Current Affairs Today 5th May 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 5th May 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

1. The World Laughter Day is observed every year on first Sunday of May to raise awareness about laughter and its healing benefits.
2. World Asthma Day is celebrated on 5 May 2020. The day aims to raise awareness, care, and support for those affected by asthma.
3. International Day of the Midwife is observed globally on 5 May every year since 1992.
4. Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) have asked the Reserve Bank of India to allow them one-time restructuring of all loans till March 2021, as their borrowers are facing funding issues amid the Corona virus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.
5. American private equity giant Silver Lake Partners has announced to buy 1.15% stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 5,655.75 crore ($750 million).
6. The BharatPe, a Merchant payment and a leading network provider launched two voice-based applications Paisa Bolega and BharatPe Balance for the account holders to access transactions and balance using without touching the phones in the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. The Union Minister of State (IC) for Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya reported that the Jan Aushadi Kendras are playing a vital role in the COVID-19 situation.
8. The Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal held a video conference with the promoters of the completed Integrated Cold Chain Projects on 4 May.
9. Centre is to introduce an Agro MSME Policy that will focus on entrepreneurship development in rural, tribal, agricultural, and forest areas for manufacturing products using local raw material.
10. The mobile app Aarogya Setu launched by the Government of India has been upgraded to include a new private-public partnership initiative called Aarogaya Setu Mitr, to provide facilities for online medical consultations, ePharmacy and home lab tests.
11. India has been supplying Hydroxychloroquine and essential medicines to other countries in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic.
12. EPFO has 65 lakh pensioners under its pension scheme.
13. Civil Aviation Ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have launched the Government Authorisation for Relief Using Drones (GARUD) portal.
14. The Delhi state government imposed a ‘Special Corona Fee’ on liquor.
15. The West Bengal government launched an app for people from other states who are stranded in the state due to the lockdown and want to return to their native place,.
16. Delhi Government has increased Value-Added Tax on Auto fuels.
17. The US President Donald Trump has nominated Indian-American lawyer Ashok Michael Pinto as a representative to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the World Bank’s lending arm.
18. Russia announced that it is to launch the country’s first Arktika-M satellite from the Baikonur space center on 9 December 2020. at the end of 2020.
19. Medical equipment, medicines and other supplies sent from India to Myanmar was handed over by Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Saurabh Kumar to the Ministry of Health and Sports at Yangon Airport.
20. US President Donald Trump has nominated senior Indian-American diplomat Manisha Singh as his envoy to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
21. Dubai has announced a new date for the mega Expo event from 1st Oct 2021 to 31st March 2022.
22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the online Summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group was held on 4 May 2020 to discuss the response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
23. The Global Network against Food Crisis released the Global Report on Food Crisis (GRFC) 2020.
24. Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar has joined hands with Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to launch a series of welfare measures for the benefit of migrant laborers working in the construction projects at the Institute.
25. Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), a defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), has signed an MoU NOCCA Robotics, an incubated start-up of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur for the large-scale manufacturing of ventilators.
26. Lieutenant General Raj Shukla assumed command of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) on 1 May 2020.
27. Swimming world governing body, Federation Internationale de Natation(FINA) rescheduled the 2021 Fukuoka aquatics world championships to May 2022 to avoid a clash with the postponed Tokyo Olympics.
28. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has launched a multimedia guide on the Covid-19 disease named ‘COVID Katha’.
29. Three Indian journalists have been honoured with the “Pulitzer Prize 2020” in the field of feature photography.
30. The Chennai-based Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) has developed an app called ‘Kavasam’ to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, which is wreaking havoc in the city.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

World Laughter Day 2020 observed on 03 May

• The World Laughter Day is observed every year on first Sunday of May to raise awareness about laughter and its healing benefits.
• In 2020, the day falls on 03 May 2020.
• The World Laughter Day was first celebrated on May 10, 1998, in Mumbai upon the initiation of Dr Madan Kataria, founder of the worldwide Laughter Yoga movement.

World Asthma Day is celebrated on 5 May

• World Asthma Day is celebrated on 5 May 2020. The day aims to raise awareness, care, and support for those affected by asthma.
• The primary focus of the day is to support the person with asthma, family, friends, and caregivers. Every year the day is observed on the first Tuesday of May month.

