Today in History (May 31^st, 1987)

World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on May 31. Initiated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1987, the day aims to create awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocate efficient policies to decrease tobacco consumption.

Let’s revise

A) National Building Code of India, a national instrument providing guidelines for regulating the building construction activities across the country, came into existence in which year?

1. 1956
2. 2016
3. 2023
4. 2021

Ans. (2)

B) Militancy in Jammu & Kashmir was started as a national security challenge?

1. In 1956
2. In 1990s
3. In 2014
4. In 1945

Ans. (2)

C) Who is the President of Turkey?

1. Emmanuel Macron
2. Recep Tayyip Erdogan
3. Benjamin Netanyahu
4. Rishi Sunak

Ans. (2)

D) Turkey is the country of _____continent.

1. Asia
2. Africa
3. North America
4. South America

Ans. (1)

E) Where is the headquarter of WHO?

1. Geneva
2. New York
3. London
4. The Hague

Ans. (1)

Summary of Today’s News

Monsoon hits Kerala and Northeast India simultaneously

• The southwest monsoon set in over Kerala on Thursday, May 30, two days ahead of its usual onset date of June 1, and a day before the forecast date of May 31, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Unusually, the monsoon simultaneously began over northeastern India, influenced by Cyclone Remal, reaching Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and most parts of Tripura, Meghalaya, and Assam on May 30.
• The monsoon system, consisting of the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal branches, typically merges over Central India and lasts until September. Such early onset in northeastern India has been recorded only a few times since 1990, including in 1991, 1995, 1997, 2017, and now 2024. The IMD uses specific criteria and a dedicated weather model to forecast the monsoon, and this year’s forecast predicted the arrival accurately within an error window of four days.

Agnikul launches world’s first rocket with fully 3D-printed engine

• Agnikul Cosmos Private Ltd., a space start-up based in Chennai, successfully launched the world’s first rocket with a single-piece 3D-printed engine, named Agnibaan Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD), from Sriharikota at 7.15 a.m. on Thursday. This launch marks several significant milestones: it is India’s first launch from a private launchpad, ‘Dhanush,’ established by Agnikul, and it is also India’s first semi-cryogenic engine-powered rocket launch. Additionally, it is the world’s first rocket to feature a single-piece 3D-printed engine designed and built indigenously.
• The primary objective of this mission was to test in-house technologies, gather critical flight data, and ensure the proper functioning of systems for Agnikul’s future orbital launch vehicle, the ‘Agnibaan.’ The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recognized this achievement as a major milestone, highlighting the successful controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine created through additive manufacturing. The launch was initially scheduled for April 7 but was postponed due to technical issues.

Indian peacekeeper gets U.N. award on gender advocacy

• Major Radhika Sen, an Indian peacekeeper deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was honored with the U.N. Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2023. The award was presented by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday. Major Sen served as the Commander of the engagement platoon for the Indian rapid deployment battalion from March 2023 to April 2024, leading a team of 20 women soldiers and 10 male soldiers.
• Her service in the conflict-affected eastern DRC was praised by Mr. Guterres, who called it “a true credit to the UN as a whole.” Major Sen expressed that the award is significant as it acknowledges the dedication of peacekeepers working in the challenging environment of the DRC.

Xi calls for conference to discuss crisis in West Asia

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a peace conference to end the Israel-Hamas war during a forum with Arab leaders, including Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and UAE’s President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. China, a significant oil importer from West Asia, aims to expand its influence and has advocated for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. President Xi emphasized that war should not persist indefinitely and highlighted the region’s development potential. Analysts believe China is using the Gaza conflict to enhance its regional standing, contrasting its proactive stance with perceived U.S. inaction.