DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: June 21, 2024

Vinod Ganatra became the first Indian to win the Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award

Tags: Awards

Vinod Ganatra, a noted filmmaker and editor hailing from Gujarat and now based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, is the firstIndian to be honoured with South Africa's prestigious 'Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award'.

An Overview of the News

• He received the honour at the 7th Nelson Mandela Children's Film Festival held in Johannesburg, South Africa, recognising his significant contribution in the field of children's cinema.

• Vinod Ganatra is the first Indian to receive the prestigious award.

• The award ceremony took place during the festival, which coincides with Nelson Mandela International Dayobserved annually on July 18.

Background on Vinod Ganatra:

• Vinod Ganatra, a prominent filmmaker and editor originally from Gujarat and now based in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• Active in Film and Television Production since 1982.

• Directed his debut feature film "Heda-Hoda (The Blind Camel)".

Accomplishments:

• Edited and directed over 400 documentaries and newsreels.

• Produced approximately 25 TV programs targeted at children and youth.

• Directed 3 children's films for the Children's Film Society India (CFSI), which collectively earned 23 international awards.

Roles and Contributions in Film Industry:

• Served on the jury of over 100 national, regional, and international film festivals spanning three decades.

• Held roles such as Honorary Secretary, Vice President, and President of the Indian Documentary Producer Association (IDPA).

• Served as a Director of the International Centre of Films for Children & Young People (CIFEJ) from 2014 to 2016.

• Chairman of the Non-Feature Jury at the National Awards 2016 and on the Final Jury of the Marathi Film Awards 2016 by the Government of Maharashtra.

Awards, Global Recognition and Achievements:

• Ganatra has accumulated approximately 36 national and international awards throughout his career.

• He received The Liv Ullmann Peace Prize in Chicago for his Gujarati film 'Harun-Arun' at the 26th Chicago International Children's Film Festival, making him the sole Indian recipient of this honor.

• The Association of Film & Video Editors awarded him the Dada Saheb Phalke-Lifetime Achievement Award.

• Ganatra was honored with the'Janakinath Gaur Award' for his inaugural children's TV program,'Baingan Raja', broadcast on Doordarshan.

• His TV program 'Baingan Raja' was telecast 17 times.

• In 2010, he won the Best Juvenile Audience Award at the Dhaka International Film Festival and the Light of Asia Award in Sri Lanka.

• His film'Hide-N-Seek' (Lukka Chhuppi) is recorded in the Limca Book of World Recordsas the first Children's Feature Film fully shot at the highest altitude in Ladakh, Himalayas.

• In 2011, he received theGolden Butterfly Award for 'Harun-Arun' as the Best Asian Film at the Isfahan International Film Festival in Iran.

RBI Wins 'Risk Manager of the Year Award 2024'

Tags: Awards

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) received the 'RiskManager of the Year Award 2024' at the Central Banking Awards 2024.

An Overview of the News

• The award was part of the Central Banking Awards 2024, the 11th edition of the annual awards.

• The awards were presented by Central Banking Publications, a London-based financial publisher owned by Infopro Digital.

• Manoranjan Mishra, RBI's Executive Director, accepted the award on behalf of the RBI during the ceremony in London, UK.

RBI's Achievements in Risk Management:

• The award recognizes the RBI's significant progress in enhancing its risk culture and awareness.

• This progress has cemented the RBI's crucial role in maintaining the stability of India's financial system.

Regulatory Sandbox:

• The RBI established a regulatory sandbox to facilitate controlled experimentation with new financial technology products and services.

• This allows fintech companies to test their innovations in a limited environment, enabling the RBI to assess potential risks before widespread adoption.

Recent Amendments by RBI:

• In June 2024, the RBI amended the Foreign Exchange Management (Overseas Investment) Directions, 2022.

• These amendments aim to relax overseas investment regulations and clarify ambiguities for wealthy Indians, business families, and startups seeking to invest in foreign securities, funds, and companies.

2024 Winners:

• Central Bank of the Year: Central Bank of Brazil

• Governor of the Year: Andriy Pyshnyy, National Bank of Ukraine

Central Banking Awards 2024

• The Central Banking Awards 2024 recognize excellence in a sector navigating complex challenges, including inflation, technology shifts, and environmental transitions.

