National and International News :
1. Union Minister Parshottam Rupala launches VCI portal
At the World Veterinary Day 2023 celebration held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Union Minister Parshottam Rupala of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying unveiled a Veterinary Council of India (VCI) portal.
- Additionally, he presented the draft Minimum Standards of Veterinary Practices Regulation (MSVPR) 2023 and a list of exceptional veterinarians. The event aimed to acknowledge and honor the significant contributions of veterinarians to animal, human health, and the environment. The celebration took place on April 29, 2023.
2. CCI approves Acquisition of Shareholding of Tower Vision by Ascend Telecom Infrastructure Private Limited and GIP EM
Ascend Telecom Infrastructure Private Limited and GIP EM Ascend 2 Pte. Ltd (GIP EM) have been granted approval by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to acquire the shareholding of Tower Vision India Private Limited (Tower Vision). The Proposed Combination falls under Section 6(2) read with Section 5 of the Competition Act, 2002 (as amended).
- The acquisition involves Ascend and GIP EM acquiring 100% of the issued and fully paid-up ordinary equity shares of Tower Vision. Ascend specializes in providing passive telecommunication infrastructure services through towers in India, while GIP EM is currently not engaged in any business operations. Both Ascend and GIP EM are owned by funds/investment vehicles managed by entities that are ultimately controlled by Global Infrastructure Management LLC (GIM LLC).
- Tower Vision, established in 2006, offers passive telecommunication infrastructure services through towers in India and is registered as an Infrastructure Provider Category –I (IP-I) with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the Ministry of Communications, Government of India.
3. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs signs MoU with RITES as Technical Support Agency for Swachhata
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and RITES Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on May 2, 2023, to provide technical assistance for Solid Waste Management (SWM) & UWM under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) 2.0. The Technical Support Unit (TSU) of RITES will assist SBM-U for a period of 3 years, with a specific focus on accelerating Solid Waste and Used Water Management (UWM).
- RITES will offer technical support to SBM-U for standards & specifications related to sewage and faecal sludge management and reuse, as well as engineering design and process of waste water treatment units under UWM. The MoU aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of SWM and UWM operations in the country.
4. India, UK Signed Agreement to Collaborate on Science and Innovation
A new agreement on science and innovation was signed by India and the UK on April 26, 2023, to foster deeper and faster collaboration on research and development that will benefit both countries and the world . The agreement aims to address some of the most pressing global challenges, such as climate change, pandemic preparedness, AI and machine learning.
- As part of the agreement, India will partner with the UK's initial £119 million International Science Partnerships Fund, building on the existing UK-India science partnership through the Newton-Bhabha fund. The agreement will also facilitate new joint research programmes in various fields, such as industrial decarbonisation, farmed animal disease and health, solid earth hazards, fisheries, and sustainable biofuels .
- The agreement was signed at the UK-India Science Innovation Council meeting in Parliament, attended by UK Science Minister George Freeman and Indian Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh . Both ministers praised the potential of the agreement to enhance the scientific capabilities and economic opportunities of both countries .
5. India-UK ‘Net Zero’ Innovation Virtual Centre
The India-UK Science & Innovation Council meeting was chaired by Jitendra Singh and co-chaired by George Freeman, the UK Science Minister. During the meeting, Singh declared the formation of the India-UK ‘Net Zero’ Innovation Virtual Centre, which will prioritize industrial decarbonisation. Additionally, he announced the launch of the inaugural India-UK scientific deep sea voyage.
- The Innovation Virtual Centre will foster collaboration between stakeholders from India and the UK, focusing on crucial areas such as decarbonization of manufacturing processes and transportation systems, as well as exploring green hydrogen as a renewable energy source. The goal is to work towards achieving a net-zero carbon future.
6. AIME-23 : 1st ASEAN-India Maritime exercise initiated in Singapore
The first edition of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-23) kicked off on May 2, 2023 at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore. The opening ceremony was jointly presided over by Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Indian Navy (IN) and Rear Admiral Sean Wat, Chief of Navy (CNV), Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and attended by senior officials from ASEAN .
- The exercise aims to enhance maritime cooperation and foster mutual trust and confidence among the ASEAN and Indian navies . It involves joint drills in the South China Sea between the navies of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam (ASEAN Nations), and IN .
