Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 6th May 2024

1. Ukraine launches world's first AI diplomat 'Victoria Xi' 

• Ukraine has introduced 'Victoria Shea', the world's first AID diplomat to provide an official statement. Interestingly, the accent and voice of the AI diplomat is based on Ukrainian singer and TV celebrity Rosalie Nombre. 
• She was created by a team called The Game Changers who had previously created content related to the war in Ukraine. Reportedly, the main objective behind the creation of Xi was to save time and resources for diplomats. 
• The statements made by Xi will be written by humans. The ministry posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing Xi wearing a formal suit. She presents herself as a digital persona and uses head as well as hand movements for a more natural presentation. 
• It added, "For the first time in history, the MFA of Ukraine has introduced a digital personality that will officially comment to the media." 
• To deal with potential deepfake concerns, each statement from Victoria will include a unique QR code linking to the official text version on the ministry's website. A QR code is also shown in the video shared by the ministry on Twitter. 

2. EZTax's India's first AI-enabled income tax filing mobile app

• EZTax, the leading tax compliance portal in India, has introduced a fully functional mobile application powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). This application is designed for taxpayers who prefer mobile applications or do not have access to a computer. 
• Generally, taxpayers lack the knowledge required to understand the Income Tax Act and may make mistakes resulting in costly IT notices requiring correction. 
• To prevent this, the Creative Audit module of the EZTax app uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify issues before e-filing the ITR, India's first tax optimizer to save taxes is also now improved. 
• Since 2016, EZTax has been assisting taxpayers and has made tax consultancy services an integral part of its service offerings, which include Income Tax, GST, TDS, Business Advisory and Compliance. 
• Today, the company is helping not only Indian resident taxpayers but also NRIs located in 39+ countries across the world. On January 30, 2018, EZTax released its fully functional ITR filing mobile app, which, as per available data, was used by millions of users 

3. Bengaluru firm unveils first indigenous bomber unmanned aircraft ‘FWD-200B’ 

• Flying Wedge Defence, a defense and aerospace technology firm based in Bengaluru city of Karnataka, unveiled the ‘FWD-200B’ unmanned aircraft. The company claimed that this is India's first indigenous bomber unmanned aircraft. 
• Our indigenous FWD-200B, built with state-of-the-art technology and manufactured in India, costs just ₹25 crore, while the US Predator costs ₹250 crore. 
• This not only reflects our commitment towards self-reliance but also positions India as a leader in cost-effective defense solutions,” said Suhas Tejaskanda, Founder, Flying Wedge Defense & Aerospace. 
• The FWD-200B has a payload capacity of 100 kg and is classified as a MALE unmanned combat aerial vehicle (medium-altitude, longendurance). Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) include optical surveillance payloads and are integrated with weapons such as missiles for precision air strikes. 
• With a top speed of 200km/370km/h, it has an endurance of 12-20 hours. "The FWD-200B can carry a maximum take-off weight of 498 kg and has a ground control station (GCS) range of 200 kilometres," the company said. 
• The company also aims to sell it to other countries like African and South East Asian countries, which cannot buy the $32 billion Predator UAV, but can buy the $3 billion Indian product. 

4. Sanjay Kumar Mishra appointed to the post of head of GST Appellate Tribunal 

• Retired judge Sanjay Kumar Mishra has been appointed Chairman of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) by the Central Government. Justice (Retd) Sanjay Kumar Mishra is the former Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court. 
• Their tenure is till the age of 70 years, or four years, whichever comes earlier. In the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) order, his monthly salary has been stated at ₹2.50 lakh. 
• Last September, the Center had notified the setting up of 31 GSTAT benches with a principal bench in Delhi and additional benches in various states. Uttar Pradesh has three benches, which will be the most compared to any other state in the country. 
• Other big states, such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, will have two benches each. The principal bench will hear cases relating to interstate disputes, while the state bench will hear all other issues including rates. 
• Aggrieved parties can approach the High Court and the Supreme Court. Sanjay Kumar Mishra, 62, previously served as a judge in the Uttarakhand High Court and hails from Odisha. After completing LLB from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi in 1987, he started his legal practice in Bolangir district courts. 

Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor :- AOCin-C Training Command 

• Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor assumes appointment as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Training Command (TC) on 01 May 2024. Air Marshal N Kapoor was commissioned into the Fighter Stream of the Indian Air Force on 06 December 1986. 
• His operational tenure includes Commanding Officer of a Fighter Squadron in the Central Sector, Station Commander of a Flying Base in the Western Sector and Air Officer Commanding a Major Air Base. In recognition of his meritorious service, the Air Marshal was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2008 and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022. 

5. ‘Ajrakh’ textile art of Kutch, Gujarat gets GI tag 

• Taking an important step towards preserving India's rich textile heritage, the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (CGPDTM) has granted Geographical Indication (GI) certificate to the traditional artisans of 'Kutch Ajrakh' of Gujarat.
• The word "ajrakh" has its roots in the Arabic word "ajrakh", meaning "blue" or "blue", denoting the predominant color obtained through indigo dyes. The presence of Ajrakh textiles from Gujarat in places such as El-Fostat, near Old Cairo, Egypt, highlights their widespread popularity and the extensive trade routes of these textiles throughout history. 
• Dhamadka and Ajrakhpur villages in Kutch stand as bastions of the Ajrakh tradition, Ajrakhpur, in particular, holds historical significance as the center of Ajrakh work in Gujarat, with its roots dating back 400 years when Sindh Muslims introduced the craft to the region. 
• Historically, Ajrakh motifs took inspiration from the natural world and architectural wonders surrounding the Indus Valley. The traditional designs feature geometric patterns and intricate floral motifs, echoing the rich tapestry of Indian culture and heritage. 
• Ajrakh, the textile craft, has deep roots in the cultural tapestry of Gujarat, especially in the regions of Sindh, Barmer and Kutch, where its heritage stretches back millennia. The art of Ajrakh involves a meticulous process of hand-block printing on treated cotton fabric. 
• From sourcing natural botanical and mineral dyes to intricate resist printing and dyeing techniques, each step of the ajrakh-making process reflects the artisans' mastery and dedication to their art. With 69 GI tagged products, Uttar Pradesh has now overtaken Tamil Nadu, which has 58 GI tagged products. 

International Intellectual Property (IP) Index 

• The US Chamber of Commerce recently unveiled the 12th edition of its International Intellectual Property (IP) Index-2023. India ranked 42nd among 55 countries with an overall score of 38.64 percent, which is unchanged from 2022. 
• The top countries in the index are United States (95.48%), UK (94.12%), France (93.12%), Germany (92.46%). 
• The World Intellectual Property Organization-WIPO was established in the year 1967. Its Director General is Darren Tang and it is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. 

6. Central government changed the names of eight railway stations of Amethi, Uttar Pradesh 

• The Union Home Ministry has approved the proposal of the Uttar Pradesh government to rename eight railway stations in Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh. Led by BJP's Amethi MP Smriti Irani, the decision aims to preserve the cultural identity and heritage of the region by honoring local temples, saints, statues and freedom fighters through the new station names. 
• Smt. Smriti Irani had defeated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. She is contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections again from Amethi. 
• On 15 December 2018, Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh was renamed as Prayagraj. 
• In 2022, the Home Ministry approved changing the name of Nagar Panchayat 'Mundera Bazar' in Gorakhpur to 'Chauri Chaura' and changing the name of village 'Telia Afghan' to Telia Uttar Pradesh. 
• Article 3 of the Indian Constitution deals with the procedure for changing the name of a state. On 1 January 2007, Uttaranchal was renamed as Uttarakhand and in 2011, Orissa was renamed as Odisha. 

Process 

• The Union Home Ministry had issued a notification in 1953 for change in the name of any city or railway station. The proposal was constituted by the ministry in 2002. 
• According to the philosopher, the concerned state government will have to submit a proposal to the Union Home Ministry to change the name of any nation/city/village/railway station. 
• The Home Ministry then consults the Geographical Survey of India, the Department of Posts and the Earth Ministry. After this, the prestigious Home Ministry issues a No Objection Certificate to the State Government approving the change in the name of the nation, city or railway station. After receiving the no objection certificate from the Home Ministry, the concerned state government has published the name in its gazette. 