Theme:

• The theme of the 2020 World Asthma Day is “Enough Asthma Deaths.” The day is not actively promoted this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
• It also aims to raise awareness and the struggles of people suffering from asthma.

History:

• World Asthma Day is annually organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA).
• The day was aimed to increase awareness about chronic respiratory disease asthma, its precautions, prevention, and care around the world. GINA works with health care groups and asthma educators to reduce asthma “prevalence, morbidity, and mortality”. It also aims to improve the lives of people suffering from asthma.

Extra Shots:

GINA: The Global Initiative for Asthma is a medical guidelines organisation which works with public health officials and health care professionals globally to reduce asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality.

• Founded: 1993

International Day of the Midwife observed on 5 May

• International Day of the Midwife is observed globally on 5 May every year since 1992.
• This day is celebrated to recognise the work of midwives and raise awareness about the status of midwives for the essential care they provide to mothers and their newborns.

Theme:

• The theme for 2020 International Day of the Midwife is Midwives with women: celebrate, demonstrate, mobilise, unite – our time is NOW!.

History:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has designed the year 2020 as ‘Year of Nurse and Midwife’ to commemorate the 200th birth anniversary of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale.

Extra Shots:

WHO: The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.

• Head: Tedros Adhanom
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Founded: 7 April 1948
• Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council

BANKING AND FINANCE

NBFCs ask RBI for one-time restructuring of all loans till March 2021

• Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) have asked the Reserve Bank of India to allow them one-time restructuring of all loans till March 2021, as their borrowers are facing funding issues amid the Corona virus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.
• Currently, RBI has allowed banks and NBFCs for a one-time restructuring of existing loans to MSMEs till December 2020.
• NBFCs want that the one-time restructuring should be allowed for all other borrowers as well.
• These suggestions were made by the industry players in their meeting with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) held yesterday in Mumbai.
• All their customers are facing disruptions in cash flow cycles, which is likely to be there for the major part of this fiscal.
• The most affected segments include transport operators, contractors and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Extra Shots:

RBI: The Reserve Bank of India is India’s central banking institution, which controls the issuance and supply of the Indian rupee.

• Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Governor: Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy Governors: B P Kanungo, M K Jain, N S Vishwanathan

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

US-based Silver Lake buys 1.15% stake in Reliance Jio for Rs 5,655.75 cr

• American private equity giant Silver Lake Partners has announced to buy 1.15% stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 5,655.75 crore ($750 million).
• Jio Platforms, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and works on digital apps, digital ecosystems and the mobile service.
• This deal values Jio Platforms at Rs 4.90 lakh crore on equity basis and Rs 5.15 lakh crore on enterprise value basis.
• It must be remembered that Facebook has also spent $5.7 billion (Rs 43,574 crore) to buy a 9.99 percent stake in Jio in April 2020.
• Although the deal with Silver Lake is smaller than the one with Facebook, it represents a 12.5% premium to the equity valuation of the Facebook investment.

Extra Shots:

Silver Lake partners:

• Headquarters: California, United States
• Co-CEO and Managing Partner: Egon Durban

BharatPe launches two apps to limit the need to touch handsets for checking transactions

• The BharatPe, a Merchant payment and a leading network provider launched two voice-based applications Paisa Bolega and BharatPe Balance for the account holders to access transactions and balance using without touching the phones in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights:

• The Paisa Bolega is a button introduced in the BharatPe which converts the smartphone into a speaker with this voice alerts of transactions by providing loud instant confirmations for all the received payments through their BharatPe quick response(QR)
• BharatPe Balance will provide the information about total available balance across the deposits, loan and daily collections through the QR. This will provide a snapshot of the shopkeepers daily QR collections, balance in 12% interest a/c and the loan limit.
• BharatPe mentioned that the business per merchant went up as both the customers and shopkeepers prefer contactless QR payments.
• The Average ticket size went up from Rs 300 to Rs 500 that is 70% as the customers are shopping more for the essentials, albeit less frequently.

