NATIONAL:
1. First Cable-Stayed Railway Bridge
Why in news – India's first cable-stayed railway bridge has been completed in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Key Points –
• Total length of cable - 653 km.
• Length of bridge - 725 metres.
• It is over Anji river, a tributary of Chenab River.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Largest Supplier of Refined Fuels
Why in news – As per analytics firm Kpler, India has become Europe's largest supplier of refined fuels in April 2023.
Key Points –
• Europe's refined fuel imports from India are set to surge above 360,000 barrels a day, ahead of Saudi Arabia.
• Russia emerged as a major supplier to India for the first time in 2022-23 (FY23).
• Western price cap on Russian crude - USD 60 per barrel.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. “Vivad se Vishwas I – Relief to MSMEs” Scheme
Why in news – Ministry of Finance has launched the scheme for providing relief to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for COVID-19 period.
Key Points –
• It was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24.
• Additional benefits to COVID-19 affected MSMEs –
(a) 95% of the performance security forfeited shall be refunded
(b) 95% of the Bid security shall be refunded
(c) 95% of the Liquidated Damages (LD) deducted shall be refunded
(d) 95% of the Risk Purchase amount realized shall be refunded
(e) No interest shall be paid on such refunded amount.
• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has developed a dedicated web-page for implementation of this scheme.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. “Bridging the Digital Divide” Report
Why in news – UNICEF released the “Bridging the Gender Digital Divide” report.
Key Points –
Findings –
• In low-income countries, 90% of adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 are offline, compared to 78% of adolescent boys and young men.
• The largest gap is observed in South Asia, favouring adolescent boys and young men by 27% points.
• Female youth are nearly 13 per cent less likely to own a mobile phone than male youth within the same household.
2. Highest-Paid Athletes List 2023
Why in news – Forbes released the latest highest-paid athletes list in 2023.
Key Points –
• Top 5 –
(a Cristiano Ronaldo ($136 million)
(b) Lionel Messi ($130 million)
(c) Kylian Mbappe ($120 million)
(d) LeBron James ($119.5 million)
(e) Canelo Alvarez ($110 million)
• World's ten highest-paid athletes collectively made $1.11 billion over the last 12 months, the highest total ever.
SECURITY:
1. ASEAN India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023)
Why in news – The inaugural ASEAN India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023) was scheduled from May 2 to 8, 2023 in Singapore.
Key Points –
• Harbour Phase - Changi Naval Base, Singapore.
• Sea Phase - South China Sea.
• Participants from India - INS Delhi and INS Satpura.
• There has been little progress on the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea under negotiation since 2002.
SCIENCE – TECHNOLOGY:
1. Geoffrey Hinton
Why in news – “Godfather Of AI” Geoffrey Hinton quits Google to speak freely about the dangers of Artificial intelligence (AI).
Key Points –
• He said he regrets the work he has devoted his life to because of how AI could be misused.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Palme d’Or Honor
Why in news – Hollywood actor Michael Douglas would be awarded with an honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Key Points –
• He is a two-time Oscar winner.
• The 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival would run from May 16 to May 27, 2023.
2. World Press Freedom Prize
Why in news – UNESCO awarded the prize to 3 imprisoned Iranian female journalists "for their commitment to truth and accountability."
Key Points –
• Winners are –
(a) Niloufar Hamedi
(b) Elaheh Mohammadi
(c) Narges Mohammadi.
• It is named for Guillermo Cano, a Colombian journalist who was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper in Bogota on December 17, 1986.
• UNESCO has awarded the prize to coincide with World Press Freedom Day on May 3 since 1997.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Coal Miners Day 2023
Why in news – It is observed every year on May 4.
Key Points –
• India's coal imports increased by 32% to 148.58 million tonne (MT) in April-February FY23 against 112.38 MT in the year-ago period.
Value Addition -
• World first coal mine - Scotland (1575).
• India’s first coal mine – Raniganj (1774).
• Raniganj Coalfield - Situated on the banks of the Damodar River.
• It was operated by John Summer and Suetonius Grant Heatly of the East India Company.
• Coal mines in India were nationalized in India in 1973, by enacting Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973.
• Coal India Limited headquarter - Kolkata.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. A K Mohanty
Why in news – Ajit Kumar Mohanty assumed charge as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy.
Key Points –
• A K Mohanty is also the Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
• Mohanty stated that the benefits of atomic energy go beyond carbon-free electricity, with contributions to national security, health care management, food security, and water security.
SPORTS:
1. Hockey Team Sponsorship
Why in news – Odisha decided to further extend its sponsorship for both the Men and Women’s Indian Hockey Teams for another ten years till 2033.
Key Points –
• Odisha is the official sponsor of both the Men and Women National Hockey Teams since 2018.
POINTERS:
• Who has released a report titled “Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States/UTs of India” - NITI Aayog.
• Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh handed over a Fast Patrol Vessel and a Landing Craft Assault ship to which country – Maldives.
• Who became the new President of Paraguay - Santiago Peña.
• Who has released the document “Contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes” - Food and Agriculture Organization.
• Which ministry participated in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023, being held from 01st to 04th May 2023 in Dubai, UAE - Ministry of Tourism.
• DRDO and which armed force conducted the successful maiden test trial of Air Droppable Container -150 (ADC) from IL 38SD aircraft off the coast of Goa - Indian Navy.
• India and which country signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Industrial Research and Development Cooperation with focus on several key technology areas – Israel.
• Who has announced resignation as chief of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) - Sharad Pawar.
• Who took charge as the Commander-in-Chief of the strategically vital Andaman and Nicobar Command - Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan.
• Who has released the “Best Practices in Social Sector: A Compendium, 2023” in collaboration with the United Nations Development - NITI Aayog.