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INTERNATIONAL: REGIONAL: SPORTS / ATHLETICS: Asian Relay Championships: Indian Men’s and Women’s 4x400m teams win Silver Medals

Indian mixed 4×400 relay team set a national record while winning the gold medal but missed the target of entering the Paris Olympics qualification bracket.

Fielding under-strength teams after having qualified for the Paris Olympics, both the men’s and women’s 4x400m quartets finished second at the inaugural Asian Relay Championships in Bangkok on May 21.

he women’s team of Vithya Ramraj, M R Poovamma, Prachi Choudhary and Rupal Chaudhary clocked 3 minutes 33.55 seconds to finish behind Vietnam (3:30.81) in the women’s 4x400m relay final, which was conducted amid thundershowers at the Suphachalasai National Stadium. Japan won the bronze medal with 3:35.45.

Vietnam runners were ahead all through the race.

Vithya and Prachi were not part of the Indian quartet that clocked 3 minutes and 29.35 seconds to book a Paris Olympics quota during the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, Bahamas earlier this month.

Jyothika Sri Dandi and Subha Venkatesan had teamed up with Poovamma and Rupal on that occasion.

The men’s quartet of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Santosh Kumar, Mijo Chacko Kurian and Arokia Rajiv also failed to stand on top of the podium as they clocked 3:05.76 to finish second behind Sri Lanka (3:04.48). Vietnam was third with 3:07.37.

The Sri Lankan team was ahead after the first leg but Santosh put India in the lead in the second. Chacko kept India in the lead after the third leg but Sri Lanka’s anchor runner Hewa Kalinga Kumarge overtook Arokia at the final stretch.

Santosh and Chacko were not part of the Indian quartet that clocked 3 minutes and 3.23 seconds to book a Paris Olympics quota during the World Athletics Relays in Bahamas earlier this month.

Muhammed Ajmal and Amoj Jacob had teamed up with Muhammed Anas Yahiya and Arokia Rajiv on that occasion.

Muhammed Ajmal and Amoj Jacob had teamed up with Jyothika Sri Dandi and Subha Venkatesan for the mixed 4x400m race on Monday as India was aiming to enter the Paris Olympics bracket in that event. The quartet was the first choice members of the mixed 4x400m team and they were thus not fielded on Tuesday in the men’s and women’s relays.

On Monday, the Indian mixed 4×400 relay team set a national record while winning the gold medal but missed the target of entering the Paris Olympics qualification bracket.

The quartet of Muhammed Ajmal, Jyothika Sri Dandi, Amoj Jacob and Subha Venkatesan clocked 3 minutes 14.12 seconds to win the race. The earlier national record of 3:14.34 was clocked by the Indian team while winning silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.

Monday’s timing would put the Indian mixed 4x400m team at the 21st place — from earlier 23rd — in the Road to Paris list of World Athletics while the aim was to be either in the 15th or 16th spot.

India, thus, is in a difficult position to make the Olympics cut as only sixteen teams will compete in the mixed 4x400m relay event in Paris.

India’s target on Monday was to at least better 3:13.56 and sit at the 16th spot, but the country failed to do so.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: ARTS & CULTURE / MOVIES: Cannes 2024: Payal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine as Light’ scripts History for India, Wins Grand Prix

The film, the story of two Kerala nurses living in Mumbai, was the first Indian film in 30 years to compete in the main competition at Cannes.

In a historic win for India, Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light bagged the Grand Prix, the second-highest award at the Cannes Film Festival, on Saturday night.

The film, the story of two Kerala nurses living in contemporary Mumbai, was the first Indian film in 30 years to compete in the main competition at Cannes. It stars Indian actors Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha and Chhaya Kadam.

The jury for the 77th Cannes was presided over by Barbie director Greta Gerwig and included the illustrious likes of Lily Gladstone, Hirokazu Koreeda, Eva Green, Omar Sy, Ebru Ceylan and others.

