The ‘World Press Freedom Day’ is observed on 3rd May every year across the world to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The theme of the year 2017 is ‘Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies’.
Note: World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference.
Indian army successfully test fires Block-III version of BrahMos cruise missile
Indian Army (IA) has successfully test-fired an advanced (Block-III) version of the BrahMos land-attack cruise missile from a mobile autonomous launcher (MAL)in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
This was the fourth successive successful launch of the missile.
The test firing of the missile demonstrated the weapon's unmatched lethality of hitting the center of a designated target with bull's eye precision.
The missile can be launched from land, sea, sub-seas, and air.
Note:
BrahMos is a multi-stage missile having a solid propellant (first stage) and the ramjet liquid propellant (second stage).
The missile has been developed by the ‘BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited’, a joint venture between the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroeyenia and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) India.
UN report says India expected to achieve 7.1% growth this year
According to a UN report, the economic growth for India is projected to be stable at 7.1% in 2017 before edging up to 7.5% in 2018.
The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific(ESCAP) has launched its annual flagship report 'The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2017'.
Govt. to set up Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra at Rajghat
The union government will set up ‘Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra’ under Swachh Bharat Mission at Rajghat in New Delhi.
Under the mission, around four crore individual toilets have been created.
14 thousand crore rupees have earmarked for Swachh Bharat Mission in this year budget.
Madhya Pradesh becomes 1st state to shift to January to December financial year
Madhya Pradesh has become the first Indian state to switch to the January-December financial year from existing April-March cycle.
A decision to this effect has been taken at the state cabinet meeting in Bhopal.
This will break a 150-year old tradition of adopting the financial year from April to March.
AIIB approves $160 million loans for power project in Andhra Pradesh
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved $ 160 million loans for a power project in Andhra Pradesh.
It is the first credit from the bank for an Indian project.
It has been approved the project with the objective to strengthen the power transmission and distribution system in Andhra Pradesh.
Assam govt. to provide Rs 5000 each to divyangs for their development
The Assam government will provide Rs 5000 each to five lakh 'divyangs' for their development.
As per the 2011 census, there are 68 thousand divyangs in the state.
According to the Deputy Director of Social Welfare department Naba Kumar Tamuli,a survey is being conducted to know the exact number of divyangs in the state.
India’s Second Tallest Flag Pole inaugurated in Kolhapur
Maharashtra Chief Minister ‘Devendra Fadnavis’ has inaugurated the India’s second tallest flag pole (303 feet high) in Kolhapur (Maharashtra).
The pole has been constructed in the Police training academy garden as a part of the Kolhapur beautification project.
The country’s tallest flag pole (360 feet high) is located at the Indo-Pak Attari Border.
Ministry of Textiles observes Swachhta Pakhwada throughout the country
The Minister of State, Textiles 'Ajay Tamta' has inaugurated Swachhta Pakhwada(1st-15th May) in Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi.
The aim of the fortnight-long observance of programmes is to spread the message of cleanliness.
Dubai becomes the first city in world to get its own Microsoft Font
Dubai has become the first city in the world to get its own Microsoft Font.
The Dubai Font has been launched by Dubai's Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council 'Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The font can be downloaded from the ‘website: dubaifont.com’ and integrate it into the system for free.
Sunil Chhetri wins Hero of I-League 2016-17 Award
Indian professional footballer Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC) has won the coveted Hero of the League 2016-17 Award.
He won the most number of votes cast by coaches and the captains of the I-League teams.
Sunil Chhetri had scored seven goals for fourth-place finishers Bengaluru FC.
Aizawl FC coach Khalid Jamil has chosen as the Coach of the Year.
Padma Venkataraman gets Avvaiyar award
The Tamil Nadu chief minister ‘K Palaniswami’ honored ‘Padma Venkataraman’ (daughter of former President of India, the late R Venkataraman) with the state’s Avvaiyar Award 2017.
She has been honoured for her efforts in the areas of women’s welfare and rehabilitation of leprosy-affected persons for the past 30 years.
The award carried a cheque for Rs. one lakh, a gold medal weighing 8 gm, and a certificate.
Last year, the award was conferred to M Sarada Menon founder of Schizophrenia Care and research Foundation (SCARF) for the welfare of mentally challenged.
Note: The “Avvaiyar Award” was constituted by late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in 2012 to honour women actively working in the areas of social reform, women’s development, culture, media, inter-faith harmony, and administration, among others.