Current Affairs - May 9, 2024 Current Affairs

The "Orangutan diplomacy" strategy involves Malaysia gifting the endangered great apes to palm oil trading nations, showcasing the nation's commitment to biodiversity conservation. This initiative is similar to China's panda diplomacy and aims to address concerns about palm oil's environmental impact on rainforests in Malaysia and Indonesia.

India secured a total of 43 medals at the ASBC Asian U-22 and Youth Boxing Championships held in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Indian contingent's impressive performance included 21 medals from the U-22 Team and 22 medals from the Youth Boxing Team, highlighting India's prowess in boxing at the international level.

Setu, a prominent fintech company, introduced Sesame as India’s first Large Language Model (LLM) specifically designed for the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector. This initiative, developed in collaboration with Sarvam AI, marks a significant advancement in leveraging AI technologies to enhance financial services in India.

HDFC Bank partnered with Atal Innovation Mission to provide grants totalling Rs 19.6 crore to 170 social startups in FY24. This collaboration, known as the 'Parivartan Start-up Grants programme,' aimed to foster social sector innovation across various critical areas and empower startups from tier 2 and 3 cities as well.

India surpassed Japan in 2023 to become the world's third-largest solar power generator, reflecting its rapid expansion in solar energy and commitment to clean energy initiatives.

Despite the Uttarakhand government’s submission to the Supreme Court that the emergency situation regarding forest fires is now over, the State Forest Department reported 40 fresh cases of fire on May 8, 2024. This contradictory situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced in controlling the raging wildfires in the region. The Indian Air Force (IAF) provided relief by undertaking Bambi Bucket operations in Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal sector using its Mi17 V5 helicopters.

The Election Commission (EC) achieved a successful voting process at the highest Polling Booth located in Raireshwar Fort, Baramati, Maharashtra, situated at an elevation of 4,491 feet during the Lok Sabha elections. Despite challenging terrains, the election staff ensured that 160 voters in Maharashtra could exercise their voting rights using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) systems.

Yuzvendra Chahal, the leg-spinner from Rajasthan Royals, made history by becoming the first Indian bowler to claim 350 wickets in T20 cricket. This achievement places him among the top wicket-takers globally in this format of the game.

The West Nile virus was first detected in Uganda in 1937, making it the country where this viral infection was initially identified. This vector-borne disease has since spread globally, including to regions like India, where it was first reported in Kerala in 2011.

India emerged as the world leader in remittances in 2022, receiving over $111 billion, surpassing the $100 billion milestone for the first time. This significant achievement underscores India's pivotal role in the global remittance landscape, as highlighted by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the UN's World Migration Report 2024.