Current affairs 4th may 2021 (The Hindu)

 No GST on imports of vaccine, medical oxygen

Relief for only certified global donors  

Imports of COVID­19 relief material, including vaccines, medical oxygen and Remde­sivir vials, will get a condi­tional ‘ad­hoc’ Goods andServices Tax (GST) exemp­tion till June 30.

New Parliament project gets Central Vista panel nod

• The Indian government’s plan to construct a new Parliament building was recently approved by the Central Vista Committee. 
• The committee is chaired by Central Public Works Department (CPWD) additional director general (works). 
• The committee met through videoconferencing. 

• The construction of a new Parliament is a part of the larger revamp of the entire 3-km Central Vista from Rashtrapati Bhavan till India Gate. 
• The project was proposed by the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry and its construction agency, the CPWD. 
• The plan includes constructing a new triangular Parliament opposite the existing heritage structure and building a central secretariat for all Ministries.
• These projects togethercost
•  about ₹13,500 crore

 Tanzanian diplomat dies of COVID­19  

A Tanzanian official has become the first foreign diplomat to die of COVID-19 pandemic in India. The High Commission of Tanzania has announced that Col. Dr. Moses Beatus Mlula, Defence Adviser of Tanzania, died on April 28 at the Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt. 

German philosopher Habermas rejects UAE’s Zayed Book   Award

                                            Juergen Habermas

The prominent German philosopher Juergen Habermas said Sunday he will not accept a high-priced literary award from the United Arab Emirates, reversing an earlier decision.

The 91-year-old, who is considered Germany's most eminent contemporary philosopher, told the German news site Spiegel Online that “I declared my willingness to accept this year's Sheikh Zayed Book Award. That was a wrong decision, which I correct hereby.”

IDBI Bank back in black in FY21 after five years

LIC-controlled IDBI Bank turned profitable in the fiscal ended March after five years, posting a net profit of ₹1,359 crore for the year.

In 2019-20, the lender had posted a net loss of ₹12,887 crore. IDBI Bank is back in black after five years, said the lender

Rabi Sankar takes charge as RBI Dy. Gov.

    T Rabi Sankar on Monday assumed the charge as new Deputy Governor of the RBI for a period of three years, the central bank said.

    Sankar has filled the vacancy created after the retirement of BP Kanungo on April 2. The  other three Deputy Governors are Michael D Patra, Mukesh Kumar Jain and Rajeshwar Rao.

Sugar output rises by 41 lakh tonnes: ISMA

Sugar mills have produced 299.2 lakh tonnes of sugar between October 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021. This is 41 lakh tonnes higher than 258.1 lakh tonnes produced during the same period last sugar season, according to the Indian Sugar Mills’ Association (ISMA).

Thisara Perera retires

Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera on Monday announced his retirement from international cricket. The 32-year-old featured in six Tests, 166 ODIs, and 84 T20Is. He tasted the most accomplishment in the ODI cricket, scoring 2338 runs and scalping175 wickets. 

2021 Tokyo Olympics | Pranati Nayak qualifies becomes first Indian gymnast to qualify for the Games

Pranati Nayak, who had claimed a bronze in vault at the Asian artistic gymnastic championships in 2019, is set to compete at the Tokyo Olympics after qualifying through the continental quota.

The 26-year-old from West Bengal, the second reserve behind Sri Lanka’s Elpitiya Badalge Dona Milka Geh for the Asian quota, became eligible to compete from the zone following the cancellation of the senior Asian championships, scheduled to be held from May 29 in Hangzhou (China), due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

P.V. Sindhu for ‘Believe in Sports’ campaign

Sindhu and Li have been global ambassadors for the Badminton World Federation ‘I Am Badminton’ campaign since April 2020.