American director Sean Baker’s Anora won the Palme d’Or, the top prize at Cannes.

The slate included Francis Ford Coppola’s Megapolis, Yorgos Lanthimos’ Kinds of Kindness, Andrea Arnold’s Bird, Jia Zhang-Ke’s Caught By the Tides amongst others.

The only Indian film to ever win the Palme d’Or — then known as Grand Prix du Festival International du Film — is Chetan Anand’s Neecha Nagar (1946). Mrinal Sen’s domestic help drama Kharij won the Jury Prize in 1983.

“Please don’t wait another 30 years to have an Indian film,” Kapadia said while accepting the honour.

In 1994, Malayalam director Shaji N Karun’s rural-set classic Swaham was the last film from India to compete for the Palme d’Or.

Kapadia, an alumnus of the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), is best known for her acclaimed documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing, which premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival’s Director’s Fortnight side-bar where it won the Oeil d’or (Golden Eye) award.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY/ RESEARCH : SII commences shipments of malaria vaccine ‘R21/Matrix-M’ to Africa

Developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford and Novavax’s Matrix-M adjuvant, the R21/Matrix-M vaccine is the second malaria vaccine to be authorised for use in children in malaria-endemic regions, SII said.

Vaccines manufacturer Serum Institute of India (SII) on Monday said it has started exports of ‘R21/Matrix-M’ malaria vaccine to Africa as part of the global fight against the disease.

Developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford and Novavax’s Matrix-M adjuvant, the R21/Matrix-M vaccine is the second malaria vaccine to be authorised for use in children in malaria-endemic regions, SII said in a statement.

The initial shipment is being sent to the Central African Republic (CAR), followed by other African countries such as South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo in the coming days, it added.

In total, 1,63,800 doses of the ‘R21/Matrix-M’ malaria vaccine have been specifically allocated for the CAR region, of which only 43,200 doses have been dispatched on Monday from SII’s facility in Pune.

“The shipment of the ‘R21/Matrix-M’ malaria vaccine to Africa marks a momentous milestone in our collective fight against this life-threatening disease. This achievement is a testament to the power of collaboration and the efforts of our dedicated workforce at the Serum Institute of India, working in partnership with Novavax and the University of Oxford,” SII Executive Director, R&D, Umesh Shaligram, said.

Novavax President and CEO John C. Jacobs said, “The R21/Matrix-M vaccine is a vital new tool to help stop the devastating health and economic impact of malaria on nearly half of the world’s population, including the tragic loss of 1,300 children every single day.”

U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, who was present at the flag-off ceremony, said, “The development of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine represents a great step forward in our battle against this deadly parasite. The quality, affordable vaccines that will be produced through this partnership between Novavax and SII will prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths every year across the globe.”

The start of the distribution at large scale of this high efficacy, very cost-effective vaccine should mark a turning point in the battle against malaria, said Professor Adrian Hill, Director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford University.

SII said the R21/Matrix-M vaccine received WHO recommendation for use in children last year in October. The vaccine is easily deployable, cost-effective and affordable.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: ARTS & CULTURE / CINEMATOGRAPHER: Santosh Sivan First Asian to be conferred the Pierre Angénieux Tribute award at Cannes 2024

Malayalam superstar Mohanlal was among the first to congratulate the ace cameraman.

Acclaimed cinematographer Santosh Sivan has become the first Asian to be awarded the prestigious Pierre Angenieux Tribute award at the 2024 Cannes film festival.

The honour has been conferred in recognition of his ‘career and exceptional quality of work’, said an official communication.

Santosh Sivan had expressed his delight at receiving the award to The New Indian Express. Bollywood star Preity Zinta was on stage in Cannes to hand it over to him.

Malayalam superstar Mohanlal was among the first to congratulate the ace cameraman. “Excited to witness the historic moment at the Cannes Film Festival 2024. Congratulations to our Santosh Sivan for being selected for the Pierre Angénieux Award,” he said.

