In a relief to cash-strapped Pakistan, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) gave a final nod to a much-awaited $3 billion bailout programme for the country to support the government's efforts to stabilise the ailing economy.
The development came two weeks after the two sides reached a staff-level agreement over the stand-by arrangement. The approval allows for an immediate disbursement of $1.2 billion.
European Union Lawmakers Back a Major Plan to Protect Nature and Fight Climate Change
The European Union's parliament approved a major plan to protect nature and fight climate change in a cliffhanger vote.
In a test of the EU's global climate credentials, the legislature supported the general outlines of a European Commission plan in a 324-312 vote with 12 abstentions.
The bill is a key part of the EU's vaunted European Green Deal that seeks to establish the world's most ambitious climate and biodiversity targets and make the bloc the global point of reference on all climate issues.
The plans proposed by the European Commission, the EU's executive branch, set binding restoration targets for specific habitats and species, with the aim by 2030 to cover at least 20 per cent of the region's land and sea areas.
Razorpay Launches First International Payment Gateway in Malaysia through Curlec
Fintech major Razorpay India launched its first international payment gateway in Malaysia with Curlec, known as 'Curlec by Razorpay'.
In February 2022, Razorpay had acquired a majority stake in Kuala Lumpur-based fintech firm Curlec at a valuation of $20 million, kicking off its global expansion plans. The balance stake acquisition was to be completed in 2023.
The company currently works with over 700 Malaysian businesses, including Tune Protect, CTOS, Courts, Mary Kay and The National Kidney Foundation. "The new Curlec payment gateway will serve more than 5,000 businesses with a target of RM10 billion ($2 billion) in annualized gross transaction value (GTV) by 2025.
ONGC Becomes India's First PSU to Achieve Anti-Bribery Management System Certification
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) made history by becoming the first Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) in India to receive certification for its Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS). The certification was awarded by the internationally accredited certification body InterCert USA. ONGC's commitment to combat bribery was previously demonstrated in 2005 when it became the first organization in India to adopt the Integrity Pact (IP) initiated by Transparency International.
ONGC's pursuit of an ABMS certification marks a significant milestone in its journey as an Energy Maharatna, further solidifying its position as a trusted business partner. The certification was achieved by successfully implementing the ISO 37001:2016 International Standard, following a thorough assessment and validation process conducted by InterCert USA.
RBI to Introduce UPI QR Codes for CBDC Transactions
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will implement interoperability between central bank digital currency (CBDC) and United Payments Interface (UPI) by the end of July 2023, Deputy Governor T. Rabi Sankar said at an Indian Banks' Association conference.
The customers would be able to use a single QR code to pay through UPI and CBDC. Thirteen banks have placed the system, and the central bank aims to reach 1 million transactions through CBDC per day by the end of the current calendar year. At present, banks process 5,000-10,000 transactions per day.
UPI is a platform that facilitates digital transactions, where the beneficiary will be able to make payments through debit or credit cards, internet banking or by mobile wallets.
India Welcomes its First Regional AI News Anchor, 'Lisa'
In a significant milestone for the AI industry, Odisha TV, an Odia-based news station, unveiled "Lisa," India's first regional AI news anchor. Lisa's introduction marked a groundbreaking moment in TV broadcasting and journalism, with the potential to revolutionize the industry. With Lisa's emergence as India's first regional AI news anchor, the boundaries of AI in the media industry continue to be pushed, opening up new possibilities for engaging and dynamic news presentations in different languages and regional contexts.
The news station revealed that she would soon be hosting news updates, showcasing her capabilities as an AI news anchor. Lisa possesses the remarkable ability to speak multiple languages, including Odia, English, and others.
With Zhuque-2, China Blasts Off World's First Methane-powered Rocket
A private Chinese company launched the world's first methane-liquid oxygen space rocket into orbit.
The Zhuque-2 carrier rocket took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region and completed the flight mission according to procedure.
The launch was the second attempt by Beijing-based firm LandSpace - one of the earliest companies in China's commercial space sector -- to launch the Zhuque-2, and its success beat out US rivals in developing what may become the next generation of launch vehicles, which are considered to be less polluting, safer, cheaper, and a suitable propellant for a reusable rocket.
The Zhuque-2's first launch attempt failed in December 2022.
Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashleigh Gardner WinsICC 'Player of the Month' Award
Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and Australian women's team all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner were named ICC's 'Player of the Month' for their impressive performances in June.
Hasaranga clinched the award following his record-breaking feats at the World Cup Qualifier games in Zimbabwe.
Women's Ashes hero Ashleigh Gardner becomes the first player to win three Player-of-the-Month accolades.
Both players were selected as the standout performers following a vote conducted among a specialist panel comprising ICC Hall of Famers, former international players, media representatives and global cricket fans registered at icc-cricket.com, who had been voting since the nominees were announced.
Asian Championships: Abhishek Pal Walks Away with Bronze
Abhishek Pal opened India's medal account in the Asian Athletics Championships, Bangkok, Thailand with a bronze in the 10,000 metres race walk.
Pal from the Indian Army clocked 29 minutes, 33.26 seconds to finish behind Ren Tazawa (29.18.44) of Japan and Koech Kimutai Shadrack (29:31.63) of Kazakhstan.
Pal and compatriot Gulveer Singh stayed behind the leading walkers for almost the entire race. Pal, however, pushed hard in the last lap and overtook a tiring Yuto Imae of Japan to cross the finish line in third place.
BJP Names Greater Cooch Behar Proponent as its Rajya Sabha Candidate from Bengal
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) named Ananta Rai, who heads a faction of the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples' Association (GCPA), as its Rajya Sabha candidate from West Bengal.
The BJP made the announcement amid broad speculations that it could send Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty or former BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly to the Upper House.
Anant Maharaj will be the BJP's first West Bengal candidate in Rajya Sabha.
L&T Signs Master Ship Repair Agreement with US Navy
Larsen and Toubro (L&T) entered into a significant Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with the US Navy, highlighting L&T's Kattupalli Shipyard near Chennai as a qualified facility for conducting voyage repairs of Military Sealift Command vessels.
As per L&T, after a thorough evaluation by the US Navy and the Military Sealift Command, the shipyard's capabilities were recognised, enabling it to undertake warship refits similar to those approved by the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard.
The signing of the MSRA represents another milestone in the expanding US-India partnership and is a direct outcome of the 2022 U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.
Milan Kundera, Author of 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being', Passes Away
Czech-born writer Milan Kundera, author of the novel 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' who lived nearly five decades in Paris after emigrating in disillusionment from his Communist-ruled homeland, died at the age of 94.
Kundera won global accolades for the way he depicted themes and characters that floated between the mundane reality of everyday life and the lofty world of ideas.
Kundera was born in Brno in 1929 but immigrated to France in 1975 after being ostracised for criticising the 1968 Soviet invasion of Communist Czechoslovakia that crushed the Prague Spring liberal reform movement.
His best known book, 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' (1984), focused on the Prague Spring and its turbulent demise with Czechs despairing of totalitarianism's grip retreating into obscure private lives or emigrating to the West.
It was made into a film starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Juliette Binoche and directed by Philip Kaufman in 1988, earning two Academy Award nominations.
Nod for Changes in Jan Vishwas Bill to Decriminalise Minor Offences
The Union Cabinet gave its nod to the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022, that proposes to amend 183 provisions in 42 laws administered by 19 ministries, including those minor ones that invite jail term.
The Bill proposes to amend almost 113 imprisonment clauses in various pieces of legislation, governing matters pertaining to the ministries of Finance, Food and Public Distribution, Financial Services, Agriculture, Commerce, Environment, Road Transport and Highways, Posts, Electronics and Information Technology.
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill was introduced by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in the Lok Sabha on December 2022. After that, the Bill was referred to a joint committee of Parliament headed by BJP MP PP Chaudhary. The panel had submitted its report in the Lok Sabha on the proposed legislation in March 2023 during the Budget session.
Besides seeking decriminalisation of minor offences, the Bill, as suggested by the panel, also envisages rationalisation of monetary penalties, depending on the gravity of the offence, to bolster trust-based governance.
Telangana Eunuchs Act of 1919 Struck Down
The Telangana High Court struck down the Telangana Eunuchs Act of 1919, terming it unconstitutional and an intrusion into the private sphere of transgender people, as well as an assault on their dignity.
