Daily Current Affairs 7th May, 2021

Daily Current Affairs 7 May 2021 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Haryana govt launches Ayurvedic tele-medicine facility for Corona patients
Haryana Government has launched Ayurvedic telemedicine facility for Corona patients. Health Minister Anil Vij said that any patient can consult the Ayurvedic Doctors on phone by dialling 1075.

• The facility has been launched after verifying the response of Ayurvedic medicines used on Corona patients.
• He said, a call centre has been set up to run it and teams of senior Ayurvedic Doctors have been appointed for consultation, who will provide service from 8 am to 10 pm. 

Andhra Pradesh govt ties up with Essar to develop steel plant in Kadapa
The Andhra Pradesh government decided to select Essar Steel Limited as the joint venture partner for setting up a three million tonne per annum capacity steel plant in Kadapa district.The project capex of the project is Rs 11,606 crore.

• The state Cabinet cancelled its previous resolution, made on February 23, selecting Liberty Steel India Limited as the JV partner for construction and development of the YSR Steel Plant.

Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur launches dedicated COVID-19 ‘Mukhyamantri Sewa Sanklap Helpline 1100’ in Shimla
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched dedicated COVID-19 Helpline ‘Mukhyamantri Sewa Sanklap Helpline 1100’ for facilitating the people regarding COVID related issues in Shimla.

• The callers can call on toll free number 1100  from 7 am to 10 pm for seeking help regarding COVID related issues.
• The call executive would register the complaint and contact concerned authorities for providing necessary help to the person regarding various issues such as test, vaccination, home quarantine, medicines, ambulance and Oxygen.

Gujarat Unit of Ayurveda Vyaspeeth launches “Ayurvedic Doctors on Call” service to serve Covid patients
Gujarat Unit of Ayurveda Vyaspeeth has launched an “Ayurvedic Doctors on Call” service to serve the Covid patients in the state.

• Under this service, 170 Ayurvedic doctors will give free Ayurvedic consultations to the Covid patients on phone calls.
• The aim of this service is to provide proper guidance to the patients, so that the burden on the hospitals can be eased. Similar services will be launched in Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad very soon.

LG Manoj Sinha approves further release of Rs 250 crore as Interest Subvention in J&K
In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha approved the further release of Rs 250 crore as Interest Subvention, part of economic package for revival of business and industry in J&K. The LG handed over a cheque of the said amount to J&K Bank as third instalment of the 5 per cent Interest Subvention.

• The UT Govt. had already released Rs 500 crore so far, and another instalment of Rs 250 crore rupees as 5 per cent Interest Subvention was released as part of the overall package of Rs 1353 crore. The Interest Subvention has so far provided immense relief to 3.44 lakh borrowers in the current COVID-19 crisis.

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik declares journalists as frontline Covid warriors
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik declared working journalists of the state as frontline Covid warriors.

• While approving a proposal to this effect, the chief minister said, journalists are doing a great service to the state by providing seamless news feed and making people aware of coronavirus-related issues.
• Odisha has also announced an ex gratia of Rs 15 lakh for the next of kin of journalists who die of COVID-19 while performing their duty.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

The world’s longest pedestrian bridge opens in Portugal
The world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge named “Arouca” was opened in Portugal.

• The Arouca Bridge offers a half-kilometre (almost 1,700-foot) walk across its span, along a metal walkway suspended from cables. Some 175 meters (574 feet) below, the Paiva River flows through a waterfall.
• The bridge hangs on steel cables strung between V-shaped concrete towers and connects the banks of the Paiva River.

US puts India on priority watch list- ustr special 301 report
The United States placed India and eight other countries on the Priority Watch List for IP protection and enforcement.

• The other countries that have been put on the list are Argentina, Chile, China, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Venezuela.
• In its “Special 301 Report” on the adequacy and effectiveness of US trading partners’ protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said these countries will be the subject of intense bilateral engagement during the coming year.

BANKING & FINANCE

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Global FDI reached 15-year low in 2020, China overtakes US: OECD data
Global foreign direct investment flows ebbed to a 15-year low last year and China, one of the few major economies to eke out growth, overtook the United States as the top destination, OECD data showed.

• As the coronavirus wreaked havoc on the global economy, global FDI flows dropped 38% in 2020 to $846 billion, the lowest level since 2005, according to the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.That represented only 1% of global gross domestic product, a level not seen since 1999.
• China surpassed the United States last year as the leading destination for foreign investment while large parts of the world’s biggest economy were shut down due to the pandemic.
• India and Luxembourg, where many shell companies are legally registered, followed as top destinations for inflows, the OECD said.

