Current Affairs

Nepal’s mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa climbs Mt. Everest for 29th time, beats own record

Nepal’s legendary mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa made history on Sunday by breaking his record for the highest number of ascents of Mt. Everest as he scaled the world’s highest peak for the 29th time.

The 54-year-old veteran climber reached the 8,849-metre peak at 7:25 am local time on Sunday, according to Rakesh Gurung, director at the Tourism Department in the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.

The expedition was organised by the Seven Summit Treks and had 20 climbers. They scaled Everest on Sunday morning, said Thani Guragain, a senior staff at the Seven Summit Treks.



SAIL-Bhilai to set up Chhattisgarh's first 15-Mw floating solar plant

Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), the Chhattisgarh-based arm of the state-run Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), will install the state's first 15-megawatt (MW) floating solar project in its Maroda-1 reservoir to improve its carbon footprint. The steel major is undertaking various projects to reduce carbon emissions, conserve energy, and promote renewable energy.

“In a major step towards this, Bhilai Steel Plant has taken up the project of installation of a 15 MW capacity floating solar plant in its Maroda-1 reservoir,” a BSP spokesperson said. The project is being implemented through NTPC-SAIL Power Supply Company Limited (NSPCL), a 50:50 joint venture company of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and SAIL. The solar plant will be set up in Durg district.



United Nations proclaims May 25 as World Football Day

Football fans around the world will now have a day to celebrate the world's most popular sport every year -- May 25.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution Tuesday proclaiming May 25 as World Football Day. The sport is called soccer in the United States.

The day marks the 100th anniversary of the first international football tournament in history with the representation of all regions which took place on May 25, 1924 during the summer Olympic Games held in Paris, according to the resolution.

The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution by consensus with a bang of the gavel by its president, Dennis Francis, to applause from diplomats in the assembly chamber. It was co-sponsored by more than 160 countries.



Happy International Nurses Day 2024

International Nurses Day commemorates the birth of Florence Nightingale and acknowledges her pioneering contributions to modern nursing. Since 1965, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) has observed this day to honour nurses’ invaluable contributions and sacrifices in society.

In 1974, May 12 was designated as International Nurses Day to recognise their vital role in healthcare alongside doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists and surgeons. Each year, the ICN distributes resources and evidence for nurses and the public, while people express their gratitude and appreciation for nurses’ dedication and hard work through messages and greetings. To mark this occasion, here are some WhatsApp messages and greetings to share.



Coca-Cola India announces its first ever partnership with Hockey India, for the National Women's Hockey League

Anandana, The Coca-Cola India Foundation, announces its first ever partnership with Hockey India, for the National Women’s Hockey League 2024. The 1st Phase of the tournament commenced on 30thApril, and it will conclude on 9thMay 2024, in Ranchi, Jharkhand. The domestic league promises an exhilarating showcase of talent and skill.

The National Women’s Hockey League features teams that secured top-eight positions in Pune’s recently concluded 14thHockey India Senior Women National Championship 2024. The participating athletes represent various states, including Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Bengal, Mizoram, Manipur, and Odisha.

In line with Coca-Cola India’s commitment to sports, the three-year collaboration underscores its role in positively shaping the sports and gender equality landscape. The partnership also aligns with the company’s #SheTheDifference campaign, an initiative to celebrate, uplift, and support women. This strategic partnership aims to elevate women’s hockey by tackling essential components, such as providing specialized coaching, the provision of training equipment, nutritional support, and the organization of camps and tournaments to foster growth.



Infosys Receives ISO 42001:2023 Certification for Artificial Intelligence Management System

Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced that it has been certified with ISO 42001:2023, world's first international standard on AI management systems, by TUV India (part of TUV Nord Group), a leading independent provider of technical quality and safety services. Infosys is among the first IT services companies globally to have earned the certification for implementing an Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS) framework that fosters responsible AI practices and adherence to regulatory requirements for enhanced efficiency and accountability in AI initiatives.

This AIMS framework is a part of Infosys Topaz Responsible AI Suite, a set of 10+ offerings built around the Scan, Shield, and Steer framework. The certification underscores Infosys' dedication to responsible AI practices, enhancing accountability, and mitigating risks associated with AI initiatives.



Omkar Salvi to continue as Mumbai head coach, Sanjay Patil named chairman of selectors

Omkar Salvi, on Friday, was retained as the head coach of Mumbai men’s senior coach after guiding Mumbai to its 42nd Ranji Trophy title in March. Sanjay Patil, the veteran selector, was elevated to the chief selector’s post after Rajeev Kulkarni vacated the post earlier in the week.

Ajinkya Naik, the Mumbai Cricket Association secretary, announced the coaches and selectors’ appointments, which was finalised by the Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC), through a media statement.

With Mumbai having had a fruitful domestic season across age-group categories in men and women, the CIC preferred to stick to consistency.



Malabar Gold and Diamonds Receives Prestigious Legal Era - Indian Legal Award

Malabar Gold and Diamonds, the world's 6th largest jewellery group and ranked 19th in Deloitte's Global Ranking of Luxury Products, receives the country's prestigious 13th Annual Legal Era-Indian Legal Awards in the legal category. The company has been bestowed with the coveted 'Compliance and Risk Management Team of the Year 2023-24' award, underscoring its commitment to legal excellence and ethical business practices.

In a competitive landscape featuring prominent corporate entities, Malabar Gold and Diamonds stood out among esteemed peers including Aditya Birla Group, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Hyundai Motors India Limited, ITC Limited, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, Tata Chemicals, Tata Steel Limited, LTI Mind Tree, and others. The recognition highlights the company's exemplary performance in the realm of compliance and risk management, a testament to its dedication to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance.



India To Host Bharat Parv At 77th Cannes Film Festival

It is a special year for India as it is set to host Bharat Parv at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival for eminent dignitaries and delegates from around the world to showcase the myriad creative opportunities. At the prestigious film gala, a delegation consisting of representatives from central and state governments, and members of the industry will showcase India's creative economy in Marche du Films through a series of significant initiatives, as per a statement by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

It will be for the first time that the country will host a Bharat Parv at the Cannes Film Festival, to engage with film celebrities, filmmakers, directors, producers, buyers, and sales agents from across the world and showcase the myriad creative opportunities and a rich bank of creative talent.

The official poster and trailer of the 55th India International Film Festival (IFFI) is to be held in Goa on November 20-28, 2024 and will be unveiled at the Bharat Parv



The 4,600-year-old woman from Rakhigarhi

Roughly 150 km from Delhi, the national capital, down the Delhi-Sirsa highway, a meandering road leads to the twin villages of Rakhi Shahpur and Rakhi Khas in Haryana’s Hissar district. The narrow, dusty road, typical of small-town India, belies the importance of the place to which it leads — the archaeological site of Rakhigarhi. A plaque here reads that it is the largest site of the Harappan culture. Ninety-nine years after it was discovered, the findings have raised questions about history and identity.

Mound 7 of the excavation site, that extends across 3.5 sq km or 350 hectares, has been identified as a burial plot from which 56 skeletons were recovered. Of these, a woman’s, roughly 4,600 years old, has created a buzz among those who work in history, anthropology, genomics, and linguistics. The DNA analysis of the skeleton says “the individual we sequenced fits as a mixture of people related to ancient Iranians (the largest component) and Southeast Asian hunter-gatherers”, as per Cell. It also says that there was no Steppe Pastoral gene (from people in Central Asia) in the Rakhigarhi woman.