Chad's junta leader General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno won the African nation's May 6 presidential election with 61 per cent of the vote, according to final results announced.
The Constitutional Council, which declared the winner, also rejected a bid by Prime Minister Succes Masra to annul the result.
Deby easily won the vote. Masra came second with 18.5 per cent, while former Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke won 16.9 per cent.
India Showcases Its Green Hydrogen Potential at World Hydrogen Summit 2024 in Netherlands
For the first time, India set up its pavilion, at the World Hydrogen Summit 2024, held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from May 13-15.
The India Pavilion, set up by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy was said to be one of the largest pavilions at the Summit.
The World Hydrogen Summit is a prestigious event in the global green hydrogen ecosystem. Around 15,000 delegates from around the world attended the Summit.
The India Pavilion at the conference provides India with an opportunity to showcase to the world the progress made by the country in the field of Green Hydrogen.
The Indian delegation comprises nominees from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the Department of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and from private sector companies as well.
ReNew Inks Initial Pact with Societe Generale for $1 Billion Debt Financing
Energy firm ReNew signed an initial pact with European bank Societe Generale for up to $1 billion financing as debt and advisory solutions over the next three years.
ReNew signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Societe Generale, to support the financing and development of the company's various strategic energy transition projects both in India and globally.
Both parties will leverage their respective expertise to strengthen the collaboration on utility-scale energy projects including solar, wind, complex renewables, green hydrogen, energy storage and solar modules manufacturing.
NASA Appoints New Chief for Artificial Intelligence
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established on July 29, 1958, with the signing of the National Aeronautics and Space Act, and it began operations on October 1, 1958. NASA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, which serves as its operational centre for space missions and research. In May 2024, NASA appointed David Salvagnini as its first Chief Artificial Intelligence (AI) Officer, expanding his role from Chief Data Officer. Bill Nelson, NASA's chief, emphasized Salvagnini's leadership in ensuring responsible AI usage for the benefit of humanity. Salvagnini will oversee AI implementation strategy, promote innovation, and manage AI tools and training.
Salvagnini joined NASA in June 2023 after over 20 years of leadership in technology for the intelligence community. Before NASA, he was the chief architect and director of a group at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Football Legend Sunil Chhetri Announces Retirement
Sunil Chhetri, the legendary player from Indian football who began playing for his country in 2005, announced his retirement from international football.
He will play his final game for India on June 6, at Kolkata, during the FIFA World Cup qualifier for 2026, against Kuwait. Chhetri who has the most appearances and goals for the Indian national team, is regarded as one of the best football players in the country.
Chhetri is third among active players globally in terms of goals scored for his country, only behind Messi and the Cristiano Ronaldo.
Chhetri is the first Indian player to rank among the top 10 goal scorers in history.
T20 World Cup to Stream and Broadcast with Sign Language, Audio Description
In a first for Indian sports streaming, the ICC Men's T20 cricket World Cup will be streamed with Hindi audio description and Indian Sign Language (ISL) for visually and hearing impaired viewers, Disney+ Hotstar, the streaming service with the rights to stream the tournament this year (2024) announced.
Centre Recommends Increase in Reservation Quota for OBCs in Public Employment in Punjab, West Bengal
The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), an Indian government body, recommended an increase in the reservation quota for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in public sector employment in Indian states of Punjab and West Bengal. At present, Punjab allocates 25 per cent of public employment positions to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 12 per cent to OBCs.
In an advisory, the NCBC proposed enhancing the OBC quota by an additional 13%, bringing the total OBC reservation in public employment to 25%. This adjustment would adhere to the Supreme Court's ceiling of up to 50 per cent reservation for socially and educationally backward classes.
In West Bengal, the reservation quota for SCs is 22 per cent, for Scheduled Tribes (STs) is six per cent, and for OBCs is 17 per cent, concerning services and posts under the control of the state in establishments run or aided by the government.
The NCBC said that in Bengal 17% reservation for the Other Backward Classes in respect of services and posts has been ensured.
Tripura Govt. Forms State-level Committee for Granting Citizenship under CAA
The Tripura government constituted a six-member state-level empowered committee with Rabindra Reang Director Census Operations, as Chairman to grant citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019.
The CAA was enacted in December 2019 for granting Indian nationality to persecuted Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.
"Under the CAA, only those who take refuge from three specific countries due to religious persecution in non-Sixth Schedule areas like Agartala Municipal Corporation, municipalities, nagar panchayats and gram panchayats are eligible to apply for Indian citizenship with supporting documents.
Agni-5 Missile's Stunning Striking Range and Accuracy Make India's Nuclear-Powered Neighbours Nervous
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.
The flight test was named Mission Divyastra. It was carried out from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. Various telemetry and radar stations tracked and monitored multiple re-entry vehicles. The mission accomplished the designed parameters.
Pakistan conducted a successful training launch of guided multi-launch rocket system 'Fatah-II', which is capable of engaging targets with high precision up to a range of 400 km. The launch of Fatah-II Guided Rocket System was aimed at perfecting the launch drills and procedures.
Moreover, the army also announced that Fatah -II is being inducted in Pakistan's Artillery Divisions for stand-off, precision engagement of deep targets, and its induction would significantly upgrade the reach and lethality of the army's conventional arsenal.
Distinguished media veteran and former President of Indian Newspaper Society (INS) Naresh Mohan passed away. He was 82.
