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By admin: May 3, 2023

World Press Freedom Day: 3 May

Tags: Important Days

World Press Freedom Day is observed annually on 3 May to increase understanding about the importance of a free press.

An Overview of the News

• This year's theme is "Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for All Other Human Rights", which highlights the important role of freedom of expression in the protection and promotion of other human rights.

• The United Nations General Assembly declared an International Day for Press Freedom 30 years ago, and UNESCO organised a special anniversary celebration at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

• World Press Freedom Day is a reminder of the important role of free and independent media in promoting democracy, human rights and sustainable development.

History of World Press Freedom Day:

• World Press Freedom Day was proposed by UNESCO's General Conference in 1991 to celebrate and promote press freedom.

• In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day.

• The day is observed annually to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and to remind governments of their responsibility to uphold the right to freedom of expression.

• World Press Freedom Day also provides an opportunity to honour journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

• The day advocates for the safety and independence of journalists who work to disseminate information to the public.

List of Important Days in May

• May Day / International Labor Day - 1 May

• Maharashtra Day - 1st May

• Gujarat Day - 1 May

• World Tuna Day - 2 May

• Press Freedom Day - 3 May

India's first underwater sea tunnel

Tags: National National News

India’s First Undersea Tunnel in Mumbai Set to Open by November 2023.

An overview of the news

• The tunnels begin close to Girgaon (before Marine Drive), travel under the Arabian Sea, Girgaon Chowpatty, and Malabar Hill, and finally terminate at Breach Candy’s Priyadarshini Park. 

• The high-speed coastal route aims to reduce the 45-minute peak-time trip from Girgaon to Worli to only 10 minutes.

• The diameter of the tunnels is 12.19 meters which is 17-20 meters below sea level. About 1 kilometer part is under the sea.

• The tunnels reach a depth of 72 meters in Malabar Hill. The front part at the entry and exit points of the tunnel will be made of fiberglass.

• Construction of tunnels is a part of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP) being built by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Government launches Vivad se Vishwas scheme

Tags: Economy/Finance Government Schemes National News

The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, has launched the scheme, “Vivad se Vishwas I – Relief to MSMEs” for providing relief to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for COVID-19 period.

An overview of the news

• The scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24 by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

• The relief provided under this scheme is in continuation to the efforts of the government in promoting and sustaining the MSME sector.

• Under the scheme, ministries have been asked to refund performance security, bid security and liquidated damages forfeited/ deducted during the Covid pandemic.

Additional benefits to eligible MSMEs, affected during the COVID-19 period

• 95% of the performance security forfeited shall be refunded.

• 95% of the Bid security shall be refunded.

• 95% of the Liquidated Damages (LD) deducted shall be refunded.

• 95% of the Risk Purchase amount realized shall be refunded.

Eligibility Criterion

• Registered as a Medium, Small or Micro Enterprise as per relevant scheme of Ministry of MSME on the date of claim by supplier/ contractor.

• MSME could be registered for any category of Goods and Services.

Three jailed Iranian women journalists win UN press freedom prizes

Tags: Awards

The United Nations announced on 2nd May that its premier prize for press freedom has been awarded to three imprisoned Iranian female journalists “for their commitment to truth and accountability.”

An overview of the news

• Award winners include Niloufer Hamidi, Elaheh Mohammadi and Nargis Mohammadi.

• Neelofer had informed people about 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had died in September last year, through a news item.

• Amini was arrested by the ethics police for not wearing a headscarf properly.

• Elaheh wrote about Amini's funeral.

• Amini's death triggered months of protests in Iran's cities.

• The third winner, Nargis Mohammadi, worked for many years as a journalist and is one of Iran's most prominent activists.

UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize

• This award was started in 1997.

• The award is given to a person, organization or institution who, at the risk of life, has made an outstanding contribution to the defense and, or promotion of freedom of the press, anywhere in the world.

• The award was established at the initiative of the Executive Board of UNESCO.

• The award is formally presented by UNESCO on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May.

• The award is named in honor of Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist who was assassinated on 17 December 1986 in front of the office of his newspaper El Espectador in Bogotá, Colombia.

India surpasses Australia to become No. one Test team

Tags: Sports Sports News

Rohit Sharma-led India on May 2 overtook Australia to become the number one Test team in the latest rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

An overview of the news

• Australia's reign at the top of the men's Test rankings ended after 15 months, with India surpassing the Aussies ahead of next month's ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final.

• India are currently on top with 121 points, while Australia are second with 116 points.

