Current Affairs 06 May 2025

1. Tanzanian President receives UAE's 'Mother of Nation Order'
President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania has been honored with the United
Arab Emirates' prestigious 'Order of the Mother of the Nation' award. This accolade recognizes her significant contributions to social development, women's empowerment, and community welfare. The award is part of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Programme for Excellence and Community Intelligence, which celebrates individuals and institutions that have made impactful efforts in promoting social cohesion and innovation. President Hassan's leadership has been instrumental in advancing initiatives that uplift communities and foster inclusive growth.

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The Award: The 'Mother of the Nation' Order is a prestigious award in the UAE, named after Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, the mother of the UAE's current president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and wife of the UAE's founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
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Recipient: Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was awarded this honor, although the exact date of receiving the award isn't specified in the search results provided.
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President Samia's Background: Samia Suluhu Hassan is the first female president of Tanzania and has implemented various reforms, including promoting democracy, expanding infrastructure, and globalizing the Tanzanian economy.
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Significance: This award might signify the strong diplomatic ties and mutual respect between Tanzania and the UAE, considering Sheikha Fatima's contributions to women's rights and education in the UAE.
2. China Clinches 14th Sudirman Cup Title
China secured its 14th Sudirman Cup title with a dominant performance in the
prestigious mixed team badminton championship. The final match saw China defeating South Korea with a clean 3-0 victory, showcasing their depth and skill across all disciplines. With this win, China further cemented its legacy as the most successful nation in Sudirman Cup history. Star players delivered stellar performances, reflecting the country’s strong badminton infrastructure and consistent talent development. The victory also highlighted China’s strategic prowess and team unity, crucial in such a high-pressure tournament. This triumph reinforces China's position at the pinnacle of world badminton and boosts their momentum ahead of future global competitions.

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Record 14th Title: China won a record 14th Sudirman Cup title by defeating South Korea 3-1 in the 2025 final, further solidifying their dominance in badminton.
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Fourth Consecutive Win: This victory marks China's fourth consecutive Sudirman Cup title, showcasing their consistency and depth in the sport.
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Final Match Details: The final match against South Korea lasted 229 minutes, with China ultimately emerging victorious.
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Tournament Legacy: China's first Sudirman Cup title was in 1995 in Lausanne, Switzerland, and they've gone on to win 13 more titles since then.
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Venue: The 2025 Sudirman Cup final was held in Xiamen, China, where the host nation put on a stellar performance to claim the championship.
3. India-Maldives Strengthen Defence Ties through HADR Exercise
India and the Maldives have reaffirmed their defence partnership through the
13th edition of the joint military exercise 'Ekuverin', held from February 2 to 16, 2025, at Maafilaafushi in the Maldives. This 14-day exercise focused on enhancing interoperability in counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations . 'Ekuverin', meaning 'friends' in Dhivehi, symbolizes the camaraderie between the two nations and has been conducted alternately in India and the Maldives since 2009.

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Exercise Details: The joint HADR exercise between the Indian Navy and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) is currently underway in Maafilaafushi Atoll, Maldives, from May 4 to May 10, 2025.
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Objective: The exercise aims to enhance interoperability between the Indian Navy and MNDF, strengthen disaster response coordination, and facilitate medical assistance, search and rescue operations, and logistical support.
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Key Activities: The exercise includes joint drills, rescue simulations, medical aid provision, team mobilization, community engagement, and capacity building, simulating a coordinated response to a major natural disaster.
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Strategic Significance: This exercise underscores India's commitment to regional cooperation and maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region, aligning with the "MAHASAGAR" vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
4. Karnataka leads medal tally with four gold & five silver medals in Khelo India Youth Games
Karnataka has surged to the top of the medal tally at the Khelo India Youth
Games 2025, currently underway in Bihar. The state’s athletes have clinched a total of nine medals—four gold and five silver—demonstrating exceptional performances across multiple disciplines. Delhi follows in second place with six medals, including two golds, while Rajasthan holds third with three medals, two of which are gold . The Games, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are being hosted across Bihar, with shooting, cycling, and gymnastics events taking place in New Delhi . Karnataka’s early dominance underscores the state’s growing investment in youth sports and grassroots development.