Extra Shots:

BharatPe:

• CEO & Co-Founder: Ashneer Grover
• Co-founder & Board Member: Shashvat Nakrani
• Headquarters: New Delhi

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

PMJAK plays a vital role in COVID-19 Situation

• The Union Minister of State (IC) for Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya reported that the Jan Aushadi Kendras are playing a vital role in the COVID-19 situation.

Highlights:

• Around 10 lakh persons per day are visiting 6000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras to source quality medicines at affordable prices. These Kendras are also selling HydroxyChloroquine (HQC).
• Jan Aushadi Kendras are opened under the Scheme to fulfill the vision of the Prime Minister to make available quality generic medicine at affordable price.
• So far, about 6000 Jan Aushadi Kendras have started operating across the country where at par quality medicines are sold at a cheaper price by 50% to 90% of Average Market Price.

Extra Shots:

Janaushadhi Pariyojana:

• Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendra (PMBJP) is an initiative launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Government of India. It aims to provide quality medicines at an affordable price. The number of Kendras has grown to more than 6200, and 700 districts are covered under the scheme at present. The total sales in the financial year 2019-20 have crossed Rs.383 crore, which led to total savings of approximately Rs.2200 crore of common citizens as these medicines are cheaper by 50 to 90% of the average market price.

Centre completed integration of Cold Chain Projects

• The Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal held a video conference with the promoters of the completed Integrated Cold Chain Projects on 4 May.
• The promoters of 38 cold chain projects participated in the Video Conference.

Highlights:

• The projects are supported by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) in Maharashtra.
• The promoters shared the experience gained and the problems faced in completing the projects.
• The promoters shared the challenges faced in running the cold chain projects during the lockdown period.
• The conference emphasized the need to leverage the collective strength of the Integrated Cold Chain network to cope up with the COVID-19 crisis that has posed a serious challenge to the existing supply chain of food products.
• They discussed issues such as piling stocks of frozen vegetables and processed dairy products not finding their traditional markets like restaurants, banquets, hotels, etc. amidst the lockdown and further, the difficulty in exporting these products.
• The promoters shared that a higher number of working hours is required as businesses are operating with 1/3rd or half of labour Force. This has increased the cost of production rendering products less competitive.
• They discussed following major issues including Raw material availability and its high cost; Impact of lockdown on operations; Labour and Logistics issues; High inventory costs; and Liquidity crisis as payments have to be made to farmers.

Extra Shots:

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is a ministry of the Government of India responsible for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to food processing in India.

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 1988
• Jurisdiction: India
• Annual budget: 1,400 crores INR (2018-19 est., US$200 million)
• Officeholders: Niranjan Jyoti (Minister of State), Harsimrat Kaur Badal (Minister)

Centre to introduce Agro MSME Policy to focus on entrepreneurship development

• Centre is to introduce an Agro MSME Policy that will focus on entrepreneurship development in rural, tribal, agricultural, and forest areas for manufacturing products using local raw material.
• The information was announced by the Union Minister for Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.

Agro MSME Policy:

• The move focuses on export enhancement and import substitution to replace foreign imports with domestic production.
• It also focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship, science and technology, research skill and experiences to convert the knowledge into wealth.
• The policy will also focus on further extension of the moratorium, payment of salaries to workers during lockdown from their ESI and Provident Fund, a helpline for MSMEs, strengthening access to finance, etc.
• Also, the Ministry of MSME has signed an MoU with AYUSH Ministry to promote the AYUSH sector through various schemes of Ministry of MSMEs in the areas of training, skilling, handholding, and entrepreneurship development.
• The MSME sector needs to be ensured by industries that necessary preventive measures are taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He emphasized on the usage of PPE (Masks, sanitizer, etc.) and advised to maintain social distancing norms during business operations.

Extra Shots:

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, a branch of the Government of India, is the apex executive body for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and laws relating to micro, small and medium enterprises in India.

