Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 7th May 2024

1. ICC announces the schedule of the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup, 2024 in Bangladesh 

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the schedule of the ninth ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 to be held from 3 to 20 October in Bangladesh. 
• The ten teams will play 23 matches across 18 action-packed days across two venues in Bangladesh, the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka and the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet, an ICC press release said. 
• For the main Women's T20 World Cup tournament, all Group A matches will be played at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet while the Group B matches will be played at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. 
• The top two teams from both groups will qualify for the semifinals to be held on May 17 and 18. The final of the Women's T20 World Cup will be held on October 20 at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. 
• The schedule was unveiled at an event in Dhaka, which was attended by Bangladesh Cricket Board Chairman Mr. Nazmul Hasan, ICC CEO Geoff Allardyce and India and Bangladesh women's team captains - Harmanpreet Kaur and Nigar Sultana. 
• Last edition's runners-up South Africa will play England in the opening match of the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup on October 3. India will begin their campaign against New Zealand on October 4 and face defending champions Australia on October 13. 
• India made it to the final of the Women's T20 World Cup 2020 held in Australia but lost the decisive match to the host team. 
• Scotland defeated Ireland by eight wickets in the semi-finals of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier event in Abu Dhabi in what will be the first time Scotland will appear in the Women's T20 World Cup. 

Women's T20 World Cup 2024 Teams and Groups 

• Group A: Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qualifier 1 
• Group B: Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies, Qualifier 2 
• The 2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup was the eighth edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup tournament held in South Africa from 10 February to 26 February 2023. 

Tejaswin Shankar wins men's high jump event at USATF Festival 

• India's Tejaswin Shankar won the men's high jump event at the USATF Festival in Tucson, Arizona, USA. National record holder Tejaswin cleared 2.23m in his first attempt to clinch the top spot at the World Athletics Continental Tour - Silver event. 
• Tejaswin Shankar's personal best is 2.29 metres, a national record, achieved in 2018. Performances in these events earn athletes valuable Olympic ranking points on the Road to Paris 2024. 
• 25-year-old Tejaswin Shankar, who has competed in five events this year, is currently ranked 63rd in the Road to Paris 2024. 

2. German company HyImpulse successfully launched the rocket "SR75" powered by paraffin fuel for the first time

• German company HyImpulse successfully launched "SR75" a paraffin fuel/candle wax powered rocket capable of carrying commercial satellites on a test suborbital flight into space for the first time from Koonibba, Australia. 
• "We are signaling Germany's strength as an astronautical nation and expanding Europe's access to space," said Mario Kobald, chief executive of Hyimpulse. Paraffin fuels are safer to operate, more efficient, and have less environmental impact than kerosene propellants. 
• The 12-metre, 2.5-tonne test rocket is capable of carrying satellites weighing up to 250 kg to an altitude of up to 250 km, fueled by paraffin, or candle wax, and liquid oxygen. 
• Paraffin could be used as a cheap and safe alternative fuel for rockets, reducing satellite transportation costs by up to 50%, HighImpulse said. 
• The company, which has 65 employees and was spun off from Germany's space agency DLR, said it already had orders for satellite transport worth 100 million euros ($105 million). 
• By the end of next year, it plans to launch "SL-1", a larger, multi-stage rocket capable of deploying satellites weighing up to 600 kilograms into low Earth orbits. 

Paraffin 

• Paraffin, also known as liquid paraffin, paraffin oil or kerosene, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid that is burned as a fuel. Paraffin fuel refers to a mixture of different types of hydrocarbons with the chemical formula CnH2n+2; Paraffin in particular is a group of alkanes. 
• Paraffins are major components of petroleum and natural gas. Those with fewer than 5 carbon atoms per molecule are gases at room temperature, while those with 5 to 15 carbon atoms are usually in liquid form. Straight-chain varieties with more than 15 carbon atoms per molecule are solid at room temperature. 
• Paraffin is less dangerous than gasoline and boils at 150-275oC. It can be extracted from coal, wood, and oil shale, but it is most commonly obtained from the distillation of petroleum. 

