1 Three agreements in the banking and education sectors were signed between the two countries during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE.
Three important MoUs have been signed between India and the United Arab Emirates in the banking and education sectors . Two agreements were signed regarding the use of local currency in the banking sector . Its objective is to promote the use of local currencies and facilitate the interconnection of payment and messaging systems . This includes integration of India’s instant payment system – UPI with UAE’s instant payment platform and integration of Indian RuPay Card Switch and UAE Card Switch . education fieldIIT in UAE under the agreement signed in Delhi campus will be opened. Meanwhile, delegation-level talks and meeting were held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of the United Arab Emirates , Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan . Areas of wide-ranging bilateral cooperation including trade and investment, fintech, energy, environmental action, higher education and people-to-people contacts were discussed. He expressed gratitude for Mr. Nahyan’s invitation to the Prime Minister for the COP-28 Summit to be held in the United Arab Emirates . Shri Modi confirmed his presence at the conference. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Abu Dhabi after a two-day visit to France. This is his fifth visit to UAE.
2 Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the second phase of AI for India
Education and Skill Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the second phase of AI for India – a free online training program on Artificial Intelligence on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day . This program has been prepared in nine Indian languages . Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pradhan called for technology courses in Indian languages. He said that this is a good start towards breaking the language barrier in technology education and securing the future of the country’s youth power, especially in rural areas. He said that India is a technology adopter and the success in adopting digital payments in India is an example of this.
3 Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani handed over 1600 MW Godda Power Plant to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani handed over the 1600 MW Godda Power Plant to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka , Bangladesh . In a tweet, Mr. Adani thanked the dedicated teams of India and Bangladesh for completing the construction of the plant in a record time of three and a half years. Adani Power had signed an agreement with the Bangladesh Power Development Board for the supply of 1600 MW of electricity generated from the Godda power plant in Jharkhand .
4 Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, with technology support from Japan International Cooperation Agency, developed guidelines aimed at enhancing mountain road infrastructure in India
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) with the technical support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has come up with five guidelines aimed at enhancing the mountain road infrastructure in India have been developed. These guidelines have been formulated to ensure high-quality and sustainable road projects in hilly areas, which will improve the road network and promote economic development. These guidelines were published by the Indian Road Congress (IRC) and were released by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari during the inaugural ceremony of the 225th Mid Term Council meeting on 7 July 2023 in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. These guidelines provide technical specifications and best practices for road construction in mountainous areas, covering the following topics:
- plan of hill roads
- Slope and dike protection with advanced technology
- Tunnel on main roads in hilly area
- Mountain Bridge with Advanced Technology
- Operation and Maintenance of Mountain Highways
5 The President appointed two new judges to the Supreme Court
The Center on Wednesday notified the appointment of Justices Ujjwal Bhuiyan and SV Bhatti as judges of the Supreme Court . It said that the President has appointed Justices Ujjwal Bhuiyan and SV Bhatti as judges of the Supreme Court. Justice Ujjwal Bhuiyan is currently the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court and Justice Bhatti is the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court. With their appointments, the Supreme Court will have a strength of 32 out of the sanctioned strength of 34 judges.
6 Elon Musk’s xAI
SpaceX founder, Elon Musk has introduced his much-anticipated artificial intelligence startup, xAI . Regarding this, he said that with this we will try to understand the real nature of the universe . The company’s primary objective is to shake the dominance of major technology corporations in the AI industry, with a specific focus on developing an alternative to OpenAI ‘s ChatGPT . Musk previously hinted at the launch of TruthGPT , an AI model focused on seeking the maximum truth, which aims to rival Google’s Bard and Microsoft ‘s Bing AI .
7 Underground Climate Change
The ground is warming at an alarming rate due to the continuous spread of heat from buildings and underground transport, giving rise to the phenomenon of ‘ underground climate change ‘. Underground climate change is a silent hazard that threatens major cities around the world , according to research conducted at North-Western University in Illinois in the US . The researchers found that underground transport systems allow heat from buildings to circulate below the surface and over time the ground heats up and then the expansion and contraction caused by this heat causes rocks to form. This impairs the long-term durability and operational performance of structures. The researchers also claim that such rising temperatures may have contributed to the deterioration of the previous building.