• Founded: 2007
• Headquarters: Udyog Bhawan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi – 110 011
• Jurisdiction: India
• Annual budget: 6,552.61 crores INR (2018-19 est.)
• Departments: National Small Industries Corporation, National Institute of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
• Officeholders: Giriraj Singh (MOS independent charge), Nitin Gadkari (Union Minister)

Aarogya Setu Mitr Launched for online medical consultations, ePharmacy and home lab tests

• The mobile app Aarogya Setu launched by the Government of India has been upgraded to include a new private-public partnership initiative called Aarogaya Setu Mitr, to provide facilities for online medical consultations, ePharmacy and home lab tests.
• Upon selecting the Aarogya Setu Mitr, user will be redirected to a new website, and won’t allow access to individual data from Aarogya Setu, so its safe.
• This new app has been developed in collaboration & partnership of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister and Niti Aayog and will operate under them.
• The new feature will enable the user to get free online COVID-19-related consultations with doctors, book home sample collection for lab tests by any of the listed entities and also order medicines online from the listed platforms.
• The three private companies listed for free tele-consultation are Swasth, Tata Bridgital Health (healthcare initiative of the Tata Group), and Connectsense Telehealth (platform from Tech Mahindra).

2.8 million Hydroxychloroquine tablets supplied by India to 25 countries

• India has been supplying Hydroxychloroquine and essential medicines to other countries in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic.
• These supplies are taking place both as humanitarian aid as well as on a commercial basis.
• External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Anurag Srivastava has announced that even in these challenging times, India has remained responsible in living up to international commitments which has enhanced country’s reputation of being the pharmacy to the world.
• India has already provided 2.8 million hydroxychloroquine tablets as grant assistance to 25 countries.
• The country has also provided Paracetamol, about 1.9 million tablets as well as in another form to 31 countries.

EPFO Releases Rs.764 Crores to Its Pensioners

• EPFO has 65 lakh pensioners under its pension scheme.
• All 135 field offices of EPFO processed pension payment for April, 2020 in advance to avoid inconvenience to pensioners on account of nationwide Covid-19 lockdown.
• EPFO officers and staff battled all odds to send Rs 764 crore to all Nodal Branches of pension disbursing banks throughout India.
• All Bank branches have been directed to ensure credit of pension in the accounts of pensioners on schedule.
• Timely credit of pension in this hour of need has been accorded top most priority by EPFO to bring succor to the pensioners during Covid19 crisis.

Extra Shots:

EPFO: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, is an organization tasked to assist the Central Board of Trustees, Employees’ Provident Fund a statutory body formed by the Employees’ Provident Fund

• Founded: 4 March 1952, New Delhi
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• AUM: 11 Lakh Crore ($157 Billion USD)
• Jurisdiction: India
• Type of business: Central-Owned

Civil Aviation Ministry launches GARUD portal to fast-track approval to COVID-19 related drone operations

• Civil Aviation Ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have launched the Government Authorisation for Relief Using Drones (GARUD) portal.

GARUD portal:

• The portal aims to provide fast track conditional exemptions to government agencies for COVID-19 related drone operations.
• The move will help the government entities in addressing the challenges posed by COVID-19 and will remain in force until further orders.
• Civil Aviation Ministry also said that any violation of provisions will make the conditional exemption null and void and will lead to penal action.

Extra Shots:

The Ministry of Civil Aviation of Government of India is the nodal Ministry responsible for the formulation of national policies and programmes for development and regulation of Civil Aviation and for devising and implementing schemes for the orderly growth and expansion of civil air transport.

• Officeholder: Hardeep Singh Puri (Union Minister)
• Jurisdiction: India
• Headquarters: Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, New Delhi
• Founded: 21 October 2016
• Annual budget: 6,602.86 crores INR (2018–19 est.)

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Delhi imposes 70 percent Special Corona Fee on Liquor

• The Delhi state government imposed a ‘Special Corona Fee’ on liquor.
• As per the announcement, 70% of the maximum retail price (MRP) will be charged for all categories of liquor that will be sold in the city with effect from 5 May.
• The fee was approved by Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.
• Also, a notification was later issued by the Delhi government’s finance department.

Highlights:

• The move by the Delhi government aims to boost the government revenue but will also result in a steep rise in the prices of retail liquor bottles.
• The lockdown since 25 March to contain COVID-19 cost the Delhi government around Rs.645 crore in revenue from the sale of alcohol.
• The excise department prepared a full report on the exact revenue loss incurred by the ban on the sale of liquor for over 40 days.
• So far, 3,403 active cases have been reported, out of which 1,431 people have recovered from COVID-19.