3. Hollywood actress Meryl Streep will be honored with 'Honorary Palm d'Or' at Cannes 2024 

• Veteran actor Meryl Streep will be awarded the Honorary Palme d'Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 14, 2024. Streep, who has a record 21 Oscar nominations and three wins, will also be the guest of honor at the ceremony. 
• The award list was presented by jury chair Greta Gerwig. Streep's only previous appearance at Cannes resulted in a Best Actress win for her role in 1989's 'A Cry in the Dark'. 
• Streep, the record holder with 21 Oscar nominations and three wins, is best known for her roles in classic films such as 'The Deer Hunter', 'Out of Africa', 'Kramer vs. Kramer', 'The Devil Wears Prada' and 'Mamma Mia'. 

Other winners 

• The festival will also include other Hollywood luminaries, including 'Star Wars' creator George Lucas, who will receive a lifetime achievement award. The Cannes Film Festival said of Lucas, "Over the span of 40 years, George Lucas built a Hollywood empire through nine episodes of the Star Wars saga. 
• For the first time, the Cannes Film Festival will award an Honorary Palme d'Or to a group, Studio Ghibli, for its extraordinary animation cinema. The studio's latest film, 'The Boy and the Heron', won an Oscar this year. 
• Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by acclaimed Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki along with Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki. 

4. Sea trials of China's third aircraft carrier 'Fujian' started 

• China's third aircraft carrier Fujian has begun its maiden trials, signaling the country's naval expansion to challenge the US. With a focus on testing propulsion and electrical systems, testing is expected to last for two years before the carrier joins the fleet in five years. 
• The carrier, named after the Fujian province, is the largest and most advanced Chinese aircraft carrier ever built. China's first and second aircraft carriers are Liaoning and Shandong. 
• The Fujian is equipped with the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) for more efficient aircraft launch. Currently, the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, also uses the EMALS launch system. 
• Fujian is expected to host not only upgraded versions of the J-15 fighter jet, but also new aircraft including the next-generation stealth fighter jet J-35, fixed-wing early warning aircraft KJ-35, and more. 600 and JL-10 advanced trainer jets. 
• China's naval expansion began in the 1990s, shifting focus away from the PLA to a more robust naval force capable of conducting operations outside the region. 
• India's indigenous Aircraft Carrier2 (IAC-2) is expected to be a duplication of INS Vikrant. INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, built on the STOBAR platform and carrying MiG-29K fighter jets, are expected to be replaced by the naval version of Rafale and Tejas. 
• CATOBAR and STOBAR are two types of aircraft carrier platforms. Short Take-off Barrier-Assisted Recovery (STOBAR) involves an elevated ski-ramp that helps a fighter jet generate lift during take-off. 
• The CATOBAR system uses a catapult for take-off. CATOBAR based carriers have steam-powered catapult systems, require more maintenance, and are heavier. 

5. New Covid-19 variant ‘FLiRT’ hits USA 

• A new family of COVID-19 variants, FLiRT, is spreading rapidly in the United States. This group of new COVID-19 variants belongs to the Omicron JN.1 lineage. These are the KP.2 and KP 1.1 mutations that are considered more infectious than the previous Omicron variants. 
• Currently, two FLiRT variants have been identified in the US, KP.2 and KP 1.1. FLiRT version KP.1.1 which is also circulating in the US but is less widespread than KP.2. According to the CDC, it currently accounts for about 7.5% of infections nationwide. 
• “The KP.2 variant (also known as JN.1.11.1.2) is a descendant of the JN.1 variant and contains several mutations that are associated with evasion of vaccine-mediated immune protection. 
• FLiRT, which belongs to Omicron's ZN.1 lineage, is rapidly replacing the previous version Arris in the US, UK, New Zealand and South Korea. 
• Fortunately, none of the Omicron lineages are capable of causing significant damage to the lungs as the Delta strain did, but were limited to the upper respiratory tract. 