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Top Performances: Karnataka's swimmers have been dominating, securing four gold medals in the BIPARD Swimming Pool in Gaya. Krish Sukumar won the boys' 100m Breaststroke, Manvi Verma won the girls' 100m breaststroke and 50m butterfly events, and Sri Charani Tumu won the girls' 800m Freestyle.
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Other Medal Winners: Delhi is in second place with 2 gold medals, 1 silver, and 1 bronze, while Maharashtra is in third place with 1 gold, 1 silver, and 5 bronze medals.
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Competition Progress: The Khelo India Youth Games are being held in multiple venues, with events in shooting, cycling, gymnastics, swimming, and other sports. The games feature athletes from across the country, showcasing India's diverse sporting talent.
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Medal Events: Various medal events have been concluded, including the Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol, where Rajasthan won gold, and the archery competitions, where Maharashtra has shown dominance in several categories.
5. Rajasthan to join India’s first cheetah conservation corridor with MP
Rajasthan is set to join India's first interstate cheetah conservation corridor in
collaboration with Madhya Pradesh, aiming to facilitate the natural movement of cheetahs between the two states. This initiative follows instances where cheetahs from Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park strayed into Rajasthan, highlighting the need for coordinated management. A joint corridor management committee has been established, comprising senior forest officials from both states, to oversee the development of suitable habitats and the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for corridor development .

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Area Coverage: Madhya Pradesh will cover 10,500 square kilometers, while Rajasthan will cover 6,500 square kilometers of the corridor area.
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Districts Involved in Rajasthan: The Rajasthan districts involved in the corridor are Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, and Chittorgarh.
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Objectives: The corridor aims to ensure safe passage and migration of cheetahs, promote genetic diversity, boost eco-tourism and biodiversity conservation, and strengthen inter-state cooperation in wildlife preservation.
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Project Background: This initiative is part of Project Cheetah, India's ambitious effort to reintroduce and conserve cheetahs, with the first group of cheetahs translocated from Namibia and South Africa to Kuno National Park in 2022.
6. India Breaks Records in Mining Production in FY 2024-25
India's mining sector achieved record-breaking production levels in the fiscal
year 2024–25, reflecting robust industrial demand and economic growth. Iron ore production reached 289 million metric tonnes (MMT), marking a 4.3% increase from the previous year's 277 MMT. Manganese ore output rose by 11.8% to 3.8 MMT, while bauxite production grew by 2.9% to 24.7 MMT. In the non-ferrous metals segment, primary aluminium production climbed to 42 lakh tonnes (LT), and refined copper output saw a significant 12.6% increase to 5.73 LT. These achievements underscore India's position as the second-largest aluminium producer, among the top ten in refined copper, and the fourth-largest iron ore producer globally.

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Iron Ore Production: India produced 289 million metric tonnes (MMT) of iron ore, a 4.3% increase from 277 MMT in FY 2023-24, accounting for 70% of total MCDR mineral production by value.
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Non-Ferrous Metal Growth: Primary aluminium production reached 42 lakh tonnes (LT), up from 41.6 LT, while refined copper production surged 12.6% to 5.73 LT from 5.09 LT.
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Global Rankings: India is the world's 4th largest iron ore producer, 2nd largest aluminium producer, and among the top 10 producers of refined copper globally.
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Key Mineral Production: Manganese ore production rose 11.8% to 3.8 MMT, bauxite increased 2.9% to 24.7 MMT, and lead concentrate grew 3.1% to 393 thousand tonnes.
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Economic Impact: The increased output supports core industries like steel, energy, infrastructure, construction, and automotive manufacturing, aligning with the "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" missions.
7. The New York Times Wins Four Pulitzer Prizes in 2025
The New York Times secured four Pulitzer Prizes in 2025, highlighting its
excellence in journalism across diverse fields. Photographer Doug Mills earned the Breaking News Photography award for his striking image capturing a bullet passing near former President Donald Trump during an assassination attempt . In International Reporting, Declan Walsh and the Times' staff were recognized for their in-depth investigation into Sudan's conflict, shedding light on foreign influences and the gold trade fueling the unrest . The Explanatory Reporting prize was awarded to Azam Ahmed, Christina Goldbaum, and contributing writer Matthieu Aikins for their comprehensive analysis of U.S. policy failures in Afghanistan .