• Earlier this year, India registered a 2-1 series win against Australia to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the fourth time in a row.

• England (116 points), South Africa (104) and defending champions New Zealand (100) occupy the third, fourth and fifth places respectively in the rankings.

About International Cricket Council (ICC)

• It is the global governing body for cricket.

• It was founded in 1909 as the Imperial Cricket Conference by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa.

• In 1989, its name was changed to International Cricket Council (ICC).

• Representing 108 members, it regulates and administers the game of cricket and works with members to develop the game.

• It presides over the ICC Code of Conduct, playing conditions, decision review system and other ICC regulations.

• Headquarter - Dubai, United Arab Emirates

60th Foundation Day of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade

Tags: National National News

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi celebrated Diamond Jubilee on 2nd May on 60th Foundation Day.

An overview of the news

• On the occasion, Vice-Chancellor of IIFT Prof. Satinder Bhatia released the commemorative issue of Foreign Trade Review (FTR) Journal.

• On this significant occasion, Prof. Satinder Bhatia, remembered Late HD Shourie, the founding Director General of IIFT. 

• She mentioned that he was the father figure to IIFTians, who laid the foundation of IIFT with the motto, ‘Excellence is a way of life’.

• In the journey of 60 years, IIFT has consistently achieved better rankings among top business schools by earning AACSB accreditation for offering an impressive range of innovative MDP/EDP offered by the institute.

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)

• The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) was established in 1963 as an autonomous body under the  Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry to contribute in the skill building for the external trade sector of India.

• It is one of the  top business schools of India with a special focus on Trade and Finance.

• The Institute was granted “Deemed to be University” status in 2002.

• It has campuses at Delhi, Kolkata and Kakinada.

• Vice Chancellor :  Prof. Satinder Bhatia

Samajwadi Pandit Ramkishan becomes "centenary man" at the age of 97

Tags: Person in news

Pandit Ramkishan, a famous socialist leader, was honoured with the title of "Shatabdi Purush" (Man of the Century) in New Delhi for his contribution to Indian socialism.

An Overview of the News

• The award was presented to him during the birth centenary celebrations of renowned socialist thinker and parliamentarian Madhu Limaye.

• Ramkishan is considered the most senior and distinguished figure in Indian socialism and has been recognized as the "Socialist Centenary Man".

• The event was attended by several senior politicians including former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala and JDU leader KC Tyagi.

• Ramkishan took an active part in socialist movements led by other prominent leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan and Lohia and was jailed several times, including during the Emergency period.

• He served as a member of the Lok Sabha once in 1977 and was elected to the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly four times in 1962, 1967, 1974 and 1990.

• Ramkishan fought for the rights of tribals, Dalits and the poor and was arrested several times.

About Madhu Limaye

• Madhu Limaye was a prominent Indian socialist essayist and activist in the 1970s.

• She was a follower of Ram Manohar Lohia and a close associate of George Fernandes, and played a key role in building the socialist movement in India.

• She actively participated in the movement against the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government in 1975 and was involved in the formation of the Janata Party, which came to power at the Center after the Emergency was lifted.

• During his time in the Janata government, Limaye worked towards promoting socialist policies and ensuring social justice for all.

Book "Made in India: 75 Years of Business and Enterprise" by Amitabh Kant

Tags: Books and Authors

The book "Made in India: 75 Years of Business and Enterprise" is written by Amitabh Kant and published by Rupa Publications India.

An Overview of the News

• The book coincides with India becoming the 5th largest economy in the world, overtaking the United Kingdom after 75 years of independence.

• This book presents a multidimensional survey of India's business heritage and culture to understand the country's remarkably strong and resilient growth story of Indian business and enterprise.

• Through the book, Amitabh Kant aims to provide insight into the success of Indian businesses and enterprises and how they can move forward in the future.

• Amitabh Kant is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) from 2016 to 2022.

• He has also written other books like "Branding India-An Incredible Story," "Incredible India 2.0," and edited "The Path Ahead - Transformative Ideas for India."

Other Books for 2023

"War and Women" - Dr. MA Hasan.

"Basu Chatterjee: And Middle-of-the-Road Cinema" - Anirudh Bhattacharjee

"Gandhi: Politics and Sect" - Piyush Babele

"Phoolange" - Lekhnath Chhetri, writer from Darjeeling

"A Matter of the Heart: Education in India" - Anurag Behar

"Bipin: The Man Behind the Uniform" - Rachna Biswat Rawat

"As Good As My Word" - KM Chandrasekhar

“Mundaka Upanishad: The Gateway to Eternity” – Dr. Karan Singh, Ex-MP

 "Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origin of Empire": Nandini Das

Autobiography "Crosscourt" - Jaideep Mukherjee

Ding Liren becomes China's first world chess champion

Tags: Sports Sports News

Ding Liren became China's first world chess champion after defeating Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi in a tie-breaker.

