1 Russian President Vladimir Putin took oath as President for a new six-year term.
Russian President Vladimir Putin took the oath of office for a new six-year term at a ceremony at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow . After former President Joseph Stalin, Mr. Putin, who has been in power for the longest time and for almost 25 years, will last till 2030 . Mr Putin won a landslide victory in elections controlled in March this year. Mr. Putin, who assumed the presidency in 1999 after succeeding former President Boris Yeltsin, has made Russia a major country on the world stage. Russia is facing tough sanctions from western countries after the attack on Ukraine in the year 2022.
2 ‘Ajrakh’ of Kutch gets GI tag
In a significant recognition of the rich cultural heritage of Gujarat , the traditional artisans of ‘Kutch Ajrakh’ have been awarded the prestigious award by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (CGPDTM). Geographical Indication (GI) certificate . This remarkable achievement celebrates the intricate textile crafts that have been deeply rooted in the vibrant region of Kutch for centuries. Ajrakh is a textile craft that holds a revered place in the cultural tapestry of Gujarat, especially in the regions of Sindh, Barmer and Kutch, where its heritage stretches back millennia.
3 Israeli army takes control of Rafah border post between Gaza Strip and Egypt
Israeli forces took control of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt . Israeli officials have said that after night air strikes in the Palestinian territory . Israeli officials have said that their tanks have reached the southern Gaza city of Rafah . On the other hand, there remains uncertainty in the ceasefire talks with Hamas. Before this development, Hamas had said that it accepts the ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt-Qatar. However, Israel has said that its main demands have not been accepted.
4 Gurugram administration made Yuzvendra Chahal its brand ambassador.
As the Lok Sabha elections in Gurugram on May 25 approach, the district administration has adopted a unique approach to encourage voter participation. To attract the attention of voters, especially the youth, officials have included Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal as well as popular singers MD Desi Rockstar and Naveen Punia as brand ambassadors.
5 Ukraine unveils AI-powered digital spokesperson for foreign ministry
In an unprecedented move combining cutting-edge technology with diplomacy, Ukraine has unveiled an AI-generated spokesperson named Victoria Xi to deliver official statements from its Foreign Ministry . This significant technological leap in diplomatic communications has attracted global attention. Despite their AI-powered presence, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has assured that the content of Xi’s statements will be prepared and verified by human staff, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
6 Hidaya Cyclone
Recently, a severe cyclonic storm named ‘ Hidaya ‘ originated from the Indian Ocean and hit the coast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania . Cyclone Hidaya (guidance in Arabic) could cause heavy rainfall and strong winds in areas such as Tanga, Morogoro, Unguja and Pemba islands in Tanzania. This cyclone originated in the South Indian Ocean and was named by the people of France’s overseas territory (French Guiana) in the Indian Ocean. Although Kenya is generally considered safe from cyclones, it is now affected by Cyclone Hidaya and is preparing to deal with it.
7 Depiction of Indian territories on Nepal’s currency
Recently, the Nepal government has announced the printing of a new note of Rs 100 , in which Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani areas will be shown in the map of the country . India has already termed such action of Nepal as ‘ Artificial Enlargement’ and ‘ Untenable ‘. India has reacted strongly to Nepal’s decision and India’s Foreign Minister said that it will not change the situation or reality. At present there is a border dispute between India and Nepal regarding Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh tri-junction and Susta area (West Champaran district, Bihar). According to Nepal’s claims, the Kali River originates from a stream at Limpiyadhura, northwest of the Lipulekh Pass. Thus Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh lie to the east of the river and are part of the Dharchula district of Nepal. After the India-China war of 1962, King Mahendra had proposed to give the Kalapani area to India, who wanted to help in India’s security in view of the threat from China.
