1 Iran’s President Raisi dies in helicopter crash
On May 20, Iran ‘s government news agency IRNA informed about the death of President Ibrahim Raisi . While returning from Azerbaijan, his helicopter crashed at 7 pm last Sunday. There were 9 people on board, including Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdullahian . Everyone died in the accident. The helicopter crashed near the Iranian city of Varzeghan, which is a mountainous area near the border with Azerbaijan. Rescue agencies conducted search operations there throughout the night amidst heavy rain, fog and severe cold. Raisi had gone to inaugurate a dam with Azerbaijan ‘s President Ilham Aliyev on the morning of 19 May . Iran’s stock market stopped trading after Raisi’s death. Ibrahim Raisi became the President of Iran in 2021. Raisi was the first president of Iran who was banned by America.
2 Vice President Mohammad Mokhbar was appointed acting President in Iran.
Iran ‘s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed Vice President Mohammad Mokhbar as the acting President . This decision has been taken after the death of President Ibrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Raisi became the President of the country in 2021. Five days of national mourning has been declared on his death. According to the present system, elections for the post of President will have to be held within 50 days.
3 Gopi Thotakura became the first Indian tourist to go to space
On May 19, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ‘ space company Blue Origin sent 6 people to space on the New Shepard rocket . These include Gopi Thotakura of Andhra Pradesh . Blue Origin’s 7th human spaceflight NS-25 lifts off from satellite launch in West Texas. 30 year old Gopi has become the first Indian to go to space as a tourist . Who graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida and studied Aviation Management at Emirates Aviation University in Dubai. Gopi has worked as an international medical jet pilot. Apart from commercial jets, Gopi also flies bush, aerobatic and seaplanes, gliders and hot air balloons. Apart from Gopi Thotakura, Blue Origin has sent 5 more people to travel in space. These include Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hayes, Carroll Scholar and former US Air Force Captain Ed Dwight. Jeff Bezos founded the space company Blue Origin in the year 2000. Blue Origin has more than 3500 employees at its headquarters in Washington.
4 55-year-old Indian mountaineer Jyoti Atre conquers Everest
On May 19 , Jyoti Ratre of Bhopal became the oldest Indian woman to climb the world’s highest peak Mount Everest . 55-year-old Jyoti set a new record by reaching a height of 8848.86 meters in her second attempt. Earlier in 2023, she had to return from a height of 8160 meters due to bad weather. She was part of a 15-member team led by Bolivian mountaineer David Hugo Ayaviri Quispe. Jyoti has also climbed many peaks including Elbrus, Kilimanjaro, Island Peak and Kosciusko . Jyoti has broken the 6-year-old record of 53-year-old Sangeeta Bahl. Sangeeta Bahl had won the title of India’s oldest woman to climb Mount Everest on 19 May 2018.
5 Sanjeev Puri becomes president of CII
On May 19, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) appointed Sanjeev Puri as the new President. Sanjeev’s appointment by R. Dinesh , who is the chairman of TVS ‘s Supply Chain Solutions division. Sanjeev Puri is the Chairman and Managing Director of ITC Limited . He is also the Chairman of ITC Infotech India Limited, subsidiary companies in UK and USA. In 2017, Sanjeev was appointed Chairman of Surya Nepal Private Limited Company. CII appointed R Mukundan as Vice President.
6 Deepti Jeevanji made world record in 400 meter race of T-20
On May 20, in the World Para Athletics Championship, India’s Deepti Jeevanji won the gold medal with a world record in the 400 meter race of T-20 . He completed the 400 meter race in 55.07 seconds . Deepti broke the record of 55.12 seconds set by American athlete Brenna Clark . Aysel Onder of Türkiye finished second with 55.19 seconds. Ecuador’s Lijanshela Angulo finished third with a timing of 56.68 seconds. Deepti Jeevanji had won the gold medal for India in the Asian Para Games in 2023. Those athletes who are mentally weak are included in the T-20 category.
7. Manchester City won the title of 2023-24 in the English Premier League (EPL)
On May 19, England ‘s football club Manchester City won the 2023-24 title in the English Premier League (EPL) . Manchester defeated West Ham 3-1. Manchester has won the EPL trophy for the 8th time in total . Phil Foden scored two goals and Rodri scored one for Manchester City. Kudus scored the only goal for West Ham in the 42nd minute of the match. City registered its 28th win in 38 matches in the league and became the champion by finishing on top with 91 points. Manchester City became the first team to win the English League title four times in a row.