He also served as Executive President at Hindustan Times, Chairman at United News of India and as member of the Press Council of India.
Founded in 1939, INS acts as the central organisation for newspapers in India, and plays a major role in protecting and promoting freedom of the press in the country.
Mohan served as the president of INS from 1990 to 1991, when he was associated with the Hindustan Times as its executive president. Formerly, he was also the member of The Tribune Trust.
Savannah Gankiewicz Crowned Miss USA after Previous Winner Suddenly Resigned
Savannah Gankiewicz from Hawaii was crowned Miss USA 2023, more than a week after previous title holder resigned citing her mental health. As per reports, she was originally placed as the first runner-up at the 2023 pageant. Ms Gankiewicz will hold the title till August this year (2024), the remainder of the pageant's term.
The Hawaiian has taken over the title from Noelia Voigt, who resigned on May 6.
Voigt, a former Miss Utah, was crowned in September 2023.
National Endangered Species Day is celebrated every year on the third Friday of May. In 2024, it fell on May 17, 2024. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of endangered species and the need to take action to protect them. National Endangered Species Day was first established by David Robinson and the Endangered Species Coalition in 2006 to raise awareness about the threats faced by endangered species and their habitats. It serves as a platform to educate people about the importance of saving endangered species to maintain an ecological balance.
World Hypertension Day
World Hypertension Day (WHD) is an annual event observed on May 17 to raise awareness about hypertension (high blood pressure) and to promote the prevention, detection, and control of this condition.
The day was initiated to increase the awareness of hypertension. This was especially important because of the lack of appropriate knowledge among hypertensive patients. The World Hypertension League (WHL) launched its first WHD on May 14, 2005. Since 2006, the WHL has been dedicating May 17 of every year as WHD.
The theme for World Hypertension Day 2024 is 'Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, and Live Longer'.
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day
World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is observed on May 17 every year. The day is dedicated to mark the foundation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which happened on May 17, 1969.
World Telecommunication Day was first established in 1973 by the Plenipotentiary Conference in Malaga-Torremolinos, Spain, as Resolution 46. It is celebrated annually on 17 May since 1969 to commemorate the foundation of ITU, and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865.
In 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society called on the UN General Assembly to establish 17 May as World Information Society Day to emphasize the significance of information and technology to society. The General Assembly accepted a resolution (A/RES/60/252) in March 2006 that declared 17 May as World Information Society Day.
The theme of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2024 is 'Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development'.
IIITB Researchers Develop IoT-enabled Wheelchair Device for Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients
The researchers at the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIITB) developed 'XoRehab' an Internet of Things (IoT) enabled wheelchair device to help in the rehabilitation of stroke patients post-surgery.
The device was developed in Centre for Internet of Ethical Things (CIET) at IIITB. The CIET is 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.
Prof. Devendra Jalihal Assumes Charge as IIT-Guwahati Director
Prof. Devendra Jalihal assumed the position of Director at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati). He succeeded Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, who held the additional charge of IIT Guwahati since November 2023.
Before this appointment, Prof. Jalihal served as a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at IIT Madras.
Prof. Devendra Jalihal earned his BTech (Hons) from IIT Kharagpur in 1983 and completed his PhD in Electrical Engineering from Duke University, Durham, USA, in 1992.
IIT-Delhi Inaugurates STEM Mentorship Programme for High School Girls
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT -Delhi) inaugurated its third batch of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) mentorship programme that is tailored for high school girls studying in Classes 9 and 11.
This year (2024), over 200 nomination applications were received from various Delhi government schools, Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools (Delhi-NCR region), and private schools. A total of 100 candidates were chosen for the third batch.
The STEM Mentorship Program will unfold in three comprehensive phases. The 'summer phase' — spanning from May 14 to May 24 —features a 9-day workshop.
In the subsequent 'At the school' phase, between July and November 2024, participants will engage in the Sci-Tech Spins lecture series to be held monthly on Saturdays.
The programme will culminate in the "winter phase" in January 2025 with lectures on leadership in STEM, entrepreneurship, and interactions with accomplished IIT Delhi alumni.
The first cohort of 10 girls was launched in December 2021, followed by the "successful completion" of the second batch of 32 schoolgirls in June 2023, under the auspices of the Office of Academic Outreach and New Initiatives, IIT Delhi.
Kapil Sibal is President of Supreme Court Bar Association
Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal was elected President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), a position he has held thrice in the last three decades.
Sibal who completed 50 years at the Bar last year (2023) defeated incumbent Vice President of the SCBA Pradeep Rai.
As per reports, a total of 2330 advocates voted in the election of 2850 members in the voter list. It is learnt that while Sibal got 1066 votes, Rai got 689 votes and the current President Adish Agarwala got 307 votes.
Sibal has been the SCBA President between1995-1996; 1997-1998 and 2001-2002 — before becoming a Union Minister in the UPA government.
Supreme Court Curbs ED's Powers of Arrest
A person accused of money laundering can't be arrested by the Enforcement Directorate after the special court has taken cognisance of the probe agency's complaint (chargesheet) and has issued summons to him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the Supreme Court ruled.
A Bench led by Justice A. S. Oka, however, said: "If the ED wants custody of the accused who appears after service of summons for conducting further investigation in the same offence, it will have to seek custody of the accused by applying to the special court."
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