Credit Suisse cuts FY22 GDP forecast to 8.5-9%
Credit Suisse has sharply lowered its real GDP growth forecast for this fiscal year to around 8.5-9 per cent, citing economic disruptions in the country due to the raging second wave that is likely to shave 100-150 bps growth off the economy.

• The Swiss brokerage has also warned that it will delay the economy reaching potential growth rate by an additional two-three years beyond 2022-23.

SPORTS

AICF launches initiative to help chess community fight COVID-19
The All India Chess Federation launched the ‘Checkmate Covid Initiative’ to help the chess community affected by the pandemic.The initiative was launched at an online event.

• The AICF said the idea is to not just help the chess community affected by COVID through financial aid, but also have a team of doctors that works round-the-clock to provide the right assistance.

India 2nd in ICC T20 rankings, drop to 3rd in ODI chart after annual update
India retained the second place in the ICC Twenty20 team rankings but dropped a rung to third in the ODI chart following the annual update carried out

• India are trailing top-ranked England (277) by five rating points in the T20 team rankings. New Zealand have also gained in the annual T20I update, moving up from fifth to third after series wins over the West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and Bangladesh. Australia have moved the other way, down from third to fifth.
• In the annual update of the ODI Team rankings, India dropped a place to third behind Australia and new table toppers New Zealand. The Kiwis have replaced reigning world champions England as the number one ranked side in the ODI rankings.

APPOINTMENTS

NR Congress Chief N Rengasamy sworn in as CM of Puducherry
In Puducherry, Mr. N. Rangasamy was sworn in as the Chief Minister by the Lt. Governor of Puducherry Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan. He is the 20th Chief Minister of the Union Territory.

• This is the fourth time, Mr. Rangasamy is becoming the Chief Minister of the Union Territory.
• The AINRC bagged 10 seats out of the 16 it contested in the April 6 polls while the BJP garnered six out of the nine seats it contested.The AINRC and BJP have a combined strength of 16.

AWARDS

‘Jungle Cry’ Wins Best Film Award At Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival 2021
Jungle Cry won the Best Film (Jury) award at the 11th Dada Saheb Phalke International Film Festival 2021.

• Based on the inspiring true story of 12 students from Kalinga Institute (KISS) ‘Jungle Cry’ follows their triumphant journey to the International Junior Rugby Tournament held in the UK in 2007.

Pop singer Pink to be honoured with Icon Award at Billboard Music Awards
Singer Pink will be honoured with the Icon Award at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs).

• The award aims to recognise artistes who have achieved success on the Billboard charts and left an indelible impact on music.
• Pink joins previous honourees that include Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion, Cher, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Garth Brooks.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

SpaceX’s Star Wars Day launch puts 60 Starlink satellites in orbit, lands rocket
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a full stack of 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit and then stuck its landing at sea to top off a successful mission.

• The veteran Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Pad 39A here at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida marking the company’s 13th launch of the year.
• The 229-foot-tall (70 meters) rocket is named after the Millennium Falcon — the iconic ship in the “Star Wars” franchise piloted by Han Solo. It’s payload? A full stack of 60 flat-paneled broadband satellites called Starlink.

OBITUARIES

Mahatma Gandhi’s Personal Secretary Kalyanam passes away
Mahatma Gandhi’s former personal secretary V Kalyanam died in Chennai due to old age-related ailments. He was 99.

• He was part of quit India movement and they became Mahatma’s secretary in 1943, One of the few who witnessed the assassination of MK Gandhi in 1948.
• A staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi, he was also associated with Rajaji in the 1960s.

Olympia Dukakis, Oscar-winning ‘Moonstruck’ actress, passes away
Actress Olympia Dukakis passed away in New York City. She was 89.

• Olympia had won an Academy Award for her role in Moonstruck.She performed in over 60 films, and in 50 television series.
• Apart from her TV and film appearances, Dukakis was a part of more than 130 off-Broadway productions as well as Broadway plays.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

BENGAL 2021: An Election Diary by Deep Halder
The book titled “Bengal 2021: An Election Diary” , written by journalist and author Deep Halder has been released recently.

• Deep Halder’s Bengal 2021: An Election Diary offers to the Bengal voters and those interested in Bengal politics a socio-political toolkit to analyse their garbled political opinions and structure their thoughts before and after the elections.

Meghan Markle announces her Children’s Book ‘The Bench’  
Former Hollywood actress turned royal Meghan Markle announced her new book, titled The Bench, will be released in June.

• The Bench is a children’s book inspired by her family about the relationship between a father and son.

IMPORTANT DAYS

BRO celebrates 61st Raising Day
Border Roads Organisation, BRO is celebrating its 61st Raising Day on May 7,2021.

• Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is conducting motorcycle expedition in Northeast to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence in a befitting manner and as part of the overall “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations of GoI.

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