West Bengal govt launches exit app for stranded people of other states

• The West Bengal government launched an app for people from other states who are stranded in the state due to the lockdown and want to return to their native place,.
• They can access the app for online permission to leave the state.
• The app can be downloaded from the state government’s ‘Egiye Bangla’ website.
• Persons willing to go back to their native states can apply online through this ‘Exit app’ and permission for the same will be practically automatic and extremely easy.
• He also requested the nodal officers of all neighbouring states to ease the exit of such people for reaching their native places.

Extra Shots:

West Bengal:

• Established on: 26 January 1950
• Capital: Kolkata
• Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar
• Chief Minister: Mamata Banerjee

Delhi Govt increases VAT on Auto fuels

• Delhi Government has increased Value-Added Tax on Auto fuels.
• VAT on petrol has been hiked from 27 per cent to 30 per cent, and on diesel from 16.75 per cent to 30 per cent.
• This hike will make petrol costlier by one rupee 67 paise and diesel by seven rupees 10 paise in the National Capital.

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

US President Trump nominates Indian-American lawyer as US representative for IBRD

• The US President Donald Trump has nominated Indian-American lawyer Ashok Michael Pinto as a representative to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the World Bank’s lending arm.
• He was nominated for the post of the US Alternate Executive Director of IBRD for a term of two years.
• If confirmed, he would replace Erik Bethel, who has resigned from the post.

Extra Shots:

Michael Pinto:

• Pinto has worked as a Special Assistant and Associate Counsel to former President George W Bush. He also served as a law clerk to Judge F A Little, Jr. of the US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.
• Pinto is currently serving as the Counsellor to the Under Secretary for International Affairs at the US Department of the Treasury. He holds a BA degree from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law. He served as a Counsellor to General Counsel at Treasury.

IBRD: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is an international financial institution, established in 1944 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, that is the lending arm of World Bank Group. The IBRD offers loans to middle-income developing countries.

• President of the World Bank: David Malpass
• Headquarters location: Washington, D.C., United States
• Founded: 1944
• Membership: 189 countries
• Parent organization: World Bank Group
• Purposes: Development aid, Poverty reduction

Russia to launch the first Arktika-M satellite in 2020 December

• Russia announced that it is to launch the country’s first Arktika-M satellite from the Baikonur space center on 9 December 2020. at the end of 2020.
• The announcement was made by the General Director of the Lavochkin aerospace company Vladimir Kolmykov.

Arktika-M satellite:

• The number one Arktika-M spacecraft which has been developed is undergoing radio-electronic testing.
• The satellite will be used for monitoring the Arctic climate and the environment.
• The satellite will be launched using a Soyuz-2.Ib carrier rocket with the Fregat booster.
• Russia’s Arktika-M remote-sensing and emergency communications satellite will gather meteorological data in the polar regions of the Earth.
• The data collected will allow improving weather forecasts and will enable scientists to better study climate change.
• The 2nd Arktika-M satellite is still under development and will be launched in 2023.

Extra Shots:

Russia (Capital/Currency):Moscow./ Russian Rouble

• President: Vladimir Putin

India sends drugs, medical supplies to Myanmar

• Medical equipment, medicines and other supplies sent from India to Myanmar was handed over by Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Saurabh Kumar to the Ministry of Health and Sports at Yangon Airport.
• India stands in solidarity with the people and Myanmar Government in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
• Indian Embassy in Myanmar said, these medical supplies are reflective of the united effort needed to combat this disease.
• The contribution is indicative of the traditionally warm and friendly ties between India and Myanmar and would augment Myanmar’s determined efforts to fight the pandemic.

Extra Shots:

Myanmar (Capital/Currency): Naypyitaw/ Burmese kyat

• President: Win Myint

President Trump nominates Indian-American diplomat Manisha Singh as OECD envoy

• US President Donald Trump has nominated senior Indian-American diplomat Manisha Singh as his envoy to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
• Ms Singh is currently Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs at the State Department.
• Paris-based OECD is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 36 member countries to stimulate economic progress and world trade.
• Ms Singh has previously served as the acting Under Secretary of Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment and as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs at the State Department.
• She also previously served as the Deputy Chief Counsel to the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
• She was the Senior Fellow for International Economic Affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council and was a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Extra Shots:

OECD: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 37 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.