FLiRT variants 

• The symptoms of FLiRT variant remain more or less the same. Common symptoms are sore throat, cough, congestion, tiredness, fatigue, headache, body aches, fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and possible loss of taste and smell. 
• The current spread in the US is raising concerns about a new wave of infections in the summer. Unvaccinated individuals and those with weakened immunity are more susceptible to these mutations. 
• This variant spreads easily through respiratory droplets, posing a risk to everyone, especially the unvaccinated and those with weakened immune systems. 
• The FLiRT variant has not been detected in India yet. Additionally, there has been no significant increase in the number of hospitalizations in the US. 

6. Chandigarh University becomes the first university in India to offer Harvard University's course in Business Management

•  Chandigarh University has become the first Indian university to launch Harvard University Collaborative Business Management Program by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the prestigious United States-based university. 
• Chandigarh University Chancellor, Satnam Singh Sandhu signed an MoU with Kristen Maynard, Managing Director, Harvard Business School (HBS) Online to promote academic collaboration. 
• Under the collaboration, students from Chandigarh University will be taught by the faculty of Harvard University Business School for one semester under this online MBA programme. Harvard University will also provide its course materials and other educational materials. 
• Business Management students will be graded alongside Harvard University students and this collaboration will result in placements in top global firms. Students will also gain global experience with real business case studies from Harvard University, helping them understand the complexities of international business management. 
• Chandigarh University signed this MoU with Harvard University in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of transforming the education landscape in India through collaboration with foreign universities under the New Education Policy. 

Harvard University - Chandigarh University 

• Harvard University has been ranked No. 4 in the QS World University Rankings 2024, while Chandigarh University has secured the No. 1 position among all private universities in India in the QS Asia University Rankings 2024. 
• Among private universities, Chandigarh University topped India in three subjects – Hospitality Management, Petroleum Engineering, Social Sciences and Management. 
• Chandigarh University features among the top 100 universities in the world in two subjects – Hospitality Management and Petroleum Engineering – in the QS World University Rankings for 2024. 
• It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be awarded A+ grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). 

7. Bhavi Mehta honored with Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Award 2024 

• Bhavi Mehta won the 9th Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Awards 2024 for Pradeep Sebastian's 'The Book Beautiful'. The event was organized at India Habitat Centre. Mehta received a trophy, certificate and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. 
• Announcing the winner of the 9th Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Award 2024, Dr. Alka Pandey, Chair of the Jury, said, “The Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Award is apt to highlight and showcase an author's narrative, interest and engagement. 
• Three other designers were also recognized for their exceptional work, namely: Gunjan Ahlawat for 'The Penguin Book of Indian Poets', Saurav Das for 'Azad Nagar', and Saurabh Garge for 'The Adornment of Gods' . 
• Established in 1919, Oxford Bookstore's Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Award is the first award of its kind for excellence in book design. 

The Hindu - 6th International Newspaper Design Competition 

• The Hindu bagged three prestigious awards at the 6th International Newspaper Design Competition organized by newspaperdesign.in. The Hindu wins 'Best of Show' award; 'Gold' in the 'Best of Sports Pages' category; and Award of Excellence in the 'Best of Double Spread' category. 
• His extraordinary explainer page titled “The Science Behind Neeraj’s Skills” highlighting Neeraj Chopra’s remarkable journey and success in athletics received the ‘Gold’ award in the ‘Best of Sports Page’ category. 
• The Hindu won the highest honour, the ‘Best of Show’ award in recognition of its outstanding contribution to newspaper design excellence. 
• The jury 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. 

8. Pakistan's Islamabad Development Authority started free yoga classes for the first time in the country

• After making global headlines, the ancient Indian physical, mental and spiritual practice yoga has officially reached neighboring Pakistan. 
• Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation has launched "free yoga classes at F-9 Park" for the first time in the capital, according to the official Facebook page of Islamabad Capital Development Authority (CDA). 
• “Many people have already joined to begin their journey towards health and wellness,” the CDA said.
• Recognizing its universal appeal, the United Nations declared 21 June as International Yoga Day on 11 December 2014. A draft resolution to establish the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and supported by a record 175 member countries. 
• Yoga is commonly associated with India and there are not many formal institutions to teach yoga in Pakistan. However, personally, people like the physical part of yoga practice. 
• The move to organise yoga in the capital's most prominent park at the official level is a welcome move and could send a positive message across the border amid the thaw in bilateral relations over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism. 

