Current Affairs - May 14, 2024 Current Affairs

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd signed an MoU with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) for the 'Drone Didi' Pilot Project, aimed at empowering women in agriculture through drone technology. This collaboration signifies a strategic effort to create new livelihood opportunities and enhance skills in emerging technology sectors, particularly benefiting rural women farmers.

SAIL-Bhilai is setting up Chhattisgarh's first 15-Mw floating solar plant in the state itself, specifically in the Maroda-1 reservoir located in Durg district. This initiative highlights the state's commitment to renewable energy and sustainability, showcasing BSP's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and promote eco-friendly practices in Chhattisgarh.

Magnus Carlsen, the World No. 1 in chess, represented Norway in the 2024 Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland tournament, where he staged an incredible comeback to clinch victory despite initially trailing behind GM Wei Yi. This win showcased Carlsen's exceptional skills and determination on the chessboard.

NASA is collaborating with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) satellite, demonstrating their commitment to advancing X-ray astronomy despite encountering an instrument issue. This partnership highlights international cooperation in space exploration and scientific endeavours.

The World Bank report emphasizes the requirement of an annual $260 billion investment to halve agrifood emissions by 2030 and achieve Net Zero by 2050. This investment is crucial for addressing environmental challenges in the agri-food sector and working towards sustainability goals.

Vietnam has urged the United States administration to reclassify its status from "non-market economy" to "market economy." This reclassification would bring relief to Vietnam by potentially reducing high taxes on imports from Southeast Asian nations.

NASA unveiled its ambitious plan to construct the first lunar railway system, known as FLOAT (Flexible Levitation on a Track), designed to revolutionize payload transport on the Moon. This initiative aligns with NASA's Moon to Mars initiative and mission concepts like the Robotic Lunar Surface Operations 2 (RLSO2), showcasing NASA's commitment to advancing space exploration technologies specifically for lunar exploration.

The United Nations General Assembly unanimously proclaimed May 25 as World Football Day, marking a significant milestone in the global celebration of the sport. This decision coincided with the 100th anniversary of the first international football tournament, emphasizing football's role in promoting peace, development, and unity among nations.

India and Iran signed a significant 10-year bilateral contract to enhance operations at the Chabahar Port, highlighting India's strategic interests in strengthening trade links with Central Asia and parts of Europe. This agreement underscores the port's importance in facilitating regional connectivity and economic activities, marking a pivotal step in India's engagement with Iran and the broader region.

Japan made history by winning its first Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Trophy title after defeating Pakistan in a penalty shootout. This victory marked a significant milestone for the Japanese men's hockey team in the prestigious tournament held in Malaysia.

Aman Sehrawat made history by becoming the first Indian male wrestler to secure a quota place for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He achieved this milestone in the men’s 57kg freestyle category at the World Wrestling Olympic Qualifiers in Istanbul, Turkiye, defeating Chongsong Han of Korea in the semi-final.

India's retail inflation eased to an 11-month low of 4.83% in April, as reported by government data. This figure falls within the Reserve Bank of India's tolerance band of 2-6%. While the overall inflation moderated, the food basket's inflation remained elevated at 8.7%, reflecting varying trends across different sectors in India's economy.