

Union Cabinet has given its approval for doubling the investment limit under the Pradhan

Mantri Vaya Vandan Yojana (PMVVY) from Rs 7.5 lakhs to Rs 15 lakhs.

Cabinet approves Mutual Recognition Agreement between the Institute of Chartered

Accountants of India (ICAI) and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants

(SAICA)

Union Cabinet has approved the restructuring of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) by

upgradation, creation and abolition of certain Joint Secretary-level posts and above.

Cabinet approves Cadre review and formation of Group ‘A’ service of the technical cadre

of Petroleum & Safety Organization (PESO)

Cabinet approves construction and operationalisation of 100 bedded General Hospital at

Najafgarh, New Delhi

Now pensioners can view passbook using Umang app

On 3rd May 2018, EPFO announced that now Pensioners can view their pension passbook

on mobile phones using Umang app.

‘View Pension Passbook’ service will be available for pensioners through Umang app.

Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced this facility as a part of its

plan to go paperless by August 2018 and offer all services online.

Umang app was launched by government in 2017. It offers access to several government

services at one point.

Environment ministry bans party poppers

Union Environment Ministry has banned party poppers, stating that the devices pose a

serious threat to human health and environment.

Poppers, which are commonly used in parties and other celebrations are objects that

explode when a string attached to it is pulled.

Poppers are that are charged with an explosive contain plastic glittering material and the

other charged chemicals mainly composed of red-phosphorous, potassium chlorate and

potassium perchlorate.

These materials are harmful to human health and environment. In case, they get mixed

with food items, it may cause severe eye trauma or other facial injuries.

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A variant of poppers, that does not contain chemical explosives but compressed air as a

charge and soft paper as streamers have been exempted from the ban.

Task Force presents its report to Rajnath Singh on Establishment of CDRI

On May 2, 2018, a task force constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) presented

its report on “Establishing a Coalition on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)” to the

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

This task force was constituted on August 18, 2017 and is headed by Ms. Preeti Saran,

Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs.

A step-by-step implementation plan and analysis in order to build and operationalise a

Coalition has been provided in the report.

The study of task force covers Business case for the coalition, Analysis of best practices of

international partnerships in disaster risk and other thematic areas, Preliminary design of

the coalition and a Roll – out plan.

Forming a Coalition is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 10-point Agenda for

disaster risk reduction, outlined at the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk

Reduction (AMCDRR) held in New Delhi in November 2016.

Women and Child Development Ministry to hold National Conference of 244 Districts under

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

Women and Child Development Ministry hold National Conference of 244 Districts under

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, BBBP, in New Delhi.

The Nodal Officers of 244 Districts, State Nodal Officers and Senior officers will be present

in the day-long Conference.

The Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi be the Chief

Guest at the function.

DoT Releases Draft National Telecom Policy, Eyes 40 Lakh New Jobs, $100 Billion Investment

By 2022

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has released for public consultations the

draft of the National Telecom Policy (NTP) 2018, named the National Digital

Communications Policy, 2018.

Create 40 lakh new jobs by 2022;

Attract $100 billion in investments into the sector in the next four years;

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Ensure broadband speeds of 50 mbps for every citizen by 2022 and

Enhance the contribution of the digital communications space to India’s GDP to 8 per cent

from about 6 per cent in 2017.

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State News

Vibrant Northeast 2018 in Guwahati from May 3

Vibrant North East 2018 is organized by Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development

(CARD), a New Delhi-based NGO.

This is the fourth edition of the Vibrant North East expo in Guwahati. It acts as a platform

to exhibit North East’s potential and for better implementation of Central schemes in

Northeast.

The expo focuses on agriculture, MSME, food processing projects, horticulture, tea,

spices, medicinal plants, coir, bamboo, rural craft products, eco-tourism and agro and

nature tourism, commerce and rural development, skills, jobs and entrepreneurship,

health, hygiene, sanitation, power, role of cooperatives in agriculture, petroleum and

heavy industries.

Agriculture, Food Processing, Consumer Affairs and Civil Supply, Drinking Water and

Sanitation ministries are taking part in the event.

PL Thanga, Member Secretary of the State Planning Board, Mizoram, was the chief guest

at the inaugural ceremony.

An exhibition is held as a part of the expo, in which 50 stalls from several ministries are

set up.

Maharashtra government nod to rename North Maharashtra University after poetess

Bahinabai Chaudhari

On 3rd May 2018, the Maharashtra government decided to recommend the decalartion

of an ordinance to rename the Jalgaon-based North Maharashtra University after poetess

Bahinabai Chaudhari.

This decision was taken by the Maharashtra state cabinet chaired by Maharashtra Chief

Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The North Maharashtra University is to be renamed as ‘Kaviyatri Bahinabai Chaudhari

North Maharashtra University’.

Bahinabai Chaudhari is a renowned poetess of the 19th century. The cabinet also,

approved a revised salary increase for the Bombay High Court desk officers, equivalent to

the desk officers in the state secretariat.

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4th Regional Conference on Futuristic, Resilient and Digital Infrastructure of Asian

Infrastructure Investment Bank begins in Bengaluru

The Ministry of Finance, Government of India in collaboration with the Confederation of

Indian Industry (CII), and Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)

organized the 4th Regional Conference on Futuristic, Resilient and Digital Infrastructure

in Bengaluru on May 3rd.

The 2-day Conference is a lead-up to the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure

Investment Bank (AIIB) to be hosted by the Government of India on 25th and 26th June

2018 in Mumbai.

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Banking & Economy

Cognizant buys Belgian analytics and advisory firm Hedera consulting

IT firm Cognizant has acquired Hedera Consulting, a Belgium-based business advisory and

data analytics services company.

