IMPORTANT DAYS

World Refugee Day 2024 observed on 20 May

• Every year, 20 May is observed as World Refugee Day.

• The theme for the 2024 World Refugee Day is: Hope Away from Home

• The day is dedicated to raising global awareness about the challenges faced by refugees forced to flee their homes due to various reasons such as war, persecution, violence, or economic hardships.

• The inaugural World Refugee Day took place on May 20, 2001, aiming to shine a spotlight on the struggles of refugees worldwide.

• 2001 marked the 50th anniversary of two pivotal international agreements: the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.

• These landmark agreements establish the legal framework for defining the rights of refugees and outlining the responsibilities of nations in providing assistance and protection to those fleeing persecution.

• By commemorating World Refugee Day, we honor the resilience of refugees and reaffirm our commitment to upholding their rights and providing support to those in need.

• India has not signed the 1951 Refugee Convention, but the UNHCR has been active in India since 1981.

AWARDS

Cannes 2024: India’s 1st crowdfunded movie ‘Manthan’ gets special screening

• "Manthan," India’s pioneering crowdfunded film, made its mark in cinematic history by being showcased in the esteemed Cannes Classic category at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

• This 48-year-old classic, featuring the iconic actress Smitha Patil, holds a special place in Indian cinema lore.

• The screening at Cannes drew attention from prominent figures such as veteran Bollywood actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, Prateik Babbar (Smitha Patil's son), Nirmala Kurien (daughter of Dr. Verghese Kurien), and Amul MD Jayan Mehta, who graced the red carpet with their presence.

• Their attendance underscored the enduring significance of the film and its profound connection to the dairy cooperative movement in India.

• Amul, the dairy behemoth associated with the film's production, shared captivating images of the event on Instagram, emphasizing the representation of 3.6 million farmer producers.

• Shyam Benegal's masterpiece 'Manthan' captivated audiences at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2024, further solidifying its place in cinematic history.

APPOINTMENTS

Senior IPS officers A.Y.V. Krishna, N. Venu Gopal appointed additional directors in CBI

• AYV Krishna and N Venu Gopal have been appointed additional directors in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

• Krishna, a 1995-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, is currently serving as Inspector General in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

• N Venu Gopal of Himachal Pradesh cadre is currently serving as Joint Director in CBI, will serve as an Additional Director till May 24, 2027.

• The appointment of AYV Krishna and N Venu Gopal underlines the commitment of the government to enhance CBI's investigative capabilities.

• With their extensive experience and proven track record in law enforcement, both officers are expected to make a significant contribution to the agency's mission of upholding justice and combating high-level crime.

• ONGC Videsh Limited, the overseas investment arm of ONGC, will play a key role in this venture, which will use its global energy market expertise to effectively explore and acquire critical mineral assets.

Mohammad Mokhber has been appointed as Interim President of Iran.

• Mohammad Mokhber, Iran's First Vice President, has been appointed as the Interim President following the recent vacancy in office.

• Assuming the responsibilities of the executive branch, Mokhber will serve as Interim President for a maximum duration of 50 days, as stipulated by the Islamic Republic’s constitution.

• In accordance with constitutional provisions, if the incumbent president passes away during their term, the first vice president assumes interim presidency for a specified period, subject to the approval of the Supreme Leader.

• A meeting was convened involving representatives from the government's three branches - the executive, legislative, and judiciary - to address the transition of power and ensure continuity in governance.

• Mohammad Mokhber assumed the role of First Vice President in 2021 following the election of President Raisi, and his appointment as Interim President marks a pivotal moment in Iran's political landscape.

STATE NEWS

Sikkim will introduce an Artificial Intelligence-driven traffic management system on May 25.

• Starting May 25, Sikkim will roll out an Artificial Intelligence-based traffic management system.

• The Sikkim transport department is spearheading the implementation of this cutting-edge system across the state.

• The primary objective is to modernize traffic management and enhance regulatory efficiency.

• Through AI technology, the system will autonomously verify documents and identify traffic violations.

• Vehicle owners are required to maintain updated vehicle documents as per government directives.

• Any discrepancies arising from e-challans must be reported to the Superintendent of Police (SP) or Regional Transport Officer (RTO) of the respective district.

SPORTS

World Para Athletics Championships 2024

• Nishad Kumar won a silver and Preethi Pal claimed a bronze medal as Indian participants excelled on the third day of competitions at the 2024 Para Athletics World Championship.