- The IN is represented by RAdm Gurcharan Singh, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF) along with two indigenously-built warships INS Delhi and INS Satpura, and P8I maritime patrol aircraft . INS Delhi is India's first guided missile destroyer and INS Satpura is a guided missile stealth frigate. Both ships are part of IN's Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) .
- The exercise is divided into two phases : 'Harbour Phase' and 'Sea Phase.' The Harbour Phase will be held at Changi Naval Base from May 2 to May 4, 2023 and the Sea Phase will be conducted from May 7 to May 8, 2023 in the South China Sea .
7. NITI Aayog Released ‘Best Practices in Social Sector: A Compendium, 2023’ in Collaboration with UNDP
To commemorate 75 years of India's independence, the NITI Aayog and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly released the 'Best Practices in Social Sector: A Compendium, 2023' on May 1, 2023. The compendium comprises 75 case studies sourced from over 30 Ministries and Departments of the Government of India, 28 states and 8 Union Territories (UTs) and highlights the theme 'Achievement@75' at the local levels.
- Suman Bery, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, launched the compendium in the presence of other members and the CEO of NITI Aayog, and the Resident Representative of UNDP India. The compendium is a collection of innovative policymaking practices in 14 key social sectors, such as health, education, agriculture, and the environment. These 75 best practices are innovative, sustainable, replicable, and impactful, and aim to synthesize lessons for the future to improve life at the grassroots level. The compendium was prepared under the guidance of Suman Bery and the leadership of Dr. Yogesh Suri, Senior Adviser at NITI Aayog.
8. India’s CSIR & Israel’s DDR&D sign MoU on Industrial Research and Development Cooperation
A Multi-Sectoral MoU on Industrial Research and Development Cooperation was signed between India's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Israel's Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) on May 2, 2023. The MoU aims to foster collaboration in various high-tech fields such as aerospace, healthcare, and startups .
- This MoU follows a Bilateral Innovation Agreement (BIA) signed by DRDO and DDR&D in November 2021 to support innovation and R&D in the startup ecosystems and MSMEs of both countries for the development of dual-use technologies.
- The MoU marks a new phase in India-Israel partnership in areas like Innovation, Technology, and StartUps. The year 2023 also commemorates 30 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel.
9. Phintella dhritiae & Phintella platnicki : ZSI team discovered 2 New Spider Species in Karnataka & TN
Two new species of salticids, or jumping spiders, have been described from southern India by researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). The new species belong to the genus Phintella and are named Phintella dhritiae and Phintella platnicki. Phintella dhritiae was discovered in Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka and is named after Dr Dhriti Banerjee, the first woman Director of the ZSI.
- Phintella platnicki was found in Salem district of Tamil Nadu and is named after the late Dr Norman Platnick, a renowned arachnologist. Jumping spiders are the largest family of spiders with over 6,000 species and have excellent vision and agility. They use their eyes and legs to communicate, hunt and mate.
Notes :
(i) Team - Souvik Sen and Sudhin P P from ZSI in Kolkata, West Bengal; and John T D Caleb from Chennai, TN.
(ii) Arachnology - The scientific study of arachnids, which comprise spiders and related invertebrates such as scorpions and pseudoscorpions.
10. ICAI & ICAEW Renews their MoU
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), two premier globally renowned accounting bodies, have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The renewed MoU will create opportunities for "appropriately qualified" members of both institutes.
- The MoU was signed in London, United Kingdom, on April 24, 2023, and will be reviewed after 3 years. ICAI has over 3.8 lakh members, whereas ICAEW has over 2 lakhs.
- Aniket Sunil Talati, President of ICAI, and Julia Penny, President of ICAEW, signed the MoU in the presence of Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal, Vice President of ICAI, along with other Council Members of ICAI and senior functionaries of ICAEW.
- The first MoU between the two institutions, which established the relationship between ICAI and ICAEW, was signed in 2008.