Major eight railway stations 

• Fursatganj Railway Station as Tapeshwarnath Dham, 
• Kasimpur Halt to Jais City, 
• Jais city to Guru Gorakhnath Dham , 
• Bani to Swami Paramhansa,
• Misroli to Maa Kalikan Dham , 
• Nihalgarh to Maharaja Bijli Pasi , 
• Akbarganj to Maa Kalikan Dham , 
• Amar Shaheed Bhale Sultan from Warisganj, 

7. ICC appoints Javagal Srinath as match referee for T20 World Cup, 2024 

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced 26 match officials for the first round of the T20 World Cup 2024 to be held in the United States of America (USA) and West Indies. 
• Twenty umpires and six match referees will officiate in the ninth edition of the event, which will see 20 teams play 55 matches over 28 days across nine venues in the biggest-ever ICC T20 World Cup. 
• There were three Indians in the list – two umpires and a match referee. Nitin Menon and Jayaraman Madangopal were selected as umpires, while former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath was one of the match referees. Match Referees: David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft, Richie Richardson and Javagal Srinath. 
• Umpires: Chris Brown, Kumar Dharmasena, Chris Gaffney, Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Allahuddin Palekar, Richard Kettleborough, Jayaraman Madangopal, Nitin Menon, Sam Nogajski, Ahsan Raza, Rashid Riaz, Paul Reiffel, Langton Russere, Shahid Saikat. Rodney Tucker, Alex Wharfe, Joel Wilson and Asif Yaqoob. 
• Wasim Khan, ICC General Manager – Cricket, said: “We are delighted to announce our team of match referees and umpires for the historic ICC Men's T20 World Cup. 
• Official song of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 - 'Out of This World' 
• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 official song, 'Out of This World' by Grammy Award-winning artist Sean Paul and Soca Superstar Case. 
• The song, produced by Michael "Tano" Montano, was launched with a music video featuring eighttime Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, cricket stars Chris Gayle, Ali Khan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and other Caribbean celebrities. 
• Fans can get into the spirit of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup by creating their own dance interpretation of the "Knock It Out of This World" dance step, which is shown in the video. 

8. India has stringent norms for pesticide residues limit: Centre 

• The government on Sunday asserted that India has one of the most stringent norms for pesticides residues in food items and rejected reports suggesting that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) allows high level of residues in spices and herbs. 
• The clarification comes amid a ban imposed by the Hong Kong food regulator on certain spice mixes of two leading Indian brands MDH and Everest on al- leged presence of pesticide ethylene oxide in their samples. The Singapore food regulator too ordered a recall of one spice product of the Everest brand. FSSAI is currently collecting samples of branded spices, including that of MDH and Everest, sold in the domestic markets to ensure they comply with its quality norms. It does not regulate the quality of exported spices. 
• In a statement, the Union Health Ministry clarified that maximum residue limits are different for va- rious food products based on risk assessment. "Some media reports are claiming that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) allows 10 times more pesticide residue in herbs and spices. Such reports are false and malicious," the Ministry said. 
• India has one of the most stringent standards of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) in the world, it asserted. 

9. Evaluation of bids for Navy's submarine deal under way 

• The German government is expected to take up a stake in submarine manufacturer, the TKMS (Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems), and discussions are on, it has been learnt. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy's mega submarine deal under Project-751, estimated to cost upwards of ₹43,000 crore, has moved to the evaluation stage with compliance checks of the two bids received, one of which is from the TKMS. 
• The German government's move to pick up a stake in the TKMS is in line with the company's interest and will strengthen its shareholders' confidence, sources observed. 
• An Indian Navy team visited TKMS in March and conducted the field evaluation trials (FET) and it has met the criteria specified, multiple sources confirmed. The FET of Navantia of Spain, the second bid, is expected to be completed before June, it has been learnt. An Indian Navy team visited the TKMS and carried out the FET from March 22 to 28, two sources independently confirmed. 
• The German government's move to pick up a stake in the TKMS is in line with the company's desire to convince its stakeholders of the viability of the submarine business, sources said noting that it would automatically bring in the government-to-government part, essential for a deal of this size and technological sophistication. The TKMS was initially not inclined to bid for P-751 due to its scope and complexity but was later convinced by the German government to bid for it, the two sources cited above confirmed. The war in Ukraine and change in Europe's security outlook also contributed to the German government's interest in expanding defense cooperation in a big way, sources said. 
• The design offered by the TKMS for P-751 is based on its highly successful Class 214 submarine as well as Class 212CD, with the submarine featuring angular design for minimized radar cross-section, it has been learnt. Meanwhile, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), the Indian partner of the TKMS, has begun work on the first phase of submarine design, sources in the know said. The Request For Proposal (RFP) issued by the Navy detailing the specifications states that the first submarine should have indigenous content (IC) of 45% which should go up to 60% for the sixth and last submarine. 
• The final design will be done jointly by the TKMS and the MDL.
• In a major decision as the deal moves forward, Germany early in April granted small arms license to India, a significant exception given the ban on exports to third countries, and in the last couple of months liberalized the licensing requirements for sale of military equipment as required under its BAFA (Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control). 
• Only Germany and Spain submitted bids for the deal, the deadline for which saw several extensions before finally culminating in July 2023. The deal is being progressed under the Strategic Partnership model of the defense acquisition procedure 