• Nishad Kumar set the ball rolling for India by clinching a silver medal in the Men’s High Jump T47 final with an impressive season-best mark of 1.99 metres.

• Preethi Pal then added to the tally by winning a bronze medal in the Women’s 200m T35 category, bringing India’s tally to two medals after Day 3 of competitions.

• India will be expecting another medal as Deepthi Jeevanji has qualified for the final of the Women’s 400m T20, setting a new Asian Record with a time of 56.18 seconds in the heats on Sunday.

• Meanwhile, Britain’s Sabrina Fortune broke the world record in the Women’s Shot Put F20 and won the gold medal.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy And Chirag Shetty Win Men’s Double Of The Thailand Open

• Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty secured victory in the Men’s Doubles event at the Thailand Open on May 19, 2024, triumphing over the Chinese duo of Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi with a commanding score of 21-15, 21-15 in straight sets.

• Prior to clinching the title, the Indian duo showcased their prowess by defeating Lu Ming-Che and Tang Kai-Wei of Chinese Taipei with a dominant performance, securing a 21-11, 21-12 victory to advance to the final of the tournament.

• The Thailand Open holds a significant place in the journey of Satwik and Chirag, as it was at this tournament in 2019 that they clinched their first Superseries or Super 500 level victory.

• As the top seeds in the competition and currently ranked third in the world, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty demonstrated their formidable skills and cemented their status as leading contenders in the international badminton scene.

Nikhat Zareen and Minakshi Clinch Gold Medals at Elorda Cup in Kazakhstan

• In Boxing, India’s reigning world champion, Nikhat Zareen and another boxer Minakshi clinched gold medals at the Elorda Cup 2024 in Astana, Kazakhstan.

• Nikhat in the women’s 52 kg category, triumphed over Zhazira Urakbayeva of Kazakhstan with a 5-Nil victory, while Minakshi defeated another Uzbekistan boxer Rahmonova Saidahon, 4-1 in the women’s 48 kg event.

• Meanwhile, Anamika in the 50kg and Manisha in the 60kg suffered losses to end their campaigns with silver medals. Anamika conceded a 1-4 loss against reigning world champion China’s Wu Yu while Manisha faced a nil-5 defeat against Kazakhstan’s Viktoriya Grafeeva.

• The Indian pugilists concluded their Elorda Cup 2024 campaign with 12 medals, including two gold, two silver and eight bronze medals.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Andhra-born Gopi Thotakura created history by becoming the first Indian space tourist.

• Gopi Thotakura, hailing from Andhra Pradesh, etched his name in history by becoming the inaugural Indian space tourist, marking a significant milestone for the nation.

• This remarkable achievement unfolded as Indian expatriate Gopi Thotakura joined the crew of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin's NS-25 mission, thereby becoming the second Indian to venture into space.

• On May 19, Blue Origin accomplished its seventh manned space flight and the 25th mission under the New Shepard program, showcasing the continued advancement of space exploration.

• Gopi Thotakura was part of a six-member crew, alongside individuals like Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hayes, Carroll Scholar, and former Air Force Captain Ed Dwight, contributing to a diverse and accomplished team.

• Each astronaut embarked on their journey equipped with a postcard from Blue Origin's foundation, the Club for the Future, which aims to inspire and cultivate future generations to pursue careers in STEAM fields for the betterment of our planet.

• Notably, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, a former pilot in the Indian Air Force, became the first Indian civilian to venture into space in 1984, marking another significant moment in India's space exploration journey.

America’s first Black astronaut candidate goes to space

• America's pioneering Black astronaut candidate embarked on a historic journey into space aboard one of Jeff Bezos' rocket companies.

• 90-year-old Ed Dwight joined five other passengers on a Blue Origin capsule as it soared into the cosmos, marking a significant moment in space exploration.

• Ed Dwight's journey traces back to President John F. Kennedy's era, who initially selected him, an Air Force pilot, as the candidate for NASA's inaugural Astronaut Corps in 1963. However, he was ultimately not chosen for the final flight.

• Until 1978, NASA did not select black astronauts, and in 1983, Guion Bluford became the first African American in space.

• Three years earlier, the Soviets had launched the first black astronaut, Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, a Cuban citizen of African descent.

• In 2021, "Star Trek" actor William Shatner was the oldest man to go into space.

• Now, Dwight became the new record holder for the oldest person in space after the quick trip from West Texas.