9. Pension Department launches integrated portal ‘Bhavishya’ for government retirees 

• The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare of the Central Government has launched a portal 'Bhavishya' in collaboration with Bank of India. Bank of India's integrated pensioner portal combines the pension processing and payment services of the five banks into a single window. 
• To ease pensioners' hassles related to banks like changing banks, life certificate submission status, pension slip, Form 16, pension receipt information, the websites of pension disbursing banks are being integrated with the Unified Pensioner Portal. 
• The work of integrating Bhavishya Portal with the respective services of State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank and Canara Bank has been completed. 
• Most of the pension-distributing banks will be integrated with the portal later, the statement said. 
• Digital empowerment of pensioners is being implemented through various means like Digital Life Certificate and Bhavishya Portal. The future has ensured digitalization of pension processing and payments. 

10. Girls perform better than boys in Class 10 and 12 exams of CISCE 

• Girls have outshone boys in the Class 10 (ICSE) and 12 (ISC) results declared by the Council of Indian School Certificate Examinations in New Delhi on Monday. 
• While 99.47% (2,42,328) of the 2,43,617 candidates who appeared in the ICSE exam passed, 98.19% (98,088) of the 99,901 candidates who appeared passed in the ISC exam. 
• The pass percentage among girls was 99.65% (ICSE) and 98.92% (ISC). Boys attained a pass percentage of 99.31% (ICSE) and 97.53% (ISC). 
• As many as 1,289 students (0.53%) were unsuccessful in the ICSE and 1,813 (1.81%) in the ISC exam. 
• A total of 1,30,506 boys (53.57%) and 1,13,111 girls appeared (46.43%) in the ICSE exam, while 52,765 boys (52.82%) and 47,136 girls (47.18%) took the ISC exam. 
• In Delhi, where 5,629 candidates (2,960 boys and 2,669 girls) appeared, the pass percentage is 99.88%, up by 0.2% from last year. 
• Up to 1,088 candidates with learning difficulties appeared in the ICSE examination of whom 98 obtained marks above 90%. Twelve of the 40 visually challenged students who appeared in the ICSE exam scored above 90%. 
• The best performing schools abroad for the ICSE were from Indonesia, Singapore and Dubai with a pass percentage of 100%. 
• As many as 15,026 Sche- duled Caste candidates took the exam and achieved a pass percentage of 99.11% and 8,255 Scheduled Tribe candidates took the exam and achieved a pass percentage of 98.39% in the ICSE. 
• The ICSE examination is conducted in 60 written subjects, of which 20 are Indian languages, 13 are foreign languages, and one classical language. The exam was held from February 21 to March 28 over 18 days. 
• Similarly 236 candidates with learning difficulties appeared in the ISC exam of whom 18 candidates obtained marks above 90%. Two of the 11 visually challenged students who appeared in the ICSE obtained marks above 90%, 
• Similarly, the ISC offered 47 written subjects of which 12 are Indian languages, four are foreign languages and two classical languages. The exam was held from February 12 to April 4, over 28 days. 

11. What is carbon farming? 

• Carbon is found in all living organisms and many minerals. It is fundamental to life on earth and plays a crucial role in various processes, including photosynthesis, respiration, and the carbon cycle. Farming is the practice of cultivating land, raising crops, and/or livestock for food, fiber, fuel, or other resources. It encompasses a wide range of activities, from planting and harvesting crops to managing livestock and maintaining agricultural infrastructure. 
• Carbon farming combines these two concepts by implementing regenerative agricultural practices that restore ecosystem health while improving agricultural productivity and soil health, and mitigating climate change by enhancing carbon storage in agricultural landscapes and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The practice is easy to adopt across various agro-climatic zones. It can also help ameliorate soil degradation, water scarcity, and challenges related to climate variability. 

How can carbon farming help? 

