IMPORTANT DAYS

World Red Cross Day 2024 observed on 8 May

• World Red Cross Day is observed on May 8th every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and to celebrate the humanitarian work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement worldwide.

• He became the first recipient of the 1st Nobel Peace Prize.

• The theme of this year's World Red Cross Day is - I give with joy, and the joy I give is a reward.

• The day serves as a reminder to people about the importance of compassion, love, affection, support and treatment.

INDEX AND RANKINGS

India surpassed Japan as the world's third-largest producer of solar power.

•Ember, a leading global energy think tank, recently unveiled a groundbreaking report highlighting India's remarkable ascent in solar power production.

• The report reveals that in 2023, India outpaced Japan to claim the prestigious title of the world's third-largest solar power producer.

• India's journey began in 2015, when it ranked ninth in solar energy deployment, marking a remarkable trajectory of growth.

• In a significant milestone, solar energy accounted for a record 5.5% of the world's electricity generation in 2023, underscoring its pivotal role in the global energy landscape.

• Within India, solar power contributed 5.8% to the nation's electricity mix, a testament to its growing importance in the country's energy portfolio.

• For the nineteenth year in a row, solar energy has been the fastest-growing electricity source in the world.

• In 2023, it generated more than twice as much new electricity globally as coal.

• In terms of global solar generation growth in 2023, India ranked fourth (+18 terawatt hour, or TWh).

• India lagged behind the China (+156 TWh), the United States (+33 TWh) and Brazil (+22 TWh).

• Seventy-five percent of the growth in 2023 came from the top four solar-growth countries combined.

• According to Ember, the world's solar generation increased by more than six times between 2015 and 2023.

Mumbai and Delhi listed among the top 50 richest cities in the world.

• Mumbai with the 24th position and Delhi with the 37th position made it into the top 50 world's wealthiest cities in 2024.

• The latest rankings of the world's wealthiest cities have been released by Henley & Partners and New World Health.

•New York is in the top spot among the top 50 wealthiest cities in the world.

• Among the top 50, 11 cities are from the USA. London (5th) and Los Angeles (6th) have witnessed declines or modest growth compared to a decade ago.

• Five out of the top 10 wealthiest cities are from the Asia-Pacific region. Tokyo (3rd), Singapore (4th), and Beijing (10th) are in the top 10.

• Beijing has made it into the Top 10 for the first time.

• A 90% surge in millionaires number occurred in the last ten years.

• Singapore is also one of the world’s top destinations for migrating millionaires.

• Seven of the ten fastest-growing millionaire cities are located in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

STATE NEWS

Manipur Governor launched a 'School on Wheels' initiative.

• In a commendable effort to bridge educational gaps in the aftermath of ethnic violence, Manipur Governor AnusuiyaUikey has launched the innovative 'School on Wheels' initiative.

• This initiative aims to provide education to students residing in relief camps across the state.

• The mobile school, equipped with a library, smart TV, computer facilities, and sports items, will be accompanied by dedicated teachers, ensuring educational continuity for the affected children.

• The VidyaBharatiShikshaVikasSamiti is implementing the initiative.

• About 18,000 students are presently staying in 480 relief camps.

• Ethnic violence that started on May 3 of last year resulted in thousands of people being displaced from their homes and over 219 deaths.

Uttarakhand CM Dhami launched the 'Pirul Lao-PaisePao' campaign.

• The Uttarakhand government has launched the Pirul Lao-PaisePao campaign to contain the raging forest fire in the state.

• He kicked off the campaign in Rudraprayagdistrict.

• He directed people to take part in the Pirul Lao-PaisePao campaign to prevent forest fires.

• The Supreme Court recently expressed concern about the raging forest fire in the state, which has already killed five people.

• Under this campaign, the Pirul (leaves from the Pine Tree) lying in the forest will be collected by the local villagers and youth.

• It will be weighed and then stored at the designated Pirul Collection Centre.

• The forest fires have already destroyed trees, medicinal plants and wildlife in the area, besides creating air pollution due to thick smoke and soot.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Astronaut Sunita Williams to go to space for the third time

• Sunita Williams, an Indian-origin astronaut, will embark on her third space mission as the pilot aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft.

• This mission marks a significant milestone as it is the first crewed test flight for the Starliner, signifying a crucial step forward in human spaceflight capabilities.

• Williams will join NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore on the journey to the International Space Station (ISS).

• Their mission underscores the enduring collaboration between nations in space exploration, with the ISS serving as a symbol of international cooperation and scientific research in microgravity environments.