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Current Affairs Today: IMPORTANT DAY
World Press Freedom Day:
- World Press Freedom Day observed on May 03 every year.
- The UN General Assembly declared May 3 to be World Press Freedom Day to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives while following their profession.
- World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991.
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| Theme 2018 | ‘Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law’ |
Current Affairs Today: NATIONAL
India had 14 out of world’s 20 most polluted cities in terms of PM2.5 levels in 2016:
- Delhi and Varanasi are among the 14 Indian cities that figure in a list of 20 most polluted cities in the world in terms of PM2.5 levels in 2016, data released by the WHO shows.
- And nine out of 10 people in the world breathe air containing high levels of pollutants.
- Other Indian cities that registered very high levels of PM2.5 pollutants were Kanpur, Faridabad, Gaya, Patna, Lucknow, Agra, Muzaffarpur, Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Patiala and Jodhpur followed by Ali Subah Al-Salem in Kuwait and a few cities in China and Mongolia.
India now among world’s top 5 military spenders:
- India has surpassed France to become one of the world’s five largest military spenders, SIPRI stated in a report.
- India spent $63.9 billion on its military in 2017, an increase of 5.5% compared with 2016, the report stated.
- The other countries in top five include the US, China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.
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.
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| Ministry of Women and Child Development (Cabinet Minister) | Maneka Gandhi |
| Constituency | Aonla, Uttar Pradesh |
| Ministry of Women and Child Development (Minister of State) | Krishna Raj |
Two-day national workshop on Data Requirements for Disaster Risk Reduction Database concludes in New Delhi:
- The two-day national workshop on Data Requirements for Disaster Risk Reduction Database successfully concluded in New Delhi. It has set the stage for the creation of a national-level disaster database.
- Developing the integrated database with locally obtained and validated data is crucial for tracking the risks and progress towards resilience without which India will not be able to meet its developmental goals.
- It will also play a vital role in implementing the Prime Minister’s 10-point agenda to address disaster risks.
Current Affairs Today: INTERNATIONAL
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).
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| China Capital | Beijing |
| China Currency | Renminbi |
| China President | Xi Jinping |
Current Affairs Today: CABINET APPROVALS
Cabinet approves plan to set up 20 AIIMS across country:
- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a plan to set up 20 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) across the country, six of which have already been established, and to upgrade 73 medical colleges.
- The decisions are part of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), which has been extended by two years till 2020, with a financial outlay of Rs 14,832 crore.
- “Under this (PMSSY), we are going to set up 20 AIIMS in the country, six have already been established, and would upgrade 73 medical colleges.
Current Affairs Today: BANKING and ECONOMY
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.
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| State Bank of India Headquarters | Mumbai |
| State Bank of India Tagline | With you all the way ,Pure banking nothing else, The nation’s bank on us |
| State Bank of India Chairman | Rajnish Kumar |
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,”.
- The requirement that investment in securities of any category — government securities, state development loans (SDLs) or corporate bonds — with residual maturity below one year should not exceed 20 per cent of total investment by an FPI in that category applies, on a continuous basis.
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| RBI Headquarters | Mumbai |
| RBI Governor | Urjit Patel |
| RBI Deputy Governors | BP Kanungo, S S Mundra, N S Vishwanathan and Viral Acharya |
Current Affairs Today: APPOINTMENTS
ICICI Bank names Radhakrishnan Nair as Independent Director:
- ICICI Bank board has appointed Radhakrishnan Nair as an additional (independent) director of the bank for five years.
- The appointment is subject to the approval of shareholders, the private sector lender stated in a regulatory filing.
- Nair (63) is also an independent director of three subsidiaries of the bank – ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company, ICICI Prudential Trust and ICICI Securities Primary Dealership.
- He is also a director at several other companies.
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| ICICI Bank Headquarters | Mumbai |
| ICICI Bank Tagline | Hum Hai Na, Khyal Apka |
| ICICI Bank MD and CEO | Chanda Kochhar |
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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| Bandhan Bank Headquarters | Kolkata |
| Bandhan Bank Tagline | Aapka Bhala, Sabki Bhalai |
| Bandhan Bank CEO | Chandra Shekhar Ghosh |
Current Affairs Today: SCIENCE
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.
Current Affairs Today: SPORTS
Justin Langer named to replace Darren Lehmann as Australian cricket coach:
- Former Australian cricketer Justin Langer has been appointed as Australian cricket team’s head coach for all three formats.
- Langer replaces Darren Lehmann, who had stepped down after Australia’s tour of South Africa amid the ball-tampering controversy.
- The 47-year-old, who represented Australia in 105 Tests, will begin his four-year term ahead of limited-overs series against England next month.
Current Affairs Today: OBITUARY
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.