8 Odisha government approves inclusion of Kui language in 8th schedule
The Odisha State Cabinet approved a proposal to include any language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India. inclusion was recommended. The cabinet is of the opinion that inclusion of the language in the 8th schedule will not have any financial implications. About 46 languages are spoken by the tribal population in Odisha, India. Among them is the Kui language, also known as Kandha, Khondi, Kanda, Kodu or Kuinga. Kui is a south-eastern Dravidian language spoken primarily by the Kandhas or Kondhs, who live in the hilly and forested regions of Odisha. The Kui language is mainly spoken in areas such as Phulbani (Kondhamal), Boudh, Koraput, Kalahandi, Raigad, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Nabarangpur, Sonepur, Angul and Dhenkanal districts of South and Central Odisha. It is closely related to the Gondi and Kuvi languages and is written in the Odia script. According to the Census of India, the Kui language has approximately 1 million speakers, exactly 941,488 individuals. The UNESCO site indicates that the status of the language is potentially vulnerable,
9 Tamil Nadu Forest Department has increased vigil around Mukurthi National Park in Nilgiris to curb poaching
Recently, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has intensified its efforts to stop poaching in and around Mukurthi National Park (MNP) in Nilgiris district in an effort to protect the park’s wildlife . Mukurthi National Park is located in the western corner of the Nilgiri Plateau in Tamil Nadu. It covers an area of 7,846 hectares. Initially it was an IBA (Important Bird Area), but was later declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1980, and further a National Park in 1990. This UNESCO World Heritage Site , formerly known as Nilgiri Tahr National Park It was established with the primary objective of conserving its keystone species, the Nilgiri tahr. The park is also famous for its diverse flora and fauna, including the majestic Mukurthi peak.
10 Max Life Insurance partners with DCB Bank
Max Life Insurance Company Limited has announced a strategic partnership with DCB Bank Limited, a new generation private sector bank in India. The collaboration aims to offer DCB Bank customers a diverse range of life insurance products including term, savings and retirement plans , enabling them to secure their financial future and expand their investment portfolio.
11 PepsiCo’s appeal to patent potato species dismissed
The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers ‘ Rights Authority (PPVFRA) rejected an appeal by PepsiCo India for intellectual property protection to a FL 2027 potato variety , recently the Delhi High Court It has been decided to uphold this decision of FL 2027 is a potato variety developed by Robert W. Hoopes at Frito-Lay Agricultural Research . It is specifically used in the production of chips by PepsiCo ‘s Lay’s brand. prepared for. FL 2027 is an ideal potato variety for making chips due to high dryness, low sugar and low moisture content. These characteristics reduce dehydration and energy costs during processing, as well as reduce the risk of blackening when fried.
12 Telangana High Court Declares Telangana Transgender Act Unconstitutional: Victory For Transgender Rights
The Telangana High Court recently delivered a landmark judgement, declaring the Telangana Transgender Act as unconstitutional . The Act, which was in force since 1919 , has been found to be discriminatory and violative of the human rights of the transgender community. Was considered. The court’s decision will have a significant impact on the recognition and protection of transgender rights in Telangana. The Telangana Transgender Act came under scrutiny following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Vyjayanthi Vasantha Mogli, who argued that the act was discriminatory and lacked legal backing. A High Court bench of Chief Justice Ujjwal Bhuiyan and Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy agreed with the petitioner’s claims and struck down the Act on July 6, 2023. The Telangana High Court cited several constitutional violations in its decision to declare the Telangana Transgender Act unconstitutional. Notably, the Act was found to be violative of Article 14, which guarantees the right to equality, and Article 21, Which protects the right to privacy and dignity. By imposing compulsory registration requirements on transgenders and imposing restrictive measures on their dress and activities, the Act infringes upon their fundamental rights.