Santosh Sivan is helming the cinematography in Mohanlal’s directorial debut Barroz.

Pierre Angénieux, after whom the award is named, was one of the inventors of the modern zoom lenses.

In the past, the award was given to legends like Philippe Rousselot, Vilmos Zsigmond, Roger Deakins, Peter Suschitzky, Chistopher Doyle, Edward Lachman, Bruno Delbonnel, Agnes Godard, Darius Khondji and Barry Ackroyd.

On May 23, a masterclass had been organised where the master technician had shared his experience with the younger generation.

An internationally acclaimed cinematographer, Santosh Sivan has worked in movies like Dil Se, Roja, Iruvar and Kaalapani.

He is currently directing a Malayalam film titled Kaliyugam and Moha, an English film.

It was in 2013 that Cannes started giving the Pierre Angénieux Tribute to cinematographers.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: ARTS & CULTURE / ACTING: Anasuya Sengupta scripts History, becomes First Indian to Win top Acting Award at Cannes 2024

Anasuya won won Un Certain Regard Prize for Best Actress for her performance in the romance-drama, The Shameless.

Anasuya Sengupta became the first Indian to win a top acting award at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday night.

Anasuya, a production designer who lives in Goa, won Un Certain Regard Prize for Best Actress for her performance in the romance-drama, The Shameless.

The film, directed and written by Bulgarian -American, self-taught filmmaker Konstantin Bojanov, revolves around Renuka, played by Anasuya who, in the dead of night, escapes from a Delhi brothel after stabbing a policeman to death. She takes refuge in a community of sex workers in northern India, where she meets Devika (Omara Shetty), a young girl condemned to a life of prostitution. Their bond develops into a forbidden romance. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to escape the law and forge their path to freedom.

Anasuya dedicated the award to “the queer community and other marginalised communities for so bravely fighting a fight they really shouldn’t have to”.

Apart from Anasuya, two Indian films Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know and Bunnyhood won the first and third place, respectively, in the La Cinef Selection at this year’s Cannes.

While Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know is a Kannada short film, directed by Chidananda Naik, a student from Film and Television Institute of India, Bunnnyhood is directed by Mansi Maheshwari. She hails from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and has been studying in the UK, according to a report.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: MIDDLE EAST/ QATAR: India Book of Records recognises Mikhail Vincent Paul, of Birla Public School Doha, a prodigy

In a jaw-dropping feat, Mikhail Vincent Paul, a budding paleontologist and a grade three student at Birla Public School, has roared into the spotlight by identifying a staggering 202 dinosaurs in a mere 2 minutes and 48 seconds.

This remarkable achievement has secured Mikhail a coveted spot in the Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records affirming his position as a dino-legend in the making.

At the tender age of 7 years and 11 months, this young explorer’s passion for prehistoric creatures has propelled him into the limelight, capturing the hearts of dinosaur enthusiasts globally.

The astonishing accomplishment unfolded during a special event organised by the Asia Book of Records on February 4, 2024, where he showcased an encyclopedic knowledge of dinosaurs that left spectators in awe.

The family, teachers, and peers alike are celebrating this extraordinary achievement, with many marvelling at Mikhail’s ability to swiftly rattle off the names of dinosaurs with unmatched precision.

The event not only showcased the child’s exceptional memory and passion for paleontology but also served as an inspiration for other young minds to explore their interests fervently.

The young prodigy has earlier entered into the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records, at the age of 6 years and 7 months, for being able to memorise 411 logos of various brands of automobiles and identifying them in under 9 minutes with accuracy.

The staff and students of BPS Doha are proud of Mikhail and congratulated him and his family for the great achievement accomplished.

source/content: thepeninsulaqatar.com (headline edited)

1st Indian civilian astronaut takes off on May 19

He will be India’s first civilian astronaut to go to space and will wear a badge bearing the Indian flag.