An Overview of the News

• Ding Liren has become the 17th World Chess Champion.

• He took over from Magnus Carlsen of Norway as the winner of the World Chess Championship.

• The first stage of the World Chess Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan ended with Ding Liren and Nepomniachtchi with seven points, with three wins and eight draws.

• The match was held from 9 April to 30 April 2023, lasting a total of 21 days.

History of the World Chess Championship

• The first recognized world championship match in chess was played in 1886 between Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort, with Steinitz emerging as the first world champion.

• From 1886 to 1946, the world champion set the terms of the competition, requiring challengers to raise a significant stake and defeat the champion in a match to claim the title.

• After the death of world champion Alexander Alekhine in 1946, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) took over the administration of the World Championship and held a series of tournaments every three years until 1993 to choose a new challenger.

  About Kazakhstan

• It is a Central Asian country that was once a part of the Soviet Union. It became an independent nation in 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

• The country is the ninth largest country in the world by land area, stretching from the Caspian Sea in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east.

• The capital of Kazakhstan is Nur-Sultan, which was renamed from Astana in 2019. Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan and it was the capital of Kazakhstan until 1997 when the government was moved to Astana.

Paraguay's Colorado Party's Santiago Peña wins presidential election

Tags: Person in news International News

Santiago Peña, an economist from Paraguay's ruling conservative Colorado party, won the country's presidential election.

An Overview of the News

• The election was decided in a single round of voting, and with nearly all ballots counted, Santiago Peña received over 42% of the vote.

• His main challenger, Efrain Alegre, who represented the Concertación Nacional coalition, received about 28% of the vote.

• The Colorado Party has been the dominant political force in Paraguay for more than 70 years, and Santiago Peña's victory solidified its hold on power.

• Despite an expected economic growth of more than 4% this year, Paraguay still struggles with high levels of poverty and corruption.

About Paraguay

• It is a country located in the middle of South America. It is a landlocked country, bordered by Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia.

• Asuncion is the capital of Paraguay and is situated on the banks of the Paraguay River.

• Official languages - Paraguayan Guarani, Spanish

Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan takes over as AOC-in-C Southern Air Command

Tags: Defence Person in news

Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Southern Air Command on May 1, 2023.

An Overview of the News

• He is an alumnus of Sainik School Kazhakootam and National Defense Academy, and was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on June 7, 1986.

• Manikantan has flown over 5400 hours on various types of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, and is a Helicopter Combat Leader and a Type Qualified Flying Instructor.

• He has completed instructional tenure at National Defense Academy and Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE).

• He has commanded a frontline helicopter unit and two major IAF stations, and has held the appointments of Senior Air and Administrative Staff Officer (SAASO) at HQ Maintenance Command and ACIDS Int-C at HQ IDS, responsible for international defence cooperation .

• Prior to assuming the present appointment, he was the Senior Air Force Officer handling Air Operations at the Eastern Air Command.

• The Air Marshal is a recipient of the Presidential Awards of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VM).

About Indian Air Force

• It is a branch of the Indian Armed Forces responsible for defending Indian airspace and conducting air operations in times of war.

• Its main objective is to protect the sovereignty of the country by defending against any potential air threats and providing air support during military operations.

Establishment - 26 January 1950

Headquarters - Integrated Defense Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi

Motto - Nabhaḥ spṛṣṭa deeptam ("Touch the sky with glory")

Ranjit Guha passed away at the age of 100

Tags: Person in news

An eminent historian, Ranjit Guha passed away at the age of 100 in Austria on 28 April.

An Overview of the News

• He was born on May 23, 1923 in Barisal, which is currently located in Bangladesh.

• Guha completed his post-graduation in history from the University of Calcutta after studying at a school in Kolkata.

• He was associated with several renowned institutions during his career, including the Australian National University, from where he retired in 1988.

• One of his famous contributions in the field of history is his book titled 'Elementary Aspects of Peasant Insurgency in Colonial India'.

About Austria

• It is a landlocked country located in Central Europe, bordering several countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and Italy.

• The country is made up of nine states, with Vienna being both the capital and most populous city and state.

Government - federal parliamentary republic

President - Alexander Van Der Bellen

Chancellor - Carl Nehmer