11. Amitabh Kant Authored a New Book Titled “ Made In India: 75 Years of Business and Enterprise ”
Amitabh Kant, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who served as CEO of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) from 2016 to 2022, has authored a new book titled "Made In India: 75 Years of Business and Enterprise." The book was published by Rupa Publications India on March 5, 2023, to coincide with India's achievement of becoming the world's fifth-largest economy after 75 years of independence, surpassing its former colonial master, the United Kingdom (UK).
- Kant has also authored other books such as "Branding India: An Incredible Story" and "Incredible India 2.0" and served as editor of "The Path Ahead: Transformative Ideas for India." Additionally, he has written over 500 articles published in leading Indian newspapers.
12. Socialist Pandit Ramkishan conferred with the Title ‘ Man of the Century ’
Pandit Ramkishan, a former Member of Parliament (MP) of Lok Sabha, was honoured with the title of "Man of the Century" (Shatabdi Purush) on April 30, 2023, during an event in New Delhi, Delhi, organised to celebrate the birth centenary of Madhu Limaye, a socialist ideologue and veteran parliamentarian.
- Pandit Ramkishan, a socialist leader, had actively participated in movements led by socialist leaders Jayaprakash Narayan and Lohia, and had been imprisoned several times while fighting for the rights of tribals, Dalits, and the poor.
- He was elected to the Lok Sabha once in 1977 and four times to the Rajasthan Assembly in 1962, 1967, 1974, and 1990.
13. IMF Regional Economic Outlook : Asia-Pacific to grow 4.6% in 2023 ; India, China to contribute half of global growth
The IMF's latest report on Asia and Pacific, released in May 2023, shows that the region's growth will accelerate to 4.6% in 2023, up from 3.8% in 2022. This is 0.3% higher than the previous forecast made in October 2022. The region will account for more than 70% of global growth in 2023.
- The main drivers of Asia's growth are China and India, which will contribute about half of global growth in 2023. The rest of Asia will also recover in 2023, in line with other regions.
- However, the outlook is not without risks and challenges. The IMF warns that inflation may remain high, global demand may slow down, and banking-sector stress in the US and Europe may spill over to the region. The IMF also lowers its growth forecast for 2024 to 4.4%, and urges central banks in Asia (except Japan and China) to tighten monetary policy to contain inflation.
- India's growth will moderate slightly from 6.8% in 2022 to 5.9% in 2023, as weaker domestic demand offsets stronger external services demand.
Summary :
- Asia and Pacific's growth will increase to 4.6% in 2023, up from 3.8% in 2022.
- China and India will lead the region's growth, contributing about half of global growth in 2023.
- The IMF warns of risks such as high inflation, slowing global demand, and banking-sector stress.
- The IMF lowers its growth forecast for 2024 to 4.4%, and advises central banks in Asia (except Japan and China) to tighten monetary policy.
- India's growth will moderate slightly from 6.8% in 2022 to 5.9% in 2023.
14. SC modifies order on eco-sensitive zone around national parks, sanctuaries
The Supreme Court modified its order of maintaining eco-sensitive zones around national parks or wildlife sanctuaries. Supreme Court modified its June 2022 order of maintaining a 1 km eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around national parks or wildlife sanctuaries.
- Supreme Court in its modified order removed a complete ban on development and construction activities within ESZs. The order has been issued by a bench of Justices B R Gavai, Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol.
Note :
Eco-sensitive zone :
Eco-sensitive zones are areas notified by the MoEFCC around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. The purpose of declaring ESZs is to create some kind of “shock absorbers” to the protected areas by regulating and managing the activities around such areas.
** The activities which are allowed and prohibited in ESZs are -
1. Prohibited Activities -
Commercial mining , sawmills , industries causing pollution , major hydroelectric projects , commercial use of wood
2. Allowed Activities -
Agricultural or horticultural practices , rainwater harvesting , organic farming , use of renewable energy sources , adoption of green technology
Banking and Finance News :
1. BharatPe acquires 51% stake in Trillion Loans
BharatPe, a fintech firm in the payment sector, has purchased a 51% stake in Trillionloans Fintech Private Limited, a Mumbai-based NBFC. Trillion Loans offers secured and unsecured loans to small businesses and credit products to retail customers, such as auto, gold, and education loans.
