NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India’s core sector growth slows to 5.2% in March from 7.1% in February: The growth in output of eight key infrastructure industries slowed to 5.2% year-on-year in March from 7.1% in February on the back of a sequential deterioration recorded by five of its constituents. Output decelerated in sectors like coal (8.7%), crude oil (2%), natural gas (6.3%) and steel (5.5%) during March, according to Ministry of Commerce and Industry data. Overall, in FY24, growth in the core sector stood at 7.5 per cent as against 7.8 per cent in FY23. All eight constituent sectors registered positive growth during the financial year with output of steel (12.3 per cent) leading the chart, followed by coal (11.7 per cent), cement (9.1 per cent), and electricity (7 per cent) in FY24.
2. Maushumi Chakravarty assumes charge of DG of Akashvani News: Senior Indian Information Service officer, Maushumi Chakravarty assumed the charge of Director General of Akashvani News. Chakravarty assumed the charge after superannuation of Ms. Vasudha Gupta as Principal DG. A 1991 batch IIS officer, Ms Chakravarty has vast experience of working in several media organizations of the I&B Ministry, including the Press Information Bureau and Central Bureau of Communication.
3. Shashi Bhushan Singh appointed as Secretary of National Jute Board: The Central Government has approved the appointment of Shashi Bhushan Singh (IRTS) as Secretary (at Director level) of National Jute Board, Kolkata under the Ministry of Textiles. Singh has been appointed to the post for a period of five years or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Singh is an Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) of 2010-batch.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Solomon Islands elects Jeremiah Manele as new PM: Legislators in the Solomon Islands have elected former Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele as their new prime minister. Manele, who has pledged to continue the Pacific nation’s China-friendly foreign policy, won 31 votes in a secret ballot. His opponent, longtime opposition leader Matthew Wale, secured 18 votes.
2. 2 May – World Tuna Day: World Tuna Day is observed annually on May 2. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the decline in tuna stocks worldwide and the need to effectively implement international regulations to safeguard future tuna supplies. Tuna is a highly nutritious and valuable fish that is a significant source of food for both developing and developed countries. It is essential to maintain healthy and sustainable tuna populations for future generations.3.
3. 3 April – World Press Freedom Day: World Press Freedom Day is observed every year on 3 May.
The day is commemorated to highlight the significance of press freedom globally and to recognize the challenges encountered by journalists. Theme 2024 -A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis. The day also pays tribute to all the journalists who have lost their lives.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. ICC Imposes 5-Year Ban on West Indies Cricketer Devon Thomas: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed a five-year period of ineligibility from all cricket on West Indies player Devon Thomas after he accepted breaching seven counts of the anti-corruption codes of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL)
Thomas admitted to seven charges, including those related to match-fixing. Thomas was provisionally suspended on May 23 last year and his sentence will be backdated to that time. ICC released a statement on May 2, saying that Thomas would have 18 months of the punishment suspended.
2. Amul to sponsor USA’s cricket team in T20 WC: Amul will be the lead arm sponsor for USA’s cricket team that will participate in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 which commences on June 1.
The opening match of the tournament will be played between USA and Canada in Dallas. This association with Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), responsible for marketing milk and milk products under the brand name Amul, signifies a significant step towards expanding and popularizing cricket across the nation.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Groww & Worldline join growing club of India’s online payment aggregators: Financial services platform Groww and digital payment processing company Worldline ePayments have secured RBI licence to operate as online payment aggregators. With this, the number of firms getting the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) nod to operate as payment aggregators has touched 20 in the first four months of calendar year 2024. Groww has secured the licence for its UPI payments platform Groww Pay.
2. NPCI inks pact with Bank of Namibia for developing UPI: NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has signed an agreement with the Bank of Namibia (BoN) to support them in developing an instant payment system like Unified Payment Interface (UPI) for Namibia. The partnership seeks to help Namibia modernise its financial ecosystem. This includes improving accessibility, affordability and connectivity with both domestic and international payment networks, and interoperability.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. International Chess Federation awards Grandmaster title to Indian Chess V Ramesh Babu: Indian Chess Prodigy, Vaishali Ramesh Babu has been awarded the title of Grandmaster by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Vaishali is the third Indian female Grandmaster, joining Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli. Vaishali completed the requisite 2500 ELO points at the Llobregat Open tournament in Spain, last year. However, the title was officially given to her only recently following the FIDE Council meeting during the Candidates Tournament in Toronto last month.
2. Purnima Devi Barman received ‘Green Oscar’ Whitley Gold Award 2024: A wildlife biologist from Assam, Dr Purnima Devi Barman has won her second Whitley Gold Award, also known as the Green Oscar. She was honoured for her conservation effort of the endangered bird, Hargila or Greater Adjutant Stork and its wetland habitat. This is the second time that Dr Barman has been honoured with the Whitley Gold Award. She was also awarded the prize in 2017.
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