Current Affairs - May 19, 2025 Current Affairs

OpenAI launched Codex on May 16, 2025, as an advanced AI software engineering assistant designed to handle multiple programming tasks autonomously. Codex operates within a secure cloud sandbox environment connected to a user’s codebase, enabling it to write features, debug, run tests, and draft pull requests, thereby enhancing developer productivity. Available initially to ChatGPT Pro, Enterprise, and Team users, Codex leverages the codex-1 model optimized for real-world coding. This innovation marks a significant advancement in AI-driven software development, aiming to transform traditional programming workflows and support developers globally.

The world’s first in-human bladder transplant was successfully performed in the United States by a team of surgeons from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Southern California (USC). This groundbreaking surgery was carried out in Southern California on a 41-year-old male patient who had lost bladder function following treatment for a rare form of bladder cancer. The successful procedure marks a major milestone in regenerative medicine and offers new hope for patients suffering from severe bladder conditions, potentially revolutionizing how such cases are treated globally.

IIT Delhi launched the ‘Manasvi’ mentorship programme to encourage high-school girls to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The programme is managed by the Academic Outreach and New Initiatives Office at IIT Delhi and aims to reduce gender disparities in STEM by providing mentorship and skill-building opportunities. ‘Manasvi’ helps girls build confidence and gain the necessary skills to succeed in STEM fields, reflecting IIT Delhi’s dedication to fostering inclusivity and inspiring young women to explore science and technology.

The Miss World 2025 Sports Challenge was held in Hyderabad, where Miss Estonia, Eliise Randmaa, emerged victorious, clinching the gold medal. The event took place at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium and featured 108 participants from around the world. Randmaa's win marked a historic moment for Estonia, propelling them into the quarter-finals of the pageant for the first time in over two decades. The event showcased athleticism, cultural elegance, and global camaraderie, highlighting Hyderabad's growing stature as a host of prestigious international events.

India’s U-19 football team won the SAFF U-19 Championship 2025 by defeating Bangladesh 4-3 in a tense penalty shootout. The final was held at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, India showed great composure to clinch their second SAFF U-19 title, having previously won in 2023. This victory underscores India’s growing strength in South Asian youth football and highlights the success of its youth development programs. The championship features teams from across South Asia, promoting football among the region’s youth.

The PSLV-C61 mission, launched by ISRO on May 18, 2025, aimed to deploy the EOS-09 earth observation satellite but faced failure due to a glitch in the third stage of the launch vehicle. Specifically, a fall in chamber pressure in the solid rocket motor of the third stage caused the mission to fail to place the satellite into the intended Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit. This was ISRO’s 101st mission and only the third failure in PSLV’s history since 1993, highlighting the challenges in advanced space technology missions and ISRO’s commitment to thorough investigation and improvement.

International Museum Day 2025 was celebrated across India on May 18 to highlight the vital role museums play in cultural exchange, education, and community development. The day aims to raise public awareness about museums as institutions that preserve and promote heritage. The 2025 theme, "Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities," emphasizes the need for museums to evolve with societal changes. To mark the occasion, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) offered free entry to all ASI-managed monuments and museums, encouraging broader public participation and appreciation of historical and cultural treasures throughout the country.

India is set to participate in LIMA 2025, the 17th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition, which will be held in Malaysia. The Indian delegation will be led by Sanjay Seth, who will inaugurate the Indian Pavilion and engage in talks with Malaysian Defence Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin. This participation is part of efforts to enhance bilateral defence cooperation between India and Malaysia under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, highlighting the importance of defence ties in the region and fostering collaboration in the maritime and aerospace sectors.

The "Sundays on Cycle" nationwide cyclothon was organized by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in collaboration with the FIT INDIA Movement to commemorate eight years of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The main event took place at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, with participation from over 100 CGST commissionerates across the country. The event emphasized GST's transformative impact, unifying 30 different indirect taxes under one system. CBIC's active role in hosting such a significant event underlines its central involvement in implementing and celebrating the GST framework.

Tripura is set to witness significant development in the fisheries sector with the foundation stone laying of a ₹42.4 crore Integrated Aquapark in Kailashahar under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Alongside this, a Fish Festival will be hosted in Agartala. These initiatives aim to strengthen the fisheries infrastructure in the state, including hatcheries, feed mills, cold storage, processing, and marketing facilities. The event will also feature the distribution of certificates and Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to eligible fishers, demonstrating a focused effort to uplift the livelihoods of the fishing community in Tripura. Union Minister for Fisheries Rajeev Ranjan Singh emphasized that the fisheries sector now contributes 9% to India’s economy, making it a more dominant player compared to agriculture, which contributes around 4–5%.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth ₹708 crore in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. These projects aim to enhance the region’s infrastructure and reflect the government's focus on urban development and modernization. During the event, Shah also lauded India's defence capabilities and highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in strengthening national security. He referenced the success of India’s air defence systems and mentioned Operation Sindoor, a counter-terrorism strike in Pakistan, underscoring the government’s firm stance on national security. The inauguration in Gandhinagar represents both strategic and developmental priorities.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is observed every year on May 17. The day highlights the vital role of communication and information technologies in promoting inclusive development and bridging the digital divide. WTISD also commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on May 17, 1865. The 2025 theme, “Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development,” focuses on using technology to advance climate resilience, education, healthcare, and economic equity, emphasizing digital access as essential for a sustainable future.

The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, established in 1899 in Tamil Nadu, India, is one of the oldest and most prestigious solar research institutions in the country. To honour its 125 years of pioneering contributions to solar astrophysics, the Department of Posts released a commemorative stamp on May 17, 2025, at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru. The stamp features the observatory’s historic twin-domed building and highlights its significant scientific legacy, including telescopes dating back to the 19th century and sunspot data spanning over a century. This celebration promotes awareness of India’s role in global solar research.

Carlos Alcaraz claimed his first Italian Open title on May 18, 2025, by defeating Jannik Sinner in straight sets, 7-6 (5), 6-1. This victory marked his 7th Masters 1000 title and ended Sinner’s impressive 26-match winning streak. Alcaraz’s performance demonstrated his mastery of clay courts and his evolving tactical and mental skills. The win solidified his dominance ahead of Roland Garros 2025 and placed him among the elite players who have won all major clay-court titles in the ATP Tour era. Alcaraz’s success also strengthened his head-to-head record against Sinner to 7-4.