• The 2024 awards include 13 central bank categories and 12 partner and service provider categories.

• The first edition of the Central Banking Awards was presented in 2014.

Central Banking Publications:

• Established: 1990

• Acquired by: Infopro Digital in 2017

• Founder and Chairman: Robert Pringle

• Headquarters: London, UK

Wärtsilä Unveils World's First Large-Scale 100% Hydrogen-Ready Engine Power Plant

Tags: Science and Technology International News

Wärtsilä Oyj Abp, a Finland-based company, has launched the world's first large-scale 100% hydrogen-ready engine power plant to support net-zero power systems.

An Overview of the News

• The Wärtsilä 31 is a highly efficient medium-speed 4-stroke marine engine that:

  • Synchronises with the grid within 30 seconds from the start command.

  • Ensures energy security through fuel flexibility.

  • Offers unparalleled load-following capabilities and high part-load efficiency.

• The engine can run on natural gas and 25% hydrogen (H2) by volume blends.

• It has completed over 1 million running hours with more than 1,000 MegaWatt (MW) installed capacity globally.

• The hydrogen-ready engine power plant concept is certified by TÜV SÜD (Technischer Überwachungsverein - Technical Inspection Association).

• The H2-Readiness certification includes three stages with three corresponding certificates. 

• Wärtsilä has achieved the first stage with a Concept Certificate for the engine power plant's conceptual design.

• The 100% hydrogen-ready engine is expected to be available for orders in 2025 and for delivery from 2026.

About Finland

• It is a northern European nation.

• It shares borders with Sweden, Norway and Russia.

• Finland's arctic Lapland province is famous for the Northern Lights, a spectacular natural phenomenon.

• Lapland is a vast wilderness area with national parks and ski resorts, making it a popular destination.

  • Capital - Helsinki

  • Helsinki is situated on a peninsula and is surrounded by islands in the Baltic Sea.

  • President - Alexander Stubb

  • Prime Minister - Petteri Orpo

  • Currency- Euro

  • Nokia company is from Finland.

World Music Day - 21 June 2024

Tags: Important Days

World Music Day, also known as Fête de la Musique, is celebrated annually on 21 June.

An Overview of the News

• The program emphasizes the impact of music and its ability to connect people universally.

• Musicians from different genres come together to showcase their talents in public areas.

• World Music Day promotes a vibrant and inclusive environment for people around the world to appreciate music.

• Last year's World Music Day was celebrated with the theme "Music at the Intersections."

• The theme aims to explore and appreciate music at an intersectional level, highlighting the diverse influences and connections within music.

History of World Music Day:

• The concept dates back to 1982, when French Minister of Culture Jacques Lang proposed the idea of a day dedicated to music.

• An alternative theory suggests that the festival can be traced back to 1976 when Joel Cohen proposed an all-night concert to celebrate the summer solstice.

• The first World Music Day event took place in Paris in 1982, with over 1,000 musicians performing in different parts of the city.

• Musicians of all genres and backgrounds took to the streets, parks and concert venues to share their passion for music at the opening ceremony.

International Yoga Day - 21 June 2024

Tags: Important Days

International Yoga Day is celebrated every year on 21 June.

An Overview of the News

• The day aims to promote the many benefits of practicing yoga.

• The date chosen coincides with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

• International Yoga Day encourages physical, mental and spiritual harmony.

• Yoga promotes meditation, stress reduction, and overall health and vitality.

Theme of 2024:

• This year marks the 10th celebration of the International Day of Yoga with the theme "Yoga for Self and Society."

• Yoga represents the harmony of mind and body, balancing thought and action, and uniting restraint and fulfillment.

• Integrating body, mind, spirit, and soul, yoga offers a holistic approach to health and well-being.

• On this special day, we celebrate yoga's transformative power to bring peace to our hectic lives.

History of International Yoga Day

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea of a dedicated Yoga Day in 2014 during his speech at the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

• On 11 December 2014, all 193 member states of the United Nations unanimously agreed to observe 21 June as the International Day of Yoga.

• The inaugural ceremony of International Day of Yoga took place on June 21, 2015.

• International Yoga Day has received global recognition and is celebrated in more than 190 countries.

June 2024 Days and Themes