• Member: Netherlands, Estonia, Colombia, Latvia
• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Founded: 30 September 1961
• Budget: 38.6 crores EUR (2019)
• Subsidiary: OECD Development Centre

New dates for Dubai Expo announced officially

• Dubai has announced a new date for the mega Expo event from 1st Oct 2021 to 31st March 2022.
• This was after two-thirds majority of Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Member States voted in favour of postponing the next World Expo by one year.
• BIE members approved the dealy of  Expo 2020  as ‘right and responsible’ decision .
• This delay will allow all participants to safely navigate the impact of COVID-19.
• It also allows the World Expo to focus on a collective desire for new thinking to identify solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our time.
• Expo 2020 Dubai retains its name and remains committed to hosting an exceptional event that will celebrate humanity’s resilience, creativity, culture and innovation – including major technological advances in the fields of medicine and science.
• The first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, and largest ever event to take place in the Arab world, Expo 2020 will welcome 192 countries, plus businesses, multilateral organisations and educational establishments.

Participation of India

• India is also expected to participate in a major way in the Expo.
• India is one of the countries, which has been awarded to make and retain a permanent structure at the Expo site.
• The work of the building was inaugurated by Minister Piyush Goyal during his visit to Dubai in September 2019.

SUMMITS AND CONFERENCES

PM Narendra Modi participated at the online Summit of NAM Contact Group

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the online Summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group was held on 4 May 2020 to discuss the response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
• The summit commemorated the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace.

Highlight:

• The theme of the online NAM Contact Group Summit was ‘United against COVID-19.’
• The summit was hosted by the current Chairman of NAM, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan HE Ilham Aliyev.
• The Summit aimed to promote international solidarity in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and to mobilize efforts of States and international organizations to address the pandemic.
• Over 30 other Heads of State and Government and other leaders, including from member States in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, and Europe participated in the event.
• The Summit was addressed by the President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Prof Tijjani Muhammed Bande, UN Secretary-General Mr.Antonio Guterres, African Union (AU) Chairperson Musa Faki Mahamat, European Union (EU) High Representative, Josep Borrell, and Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus.
• The leaders also discussed the creation of a ‘Task Force’ to identify the needs and requirements of Member States through the establishment of a common database that reflects the basic medical, social, and humanitarian needs in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

The 14th meeting of the high-level GoM on COVID-19 was held

• The 14th meeting of the High-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 was held at Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi on 5 May.
• The meeting was held under the chairpersonship of Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare.

Highlights:

• GoM has in-depth deliberation on containment strategy and management aspects of COVID-19, and the measures being taken by the Centre and various States.
• Discussions on the genome sequencing of strains of the novel coronavirus isolated from patients in different parts of the country that has been initiated were held.
• The Minister ensured the availability of essential medical equipment such as Personal Protective Equipments (PPE), masks, ventilators, and other essential equipment against the requirement.
• Various aspects pertaining to the performance, impact, and benefits of the Arogya-Setu application were discussed during the meeting.
• Various mechanisms that were devised to reach out to the people who have a landline or featured phones through Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) in local languages for better results were reviewed at the meeting.

Extra Shots:

NAM: The Non-Aligned Movement is a forum of 120 developing world states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. After the United Nations, it is the largest grouping of states worldwide.

• Founded: 1961, Belgrade, Serbia
• Headquarters: Central Jakarta, Indonesia
• Chairperson: Ilham Aliyev
• Membership: 120 member states; 17 states (observers); 10 international organisations
• Coordinating Bureau: New York City, New York, U.S.
• Founders: Jawaharlal Nehru, Sukarno, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Josip Broz Tito, Kwame Nkrumah

RANKS AND INDICES

GRFC 2020 says around 135 million people are living under food crisis

• The Global Network against Food Crisis released the Global Report on Food Crisis (GRFC) 2020.
• The report stated that around 135 million people are living under the food crisis. The report aims to address the root causes of extreme hunger.

