Current Affairs - May 6, 2020 Current Affairs

US-based Silver Lake buys 1.15% stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 5,656 cr.

Three Indian journalists have been honoured with the "Pulitzer Prize 2020" in the field of feature photography. The names of the three prize winners are Dar Yasin, Mukhtar Khan, and Channi Anand. The results were announced virtually on 4 May. The award was announced 15 Journalism categories and seven Book, Drama, and Music categories.

The Global Network against Food Crisis released the Global Report on Food Crisis (GRFC) 2020. The report stated that around 135 million people are living under the food crisis. According to Global Report on Food Crisis, 2020, Yemen was the hardest-hit nation in 2019 with 15.9 million people under food crisis, which is almost 53 percent of its population.

The US President Donald Trump has nominated Indian-American lawyer Ashok Michael Pinto as a representative to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the World Bank's lending arm. He was nominated for the post of the US Alternate Executive Director of IBRD for a term of two years. If confirmed, he would replace Erik Bethel, who has resigned from the post.

The Indian Navy has launched 'Samudra Setu' operation as a part of the nation's efforts to bring back Indian citizens from abroad. The operation's name means 'sea bridge'. Under the operation, INS Jalashwa and Magar have departed for the port of Male in the Maldives to begin the evacuation of Indian citizens.

Lieutenant General Raj Shukla assumed command of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) on 1 May 2020.

Poynter Institute's International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) launched a WhatsApp chatbot that has been built to curb spread of misinformation, particularly during COVID-19 pandemic.

International Firefighters Day is observed on 4 May. The day aims to remember those firefighters who have died while serving the community or dedicated their lives to protecting the safety of all.

Government suspends all visas, bars travel by OCI card holders. The government has suspended all the existing visas, except for a few exceptions, granted to foreign nationals till international air travel remains suspended to and from India due to coronavirus pandemic. The Home Ministry has also barred travel by Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders till international travel remains suspended.

Tripura state government has launched a Whatsapp number, which people can use to launch complaints regarding corruption. Tripura's Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has promised to take the necessary actions within 24 hours itself.

Google said it had blocked and removed 2.7 billion 'bad advertisements' globally in 2019, and suspended nearly one million advertiser accounts for policy violations as part of its efforts to protect users from misleading ads.

The Delhi state government imposed a 'Special Corona Fee' on liquor. As per the announcement, 70% of the maximum retail price (MRP) will be charged for all categories of liquor that will be sold in the city with effect from 5 May. The fee was approved by Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. Also, a notification was later issued by the Delhi government's finance department.

Russia announced that it is to launch the country's first Arktika-M satellite from the Baikonur space center on 9 December 2020. The announcement was made by the General Director of the Lavochkin aerospace company Vladimir Kolmykov.The number one Arktika-M spacecraft which has been developed is undergoing radio-electronic testing. The satellite will be used for monitoring the Arctic climate and the environment.

The Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal held a video conference with the promoters of the completed Integrated Cold Chain Projects on 4 May. The promoters of 38 cold chain projects participated in the Video Conference.The projects are supported by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) in Maharashtra.

Ministry of Commerce recommends continuation of anti-dumping duty on Chinese chemical. The Commerce Ministry has recommended the continuation of anti-dumping duty on a Chinese chemical that is used in the food and pharma industry. The ministry's investigation arm, Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) informed that there is "positive" evidence that removal of the existing anti-dumping duty on Chinese chemical Sodium Citrate would cause injury to the domestic industry.

World Asthma Day is celebrated on 5 May 2020. The day aims to raise awareness, care, and support for those affected by asthma. The primary focus of the day is to support the person with asthma, family, friends, and caregivers. Every year the day is observed on the first Tuesday of May month.

Israel has successfully isolated a key coronavirus antibody at its main biological research laboratory in a breakthrough development. The "monoclonal neutralising antibody" was developed by the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR). It can reportedly neutralise the COVID-19 virus inside the carriers' bodies.

SIDBI to launch 'India SME Services Platform' to give MSMEs information about starting operations, getting finance or credit enhancement and other support services.

The Union Minister of State (IC) for Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya reported that the Jan Aushadi Kendras are playing a vital role in the COVID-19 situation. Around 10 lakh persons per day are visiting 6000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras to source quality medicines at affordable prices. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendra (PMBJP) is an initiative launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Government of India.

China's new Long March 5B carrier rocket took its maiden flight on May 5, 2020 carrying the trial version of the country's new-generation manned spaceship and a cargo return capsule for test into space. The large white rocket blasted off from Wenchang Space Launch Centre in China's island province of Hainan. Around 488 seconds later, the experimental spacecraft with no crew separated from the rocket and entered its planned orbit along with the cargo return capsule.