Gr8AmbitionZ.

com’s
3rd May 2019 Current Affairs

Dear Great Ambitionists, here are today's (3rd May 2019) Important Current Affairs updates. Happy
Reading :)

International Current Affairs

 Today (3rd May) is World Press Freedom Day.

o This day is being observed every year to draw focus on the freedom of information,
protecting journalism from censorship, and ensuring safety for journalists.
o This day marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, a statement of free press
principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991.
o Theme of World Press Freedom Day 2019 : ‘Media for Democracy: Journalism and
Elections in Times of Disinformation’
 Pakistan has imposed a ban on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar after he was listed as a
Global Terrorist at the United Nations Security Council.
o Following the UN move, Pakistan had said that it would immediately take action against
Azhar, which includes a travel ban, freezing his assets and an embargo on the sale of arms.

National Current Affairs

 Cyclone Fani, which is said to be the most severe cyclonic storm since the super cyclone of 1999,
has hit Odisha's Puri today.
o Ahead of the landfall, over 10 lakh people were evacuated and alerts were sounded in
Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal too.
o Indian Navy and Coast Guard have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue
operations.
o Important Points to Note :

For more study materials visit us at www.Gr8AmbitionZ.com

 The name of Cyclone Fani, which loosely translates to "hood of a snake" in Bengali,
was suggested by Bangladesh and was picked from a pre-determined list.
 For tropical cyclones over North Indian Ocean, 8 countries including India, Myanmar,
Pakistan and Oman have submitted eight names each.
 Names given by India are Agni, Akash, Bijli, Jal, Lehar, Megh, Sagar and Vayu.
 As per Ministry of Water Resources, the Water Storage Level available in 91 major Indian
reservoirs for week ending on 2 May 2019 was 40.592 BCM (Billion cubic meters), which is 25%
of total storage capacity of these reservoirs.
o This was at 26% for week ending on April 25, 2019.
o This shows decline in water storage level by 1%.

Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

 India's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has linked its interest rates on large savings account
deposits and some short-term loans to the RBI's repo rate effective May 1.
o The bank is now offering interest of 3.25% per annum on savings accounts with deposits
above ₹1 lakh.
o Cash credit accounts and overdrafts with limits above ₹1 lakh will attract an interest of 8.25%
per annum.
 Bandhan Bank CEO Chandra Shekhar Ghosh today announced that the lender is going to reduce its
promoter holding to mandated level of 40% through offer-for-sale route.
o The RBI had restricted the lender's branch expansion over failure to bring promoter stake
within regulatory limits.
o Bandhan Bank is set to acquire Gruh Finance, a move which would reduce promoter
holding to 61% from the present 82%.
1
Gr8AmbitionZ.com’s
3rd May 2019 Current Affairs

 The Central Public Sector undertaking Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has
successfully commissioned two motor - pump set units for the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation
Scheme (LIS) in Telangana.
o Under the scheme, 89 cumecs (cubic metres per second) of water will be lifted to a height of
106 metres from the Sripada Yellampalli reservoir to Medaram reservoir and will be used for
irrigation and water supply in nearby drought-prone areas.
 The annual Sino-Indian border trade today commenced with the opening of the Nathula Gate with
Chinese and Indian officials exchanging ceremonious scarves (Khadas) at the border.
o Principal secretary, commerce and industries, Thomas Chandy, attended the opening
ceremony with various top government officials and 7 executive members of Nathula Border
Traders’ Association.
o With this, the Chinese and and Indian traders will start selling their wares across their
borders.
o The Chinese traders come to Sherathang in India near Nathula Pass to sell their items, while
the Indians trade at the Rienchengang in the Tibetan Autonomous Region(TAR).

MOUs & Agreements

 To commemorate 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on 2nd October 2019, the Office of
Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to Government of India and Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
(IIT Delhi) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a move to come together and to bring
best of science and technology to implement waste management by setting up a Centre of
Excellence for Waste to Wealth Technologies in India.

Deaths

For more study materials visit us at www.Gr8AmbitionZ.com

 Actor Peter Mayhew (74), who played the character Chewbacca in several installations of the 'Star
Wars' film franchise, has passed away.
o Mayhew last featured as Chewbacca in the 2015 film 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'.

Awards & Honors

 American golfer Tiger Woods will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from US President
Donald Trump next Monday.
 Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today released a Postage stamp to commemorate the 750th birth
anniversary of Sri Vedanta Desikan in New Delhi.
o Speaking on the ocassion, Mr Naidu said, the textbooks must throw light on the lives of great
saints and spiritual icons such as Sri Vedanta Desikan so that children internalize and practice
the lofty ideals of humanism, peace and compassion propagated by them.

New Appointments

 The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has hired Sanjay Ubale, head of infrastructure and urban
solutions at Tata Sons, as its policy director for India.
o As a policy director, Ubale will oversee the Seattle-based charity's healthcare, poverty
alleviation and educational activities in the country.

Sports Current Affairs

 Wrestler Bajrang Punia defeated Viktor Rassadin in the finals of men's 65kg freestyle in Ali Aliev
wrestling tournament in Russia's Kaspiisk.
2
Gr8AmbitionZ.com’s
3rd May 2019 Current Affairs

o Note : This is his to bag his second title in two weeks. He had won gold medal at the Asian
Championships in China's Xi'an on April 23.
 Spanish midfielder Xavi Hernandez, who made a record 767 appearances for Barcelona and 133 for
Spain's national team, has announced that he will retire from football at the end of the current season
 Unseeded Indian shuttler H S Prannoy defeated second seed Tommy Sugiarto to enter the quarter-
finals of New Zealand Open.
 India retained its Top position in the ICC Test rankings, while England remained the number one
ODI side in the latest annual d rankings released in Dubai today.
o India also moved two points in second position in the ODI rankings behind England.

For more study materials visit us at www.Gr8AmbitionZ.com

For more Study Materials and Daily, Weekly & Monthly Current Affairs please visit us at

www.Gr8AmbitionZ.com
your A to Z competitive exam guide