- Trillion Loans will continue to operate as an independent entity with its own team, overseen by the board, following the acquisition. BharatPe will leverage its product and technology expertise to help Trillion Loans create new digital lending products that serve a diverse group of business owners and clients.
2. Ajay Banga becomes first Indian-American to be appointed as 14th World Bank President
Ajay Banga, aged 63, was appointed as the 14th President of the World Bank (WB) on May 3, 2023. The 25-member Executive Directors of the WB elected him for a term of five years, which will begin on June 2, 2023. Upon taking office, he will succeed David Malpass.
With this appointment, Banga will become the first Indian-born nominee to hold the position and the first Indian-American to lead WB. He is also the first Sikh-American and Indian-American to head either of the two top international financial institutions, namely the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
- About Ajay Banga :
Ajay Banga is an awardee of Padma Shri (2016) and an alumni of IIM Ahmedabad. Prior to his appointment as the President of the World Bank, he was the Vice Chairman at General Atlantic and President and CEO of Mastercard. He previously served on the Boards of the American Red Cross, Kraft Foods and Dow Inc.
He is a member of the Trilateral Commission, a founding trustee of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, and Chairman Emeritus of the American India Foundation. Additionally, he co-founded The Cyber Readiness Institute and served as a member of President Barack Obama’s Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity.
He has been awarded several accolades including the Foreign Policy Association Medal in 2012, the Ellis Island Medal of Honour, the Business Council for International Understanding’s Global Leadership Award in 2019, and the Distinguished Friends of Singapore Public Service Star in 2021.
3. Bharti Airtel & Dialog Axiata signs Binding Term Sheet for the Merger of their Sri Lankan Subsidiaries
Dialog Axiata PLC, the largest telecom service provider in Sri Lanka, and Bharti Airtel Limited, an Indian telecom giant, have agreed to merge their Sri Lankan subsidiaries into a single entity. The merger will involve Bharti Airtel Lanka (Private) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, and Dialog, a subsidiary of Malaysian telecom conglomerate Axiata Group Berhad. The merger will create the nation's largest telecom operator .
- According to the binding term sheet signed by the parties, Bharti Airtel will receive a stake in Dialog that reflects the fair market value of Bharti Airtel Lanka . New shares of Dialog will be issued to Bharti Airtel upon the completion of the transaction .
- The proposed transaction is still under discussion between the parties and with the relevant regulatory authorities as per applicable laws and regulations. The transaction is also subject to the signing of legal agreements and necessary closing conditions including shareholder approvals and required regulatory clearances .
4. Pine Labs Partners ICICI Bank to Accept Digital Rupee on its PoS Terminals
Pine Labs India, a merchant commerce platform, has partnered with ICICI Bank to accept digital Rupee (e-Rupee or CBDC) on its point-of-sale (PoS) terminals at retail outlets in Mumbai and Bengaluru. The process for e-Rupee payments via Pine Labs' smart Android PoS terminals is entirely digital, utilizing a dynamic QR code.
- This integration provides a hassle-free payment option for users and improves merchants' operational efficiency. By accepting e-Rupee payments, Pine Labs is contributing to the transition from paper-based currency to digital, and has joined hands with ICICI Bank to launch e-Rupee as a payment option under the Reserve Bank of India's pilot program.
5. Airtel Payments Bank Partners with NPCI to Roll out Face Authentication for AePS
Airtel Payments Bank has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to introduce Face Authentication for AePS (Aadhaar-enabled Payment System) across its 500,000 banking points to promote financial and digital inclusion.
- This initiative makes Airtel Payments Bank one of the first four banks in India to provide face authentication for AePS.
- Airtel Payments Bank introduced the face authentication service in different stages. The first phase involved non-financial transactions, such as balance inquiry and mini-statements.
- Airtel Payments Bank was expected to make the face authentication service available for financial transactions in a few weeks.
- The service is currently available only to Airtel Payments Bank customers who have enabled face authentication.
6. FPIs pulled out Rs 29,921cr from Banking and Financial Services sector in FY23
In FY23, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) withdrew Rs. 29,921 crore from the Banking and Financial Services sector, resulting in a marginal decrease in their holdings in several private sector banks. The Banking and Financial Services sector was the third-highest loser of FPI money, after IT Services (Rs. 51,138 crore) and Oil & Gas (Rs. 37,674 crore). FPIs decreased their stake in RBL Bank by 4% to 25% as of the March 2023 quarter, and in IndusInd Bank, FPIs trimmed their exposure by 4% to 42.16% during this period.