8 Financial Cooperation between India and Ghana: Integration of UPI and GHIPSS
India and Ghana are set to integrate their payment systems, UPI and GHIPSS, to facilitate instant and cost-effective fund transfers between the two countries . Within six months, NPCI’s UPI is set to be operational on Ghana’s GHIPSS platform, marking an important step in financial cooperation. Discussions also took place around a possible MoU on digital transformation solutions, local currency settlement systems and leveraging opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). This signals a strategic intention to harness digital innovations for mutual benefit.
9 The Hindu wins three awards in the 6th International Newspaper Design Competition
The Hindu bagged three prestigious awards at the 6th International Newspaper Design Competition organized by newspaperdesign.in . Received praise for his extraordinary explainer page titled “ The Science Behind Neeraj’s Skills ” highlighting Neeraj Chopra ‘s remarkable journey and success in athletics. The Hindu won the highest honour, the ‘ Best of Show ‘ award in recognition of its outstanding contribution to newspaper design excellence. The publication’s insightful portrayal of Neeraj Chopra’s craft earned him a ‘ Gold ‘ award in the ‘ Best of Sports Pages ‘ category , highlighting his skills in sports journalism and design. The judges commended The Hindu for its meticulous attention to detail and engaging narrative style, awarding them the ‘ Excellence Award ‘ in the ‘ Best of Double Spread ‘ category.
10 GetVantage receives NBFC license from RBI
GetVantage, one of India’s leading alternative-finance fintech platforms, has announced that it has secured a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) . It has become the first and only revenue-based finance and alternative funding platform in the country to get this license. GetVantage’s NBFC arm GetGrowth Capital will provide loans.
11 countries’ GDP to grow at 7.1 percent in FY 2025: India Ratings
India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has raised its forecast for India’s GDP . According to India Ratings, the country’s GDP will grow at a pace of 7.1 percent in fiscal year 2025 . This estimate of India Ratings is higher than that of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). RBI had estimated the GDP to grow at a pace of 7 percent. The ratings agency said that this fast pace of the economy will be maintained with the help of government and private investment. India Ratings in its previous report had estimated Indian GDP to grow at the rate of 6.5 percent.
12 Indian boxers won a total of 43 medals in Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championships.
Indian boxers won a total of 43 medals at the Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championships in Astana , Kazakhstan . India won a total of 12 gold, 14 silver and 17 bronze medals in both the categories of this championship. The Indian Under-22 team won 21 medals including seven gold, five silver and nine bronze medals yesterday, while the youth category won 22 medals including five gold, nine silver and eight bronze medals on Monday. India finished second in the medal tally behind hosts Kazakhstan . Kazakhstan won 48 medals.
13 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the schedule for the much-awaited ninth ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 to be held from October 3 to 20 in Bangladesh . The T20 World Cup 2024 will see ten teams compete in 23 matches over 18 days. The matches will be held at two venues in Bangladesh: Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet, providing fans the opportunity to watch the best in women’s cricket.
14 Border Roads Organization celebrated its 65th foundation day
Border Roads Organization (BRO) celebrated its 65th Raising Day on 7 May 2024 . On this occasion , a program was organized in New Delhi , it was presided over by Defense Secretary Shri Giridhar Armane . The Border Roads Organization was established in 1960 when the organization had only two projects – Project Tuskar (now Vartak) in the east and Project Beacon in the north . Today this organization has expanded to 11 states and three union territories and at present the Border Roads Organization has become an important organization working on 18 projects. It has now established its reputation as a leading infrastructure construction agency in high altitude and difficult snow regions. The Border Roads Organization primarily executes road construction and maintenance works at altitudes ranging from 9,000 feet to 19,000 feet on the northern and western borders to meet the strategic requirements of the armed forces.
15 World Asthma Day 2024
World Asthma Day is celebrated every year on the first Tuesday of the month of May . This year this day is falling on 7 May 2024 . The main objective of this day is to spread awareness about asthma disease, educate patients and empower them to live a better life with this respiratory disease. The theme of World Asthma Day 2024 has been kept by Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) as Asthma Education Empowers.
