Current Affairs - May 26, 2025 Current Affairs

Uttar Pradesh launched India’s first Vistadome jungle safari train on May 26, 2025, connecting the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. This initiative aims to promote eco-tourism and wildlife conservation awareness through an immersive panoramic rail journey. The train, equipped with state-of-the-art Vistadome coaches featuring transparent roofs and glass windows, offers passengers a unique opportunity to experience the rich forest landscape in comfort. This project aligns with UP’s “One Destination, Three Forests” scheme, focusing on sustainable tourism, biodiversity education, and enhancing local employment opportunities.

Six East African countries—Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan—have come together to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at eliminating kala-azar, also known as visceral leishmaniasis. This agreement, signed at a WHO and African Union event during the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, represents a significant regional effort to combat a disease that accounts for over 70% of global kala-azar cases. The MoU focuses on enhancing investment, improving surveillance, fostering cross-border cooperation, and advancing treatment options to address this life-threatening parasitic disease prevalent in East Africa.

Novak Djokovic achieved a major milestone in his tennis career by securing his 100th ATP singles title. He accomplished this feat at the Geneva Open, where he triumphed over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in the Men’s Singles final. At 38 years old, Djokovic joins an elite group of players in the Open era who have reached 100 ATP titles, placing him alongside tennis legends Jimmy Connors, who holds 109 titles, and Roger Federer, with 103. This historic victory not only underscores Djokovic’s longevity and dominance in the sport but also further cements his legacy as one of the greatest players in tennis history.

Jafar Panahi, an acclaimed filmmaker from Iran, earned the top recognition at the 78th Cannes Film Festival by winning the prestigious Palme d’Or for his film It Was Just an Accident. Known for its global influence in the cinematic world, the Cannes Film Festival featured 22 films in its main competition this year. Panahi's work, often marked by its powerful storytelling and socio-political themes, stood out among international entries. His win highlights Iran's growing presence and recognition in global cinema, showcasing the country’s creative and artistic contributions to the film industry on one of the world's most respected platforms.

Harvard University faced a significant blow when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security revoked its certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), rendering it ineligible to enroll international students for the 2025–26 academic year. This decision has sparked panic among thousands of international students, particularly from India, who had secured admissions, paid deposits, and in some cases, declined other offers. The revocation was reportedly linked to political tensions over campus protests and allegations of non-cooperation with federal investigations. With over 7,000 international students—including nearly 800 Indians—Harvard's legal team has responded by filing for a temporary restraining order to challenge the DHS directive.

The Indian government has retained the interest rate on Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) deposits at 8.25% for FY2024-25, as approved by the Ministry of Finance following the Central Board of Trustees’ recommendation. This rate matches the previous year’s rate, ensuring steady returns for over 7 crore EPFO subscribers. EPF is a mandatory retirement savings scheme where both employee and employer contribute 12% of the basic salary. Maintaining this attractive interest rate supports financial security for salaried employees and sustains confidence in EPF as a reliable long-term investment.

World Thyroid Day is observed each year on May 25 to raise awareness about thyroid-related diseases and the importance of thyroid health. The day was officially established during the annual general meeting of the Thyroid Federation International in September 2007 and was first celebrated in 2008. It serves as a platform for healthcare professionals and the public to discuss advances in diagnosis and treatment. The 2025 theme, “Thyroid Disease and Artificial Intelligence,” highlights how emerging technologies are transforming the detection and management of thyroid disorders, bringing global attention to innovative healthcare approaches.

The Bharat Forecasting System (BFS), launched on May 26, 2025, represents a groundbreaking advancement in India’s meteorological infrastructure. Developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, the system delivers ultra-local weather forecasts at a resolution of 6 km x 6 km—currently the highest in the world. This level of detail is a substantial upgrade from the earlier 12 km models. BFS operates on the supercomputer Arka, capable of 11.77 petaflops and equipped with 33 petabytes of storage. It significantly reduces data processing time from 10 hours to just 4, enabling rapid and accurate forecasting for critical sectors like agriculture, disaster response, and public safety.

At the ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 held in Suhl, Germany, Shambhavi Shravan Kshirsagar delivered an outstanding performance to win the gold medal in the women’s 10-meter air rifle event. Her victory brought significant recognition to India's junior shooting contingent. Compatriot Ojasvi Thakur also showcased her skills by securing the silver medal in the same category. The Indian shooters continued to excel across various events, with Naraen Pranav Vanitha Suresh winning bronze in the men’s 10-meter air rifle, and Mukesh Nelavalli clinching bronze in the men’s 25-meter rapid-fire pistol, underlining India’s growing dominance in the sport at the junior level.

During his two-day visit to Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch a range of development projects valued at over ₹82,000 crore. A key highlight of this visit is the dedication of a locomotive manufacturing plant to the nation and the flagging off of an electric locomotive, both taking place in Dahod. In addition, he will lay foundation stones and inaugurate various other infrastructure and development initiatives totalling approximately ₹24,000 crore. These efforts are aimed at boosting industrial growth and regional connectivity, establishing Dahod as an important centre in India's expanding rail manufacturing sector.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently laid the foundation stones for two significant projects in the city of Nagpur. These include ‘Swasti Niwas’ at the National Cancer Institute located in Jamtha and the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) campus in Chicholi, Kamptee block. This NFSU campus marks the 11th across the nation and is notably the first in the state of Maharashtra. The developments signify the government's focus on enhancing both healthcare and forensic science education infrastructure in Nagpur, positioning the city as a growing centre for specialized services and academic progress in central India.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have jointly discovered a significant new crude oil source in the North Wafra Wara-Burgan field of the neutral zone, marking their first major energy discovery since 2020. This neutral zone is a shared area where both countries have equal rights to oil resources. Production was previously suspended but resumed in 2020. The new well produces over 500 barrels of crude oil daily, highlighting the strategic importance of this joint venture in strengthening their roles as key energy exporters and enhancing Gulf cooperation.

The Krishi Udyog Samagam 2025 is a significant agricultural industry event scheduled to take place from May 26 to 28. It will be inaugurated by Vice President Dhankhar and attended by key political leaders including Governor Patel and Chief Minister Dr. Yadav. The event's core objective is to foster innovation, investment, and employment in the agriculture sector by integrating it with processing and value addition. The chosen venue for this three-day event is Narsinghpur, making it the focal point for stakeholders aiming to enhance Madhya Pradesh’s agriculture-based economy.