Daily Current Affairs Quiz: 21st May 2024

Answer: B) Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty

Notes:

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty emerged victorious in the men’s doubles category at the Thailand Open 2024 badminton championship. The Indian duo secured their second title of the year by defeating the Chinese pair of Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi in the final match. The intense battle took place at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, where the Indian players showcased their prowess with a scoreline of 21-15, 21-15 in just 46 minutes. This victory marks their fifth appearance in a BWF Super 500 summit clash, and they have emerged triumphant in all of them. With 9200 ranking points from this tournament, the Indian badminton players are expected to regain the world No. 1 rank next week. Overall, this win adds to their impressive tally of eight titles on the BWF World Tour. The Thailand Open has been a special tournament for them, as it was where they clinched their first Super 500 crown in 2019. Now, they hope that this victory will kickstart another winning streak for them in the badminton circuit. The duo’s earlier rounds at the Thailand Open 2024 saw them defeat opponents from Malaysia and Chinese Taipei, all in straight games. Their next challenge awaits at the Malaysia Masters BWF Super 500 tournament, which begins next week.

Answer: B) 21 May

Notes:

National Anti-Terrorism Day is observed annually in India on May 21st. This significant day commemorates the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who tragically lost his life on May 21, 1991. The assassination occurred in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, when a suicide bomber from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) carried out the attack. Rajiv Gandhi, India’s sixth Prime Minister, had assumed office following the assassination of his mother, Indira Gandhi, in 1984. His deployment of Indian peacekeeping forces in 1987 to restore peace in Sri Lanka strained relations with the LTTE, potentially contributing to his assassination during an election rally in Tamil Nadu. Anti-Terrorism Day serves as a reminder of the need to raise awareness about the destructive impact of terrorism and violence on society, emphasizing the importance of unity in promoting peace and harmony across the nation.

Answer: C) Iga Swiatek

Notes:

Iga Świątek emerged victorious in the women’s singles category at the 2024 Italian Open tennis championship. In a thrilling final match, she defeated Aryna Sabalenka with a scoreline of 6-2, 6-3. This remarkable win marked Świątek’s third title at the Italian Open in just four years. Notably, she became the first woman since Maria Sharapova in 2015 to secure a third title in Rome, and the youngest player (at 22 years old) to achieve this feat since Gabriela Sabatini in 1991. Świątek’s impressive performance included winning the title without dropping a set or facing a tiebreak in any match, making her one of only five women to have achieved this in Rome. Additionally, this tournament witnessed the top two players in the world, Świątek and Sabalenka, competing in the finals, a historic moment for the Italian Open.

Answer: A) Red Sea Fashion Week

Notes:

Saudi Arabia made history by hosting its first-ever swimsuit fashion show during the inaugural Red Sea Fashion Week. This groundbreaking event took place at the St Regis Red Sea Resort, situated off Saudi Arabia’s western coast. The poolside show featured the work of Moroccan designer Yasmina Qanzal, showcasing mostly one-piece swimsuits in shades of red, beige, and blue. Notably, this event represents a significant shift in a country known for its conservative dress codes. Most models at the show had exposed shoulders, and some even had their midriffs partially visible. Qanzal emphasized that the elegant swimsuits aimed to represent the Arab world. Saudi Arabia’s efforts to open up to the world and boost its fashion and tourism sectors have led to such historic moments, despite its conservative past.

Answer: D) Kyrgyzstan

Notes:

Bishkek, formerly known as Pishpek and Frunze, is the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan. Situated near the border with Kazakhstan, Bishkek lies just off the northern fringe of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too Range, an extension of the Tian Shan Mountain range. The city has a population of 1,074,075 as of 2021. Bishkek serves as the primate city of Kyrgyzstan, being the sole metropolis in the country, with approximately 17% of the nation’s inhabitants residing in its metropolitan area. The city’s history includes its establishment as the fortress of Pishpek by the Khanate of Kokand in 1825. Later, it became part of the Russian settlement under the same name. In 1926, it was renamed Frunze after Bolshevik military leader Mikhail Frunze, who was born there. Finally, in 1991, the Kyrgyz parliament changed the capital’s name to Bishkek.

Answer: A) Prithvi Sekhar

Notes:

Prithvi Sekhar clinched the title in the men’s singles category at the Slovenia Deaf Tennis Open. His remarkable victory illuminated India’s name on the international stage. The tournament took place in Maribor, Slovenia, where Prithvi secured a 21-18, 21-14 win against his Taiwanese opponent, Su Li Yang. This achievement underscores the talent and determination of deaf athletes, breaking barriers and inspiring others in the world of tennis.