10. REC gets RBI nod to set up subsidiary in GIFT City 

• State-owned REC Ltd, under the Ministry of Power and a leading NBFC, has received a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for setting up a subsidiary in Gujarat International Finance Tech-City (GIFT) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 
• The proposed subsidiary will engage in a range of financial activities as a finance company within GIFT, including lending, investment, and other financial services. 
• The GIFT City platform offers a conducive environment for international lending activities coupled with world-class infrastructure. 

About Gujarat 

• Capital- Gandhinagar 
• Chief Minister- Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel 
• Governor- Acharya Devvrat 

11. India, Ghana reach agreement on UPI 

• India and Ghana are working to link their payment systems – Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GHIPSS) respectively to permit users to make instant, low-cost fund transfers on a reciprocal basis. 
• The two countries have also delved into discussions regarding the possibilities of a Memorandum of Understanding on Digital transformation Solutions; Local Currency Settlement System and the opportunities offered by African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). 
• India’s UPI has already reached countries including Singapore and the UAE. 

About Ghana 

• Capital- Accra 
• Currency- Ghanaian Cedi 
• President -Nana Akufo-Addo 
• Official language- English 

12. Auto Expo set to move back to New Delhi in 2025 

• The Auto Expo is set to return to the national capital in 2025, after a decade. 
• India’s flagship biennial motor show will be organized next year under the Bharat Mobility umbrella in New Delhi’s Pragati Maidan, 10 years after the exhibition was moved to Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, in 2014. 
• Under the Bharat Mobility umbrella, automotive industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) will organize the customer-focused motor show. 
• It is typically a ticketed event attracting retail footfall at Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan, while the global components expo will be organized by Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) at Yashobhoomi in Dwarka. 

13. Bajaj Auto to launch world’s first CNG-powered bike in June 

• Bajaj Auto will launch the world’s first compressed natural gas (CNG) motorcycle on June 2024. 
• This move marks a significant shift in the industry, providing customers with a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to traditional petrol motorcycles. 
• With the new CNG-powered bikes, customers can expect a significant reduction in operational costs, making it an attractive proposition in today’s market. 
• Bajaj Auto plans to initiate production with an initial capacity of 20,000 CNG motorcycles, a cautious step considering the varied response the initiative has garnered thus far. 
• The CNG-powered bike is to be named Bruzer 125 CNG. 

About Bajaj Auto 

• Founded – 29 November 1945 
• Founder – Jamnalal Bajaj 
• Headquarters – Pune, Maharashtra 
• Bajaj Managing Director – Rajiv Bajaj 

14. United Nations' first international conference on Digital Public Infrastructure held under the leadership of India 

• The UN's first international conference on digital public infrastructure brings together India to use technology to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote inclusivity, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj said in a press statement. It was organized under the leadership of. 
• Organized by the Permanent Mission of India and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in collaboration with iSPIRT, the session, the Inaugural United Nations Conference on Digital Public Infrastructure: Citizen Stack brought together global leaders, technology innovators and policy experts to explore. 
• The conference highlighted India's pioneering Citizen Stack initiative, inspired by the transformative India Stack, which showcases the country's successful integration of technology into citizen services. 
• Indian technology startup 'Jokata' was the only enterprise presented at the inaugural conference. The company joined hands with SIDBI to create 'Jokata Sampoorna', India's first and only monthly index on MSME economic activity, which received praise at the United Nations Conference. It uses digitally accessible sales data from GST. 
• The conference also showcased case studies showing how components of modular open source identity platforms such as Citizen Stack are helping countries like Ethiopia and the Philippines tailor DPI to their specific needs and achieve digital sovereignty. 
• India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj, UNGA President Dennis Francis, UN Development Program Administrator Achim Steiner, India's IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant also addressed the conference. 