13 LTT9779b: Most reflective exoplanet discovered
Exploring the vast expanses of space has always been an intriguing endeavor for astronomers and scientists. Over the past few years, many planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets, have been discovered, each with their own unique characteristics. Of these discoveries, one planet, LTT9779b , has attracted the attention of researchers because of its remarkable reflective properties . LTT9779b is the most reflective planet observed outside our solar system. Reflectivity refers to the amount of light reflected by a planet from its host star. Amazingly, LTT9779b reflects about 80% of the light it receives. This makes it remarkably bright compared to other exoplanets. The observation of LTT9779b was made possible by the Cheops space telescope . This space telescope played a key role in providing new insights into the mysterious properties of this distant world.
14 Sediments decode climate and environmental changes on the Kaas Plateau during about 8664 years BC
The Kaas Plateau, located in Maharashtra , has gained recognition for its unique environmental features and cultural significance . A new study of sediments from a seasonal lake in the Kaas Plateau in Maharashtra’s Satara district has determined the Indian summer monsoon . indicates a major shift towards dry and stressed conditions with less rainfall during the early- to mid-Holocene of time approximately 8664 years BP. The 8000-year-old sediment profile helped decipher climate signals, indicating relatively low rainfall and a weak southwest monsoon during the late Holocene (about 2827 years BP). A recent study by the Agarkar Research Institute, Pune, sheds light on significant changes in the Indian summer monsoon, providing valuable insights into the climatic past of the region. Kaas Plateau is a picturesque place located in Maharashtra. Due to its natural beauty and biodiversity, it earned its place in UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2012. Located about 140 km from Pune, this plateau displays a spectacular floral carpet during August and September.
15 ITC board appoints Sanjiv Puri as chairman and managing director
The Board of Directors of ITC Limited has appointed Sanjiv Puri as the Chairman and Managing Director of the company for a period of five years . This decision taken on the recommendation of the committee will be effective from July 22, 2024. ITC Limited is a reputed Indian conglomerate, which holds a prominent position among the largest companies of the country. Its operations cover a diverse range of business sectors such as tobacco manufacturing, food processing, retailing and financial services.
16 Odisha TV launches ‘Lisa’, first regional AI news anchor
Odisha TV has launched India’s first regional artificial intelligence (AI) news anchor ” Lisa “. A prosthetic woman dressed in a handloom saree from Odisha will present news in both Odia and English for the television and digital platforms of OTV Network , said a company release . OTV is gifting Odia television journalism with its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) news anchor, Lisa. Though Lisa can speak multiple languages, she will currently present news only in Odia and English for the network’s television and digital platforms.
17 SBI appoints Abhijit Chakraborty as CEO of SBI Cards
Card issuer SBI Cards and Payment Services (SBI Card) has appointed Abhijeet Chakraborty as MD and CEO. SBI Card said in a filing to the stock exchanges that Chakraborty, who is currently Deputy Managing Director at SBI, will take charge of his new role on August 12. He has been appointed as the MD & CEO of SBI Card for two years. The current MD & CEO Ram Mohan Rao Amara has tendered his resignation due to his transfer to SBI.
18 Marketa Vondrousova of Czech-Republic won the women’s singles title of Wimbledon tennis tournament
Czech-Republic ‘s Marketa Vondrousova has won the women’s singles title of Wimbledon tennis tournament . She defeated Ons Jebur of Tunisia 6-4, 6-4 in the final. Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz will face Czech-Republic’s Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles final .
19 French Bastille Day: 14 July
France celebrates 14th July every year as the National Day of France which is also known as Bastille Day . It is observed as the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution on July 14, 1789 . This time the contingents of the Indian Army will participate in this parade and the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi will attend the parade as a special guest. The day commemorates the storming of the Bastille in Paris, which signaled the beginning of the French Revolution and became an important symbol for the French Republican movement. It is the French National Day and is formally known as La Fête Nationale in France. (La Fête Nationale) is called.
20 World Youth Skills Day: 15 July
World Youth Skills Day is celebrated every year on 15th July across the world. On 18 December 2014 , the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution led by Sri Lanka , and declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day. The resolution was initiated by Sri Lanka with the help of G77 (Group of 77 countries) and China to highlight the importance of youth skill development globally.
