NATIONAL NEWS

India's First State-Owned OTT Platform

• India’s first state-owned OTT platform - CSPACE, will be launched by the Kerala government on 01 November 2022.
• Kerala will become the first state in India to have a state-owned OTT platform.
• Minister for Cultural Affairs Saji Cheriyan revealed the name of the OTT platform as CSPACE which is an initiative of Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC).
• The OTT platform will showcase films with artistic value irrespective of their performance at the box office, along with internationally recognised and award-winning films, best films screened at the annual International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), short films and documentaries.

41st edition of Hunar Haat

• The 41st edition of Hunar Haat is an effective campaign of “Acclamation to Art” and “Splendour to Skill”, is organised in Agra, Uttar Pradesh from May 18 to May 29,2022.

• More than 800 artisans and craftsmen from 32 States and Union Territories of the country participated in the event.
• “Hunar Haat” has become a “credible and consummate” platform to strengthen Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s idea for “Vocal for Local” and “Self-reliant India”.
• On the other hand, “Hunar Haat” has been playing a pivotal role in “Preservation, Protection, Promotion” of centuries old rich legacy of art and craft of the country.

Battery-Operated Dual-Mode Locomotive ‘Navdoot’

• West Central Railway has developed a battery-operated dual-mode locomotive called Navdoot. This engine runs on both modes such as battery and electricity.

• This e-engine is capable to pull 18 coaches at a speed of 30 kmph. It has 84 batteries and has a capacity to pull 400 tonnes currently.

• Chief Public Relations Officer of West Central Railway Rahul Jaipuria announced that this innovation has been developed by the Electric Department of New Katni Junction.
• This Dual Mode Locomotive has also received the Best Innovation Award from the Railway Board.
• Railways will save 1000 litres of diesel every day with this new locomotive.

Patanjali Ayurved Food Business is Acquired by Ruchi Soya

• Yoga guru and businessman Baba Ramdev owned Patanjali Ayurved has signed an agreement to sell its food retail business to Ruchi Soya Industries, a firm acquired through an insolvency process for Rs 690 crore.

• After regulatory permissions the name of the Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd would be changed to Patanjali Foods Ltd.

• 21 major products such as ghee, honey, spices, juices and atta is acquired by the company.
• The deal also includes acquisition of Patanjali Ayurved’s manufacturing units in Haridwar, Uttrakhand, and Newasa unit in Maharashtra.

NIELIT Centre Inaugurated at Leh

• Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Cabinet Minister of Electronics & Information Technology, Communications and Railways virtually inaugurated National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) Centre in Leh, Ladakh.

• The main objective of the inauguration is the Extension of Centre Kargil and IT Enabled Incubation Centre for Handicraft and Handloom Sector in the upliftment of the local artisans.

• Any proposal related to IT Education, Training, Incubation for the development of UT of Ladakh will be approved immediately by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• The communication ministry announced that the department is working on different available technological solutions as an alternative to optical fibre and on top of the hill the connectivity will be provided.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Quad Leaders’ Summit in Tokyo

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the Quad Leaders' Summit in Tokyo which is to held on 24 May 2022.
• US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will participate in the summit.
• Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden and Australia PM Scott Morrison and is expected to review the India-US Strategic Partnership.
• They will also exchange views of regional and global developments.
• The India- Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Mr Morrison and exchange views on global and regional developments will also be held during the meeting.

Pakistan Listed among Drought Hit Countries

• According to the report released by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Pakistan is listed among the 23 countries by the United Nations that are facing drought emergencies in the last two years.

• Other than Pakistan, the list includes Afghanistan, Angola, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Pakistan, the United States and Zambia.
• Additional four million square kilometres will need to be rehabilitated by 2050 according to the report.
• United Nations Global Land Outlook reported that Desertification Control through Sustainable Land Management Productive land is scarce in Pakistan with 80% of the country being arid or semi-arid.

SPORTS

Women’s World Boxing Championships

• India's Nikhat Zareen won the gold medal in the 52kg category at the Women's World Boxing Championship in the fly-weight final in Istanbul, Turkey.

• She defeated Thailand’s Jitpong Jutamas.

• The 25-year-old Zareen is a former junior youth world champion.
• Nikhat thus becomes only the fifth Indian women's boxer after Mary Kom, Sarita Devi, Jenny RL and Lekha KC to win a gold at the World Championships.

AWARDS & PRIZES

William E. Colby Award 2022

• Author and journalist Wesley Morgan emerged as the winner of the William E. Colby Award for military and intelligence writing for his book “The Hardest Place: The American Military Adrift in Afghanistan’s Pech Valley.”
• It is given for a major contribution to the understanding of military history, intelligence operations or international affairs.
• The Colby Award is presented by Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont.  It was established in the year 1999.
• Previous winners of the award include Dexter Filkins, Karl Marlantes and Adam Higginbotham.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

A Place Called Home

• Author Preeti Shenoy is set to publish a now novel titled ‘A Place Called Home’.

• This book is an important social commentary on the class system that exists in India, narrated through the protagonist.
• The novel is about secrets, family and finding yourself.
• The book is published by HarperCollins India by June 2022.

OBITUTARY

Renowned Lyricist Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury

• Renowned lyricist, veteran journalist and language movement activist of Bangladesh Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury passed away. He was at the age of 88.

• The song written by Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury inspired generations of Bangladeshis to fight for their mother tongue which ultimately led to their liberation in 1971.

• Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury was born in the Ulania village in Mehendiganj of Barisal in 1934.
• He received Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1967. The government of Bangladesh honoured him with the Independence Award in 2009.
• He was also a recipient of Ekushey Padak and UNESCO literary Award.