• A simple implementation of carbon farming is rotational grazing. Others include agroforestry, conservation agriculture, integrated nutrient management, agro-ecology, livestock management, and land restoration. 
• Agroforestry practices including silvopasture and alley cropping-can further diversify farm income by sequestering carbon in trees and shrubs. Conservation agriculture techniques such as zero tillage, crop rotation, cover cropping, and crop residue management (stubble retention and composting) can help minimize soil disturbance and enhance organic content, particularly in places with other intense agricultural activities. 
• Integrated nutrient management practices promote soil fertility and reduce emissions by using organic fertilizers and compost. Agro-ecological approaches such as crop diversification and intercropping have benefits for ecosystem resilience. Livestock management strategies including rotational grazing, optimizing feed quality, and managing animal waste can reduce methane emissions and increase the amount of carbon stored away in pasture lands. 
• What are the challenges to carbon farming? While carbon farming does offer numerous benefits, its effectiveness varies depending on multiple factors: geographical location, soil type, crop selection, water availability, biodiversity, and farm size and scale. Its usefulness also depends on land management practices, sufficient policy support, and community engagement. 
• Regions with long growing seasons, sufficient rainfall, and substantial irrigation are best suited to practice carbon farming because they provide the best conditions in which to sequester carbon, through vegetation growth. In regions with adequate rainfall and fertile soil, the potential for carbon sequestration through practices like agroforestry (integrating trees and shrubs with crops) and conservation agriculture (minimizing soil disturbance) may be particularly high. 
• On the other hand, carbon farming can be challenging in hot and dry areas where the availability of water is limited, and prioritized for drinking and washing 
• New ways of farming: A worker loads fertilizer in southern Vietnam's Mekong Delta, on January 23, 
• The process of emitting greenhouse gas emissiohinder the growth of plants, thus restricting the potential for sequestration through photosynthesis. For example, practices like cover cropping, which require additional vegetation between main crop cycles, may not be viable due to the added water demand. Moreover, selecting which plants to grow also becomes crucial because not all species trap and store carbon in the same amounts or in an equally effective manner. Fast-growing trees and deep-rooted perennial grasses tend to be better at this task but on the flip side, these types of plants may not be well-suited to arid environments. 
• Further, the adoption of carbon farming practices may require financial assistance for farmers to overcome the costs of implementing them. In the context of developing countries like India, small-scale farmers may lack the resources to invest in sustainable land management practices and environmental services. In sum, while carbon farming holds promise as a mitigation strategy, addressing these challenges is essential to realize its full potential in combating climate change. 
• What are some carbon farming schemes worldwide? 
• In recent years, the practice of carbon trading in the agriculture sector has become important around the world, but especially in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, where voluntary carbon markets have emerged. Initiatives like the Chicago Climate Exchange and the Carbon Farming Initiative in Australia demonstrate efforts to incentivise carbon mitigation activities in agriculture. The processes range from no-till farming (growing crops without disturbing the soil) to reforestation and pollution reduction. 
• Initiatives like Kenya's Agricultural Carbon Project, which has the World Bank's support, also highlight the potential for carbon farming to address climate mitigation and adaptation and food security challenges in economically developing countries. 
• The launch of the '4 per 1000' initiative during the COP21 climate talks in 2015 in Paris highlights the particular role of sinks in mitigating greenhouse-gas emissions. As the oceans and the atmosphere are filled with carbon, and they approach their saturation points, we must manage the remaining carbon budget of 390 billion tonnes or so wisely. 
• What are the opportunities in India? As climate change intensifies, climate-resilient and emission-reducing agricultural practices can benefit from adaptation strategies. Agriculture is crucial in this endeavor. 
• Grassroots initiatives and pioneering agrarian research in India are demonstrating the viability of organic farming to sequester carbon. In this regard, agro-ecological practices in India could yield significant economic benefits, with the potential to generate $63 billion in value from approximately 170 million hectares of arable land. This estimate includes an annual payment of around *5,000-6,000 per acre for farmers to provide climate services by adopting sustainable agricultural practices. 
• Regions with extensive agricultural land, such as the Indo-Gangetic plains and the Deccan Plateau, are well suited to adopt carbon farming whereas the mountainous terrain of the Himalayan region is less so. Coastal areas are prone to salinisation and have limited access to resources, thus limited the adoption of traditional farming practices. 
• Further, carbon credit systems can incentivise farmers by providing additional income through environmental services. Studies have shown agricultural soils can absorb 3-8 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent every year over 20-30 years. This capacity can bridge the gap between feasible emissions reductions and the indispensable stabilization of the climate. So carbon farming could also be a sustainable strategy to mitigate climate change and enhance food security in India.  
• But scaling it up requires concerted efforts to address several challenges, including limited awareness, inadequate policy support, technological barriers, and an enabling adoption environment. Yet promoting carbon farming is in India's interests to mitigate climate change while improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and creating economic opportunities for its adopters. 
• Vinaya Kumar H.M. is an assistant professor of the Agricultural Extension, Office of the Vice Chancellor, Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga 