Cognizant buys Belgian analytics and advisory firm Hedera ConsultingCognizant buys

Hedera Consulting:

The value of the deal was not disclosed. Hedera Consulting will be part of Cognizant

Consulting business unit after acquisition.

Hedera Consulting was founded in 2009. It is specialised in growth strategy, digitisation,

innovation and commercial excellence for clients in various industries.

SBI consolidates advertising account with Rediffusion-Y&R

State Bank of India has consolidated its advertising account for the first time, with the

entire business going to WPP’s Rediffusion-Y&R.

The largest public sector bank earlier had a panel of seven agencies, including

heavyweights like Adfactors Advertising, Interpub, DDB Mudra, RK Swamy, AdSyndicate,

Crayons and Mode, handling its creative business.

Industry insiders estimate that SBI will spend around Rs 100 crore across print, television

and digital advertising in 2018.

Dinesh Menon, chief marketing officer, SBI, confirmed the move, and told that the bank

will soon be appointing a media Agency of Record (AoR), as well as a digital marketing and

social media agency.

RBI allows FPIs to invest in treasury bills

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stated Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) will be allowed to

invest in treasury bills issued by the government in a move that could lead to more foreign

portfolio investment in India.

The RBI announcement came two days after it allowed foreign investors to invest in

government and corporate bonds with tenures below one year.

However, it did not indicate when the change on investment in T-bills would come into

force. “FPIs are permitted to invest in treasury bills issued by the Central government,”.

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Sports News

Mohamed Salah named writers’ Footballer of the Year

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool football team has been named the Football Writers’

Association Footballer of the Year for 2017/18.

Kevin de Bruyne of Manchester team came second and Tottenham’s Harry Kane occupied

third position.

Mohamed Salah is the first African winner of the award. Fran Kirby of Chelsea team won

the inaugural FWA Women’s Footballer of the Year award.

Justin Langer Appointed Head Coach Of Australian Cricket Team

On 3rd May 2018, Cricket Australia appointed Justin Langer as the new coach of the

Australian national cricket team.

Justin Langer replaced Darren Lehmann. Darren Lehmann recently resigned due to the

ball-tampering scandal.

Justin Langer is 47 years old. He is at present in-charge of Western Australia and Perth

Scorchers. He has signed a four-year agreement with Australian Board.

Shuttler Srikanth climbs to 3rd spot, Nehwal, Prannoy break into top 10 of BWF Rankings

India’s star shuttler and Commonwealth silver-medallist Kidambi Srikanth climbed to the

third spot in the latest rankings released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

Viktor Axelsen of Denmark is at the top spot followed by South Korean Son Wan Ho.

In the women singles section, Indian star PV Sindhu continues to hold on to the third spot.

Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei leads the women’s singles standings while Japan’s Akane

Yamaguchi is at the second spot.

Fellow Indian HS Prannoy and London Olympic bronze-medallist Saina Nehwal climb up

two places to reach career-best eighth spot and tenth spot respectively.

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Awards & Honours

Hockey India recommends Manpreet Singh for Arjuna Award

Hockey India has announced the recommended players for the esteemed Arjuna Award,

Dronacharya Award and Major Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement 2018.

Experienced midfielder Dharamvir Singh, Manpreet Singh and Indian women’s team ace

goalkeeper Savita Punia have been recommended for the Arjuna Award.

Sanggai Ibemhal Chanu and former India men’s captain Bharat Chetri have been

recommended for the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Hockey India also recommended coach BS Chauhan for the Dronacharya Award.

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Appointments & Resignation

GroupM appoints Sameer Singh as South Asia CEO

GroupM, part of WPP group, which is a global advertising group, announced that it has

appointed Sameer Singh as the chief executive officer of its South Asia operations.

Sameer Singh replaces CVL Srinivas. CVL Srinivas will now take charge as WPP India

country manager.

Sameer Singh will report to CVL Srinivas and Mark Patterson, CEO, GroupM Asia Pacific.

Shanti Jiban Chakma to be Sworn-in as CADC CEM

On 4th May 2018, BJP leader Shanti Jiban Chakma will be sworn-in as chief executive

member (CEM) of the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) in Mizoram.

CEM is the administrative head of the CADC, formed under the sixth schedule of the

Constitution in 1972. CADC consists of 20 members.

Shanti Jiban Chakma will be sworn-in by Deputy Commissioner of Lawngtlai district,

Mizoram.

Bandhan Bank CEO takes CII (ER) office

Chandra Sekhar Ghosh, Managing Director and CEO of Bandhan Bank, has taken over as

the Deputy Chairman of CII Eastern Region (ER).

This was announced at the CII Eastern Regional Council Meeting on May 1.

Ghosh has already chaired the CII Economic Affairs, Finance and Taxation Committee,

apart from being in several other committees.

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Science & Techonology

Scientists produce alcohol from wood for the first time

Japanese scientists have invented a way of producing alcoholic beverages from wood of

cherry, cedar, and birch trees.

The method involves pulverising wood into a creamy paste and adding yeast and enzymes

to start fermentation.

Four-kilogram cedar wood produced 3.8 litres of liquid, with a 15% alcohol content. They

hope to make their “wood alcohol” commercial within three years.

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Obituaries

Malayalam detective novelist Kottayam Pushpanath passes away

Well-known Malayalam detective novelist Kottayam Pushpanath, who ushered a

generation of readers into the world of horror and suspense, died at the age of 80 in

Kottayam.

Creator of fictional detectives Marxin and Pushparaj, has authored over hundred

detective novels, many of which have been translated into other South Indian languages,

apart from being adapted on screen.

Pushpanath is also credited for producing the first genuine detective story in Malayalam.

His first detective novel Chuvanna Mnushyan (the Red Man) was published in

Manorajyam weekly in 1968.