15. Palestinian journalists in Gaza receive ‘UNESCO Guillermo Cano Award 2024’ 

• Palestinian journalists covering the crisis in Gaza have been awarded the 2024 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. The awards ceremony took place on 2 May 2024 in Santiago, Chile. 
• Mauricio Weibel, President of the International Jury, highlighted the enormous debt we owe to these journalists for their courage and dedication to freedom of expression. 
• UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of collective action to support journalists around the world in their vital role of informing and investigating. 
• The ongoing conflict in Gaza has had a serious impact on journalists, with UNESCO reporting the deaths of 26 journalists and media workers since October 7, 2023. 
• UNESCO is actively supporting journalists working in conflict and crisis areas. In Gaza, the organization is distributing essential supplies and setting up safe work spaces. 
• Similar efforts are underway in Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti and Afghanistan, where journalists receive protective equipment, training and emergency grants. 

Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 

• Established in 1997, the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the defense and promotion of press freedom, especially in the face of threats. 
• It is named after Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist who was assassinated in front of the office of his newspaper El Espectador in Bogotá, Colombia on 17 December 1986. It is funded by the Guillermo Cano Isaza Foundation (Colombia), the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation (Finland), the Namibia Media Trust, the Democracy and Media Foundation Stiching Demokratie und Media (Netherlands), and the Thomson Reuters Foundation. 

16. Sanjeev Nautiyal appointed as MD & CEO of Ujjivan SFB 

• Reserve bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Sanjeev Nautiyal as the managing director (MD) & chief executive officer (CEO) of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank for the period of 3 years with effect from 1 July 2024. 
• He will replace Ittira Davis. 
• Currently, he is the independent director of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), in addition to acting as an advisor to various organisations. 
• Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Sanjeev Nautiyal holds a Bachelors degree in Arts and a Masters degree in Business Administration. He is also a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers. 
• He is a banker with over three decades of extensive strategic domain expertise in retail, SME, financial inclusion, operations, HR, international banking, and treasury. 

About Ujjivan Small Finance Bank 

• Founded- 1 February 2017 
• Headquarters- Bangalore, Karnataka 
• MD & CEO – Ittira Davis 

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector 

• Executive Director of Ujjivan SFB – Carol Furtado (3 years) 
• Chairman of HDFC Bank – Atanu Chakraborty (reappointment for 3 years) 
• MD & CEO of Jio Financial Services – Hitesh Sethia 
• MD & CEO Axis Bank – Amitabh Chaudhry (reappointment for 3 years) 
• Independent Directors of Axis bank – Meena Ganesh and Gopalaraman Padmanabhan (reappointment for 4 years) 

17. UNICEF India made Kareena Kapoor its brand ambassador 

• Kareena Kapoor has been announced by UNICEF India as its new National Ambassador. Priyanka Chopra welcomed Kareena Kapoor to the UNICEF family on her Instagram Stories. Priyanka served as the National Ambassador for UNICEF India for 10 years before joining the Global Goodwill Ambassador team in December 2016. 
• Kareena, who has been associated with UNICEF India since 2014, will support the non-profit organization in advancing every child's right to early childhood development, health, education and gender equality, a press release said. 
• She previously worked as a celebrity advocate for UNICEF India. Earlier, UNICEF India appointed Ayushmann Khurrana as National Ambassador on 18 February 2023. 

UNICEF 

• The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946. It was formerly known as the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. Polish physician Ludwik Roschman played a major role in forming UNICEF. 
• The main objective of creating it was to provide food and health care in emergency situations to children and mothers in the countries devastated by World War II. 
• UNICEF received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965, Indira Gandhi Peace Prize in 1989 and the Prince of Asturias Award in 2006. 