 Captain Gopichand Thotakura , the second Indian who will travel to space after then Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma in April 1984, is set to make history on Sunday with Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission.

He will be India’s first civilian astronaut to go to space, and will be wearing a badge bearing the Indian flag as he takes flight on Sunday.

Along with six other crew members, the seventh human flight of the New Shepard, Thotakura will go beyond the Karman Line — the boundary that separates Earth’s atmosphere and outer space and return to Earth. This mission not only signifies an Indian’s re-entry into the space race, but also makes history with its crew of distinguished astronauts.

Thotakura’s flight will be the first Indian astronaut’s foray into space exploration in four decades, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma’s iconic journey aboard Soyuz T-11 in April 1984.

‘Honoured to represent India

The mission will be telecast live from 7 pm on Blue Origin’s website. One of the expedition’s highlights will be the astronauts sending postcards to space on behalf of the Club for the Future, a programme designed to encourage and support the next generation of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) professionals.

The astronaut from Vijayawada in AP, who is proud to represent India on this space journey, said, “As the first civilian Indian astronaut embarking on this historic journey with Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission, I am honoured to represent India on this voyage. India is making a mark in space exploration worldwide.

This voyage symbolises the spirit of human endeavour and ingenuity on a global scale. I hope this exploration inspires future generations of STEAM professionals as we push the boundaries of space exploration together.” Founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos in 2000, this will be Blue Origin’s 25th flight.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

IIT Kanpur establishes new milestones in Research & Innovation by filing record-breaking 122 IPRs in 2023

  • IPRs filed include 108 patents, 4 design registrations, 3 copyrights, and 1 trademark application, along with 4 US and 2 China patents
  • IIT Kanpur has achieved a total of 1039 Intellectual Property Rights to date
  • IIT Kanpur’s success extends beyond intellectual property, securing top position in NIRF 2023 in Innovation category and the Best Assisted Technology Initiatives by Educational Institutes’ at ATF Awards 2023 for outstanding contributions to assistive technology

In a remarkable display of innovation, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has achieved a remarkable milestone by filing a total of 122 Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and achieving an exceptional licensing rate of around 14% to industry partners in 2023. This accomplishment highlights IIT Kanpur’s strength in cutting-edge research and innovation and marks its third straight year of securing the most IPRs in its history, taking the overall achievement to 1039 IPRs to date.

The 122 IPRs filed include 108 patents, 4 design registrations, 3 copyrights, and 1 trademark application, along with 4 US and 2 China patents. The year also saw 167 IPRs being granted with 15 technologies licensed.

The patents for inventions from varied domains such as MedTech and Nano Technology include innovative healthcare solutions like a portable medical suction device and a continuous lung health monitoring system. Other notable patents include solid-state sodium-ion batteries and an affordable Braille learning device for the blind and visually impaired.

Prof. S Ganesh, Director, IIT Kanpur, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are proud to maintain the momentum by filing 122 IPRs, achieving a record of over 100 filings in our institute for the third year in a row. The institute’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of research and technology has resulted in this record-breaking number of IPRs and positioned the institute as a leader in driving positive change through intellectual contributions. The collaborative spirit among our researchers and the support from various stakeholders have played a pivotal role in reaching this milestone.”

The Institute also saw a substantial increase in the number of IPRs granted in the calendar year. The 167 patents include innovations such as a gas sensor for detecting ammonia at room temperature, a method and apparatus for treating industrial wastewater, a tactile watch for the visually impaired, and a lateral flow immunoassay strip for detecting mastitis in bovines.

Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean, Research & Development, IIT Kanpur, said, “Inventors are thinking beyond publications; patent filing and technology transfer have become the real accomplishments, proving reproducibility. The increase in the number of IPRs is attributed to a simple process of patent filing, an enabling policy framework by the government, and support from the IPR management committee members.”