8 Badminton: India’s Sukant Kadam, Tarun and Suhas qualify for Paralympics to be held in Paris
India’s leading para shuttlers Sukant Kadam, Tarun and Suhas have secured a place for themselves in the Paralympics to be held in Paris . Sukant Kadam will be participating in the Paralympics for the first time and will play in the men’s SL-Four category. This is the category in which players have disabilities in their legs. Tarun and Suhas have also qualified from the same category.
9 India wins Cup 12 medals at Elorda
Two-time world champions Nikhat Zareen and Meenakshi won two gold medals for India at the 3rd Elorda Cup 2024 . The Indian contingent finished the Elorda Cup with 12 medals – 2 gold, 2 silver and 8 bronze . The 3rd Elorda Cup was held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan . A 21-member boxing contingent was sent by the Boxing Federation of India to participate in the 3rd Elorda Cup. India’s No. 1 female boxer Nikhat Zareen won her gold medal at the ElRoda Cup by defeating Kazakhstan’s Zazira Urakbayeva 5-0 in the final. Nikhat Zareen, born in Nizamabad, Telangana, was competing in the 52 kg category. In another final, Meenakshi of Hisar, Haryana defeated 20-year-old Saidakhon Rakhmonova of Uzbekistan 4-1 in the 48 kg category to win the first gold medal of the competition for India. In the 50kg category, Anamika settled for a silver medal after losing 1-4 to current world and Asian champion Wu Yu of China in the final on the last day of the Elorda Cup. In the day’s other final, Manisha lost 0-5 to Kazakhstan’s Victoria Grafieva in the 60kg category. Manisha won the silver medal while Victoria Grafeeva of Kazakhstan won the gold medal.
10 Alexander Zverev and Iga Swiatek win singles titles at the Italian Open
Alexander Zverev won the singles title of the 2024 Italian Open tennis tournament while the women’s singles title was won by world number 1 player Iga Swiatek . This was the second Italian Open title for Alexander Zverev while it was the third Italian title for Iga Swiatek . German Alexander Zverev won the 2024 Italian Open Masters 1000 title by defeating Chilean Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-5 in straight sets, playing his first Masters final. This was also Zverev’s second Italian Open title. This was Alexander Zverez’s third final at the Italian Open. In 2017, he won the Italian Open by defeating Novak Djokovic. This was also his first Masters title. In 2018, Zverev lost to Rafael Nadal in the final of the Italian Open. The 2024 Italian Open title was the eighth Masters title for Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverez.
11 May 20: World Bee Day
World Bee Day is celebrated every year on 20 May by the United Nations . World Bee Day is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Slovenian beekeeping pioneer Anton Jansa . The day is being celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators, hummingbirds, butterflies, bats. The Convention on Biological Diversity also focuses on the conservation of these pollinators. In 2000, the International Pollinator Initiative was launched at COP (Conference of Parties) V. This initiative focuses on the sustainability of pollinators in agriculture.
12 20 May: World Metrology Day
World Metrology Day is celebrated every year on 20 May , which marks the anniversary of the signing of the Meter Convention in 1875 . This day is celebrated to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the international treaty called the Meter Convention in Paris on 20 May 1875, by which the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) was created. This convention set the framework for global cooperation in science and measurement as well as its commercial, social and industrial applications.
13 World Refugee Day
Every year 20 May is celebrated as World Refugee Day . The day is celebrated to raise the world’s consciousness about the plight of refugees who have left their homes due to war, persecution, violence or economic factors, etc. The origins of World Refugee Day lie in African Refugee Day. In 1975, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) passed a resolution designating May 20 as African Refugee Day to honor the courage and struggle of people forcibly displaced in Africa due to conflict. After that, every year in Africa, May 20 started being recognized as African Refugee Day. The theme of the 2024 World Refugee Day is: Hope away from home .
14 Taiwan: Democratic Progressive Party’s Lai Ching-tey sworn in as President of Taiwan
Lai Ching-tey of Taiwan ‘s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was sworn in as President of Taiwan . According to Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry, more than 500 foreign guests from 51 delegations attended the event. During this period, heads of state of eight countries were also present. Vice President Hsiao Bi Khim also took the oath of office at the ceremony. Trained doctor Lai has become President at a time when Taiwan’s conflict with China is increasing. China claims this island as its own. Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949.