Global Report on Food Crises:

• The report described the scale of acute hunger in the world.
• It provided an analysis of the drivers that are contributing to food crises across the globe. It examines how the COVID-19 pandemic might contribute to their perpetuation or deterioration.
• The analyses in the GRFC report were prepared before the global crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and do not account for its impact on vulnerable people in food-crisis situations.
• The report stated that around 183 million people in 47 countries were classified in Stressed (IPC/CH Phase 2) conditions, at risk of slipping into crisis or worse (IPC/CH Phase 3 or above) if confronted by an additional shock or stressor.
• As per the report, the population in crisis or worse (IPC/CH Phase 3 or above) increased from 112 to 123 million.
• The reports stated that the main driver of food crises in 2019 was Conflict and insecurity. And, weather extremes and economic shocks became increasingly significant.

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

IIT Gandhinagar collaborates with CPWD to Launch Series of Welfare Measures for Migrant Laborers

• Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar has joined hands with Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to launch a series of welfare measures for the benefit of migrant laborers working in the construction projects at the Institute.
• In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, the Institute has stepped up its efforts to ensure the health, safety and well-being of around 800 construction workers involved in construction activities on campus.
• The Institute constituted a ‘Shramik Kalyan Samiti’ (Labor Welfare Committee) to interact, educate and help construction workers fight against the pandemic
• The Institute volunteer groups regularly sensitize the workers and create awareness about preventive measures against COVID-19, such as frequent hand wash and social distancing.
• Breathing techniques have been explained to the laborers.
• All the workers’ colonies are equipped with a first aid box.
• ‘Shramik Kalyan Samiti,’ Institute has launched a fundraising drive to provide support for construction workers and their families.
• IIT Gandhinagar is providing free medical support and consultation to construction workers in its medical center.
• A free screening test of all workers was done in the workers housing colony.
• Institute also provides ambulance services to workers needing medical examination or treatment.

Extra Shots:

CPWD:

• Headquarters location: New Delhi
• Founded: July 1854

BDL partners with IIT-Kanpur to manufacture ventilators for COVID-19 treatment

• Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), a defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), has signed an MoU NOCCA Robotics, an incubated start-up of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur for the large-scale manufacturing of ventilators.

Highlights:

• The MoU will give a big boost to the development of affordable ventilators for COVID-19 treatment.
• BDL partnered with IIT Kanpur’s incubator Foundation for Innovation and Research in Science and Technology (FIRST) and NOCCA Robotics Private Limited (NRPL) to manufacture ventilators.
• It aims to develop an affordable ventilator which will be able to scale up the production. The device will be in line with the Make in India initiative.
• For the project, the team has received inputs from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS).

Extra Shots:

BDL: Bharat Dynamics Limited is one of India’s manufacturers of ammunitions and missile systems. It was founded in 1970 in Hyderabad, Telangana. BDL was established in the year 1970 to be a manufacturing base for guided weapon systems.

• Headquarters: India
• Founder: India

APPOINTMENT

Lt Gen Raj Shukla assumed command of ARTRAC

• Lieutenant General Raj Shukla assumed command of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) on 1 May 2020.

Lieutenant General Raj Shukla:

• Lieutenant General Raj Shukla is a graduate of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. He was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery in December 1982.
• Lt Gen Raj Shukla is an alumni of the Defence Services Staff College Wellington, the College of Defence Management Secunderabad, and the National Defence College New Delhi. He has served two tenures at the Military Operations Directorate and as the Director-General, Perspective Planning at Army HQ. He has also been Commandant of the Indian Army War College.