A Bench of Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice C. V. Bhaskar Reddy said that the Act violated the transgender community's right to equality (under Article 14 of the Constitution) and their right to privacy and dignity (under Article 21).
Previously called the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Eunuchs Act, it was first enacted in 1919 in the Hyderabad Nizam's dominions and was applicable to eunuchs. It defined eunuchs as all persons of the male sex who admit to be impotent or who clearly appear to be impotent on medical inspection.
In a remarkable achievement, India emerged as the overall winner at the 34th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) held in Al Ain, UAE. The Indian student team clinched an unprecedented all-gold performance, securing the top position on the medals tally for the first time.
Throughout the competition, the participants underwent a comprehensive series of six tests. The initial two tests, conducted on computers, focused on theoretical knowledge. These tests covered a wide range of subjects such as anatomy, animal and plant physiology, cell science, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, ecology, behavior, and biosystems. The remaining four examinations involved practical experiments, specifically in the fields of biochemistry, plant molecular biology, bioinformatics, and ecology, along with an ethical component.
The Indian team's outstanding performance at the IBO 2023 reflected their exceptional knowledge, skills, and hard work. With a total of four gold medals, India stood at the pinnacle of success. This resounding triumph marks the first time that India has achieved an all-gold performance at the IBO.
India and Singapore emerged as the leading nations, securing an impressive total of four gold medals each. China, Chinese Taipei, and the future Olympic delegation claimed the second position with three gold medals. Notably, the UAE celebrated its inaugural triumph in the International Biology Olympiad, as Reem Rashid Alnaqbi, an Emirati student, earned a well-deserved bronze medal.
IIT Jodhpur, Zoological Survey of India Join Hands
The Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur and the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) will be working together to collect, study and share the data related to faunal specimens for science.
The collaboration will support conducting of joint fieldwork expeditions, identifying fauna of the Thar eco-region, and developing models for climate change based on ecosystem phenomics. The association will also help in undertaking specific joint research projects and capacity-building workshops in the areas of Systematic Zoology and Conservation to ensure the greater long-term conservation of animal genetic resources in the Thar region.
ZSI is the largest repository of Fauna in the entire South and Southeast Asia region. ZSI is the premier institution on animal taxonomy in India under the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change of the Government of India.
Lambani Art Sets Guinness World Record in 3rd G20 CWC Meeting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the effort to popularise Lambani culture, art and craft as well as encourage Nari Shakti participation in cultural initiatives. During the 3rd G20 Culture Working Group Meeting at Hampi, a new record was made.
India's G20 Presidency created a Guinness World Record for the 'largest display of Lambani items' with a total of 1755 items. The record was made under the 'Culture Unites All' campaign of the Culture Working Group, Ministry of Culture.
A unique exhibition on Lambani embroidery patches was inaugurated at the Yeduru Basavanna complex, Hampi by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs & Coal and Mines, Prahlad Joshi. The exhibit, titled 'Threads of Unity', celebrated the aesthetic expressions and design vocabulary of Lambani embroidery.
This Guinness World Record endeavour is aligned with the PM's campaign of Mission 'LiFe' (Lifestyle for environment) and the CWG's initiative for 'Culture for LiFe', an environmentally conscious lifestyle and a concerted action towards sustainability.
Lambani embroidery is a vibrant and intricate form of textile embellishment characterized by colourful threads, mirror work, and a rich array of stitch patterns. It is practised in several villages of Karnataka. This rich embroidery tradition, predominantly upheld by the skilled women of the Lambani community, serves as a vital source of livelihood and sustenance, intertwining living practices with economic empowerment.
Centre Notifies Appointment of Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, Justice S. Venkatanarayana Bhatti as SC Judges
Days after their names were recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium, two High Court Chief Justices were appointed as judges of the Supreme Court. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced the appointments of judges Ujjal Bhuyan and S. Venkatanarayana Bhatti.
The names of Justice Bhuyan, the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court, and Justice Bhatti, Chief Justice of Kerala High Court, were recommended for elevation to the top court by the Supreme Court Collegium. The Supreme Court has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges, including the Chief Justice, but was functioning with 30. With two new judges, the working strength of the apex court went up to 32, leaving two vacancies.
+91-85588-96644
