Published on: July 17, 2024
Snippets : JULY 16-17 2024
Snippets : JULY 16-17 2024
- Ace diplomat Vikram Misri took over as the foreign secretary. Misri, who joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1989, was serving as the Deputy National Security Advisor just before he was appointed the foreign secretary
- Veteran Indian astrophysicist Prahlad Chandra Agrawal, known for his pivotal role in India’s first dedicated astronomy satellite Astrosat, received the prestigious COSPAR Harrie Massey Award 2024 at a scientific conference in Busan, which honors significant contributions to space research and leadership; the award includes a medal, citation, and the naming of a minor planet as Agrawal 20064.
- The union government will launch the first-ever national toll-free helpline, 1933, and an email (info.ncbmanas@gov.in) on Thursday to report narcotic crimes. Named ‘MANAS’ (Madak Padarth Nisedh Asuchna Kendra), it will be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the seventh apex-level meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD). This initiative, supported by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), aims to provide a 24×7 user-friendly platform for citizens to report drug-related issues. An exclusive portal, ncbmanas.gov.in, will address drug trafficking, illegal sale, purchase, storage, manufacturing, and illicit cultivation. Confidentiality of the informants will be maintained, and the NCB will verify and act on the information per the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The new helpline, initiated in response to a directive by Amit Shah in 2021, replaces an unmanned landline and email system, ensuring round-the-clock operation.
- The Indian government has released the first tranche of USD 2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as part of its annual contribution of USD 5 million for the year 2024-25
- Spain has won a record fourth European Championship title
- Gautham S Nair won both the singles and doubles titles in the under-13 boys’ section at the Yonex Sunrise Karnataka Mini U-11 & Sub-junior U-13 State ranking badminton tournament, and teaming up with him to win the doubles title. In the under-13 girls’ section, top seed Smriti S won a three-game thriller
- India will host the second Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on civil aviation on September 11 and 12
- Argentina won its second straight Copa America championship
- Rafael Nadal returned to competition for the first time since his early French Open exit teaming up with Casper Ruud for a doubles win in Bastad
- China’s APSTAR-6E satellite has officially begun operating after successfully passing technical reviews both in orbit and on the ground in Hong Kong
- Google Fi wireless has introduced a security feature called ‘Number Lock’ to combat SIM swapping, a scam where fraudsters trick carriers into transferring your phone number to a new SIM card under their control. This gives them access to your calls, texts, and even financial accounts linked to your number. Fraudsters gather personal details through phishing or vishing, then impersonate victims at carrier stores to get duplicate SIMs. ‘Number Lock’ empowers users to prevent unauthorized SIM transfers, safeguarding against this increasingly prevalent cyber threat.
- The Indian Navy proudly announces the launch of the flagship event THINQ2024 – The Indian Navy Quiz, a unique national level quiz competition
- A study conducted by the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) suggests that bimetallic Nickel Iron (NiFe) layered double hydroxide systems outperform doped alternatives for water splitting. The research emphasizes that NiFe LDHs are sufficient for efficient oxygen (O2) production in water splitting, challenging the current trend towards trimetallic solutions. This finding underscores the potential of NiFe LDHs in advancing sustainable energy solutions, highlighting their role in eco-friendly hydrogen (H2) and oxygen generation without ecological harm
- The Report of India’s G20 Task Force on Digital Public Infrastructure, released on July 15, 2024, in New Delhi and co-chaired by Shri Amitabh Kant and Shri Nandan Nilekani, outlines key achievements and future directions. Accepted during India’s G20 Presidency, the DPI framework accelerated digital transformation, achieving advancements in digital transactions and governance equivalent to 50 years in just 9. The report emphasizes DPI’s role in guiding global strategies, highlighted at the release event by Amitabh Kant for India’s transformative DPI adoption and Nandan Nilekani for its impact on SDGs and inclusive growth. The full report is available on the Department of Economic Affairs website, structured to address global challenges with policy directions and recommendations for DPI adoption. The task force, established in January 2023, focused on enhancing productivity and digital technology across G20 countries
- Sadananda Suvarna, who directed the popular serial ‘Guddada Bhootha’ for Bengaluru Doordarshan in the 1990s, died of age-related ailments
- Nallathamby Kalaiselvi, the first woman Director-General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), was granted a two-year extension in service.
- France’s all-time leading football goalscorer Olivier Giroud confirmed his international retirement
- According to a recent report, Karnataka is expected to host approximately 330 Global Capability Centres (GCCs) by 2030, creating one million jobs. The state government highlights Karnataka’s potential as a premier GCC hub, with the ability to host over 15% of Forbes 2000 firms. A new GCC policy focusing on incentives and regulations is planned, targeting areas like Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubbali, and Mangaluru. Current policies include the IT Policy, ER&D Policy, Cyber Security Policy, and Data Centre Policy. Bengaluru holds 39% of India’s GCC market share and is recognized as the largest hub for GCC operations, with significant competition from other cities. The number of GCCs in India is projected to increase from over 1,600 in 2022-23 to more than 2,400 by 2029-30, with a market size reaching $110 billion and employment of over 4.5 million professionals. Bengaluru is home to 25% of India’s digital talent, especially in AI, ML, and R&D roles. In Karnataka, 42% of FMCG and 33% of BFSI GCCs are based, with the BFSI sector leading with over 90 GCCs.
- The Karnataka government has drafted a Bill, the Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories, and Other Establishments Bill, to reserve managerial and clerical jobs for Kannadigas in the private sector, including IT companies. The Bill mandates that 50% of managerial jobs and 75% of non-managerial jobs be reserved for locals, defining a local candidate as someone born in Karnataka, residing there for 15 years, capable of speaking, reading, and writing Kannada, and having passed a Kannada proficiency test if not studied in high school. The Bill applies to employers under the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act with 10 or more employees. Industries must collaborate with the government to train local candidates if qualified candidates are unavailable, with penalties for non-compliance.
- Manjeera Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Medak district, Telangana, is under study to potentially become the state’s first Ramsar site. Originally a crocodile sanctuary, it now hosts over 70 bird species and is home to the vulnerable mugger crocodile. Positioned along the Manjeera River, the sanctuary includes the Manjeera reservoir, which is vital for irrigation and drinking water supply to Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The reservoir’s nine islands provide nesting habitats for waterbirds. The sanctuary features dry savannah-type vegetation and supports various plant species. It also harbors diverse fauna, including crocodiles, freshwater turtles, fish, and other wildlife such as Indian hare, wild boar, mongoose, and jacka
- India’s drug regulator expert committee has approved the drug tirzepatide, marking a potential shift in weight-loss treatments.
- Six children have died in Gujarat from suspected Chandipura virus infection, a virus of the Rhabdoviridae family transmitted by sandflies and some mosquito species. Symptoms include fever, body ache, headache, and severe cases can lead to encephalitis and brain haemorrhages. The disease can cause rapid mortality, especially in children, within 24-48 hours. There is no specific antiviral therapy or vaccine available, and treatment focuses on symptomatic relief. Outbreaks are common in central India, especially during the monsoon season, and recent changes in vector behavior and disease patterns have been observed.