Extra Shots:

ARTRAC: The Army Training Command, abbreviated as ARTRAC, is one of the seven commands of the Indian Army. It is based at Shimla. Lieutenant General Raj Shukla, YSM, SM is the present commander. Wkipedia

• Headquarters location: Shimla
• Current commander: Lt Gen Pattacheruvanda C Thimayya, PVSM, VSM
• Branch: Indian Army

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

FINA postpones 2021 world championships to May 2022

• Swimming world governing body, Federation Internationale de Natation(FINA) rescheduled the 2021 Fukuoka aquatics world championships to May 2022 to avoid a clash with the postponed Tokyo Olympics.
• The new dates for the aquatics world championship in the Japanese city are May 13-29, 2022.
• FINA had to move the championships because the 2021 slot of Jul 16 to Aug 1 clashed with the new date for the Tokyo Games, which were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Extra Shots:

FINA

• President: Julio C. Maglione
• Founded: July 29, 1908
• Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Dr Harsh Vardhan launches multimedia guide ‘COVID Katha’

• Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has launched a multimedia guide on the Covid-19 disease named ‘COVID Katha’.
• The guide is launched on the occasion of the 50th DST (Department of Science and Technology) Foundation Day.
• “COVID Katha” provides consolidated and authentic information on the global crisis to the masses in an interesting and interactive mode, the National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India in association with Dr Anamika Ray Memorial Trust (ARMT), an educational and research organization, has brought out multimedia guides carrying important information on A-to-Z of COVID 19.

AWARDS

Three Indian journalists were honoured with 2020 Pulitzer Prizes

• Three Indian journalists have been honoured with the “Pulitzer Prize 2020” in the field of feature photography.
• The names of the three prize winners are Dar Yasin, Mukhtar Khan, and Channi Anand. The results were announced virtually on 4 May.
• The award was announced 15 Journalism categories and seven Book, Drama, and Music categories.

Highlihghts:

• Yasin and Khan are journalists based in Srinagar and Channi Anand is from Jammu.
• They were honoured for their gripping photos of life captured in J&K after the revoking of Article 370.

2020 Pulitzer Prizes-Winners list:

Journalism:

1. Public Service: Anchorage Daily News with contributions from ProPublica
2. Breaking News Reporting: Staff of The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.
3. Investigative Reporting: Brian M. Rosenthal of The New York Times
4. Explanatory Reporting: Staff of The Washington Post
5. Local Reporting: Staff of The Baltimore Sun
6. National Reporting: Dominic Gates, Steve Miletich, Mike Baker and Lewis Kamb of The Seattle Times; T. Christian Miller, Megan Rose and Robert Faturechi of ProPublica
7. International Reporting: Staff of The New York Times
8. Feature Writing: Ben Taub of The New Yorker
9. Commentary: Nikole Hannah-Jones of The New York Times
10. Criticism: Christopher Knight of the Los Angeles Times
11. Editorial Writing: Jeffery Gerritt of the Palestine (Tx.) Herald Press
12. Editorial Cartooning: Barry Blitt, contributor, The New Yorker
13. Breaking News Photography: Photography Staff of Reuters
14. Feature Photography: Channi Anand, Mukhtar Khan and Dar Yasin of Associated Press
15. Audio Reporting: Staff of This American Life with Molly O’Toole of the Los Angeles Times and Emily Green, freelancer, Vice News

Books, Drama & Music:

1. Fiction: The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead (Doubleday)
2. Drama: A Strange Loop, by Michael R. Jackson
3. History: Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America, by W. Caleb McDaniel (Oxford University Press)
4. Biography: Sontag: Her Life and Work, by Benjamin Moser (Ecco)
5. Poetry: The Tradition, by Jericho Brown (Copper Canyon Press)
6. General Nonfiction: The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America, by Greg Grandin (Metropolitan Books); The Undying: Pain, Vulnerability, Mortality, Medicine, Art, Time, Dreams, Data, Exhaustion, Cancer, and Care, by Anne Boyer (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
7. Music: The Central Park Five, by Anthony Davis

Special Citations:

1. Special Awards and Citations: Ida B. Wells

Extra Shots:

• The Pulitzer Prizes in journalism were first awarded in 1917 and are considered the field’s most prestigious honor in the US.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Chennai defence lab develops ‘Kavasam’ app to help COVID-19 warriors fight virus

• The Chennai-based Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) has developed an app called ‘Kavasam’ to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, which is wreaking havoc in the city.
• Unlike currently available apps like Arogya Setu, which is being widely promoted by the Centre, Kavasam is meant to ease the work of frontline workers, enable street-level surveillance and aid quicker decision-making by those in charge.

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