Published on: May 16, 2024
Snippets : 15-16 MAY 2024
Snippets : 15-16 MAY 2024
- Renowned actress Shabana Azmi was recently honored with the Freedom of the City of London for her remarkable contributions to Indian cinema and her advocacy for women’s rights. This prestigious award, steeped in centuries of tradition, recognizes Azmi’s outstanding achievements and underscores the impact of cinema and activism in shaping society. Her dedication to positive change through her voice and platform continues to inspire and uplift communities worldwide.
- Bengaluru Traffic Police have taken a proactive step to address the rising number of accidents on the international airport road by installing eight AI-powered speed trap cameras. This move comes in response to data highlighting this corridor as one of the most accident-prone areas over the past three years, largely due to speeding vehicles. The cameras, equipped to monitor speeds and issue challans for violations automatically, mark a shift towards more efficient and advanced traffic enforcement measures, replacing older technologies like mobile speed detector vehicles.
- HDFC Bank announced the introduction of ‘PIXEL’, a digital card range targeted at customers characterised by “digital fluency, unique preferences and distinct financial behaviours”. “PIXEL is a first-of-its- kind range of digital credit card series that offers seamless app-based issuance, complete digital lifecycle management, user engagement and digital servicing,” the lender said. PIXEL will be offered in two variants — PIXEL Play and PIXEL Go
- The strongest geomagnetic storm in over two decades recently hit Earth, causing radio blackouts and extending the northern lights to the southern United States. A geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth’s magnetosphere that occurs when there is a very efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space environment surrounding Earth
- The India-U.S joint exercise in conducting coordinated operations in urban counter terrorism contingencies will conclude in Kolkata.
- Infosys Science Foundation (ISF) has lowered the age limit for Infosys Prize winners to 40, aiming to support early-career researchers. The foundation’s goal is to optimize its contribution to India’s research ecosystem, encouraging more students to pursue science careers. Additionally, ISF has introduced a separate Economics category and expanded to six prize categories from 2024: Economics, Engineering and Computer Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences.
- IN-SPACe has been honored with the Geospatial World Forum (GWF) Leadership Award in the ‘Public Policy: Enabling Industry Development’ category. This recognition highlights the agency’s role in fostering India’s space sector growth and supporting non-government entities (NGEs) in space activities. The GWF Leadership Awards, presented annually since 2007, acknowledge contributions to the global geospatial industry and innovation in addressing global challenges.
- The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIITB) has developed ‘XoRehab,’ an IoT-enabled wheelchair device aimed at aiding the rehabilitation of stroke patients post-surgery. The device was developed in Center for Internet of Ethical Things (CIET) at IIITB. The CIET was established in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) with support from Karnataka Innovation & Technology Society (KITS) and sponsored by IT-BT Department of Government of Karnataka. It incorporates Surface Electromyography to monitor muscle behavior and assist in muscle recovery analysis
- The proposed INDIA’S DIGITAL COMPETITION BILL, 2024 by India’s Ministry of Corporate Affairs aims to regulate digital markets through predictive regulation, outlining criteria for Systematically Significant Digital Enterprises (SSDEs), Associate Digital Enterprises (ADEs), and addressing industry concerns about compliance burden and impact on innovation and user experience. The draft bill faces criticism regarding its impact on big tech companies, platform changes, app stores, definition of significant platforms, and potential consequences for start-ups and data sharing.
- Armoured sailfin catfish, an invasive species, has proliferated in Eastern Ghats’ water bodies, posing threats to fishing nets, fishermen’s safety, and the delicate ecosystem. Named Rakashior devil fish, scientifically called Pterygoplichthys, it was introduced for ornamental fish trade but lacks commercial value, with sharp spines and voracious appetite for native fish species.
- The Tamilnadu State highways department is using soil nailing and hydroseeding techniques to stabilize slopes along major roads in the Nilgiris at five locations: Ketti, Kattabettu, Perar, Kudah, and Udhagamandalam. This project aims to prevent landslips from blocking these crucial roads, employing alternative stabilization methods in areas prone to landslips. Soil nailing strengthens soil by inserting reinforcing elements, while hydroseeding applies a mixture to promote grass and plant growth, preventing erosion. Five grass species, including native Indian ones, are used, with ongoing maintenance by the highways department. The initiative not only protects infrastructure but also offers an environmentally friendly solution.
- The Igla-S air defence system, developed by Russia and known as SA-24 Grinch, is a versatile MANPADS capable of targeting low-flying aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones. It features a 6 km effective range, a 3.5 km altitude limit for target destruction, a powerful 2.5 kg HE-FRAG warhead, and infrared homing guidance.
