National News

GDP growth forecast for India in FY22 to 11.1% lowered by Goldman Sachs

The GDP growth rate estimate for the Indian economy was cut down to 11.1% in fiscal year FY22.

This was done due to increasing intensities of lockdowns by states to check the spread of coronavirus infections. 

The firm has also revised the 2021 Calendar Year growth forecast to 9.7% from the previous estimate of 10.5%.

Quick Fact: The key people of Goldman Sachs are Lloyd Blankfein (Senior Chairman) and David M. Solomon (Chairman and CEO).

National News

West Bengal’s CM Mamata Banerjee takes oath for the 3rd consecutive time

She was sworn in as WB’s CM for the third time in the shadow of Covid and post-poll violence in parts of the state.

The oath ceremony took place with Covid protocols in place at the ‘Throne Room’ at the Raj Bhavan. 

Mamata Banerjee won a landslide victory against BJP in the Bengal election to secure a third straight term. 

Quick Fact: West Bengal’s Governor is Jagdeep Dhankhar.

National News

First Solar Plant in North Sikkim launched by the Indian Army

The Indian Army recently launched the first Green Solar Energy harnessing plant in Sikkim. 

It was launched to benefit the troops of the Indian army and uses Vanadium based battery technology.

The capacity of the plant is 56 KVA and was completed in collaboration with IIT Mumbai.

Quick Fact: Chief Minister of Sikkim: PS Golay; Governor of Sikkim: Ganga Prasad.

Important Days

World Hand Hygiene Day observed on May 5

The day is organised by the WHO to raise awareness about the value of hand hygiene in beating many serious infections.

The theme for 2021 is ‘Seconds Save Lives: Clean Your Hands’. 

The day suggests hand washing as one of the most essential actions to avoid a huge range of infections including the COVID-19 virus.

Quick Fact: Director-General of WHO: Tedros Adhanom. 

Awards

UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize 2021 to Maria Ressa

Maria Ressa has been named as the 2021 eminent of the Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. 

The $25,000 prize ‘recognizes outstanding contributions to the defence or promotion of press freedom especially in the face of danger,’ according to UNESCO. 

The prize was named after Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist.

Quick Fact: Maria Ressa is the news chief of Philippine broadcast giant ABS-CBN. 

Sports News

In Snooker, English professional player Mark Selby has become the World Snooker Champion for the fourth time. 

He won the title after defeating fellow mate Shaun Murphy at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. 

Prior to this, Selby won the Championship title in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2021.

Quick Fact: The Capital city of England is London and the currency of England is Pound Sterling.

Important Days

May 5 marks International Day of the Midwife

This day raises awareness about statuses of midwives for the essential care they provide to mothers and their newborns.

The theme for 2021 International Day of the Midwife was ‘Follow the Data: Invest in Midwives.’

International Midwives’ Day was first celebrated May 5, 1991, and has been observed in more than 50 nations around the world.

Quick Fact: International Confederation of Midwives President: Franka Cadee; International Confederation of Midwives Headquarters: Hague, Netherlands.

Sports News

Breached ICC’s anti-corruption code and banned for 6 years: Nuwan Zoysa

An ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal found him guilty of breaching the ICC anti-corruption code.

The ban for Zoysa is backdated to 31 October 2018, when he was provisionally suspended.

Zoysa guilty of ‘being party to an agreement or effort to fix or contrive or otherwise influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or another aspect(s) of an International Match.’

Quick Fact: Chairman of ICC: Greg Barclay; CEO of ICC: Manu Sawhney; Headquarters of ICC: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.