Answer: B) Sanjiv Puri

Notes:

Sanjiv Puri, the Chairman and Managing Director of ITC Limited, has assumed office as the President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for the 2024-25 term. He takes over from R Dinesh, the Chairman of TVS Supply Chain Solutions. Mr. Puri’s leadership at ITC has been marked by a vision for a future-tech, climate-positive, innovative, and inclusive enterprise. His ambitious Sustainability 2.0 vision aims to contribute to a net-zero economy and support national priorities. Notably, he was recognized with the ‘Best CEO Award’ by Business Today in 2024 and received the ‘Transformational Leader Award 2022-23’ from the Asian Centre for Corporate Governance and Sustainability.

Answer: A) 2019

Notes:

International Tea Day is observed annually on May 21, according to the United Nations. The concerning resolution was adopted on December 21, 2019, and it calls on the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to lead the observance of the Day. The goal of International Tea Day is to raise awareness of the long history and the deep cultural and economic significance of tea around the world. It aims to promote collective actions in favour of sustainable production and consumption of tea and raise awareness of its importance in fighting hunger and poverty. Interestingly, an International Tea Day has been celebrated on December 15 in tea-producing countries like India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Uganda, and Tanzania since 2005¹. This day draws global attention to the impact of the global tea trade on workers and growers, advocating for price supports and fair trade.

Answer: A) John Slaven

Notes:

John Slaven, the CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, has been appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). In this prestigious role, Slaven will lead global initiatives to highlight the critical role of aluminium in facilitating the transition to zero carbon energy. The IAI represents the primary aluminium industry worldwide, promoting responsible production and emphasizing the advantages of using aluminium in environmentally friendly technologies. Slaven’s extensive experience in the metals, mining, and modern manufacturing sectors positions him well for this leadership position. Vedanta Aluminium, a top aluminium producer, plays a crucial role in shaping the industry’s future.

Answer: D) Influenza

Notes:

The mRNA technology is indeed being used for the development of an Influenza vaccine. Pfizer has initiated a Phase 3 study of an mRNA-based Influenza vaccine. This technology, which was successfully used in COVID-19 vaccines, could potentially allow better strain matches and rapid, large-scale manufacturing of vaccines.

Answer: B) Swiggy

Notes:

Swiggy, India’s leading on-demand convenience platform, has signed an agreement with SHIELD, a device-first risk AI platform. This partnership aims to enhance Swiggy’s fraud prevention and detection capabilities. SHIELD’s Device Intelligence will enable Swiggy to reduce promo abuse and deter fraudulent practices within the Delivery Partner ecosystem. This collaboration empowers Swiggy to focus its resources on genuine users and proactively manage potential abuse on the platform. This is a significant step towards establishing Swiggy as a trailblazer for trust and fairness in the competitive Indian market.

Answer: C) The Lancet

Notes:

The study providing global life expectancy projection in May 2024 was published in The Lancet. The study forecasts that global life expectancy will increase by almost five years in men and over four years in women between 2022 and 2050. This increase is expected to be largest in countries where life expectancy is lower. The shift in disease burden from communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases (CMNNs) towards non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a significant factor in this projected increase.

Answer: A) Alexander Zverev

Notes:

Alexander Zverev won the Italian Open 2024 Men’s Singles title¹². He defeated Nicolas Jarry in the final with a score of 6-4, 7-5. This victory marked Zverev’s sixth Masters title and his second title in Rome after his first win in 2017. The win also boosted his ranking. This achievement is a testament to Zverev’s skill and resilience, especially considering his recovery from an ankle injury sustained in the French Open semi-finals in 2022.

Answer: C) Guwahati High Court

Notes:

Justice Susmita Phukan Khaund and Justice Mitali Thakuria were appointed as permanent judges in the Gauhati High Court. The Supreme Court Collegium recommended their appointment on May 17, 2024. This recommendation was unanimously endorsed by the Collegium of the Gauhati High Court, the Chief Ministers and Governors of Assam, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh. Their appointment is a significant step in strengthening the judiciary and upholding the rule of law.

Answer: A) Only Gold

Notes:

Notes: Ekta Bhyan, an Indian para-athlete, won the gold medal in the women’s F51 club throw event at the World Para Athletic Championships in Kobe, Japan. She secured the gold with a season’s best throw of 20.12m. This victory adds to her impressive career achievements, which include a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta. Ekta’s triumph is a testament to her determination and skill, and it significantly contributes to India’s medal tally in the championships.