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Finalists: The New York Times also had four finalists, including Dave Philipps for Public Service and Times Opinion staff for Editorial Writing.
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Pulitzer Prize Ceremony: The 2025 Pulitzer Prizes were awarded on May 5, 2025, recognizing works created during the 2024 calendar year.
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Significance: This win highlights The New York Times' commitment to quality journalism and its ability to cover a wide range of topics, from local issues to international conflicts.
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Number of Awards: The New York Times won four Pulitzer Prizes in 2025, showcasing its excellence in journalism.
8. Yemen Appoints Finance Minister Salem Bin Braik as New Prime Minister
On May 3, 2025, Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council appointed Salem
Saleh Bin Braik as the country's new Prime Minister, following the resignation of Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak. Bin Mubarak stepped down citing political obstacles, including his inability to implement a cabinet reshuffle due to internal disputes within the council . Bin Braik, who previously served as Finance Minister since 2019, brings extensive experience in financial and administrative roles to his new position . His appointment aims to revitalize the Yemeni government, which has faced paralysis amid ongoing civil conflict and economic challenges. The leadership transition occurs as Yemen continues to grapple with a decade-long civil war, with Houthi rebels controlling significant portions of the country, including the capital, Sanaa .

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Previous Prime Minister's Resignation: Bin Braik's appointment follows the resignation of Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, who stepped down citing constitutional constraints and obstacles hindering his reform efforts.
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Bin Braik's Background: Bin Braik has served as Yemen's Finance Minister since 2019 and held various key financial and administrative roles prior to his appointment.
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Current Government: All existing ministers will retain their positions, with bin Mubarak being appointed as an advisor to the PLC president.
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Challenges Ahead: Bin Braik's leadership will be crucial in navigating Yemen's challenging socio-economic and political landscape, potentially implementing reforms and policies to stabilize the country amidst ongoing civil war since 2014.
9. Prakash Magdum Appointed as New MD of NFDC
On May 5, 2025, Shri Prakash Magdum, a seasoned officer of the Indian
Information Service (IIS) from the 1999 batch, assumed charge as the Managing Director of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). His previous roles include serving as the Additional Director General at the Press Information Bureau and Central Bureau of Communication in Ahmedabad, Director of the National Film Archive of India (NFAI), Registrar of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), and spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence in Thiruvananthapuram.

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Background: Magdum has over two decades of experience in film, communication, and cultural preservation, having served in various roles, including Director of the National Film Archive of India and Additional Director General of Press Information Bureau.
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Key Contributions: As Director of NFAI, Magdum played a pivotal role in executing the National Film Heritage Mission, overseeing preservation, digitization, and restoration of vintage Indian films.
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NFDC's Role: The National Film Development Corporation, established in 1975, aims to promote Indian cinema, especially regional and parallel cinema, through financing, co-productions, and international film festivals.
10. World Asthma Day observed on 06th May 2025
On May 6, 2025, World Asthma Day was observed globally with the theme
“Make Inhaled Treatments Accessible for ALL,” highlighting the urgent need for equitable access to essential asthma medications like inhalers. Organized annually by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), this day aims to raise awareness about asthma management and the importance of accessible treatment options . In India, where asthma-related deaths account for over 15% of the global total, health experts emphasized the critical need for improved access to inhaled medications, especially in rural and low-income areas . The Vidarbha Chest Association (VCA) in Nagpur advocated for universal access to affordable asthma care, noting that despite the availability of effective treatments, many individuals remain deprived of essential care.

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Global Significance: This day aims to raise awareness about asthma, promote early diagnosis and treatment, advocate for access to essential medications, and educate the public on asthma management strategies.
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Asthma Impact: Over 260 million people worldwide live with asthma, which can cause recurring episodes of breathlessness, wheezing, chest tightness, and coughing, with approximately 455,000 deaths globally in 2019.
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Importance of Inhaled Treatments: Inhaled medications like short-acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids provide direct delivery to the lungs, minimizing systemic side effects and improving long-term outcomes in asthma management.
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Global Initiatives: World Asthma Day is marked by public engagement events, including free asthma screening clinics, inhaler education sessions, awareness walks, and digital campaigns to strengthen community knowledge and encourage timely treatment.
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