Daily Current Affairs 25 May 2024

Daily Current Affairs 25 May 2024

1. FTII student bags ‘La Cinef’ Award at 77th Cannes Film Festival

• “SUNFLOWERS WERE THE FIRST ONES TO KNOW”, a course end film by Chidanand Naik, a student of FTII, received the Cannes’ La Cinef Award for Best Short at 77th Cannes Film Festival in France.
• The winner was officially announced on 23rd May 2024 at the festival where the student Director Shri Chidanand Naik received the award.
• The film has been directed by Chidananda S Naik, shot by Suraj Thakur, edited by Manoj V and sound by Abhishek Kadam.
• Many of the FTII’s alumni such as Payal Kapadia, Maisam Ali, Santosh Sivan, Chidanand S Naik and his team received recognition at this years’ Cannes.

About FTII

• The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), established in 1960, is a prestigious film institute under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India.
• It is situated on the premises of the erstwhile Prabhat Film Company in Pune, Maharashtra.

FTII has produced talented technicians, actors, and directors who have made significant contributions to the Indian film and television industry.

2. NHPC conferred with ‘The Economic Times HR World Future Ready Organization Award 2024-25’

• NHPC, India’s premier hydropower company, has been honored with ‘The Economic Times HR World Future Ready Organization Award 2024-25’.
• The award was presented to NHPC at a glittering ceremony held in Mumbai on 23rd May 2024.
• The recognition highlights NHPC’s commitment to future preparedness across various domains, including upskilling of employees, ESG interventions, DE&I initiatives, technological upgrades, employee engagement processes, and robust corporate governance strategies.

3. IOC launched ‘Let’s Move India’ campaign

• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the launch of ‘Let’s Move India’, an initiative to inspire people to celebrate the athletes participating in the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
• The move invites people from across the country to join the movement through a digital challenge on social media.
• The IOC has joined forces with Abhinav Bindra, India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist, and an IOC Athletes’ Commission member, and together, they will extend invitations to schools across the nation to join the movement, as part of the Olympic Values Education Programme.

4. 10th World Water Forum held in Bali, Indonesia

• The 10th World Water Forum, held in Bali, Indonesia, commenced under the theme of “Water for Shared Prosperity”.
• The official opening ceremony took place on May 20, 2024, with the participation of country leaders and United Nations representatives.
• The forum focuses on four critical topics: water conservation, clean water and sanitation, food and energy security, and mitigation of natural disasters.
• The forum aims to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovative solutions to address global water challenges.
• The theme for this edition is “Water for Shared Prosperity”.

Note:

• President of the Republic of Indonesia – Joko Widodo
• Capital of Indonesia – Jakarta

5. India hosted 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meet in Kochi

• India, through the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), hosted the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46) and the 26th Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP 26) from May 20 to 30, 2024, in Kochi, Kerala.
• These meetings serve as pivotal forums for Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties and other stakeholders to address pressing environmental, scientific, and governance issues related to Antarctica.
• The Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959, established Antarctica as a region dedicated to peaceful purposes, scientific cooperation, and environmental protection.
• India, a Consultative Party to the Antarctic Treaty since 1983, reaffirmed its commitment through the enactment of the Antarctic Act in 2022.

6. World Hydrogen Summit 2024 held in Rotterdam, Netherlands

• The World Hydrogen Summit 2024, part of the SEC World Hydrogen Series, is the largest and most senior global hydrogen event.
• Held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, it featured the C-Level Summit, the world’s largest hydrogen-focused Exhibition, the Africa Hydrogen Forum, 2 x H2 Tech Series Stages, and the World Hydrogen Awards.
• The event facilitated non-stop networking for the entire value chain, including site visits to the Port of Rotterdam hydrogen projects.
• As hydrogen gains prominence in global debates, subsidy schemes, and energy transition plans, this summit serves as the official springboard for hydrogen deals and project developments.

7. WNS released fourth annual Corporate Sustainability Report

• WNS (Holdings) Limited, a global digital-led Business Process Management (BPM) solutions provider, recently unveiled its fourth annual corporate sustainability report titled ‘Empowering Growth, Inspiring Change.’
• The report, covering the fiscal year 2023-24, highlights WNS’ progress across key environmental, social, and governance activities.
• Their sustainability strategy focuses on four cornerstones: people, planet, partnerships, and principles.
• Notably, WNS has committed to halving its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving Net-Zero by 2050.
• The organization also emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, with 46% of its workforce and 44% of board positions held by women.

8. Noise acquires Women’s Wellness Platform SocialBoat to Bolster Smart Ring Innovation

• Noise, a leading smartwatch and connected lifestyle brand in India, has acquired SocialBoat, an AI-powered women’s wellness platform.
• This strategic move aims to enhance health tracking and overall user experience, particularly for women.
• SocialBoat, India’s highest-rated app in the women’s health category, utilizes AI algorithms to analyze data from various sources, including wearables.
• It offers personalized recommendations for nutrition, fitness, menstrual health, and overall well-being.

9. Maldives to launch India’s Rupay Service amid bilateral tensions

• The Maldives aims to strengthen its own currency, the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR), by accepting India’s RuPay payment service.
• Despite recent turbulence in bilateral relations, the Maldives is set to launch RuPay, a product of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
• RuPay is India’s first global card payment network, widely accepted at ATMs, POS devices, and e-commerce websites across India.
• Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed emphasized the significance of this move, addressing currency issues and reinforcing the MVR.

Note:

• President of the Maldives – Mohamed Muizzu
• Currency of the Maldives – Maldivian Rufiyaa
• Capital – Male

10. University of Tokyo inaugurates world’s highest observatory in Chile

• The University of Tokyo has inaugurated the Atacama Observatory (TAO) in Chile, officially recognized as the highest observatory in the world by Guinness World Records.
• Situated at an astounding 5,640 meters above sea level on Cerro Chajnantor in the Antofagasta Region, TAO represents a pinnacle of human achievement in astronomical research.
• This groundbreaking observatory houses a 6.5-meter optical-infrared telescope that will focus on understanding the nature of the universe.

11. Kaamya Karthikeyan became youngest Indian to summit Mt Everest at 16

• Kaamya Karthikeyan, a 16-year-old student from Navy Children School in Mumbai, achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the youngest Indian to scale Mount Everest from the Nepal side.
• Accompanied by her father, Commander S. Karthikeyan, a navy officer, she embarked on their expedition to climb the world’s highest peak on April 3.
• Their determination and courage led them to reach the summit on May 20.
• Kaamya’s achievement extends beyond Everest; she has also successfully climbed the highest peaks in six continents.
• Her next challenge is to scale Mount Vinson Massif in Antarctica in December, aiming to accomplish the prestigious ‘7 Summits challenge’.

Happy reading!