- HDFC Bank's FPI stake went down by 3%, while their stake in Bandhan Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank were reduced by 2% and 1%, respectively. FPI shareholding in ICICI Bank remained unchanged at 44% in FY23. On the other hand, FPIs increased their stakes in Yes Bank (by 12%), IDFC First Bank (6%), and Axis Bank (2%) during this period. Notably, FPIs' holding in Yes Bank rose to 23.1% as of March 2023 from 10.97% in March 2022, following Carlyle and Advent picking up a 9.99% stake in Yes Bank for about Rs. 8,896 crore during the December 2022 quarter of FY23.
7. IFSCA inks MoU with IHub-Data, IIIT Hyderabad to support FinTech
The International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA) and IHub-Data, IIIT (International Institute of Information Technology)-Hyderabad have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at IIIT- Hyderabad campus in Hyderabad (Telangana) to collaborate on various initiatives regarding FinTech.
- Under this agreement, FinTechs and TechFins registered with IHub-Data, IIIT-Hyderabad will have facilitated access to IFSCA's Regulatory and Innovation Sandbox and can apply to the IFSCA (FinTech Incentive) Scheme, 2022.
Key points to note -
(i) IFSCA is responsible for the development and regulation of international financial services, including the insurance sector.
(ii) IHub-Data is a Technology Innovation Hub for Data Banks, Data Services, and Data Analytics at IIIT Hyderabad, established by IIIT Hyderabad under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) scheme, funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST).
- Its objective is to bring together different stakeholders in the research community, academics, government officials, industry leaders, incubating start-ups, and social science critics to enhance mutual collaboration.
8. HDFC Bank Smart Saathi: HDFC Bank rolls Out Digital Distribution Platform for BCs & BFs
HDFC Bank has introduced a digital distribution platform (DDP) called 'HDFC Bank Smart Saathi', aimed at connecting Business Correspondents (BCs) and Business Facilitators (BFs) to the bank. The launch, held in New Delhi, Delhi, was attended by Vivek Joshi, Secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS-Ministry of Finance), and Smita Bhagat, Group Head of Government and Institutional Business, Alternate Banking Channels and Partnerships, Inclusive Banking Group, and Start-Ups, HDFC Bank.
- The platform will facilitate HDFC Bank's agents and BCs in selling services, primarily in rural areas, by providing a secure and user-friendly experience. Additionally, it will allow agents to offer over 40 banking products and services, including loan products specifically designed for rural customers.
- HDFC Bank Smart Saathi is part of India's vision for a cashless economy and genuine digital financial inclusion, and over the next 12 to 18 months, HDFC Bank plans to reach two lakh villages through a combination of branches and agent networks. The platform will increase agents' income generation, provide easy credit access for customers, boost agents' capacity building, and enhance financial literacy for customers.
9. WhiteOak Capital Mutual Fund launches Multi-asset NFO with Old Tax benefits
White Oak Asset Management Company (AMC) announced on April 28, 2023, the launch of their new fund offer (NFO) called the 'White Oak Capital Multi Asset Allocation Fund'. This open-ended scheme will invest in multiple asset classes such as equity-related instruments, debt and gold instruments, and offers old tax benefits. The NFO subscription is available from May 03 to May 10, 2023, and has a minimum application amount of Rs 500, with multiples of Rs 1 thereafter. The scheme is open-ended and will reopen for buying later.
- Investors can opt for a systematic investment plan (SIP) amount of Rs 500 on a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly basis. If they choose the quarterly mode of SIP payment, the amount is Rs 1,500, with multiples of Rs 1 thereafter.
- Under the multi-asset allocation approach, the fund will allocate investments based on the relative attractiveness of various asset classes such as equity, foreign equities, debt, gold, silver, and money market securities. The fund will dynamically invest across these asset classes using their Internal Proprietary Model.