Prof. Ankush Sharma, Professor In-charge of Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre, IIT Kanpur, said, “I am overwhelmed that IIT Kanpur has set a new record by filing 122 IPRs with an exceptional licensing rate in 2023. This accomplishment is a result of the strong research foundation that IIT Kanpur is built on and the ongoing efforts in shaping an R&D ecosystem geared towards a sustainable future.”

IIT Kanpur’s success extends beyond intellectual property, securing the top position in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings 2023 in the ‘Innovation’ category’. Additionally, the institute has been honoured with the Best Assisted Technology Initiatives by Educational Institutes’ Award at the ATF (Assistive Technology Foundation) Awards 2023 for its outstanding contributions to assistive technology activities.

The IP and Technology Transfer Office at IIT Kanpur plays a pivotal role in disseminating technologies from academia and research to the commercial sector. The Office, in addition to filing the highest number of IPRs also facilitates increased technology transfer transactions. The institute’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the nation’s research and development landscape and a focus on delivering impactful inventions at the grassroots level have been key contributors to the overall increase in IPR filings for IIT Kanpur.

source/content: iitk.ac.n (headline edited)

India’s First Crowdfunded Film Manthan Receives Standing Ovation At Cannes Film Festival

Film Heritage Foundation, a not-for-profit organization founded by filmmaker and archivist Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, returned to the red carpet at Cannes for a third year in a row last night for the world premiere of their restoration of Shyam Benegal’s landmark film ‘Manthan’ (1976) under the Cannes Classic Selection.

Indian audiences can catch the premiere of the restored film in theaters nationwide on World Milk Day falling on June 1st, 2024.

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur lead the ‘Manthan’ entourage on the red carpet along with actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, Prateik Babbar(actor and son of the late actress Smita Patil), Nirmala Kurien (daughter of Dr. Verghese Kurien), Dr. Anita Patil Deshmukh and Manya Patil Seth (sisters of late actress Smita Patil) and the producers of the film Dr. Jayen Mehta (Managing Director, Gujarat Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.).

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director, Film Heritage Foundation states, “It was amazing walking the red carpet third time in a row and presenting another restored classic here in Cannes the head of Cannes Classic kept talking about the level of restoration various people came to me to talk about the restoration and said they cannot believe the level of restoration we missed Shyam Benegal as there was standing ovation which lasted for almost 5minutes after the film.”

‘Manthan’ is a fictionalized version of the beginnings of the extraordinary dairy cooperative movement that transformed India from a milk-deficient nation to the world’s largest milk producer inspired by Dr. Verghese Kurien, the Father of the White Revolution. Remarkably, the national award-winning film which enlists late Girish Karnad, Naseeruddin Shah and late Smita Patil as its starcast is also India’s first crowdfunded film produced by 500,000 dairy farmers who contributed Rs. 2/- each towards the production of the film.

The film was restored by Film Heritage Foundation at Prasad Corporation Pvt. Ltd.’s Post – Studios, Chennai and L’Immagine Ritrovata Laboratory, in association with Gujarat Co-Operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (Amul), the cinematographer Govind Nihalani and the director Shyam Benegal.

Restoration Process Manthan was restored using the best surviving elements: the 35 mm original camera negative preserved at the NFDC-National Film Archive of India and the 35 mm release print preserved at Film Heritage Foundation. Portions of the original camera negative had colour fading and variations, green mould and flicker, while many parts of the 35 mm print had scratches and vertical green lines. The sound negative had completely deteriorated and could not be used. The sound was digitised from the 35 mm release print. The film elements were repaired by the Film Heritage Foundation conservators and the scanning was done in Prasad Lab in Chennai. While the scanning and digital clean-up was done at Prasad under the supervision of L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, the grading, sound restoration and mastering was done at the lab in Bologna. Both Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani, the cinematographer of the film, have been involved in the restoration of the film.

source/content: deccanchronicle.com (headline edited)