12. Thomas Cook launches video KYC for forex buyers 

• Thomas Cook India has launched video KYC for its retail foreign exchange customers for a safe digital transaction. 
• The company said that the new initiative, ‘Ab Forex Ghar Baithe’, offers customers a paperless means to buy forex without stepping out of home. 
• The Aadhaar-based video KYC verification ensures doorstep delivery within two hours. Customers can complete the transaction online, including loading/topping up of prepaid forex cards, fund transfers, and foreign exchange transactions. 

13. Jose Raul Mulino wins Panama’s Presidential election 

• José Raúl Mulino has won Panama’s presidential election after three of his nearest rivals conceded defeat. 
• The 64-year-old former security minister has secured nearly 35% of the counted votes, with more than 92% of the votes counted. 
• He has an unassailable 9 per cent lead over his nearest rival. 
• Jose Raul Mulino was initially chosen as a Vice-Presidential candidate by former president Ricardo Martinelli, who was himself the Presidential candidate. 

About Panama 

• Capital – Panama City 
• Currency- Balboa 
• Continent – North America 
• President – José Raúl Mulino 
• Panama is famous for its Panama Canal, which connects the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean and is an important global maritime trade route. 

Newly Appointed Prime Minister & President 

• PM of Solomon Islands – Jeremiah Manele 
• Deputy PM of Pakistan – Ishaq Dar 
• President of Indonesia – Prabowo Subianto 
• PM of Kuwait – Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah al-Ahmad al-Sabah 
• PM of Ireland – Simon Harris (youngest PM of nation, 37) 

13. Mohammad Rihan appointed as DG of National Institute of Solar Energy 

• Mohammad Rihan has been named Director General of the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE). 
• He is a professor of electrical engineering department in Aligarh Muslim University. 
• He will be on deputation for three years with a possible two-year extension. 
• Rihan’s expertise in smart grid and solar energy aligns with NISE’s goals in R&D, testing, certification, and skill development in solar technology. 

Recent Appointment 

• Head of GST Appellate Tribunal – Sanjaya Kumar Mishra (for 4 years) 
• MD of Raymond -Gautam Hari Singhania
• Secretary of National Jute Board – Shashi Bhushan Singh 
• DG of Akashvani News aka All India Radio – Maushumi Chakravarty (replace Vasudha Gupta)
• Director of the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) – Pratima Singh 

14. Gurgaon admin ropes in cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal to boost voter turnout 

• Amid poll boycotts and apprehension over low voting rates among urban voters, the Gurgaon administration has announced cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal as its brand ambassador for the election. 
• The popular bowler will appeal to voters to exercise their rights. 
• Haryanvi singers MD Desi Rockstar and Naveen Punia have also been picked as brand ambassadors. 
• Haryana will vote in the sixth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on May 25. 
• The administration has also launched an app – Voter In Queue – to help voters find out their position in the polling queue and determine how long it will take for their turn to vote. 
• This is the first time the app will be used in an election. 