18. China wins both Thomas and Uber Cup Badminton titles 

• The Chinese badminton team has won both the men’s Tomas Cup 2024 and the women’s Uber Cup 2024. 
• The final of the 2024 BWF Thomas and Uber Cup was played in the Chinese city of Chengdu. 
• Thomas and Uber Cup is held every two years and is organised by the world badminton governing body, the Badminton World Federation (BWF). 
• For the first time since 2012, Chinese badminton has won both the men’s and women’s titles at the world team championships. 

In Thomas Cup 

• China defeated Indonesia 4-1 to win the Thomas Cup for the 11th time. 
• 16 teams participated in the Thomas Cup, including India. 
• However, the Indian team lost to China in the quarterfinals 3-1 to crash out of the championship. India was the defending champion. 
• The Indian team won the Thomas Cup held in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2022. 

In Uber Cup 

• The Chinese women’s team defeated Indonesia 3-0 to win the Uber Cup for the 16th time. 
• The Chinese women’s team dominated the event by winning 24 straight games throughout the tournament. 
• The Indian women’s team lost in the quarter-finals to Japan 3-0. 

19. McLaren’s Lando Norris win Miami GP 

• McLaren’s Lando Norris has won the first Formula One race of his career with a shock victory over world champion Max Verstappen in the Miami Grand Prix. 
• Breathing life into an F1 season that risked becoming a one-man story again, Norris, in his 110th race for McLaren, beat Verstappen by more than seven seconds, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishing third. 

Recent 2024 Grand Prix Winner 

• Chinese Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 
• Japanese Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 
• Australian Grand Prix – Ferrari’s Carlos Saina (Spain) 
• Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 
• Bahrain Grand Prix 2- Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) 

20. Iga Switek, Andrey Rublev wins the Madrid Open Tennis Singles Title 

• World no.1 women’s tennis players Iga Swiatek and Andrey Rublev won the women’s and men’s singles titles at the 2024 Madrid Open, respectively. 
• This was the first Madrid Open title for Iga Swiatek of Poland, while it was the second Madrid Open title for Andrey Rublev. 
• The Madrid Open Tennis was held in the Spanish capital city of Madrid from 22 April to 5 May 2024. 
• Iga Swiatek defeated Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) to win her first Madrid Open title. Last year, she lost in the final to Aryna Sabalenka. 
• Andrey Rublev of Russia won the singles title of the ATP Madrid Open Masters 1000, beating Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, to win his second ATP Masters title. 

Women’s Doubles Title 

• Winner – Sara Sorribes (Spain) and Cristina Bucsa (Spain) 
• Runner Up – Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic) and Laura Siegemund (Germany) 

Men’s Doubles Title 

• Winner – Jordan Thompson (Australia) and Sebastian Korda (United States) 
• Runner Up – Adam Pavlesak (Czech Republic) and Ariel Behra (Uruguay) 

21. 5 May – International Day of the Midwife 

• International Day of the Midwife is observed every year on 5 May. 
• Objective – It is an opportunity for healthcare staff to reflect on the dedication. 
• Theme 2024 – Midwives: A Vital Climate Solution 
• The International Day of the Midwife was established in 1992 by the International Confederation of Midwives to celebrate and raise awareness about the midwifery profession. 

22. 6 May – International No Diet Day 

• International No Diet Day is observed every year on 6 May. 
• Objective – To spread awareness on issues like weight discrimination and fatphobia, and educate the masses on unhealthy dieting practice. 
• Theme 2024 – Embrace Yourself: Reject Diet Culture, Love You 
• In 1992, Mary Evans began International No Diet Day fully intent on showing individuals the significance of body energy, appreciating their own bodies and, furthermore, going home for the day from their diet routine and taking part in a feast that they love. 

23. 5 May 2024 – World Laughter Day 

• World Laughter Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May every year.  This year, it is on May 5. 
• The primary objective of World Laughter Day is to promote world peace and global consciousness through laughter. 
• World Laughter Day originated from the Laughter Yoga movement, founded by Dr. Madan Kataria, a physician from India, in 1998. 
• Dr Kataria recognised the therapeutic benefits of laughter and initiated laughter yoga sessions in a Mumbai park with just five participants. Since then, the movement has grown exponentially, spreading to over 100 countries.