- The NFO scheme is eligible for Long Term Capital Gain Tax and indexation benefits on holding for over 3 years. The White Oak Capital Multi Asset Allocation Fund aims to achieve reasonable returns with moderate volatility over the medium- to long-term. This scheme offers an easier and tax-efficient way for investors to invest in various asset classes via a single mutual fund scheme.
Other News :
1. Badminton Asia Championships 2023 : Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy created history by clinching the men’s doubles gold medal at the 2023 Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) in Dubai. They defeated Teo Ee Yi and Ong Yew Sin of Malaysia in a thrilling final match.
- This was the first time an Indian pair won the men’s doubles title at the BAC, which is one of the prestigious continental tournaments. The last time India won a gold medal at the BAC was in 1965, when Dinesh Khanna triumphed in the men’s singles event.
- The 2023 BAC was held at the Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Indoor Hall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 25th to 30th April 2023. It was hosted by the United Arab Emirates Badminton Federation with sanctions from Badminton Asia.
- Shetty and Rankireddy also became the first Indian men’s doubles pair to reach the semi-finals of the BAC since Dipu Ghosh and Raman Ghosh, who won a bronze medal in 1971.
2. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez wins the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
On April 30th, 2023, Mexican racing driver Sergio Perez of Red Bull won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix Title at the Formula One 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix held from April 28th to 30th at the Baku City Circuit in Baku, Azerbaijan. Dutch-Belgian driver Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured 2nd position, and Monacan driver Charles Leclerc of Ferrari secured 3rd position.
- This was Perez's second Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory, with the first being in 2021. The Azerbaijan GP 2023 was the 4th of 23 rounds in the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship, which is the 74th edition of the F1 World Championship, with a circuit length of 6.003km and 51 laps.
3. Mahatma Gandhi’s Grandson Arun Manilal Gandhi, Author and Socio-Political Activist, Passed Away
Arun Manilal Gandhi, a renowned writer and social activist who was the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, died on May 2nd, 2023 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. He was born on April 14th, 1934 in Durban, South Africa to Manilal Gandhi and Sushila Mashruwala.
- He was the fifth grandchild of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the iconic leader of India's freedom struggle. He and his wife Sunanda Gandhi founded the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence in Memphis, Tennessee, USA in 1991. He authored several books such as "Kasturba: A Life" (2000), "The Forgotten Woman: The Untold Story of Kastur Gandhi, Wife of Mahatma Gandhi" (2016), and "The Gift: Ten spiritual lessons for the modern world from My Grandfather, Mahatma Gandhi" (2018).
4. World Press Freedom Day 2023 - 3rd May
The global community observes World Press Freedom Day on May 3 every year to highlight the vital role of a free and independent press in advancing human rights and democracy. The date marks the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a landmark document that affirmed the principles of press freedom in Africa in 1991. The theme of World Press Freedom Day 2023 is “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of Expression as a Driver for all other human rights”.
- This theme reflects the importance of freedom of expression as a foundational right that enables and protects all other human rights. In 2023, World Press Freedom Day will celebrate its 30th anniversary, recognizing the progress and challenges that have shaped the media landscape over the past three decades. The event will also honor the journalists who have sacrificed their lives in pursuit of truth and justice.
** World Press Freedom Index 2023 : India ranks 161
- Reporters Without Borders (RSF) published the 21st edition of the World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) on 3rd May 2023, which shows that India has fallen 11 places from 150th in 2022 to 161st out of 180 countries in terms of press freedom.
- The top five countries with the highest press freedom are Norway (1st), Ireland (2nd), Denmark (3rd), Sweden (4th) and Finland (5th), with Norway maintaining its lead for the seventh year in a row.
- The bottom three countries with the lowest press freedom are all from Asia: Vietnam (178th), China (179th) and North Korea (180th).
5. International Firefighters' Day 2023 - 4th May
The 4th of May is celebrated as International Firefighters' Day (IFFD) to honour and acknowledge the incredible work of firefighters in protecting people and property from fire. The day also pays tribute to the firefighters who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.
- The date coincides with St Florian's Day, the patron saint of firefighters.
- The symbol of IFFD is a ribbon with red and blue colours fused together. The red represents fire and the blue represents water, the two main elements that firefighters work with.
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