Recent Brand Ambassador 

• Kareena Kapoor Khan – UNICEF India National Ambassador 
• Sana Mir – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 
• Yuvraj Singh – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 
• Usain Bolt – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 
• Chris Gayle – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 
• MS Dhoni – French carmaker Citroen 
• Sanjana Sanghi – SPACE India 
• Neeraj Chopra – Eveready Batteries 

15. Oldest evidence of Earth’s magnetic field found in Greenland rocks

• Geologists from MIT and Oxford University discovered the oldest evidence of Earth’s magnetic field in 3.7-billion-year-old rocks from Greenland’s Isua Supracrustal Belt. 
• Researchers determined them to be approximately 3.7 billion years old, showing remnants of a magnetic field with a strength of at least 15 microtesla, comparable to today’s magnetic field. 
• This finding suggests Earth’s conditions may have been habitable earlier than thought, with a stable magnetic shield playing a crucial role. 
• The magnetic field protects the planet from harmful solar radiation and cosmic rays, sustains the atmosphere, and allows liquid water essential for life. 
• By analyzing the magnetic properties and orientation of iron-oxide minerals, researchers determined the ancient field’s strength, extending the known existence of Earth’s magnetic field by 200 million years. 

16. Mumbai City FC win the ISL 2023-24 

• The Mumbai City FC football club defeated Mohun Bagan Bagan Super Giant by 3-1 goals to win the 2023-24 Indian Super League (ISL) final. 
• It was played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata (West Bengal). 
• This was Mumbai City FC’s second title. 
• In the final match, Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Bipin Singh and Jakub Vojtus scored for Mumbai City FC, while the solitary goal for the Mohun Bagan Bagan Super Giant was scored by Jason Cumming. 
• The winner of the ISL 2023-24 Mumbai City FC took Rs 6 crore as the prize money, and the runners-up, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, got Rs 3 crore as prize money. 
• Incidentally, Mumbai City FC won its first ISL title in 2020-21 by defeating the Mohun Bagan team. 

17. Japan win 2024 Men’s AFC U-23 title 

• Japan defeated Uzbekistan in the final to win the Men’s AFC U-23 Asian Cup for the second time. 
• In the final match played at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar. 
• Japan had earlier won the tournament title in 2016. 
• The solitary goal scored by substitute Yamada in injury time secured Japan’s victory and qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics. 
• The 6th edition of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup was held in Qatar with 16 teams from across Asia vying for the coveted title.
• The tournament served as a crucial qualification event for the upcoming Paris Olympics, with the top three teams earning automatic spots. 

18. 7 May 2024 – World Asthma Day 

• World Asthma Day is observed every year on first Tuesday of May. This year was observed on 7 May. 
• Objective – To raise awareness about asthma, a long-term lung disease that affects millions of people around the world. 
• Theme 2024 – Asthma Education Empowers 
• Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterised by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. 
• The first World Asthma Day was celebrated in 1998, at the same time as the first World Asthma Meeting in Barcelona, Spain. Since then, it has become a major global event, with over 35 countries participating in the first year. 

19. 7 May – World Athletics Day 

• World Athletics Day is observed every year on 7 May. 
• This day aims to promote sports and encourage peole, especially the youth, to participate in athletics. 
• It is an annual event dedicated to honouring athletes and instilling values such as dedication and motivation that we can learn from sports. 
• World Athletics Day was established by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), now known as World Athletics, in 1996. 

20. Former Boeing CEO Frank Shrontz passed away 

• Former Boeing CEO Frank Shrontz passed away at the age of 92. 
• Shrontz, an attorney by training, was Boeing’s chief executive officer from 1986 to 1996. 
• It was an era of innovation, from designing ground-breaking new jets such as the Boeing 777 to elevating quality standards after he studied processes pioneered by Japanese automakers such as Toyota Motor Corp. 

Malayalam director-screenwriter Harikumar passes away 

• Veteran Malayalam director and screenwriter Harikumar passed away. 
• Harikumar, whose career spanned several decades, made his directorial debut with the 1981 film Ambal Poovu. 
• Over the years, he directed a total of 18 films, including notable works like Sukritham, Udyanapalakan, and Jalakam, collaborating with esteemed screenwriters such as M T Vasudevan Nair, Lohithadas, Sreenivasan, and Kaloor Denis. 
• Among his directorial ventures, Sukritham, written by M T Vasudevan Nair in 1994, stood out, earning critical acclaim and winning the National Award for Best Malayalam Film.