South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma was expelled from the African National Congress (ANC), the party he once led, after campaigning for a rival party in the May general election.
The ANC's disciplinary committee found Zuma guilty of prejudicing the integrity of the party by joining uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), and gave him three weeks to appeal against its ruling.
Zuma was an ANC veteran but fell out with the party after he was forced to quit as President in 2018 over corruption scandals. He has always denied any wrongdoing.
Nicolas Maduro Declared Winner in Venezuela's Presidential Election
Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner in Venezuela's presidential election, even as his opponents were preparing to dispute the results, setting up a high-stakes showdown that will determine whether the South American nation transitions away from one party rule.
The National Electoral Council said that Maduro secured 51% of the vote, overcoming the main opposition candidate, Edmundo González, who garnered 44%.
Odisha to Set up World's First Black Tiger Safari by End of this Year
Odisha is poised to unveil the world's first melanistic (black) tiger safari near Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district by the end of this year (2024).
The state government's proposal for the safari received in-principle approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), with the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) already granting its endorsement.
Initially, melanistic tigers currently housed at Nandan Kanan Zoo in Bhubaneswar will be relocated to the proposed safari, spanning 200 hectares adjacent to NH-18.
Approximately 100 hectares will be dedicated to the display area, while the remainder will accommodate veterinary facilities, a rescue centre, staff infrastructure, and visitor amenities. Located 15 km from Similipal Tiger Reserve, the site mirrors its natural landscape.
Similipal Tiger Reserve is globally renowned as the sole habitat where wild melanistic tigers are found.
India- Saudi Arabia Hold First Meeting of the High-Level Task Force on Investments
India and Saudi Arabia held their inaugural meeting of the 'India-Saudi Arabia High-Level Task Force' on investments via a virtual conference. The meeting was co-chaired by P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Indian Prime Minister, and Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Saudi Energy Minister.
India and Saudi Arabia discussed various opportunities for bilateral investments in diverse areas in the public and private sectors, including refining and petrochemical plants, new and renewable energy, and power.
The discussions were centred around detailed reviews by the task force's technical teams, focusing on potential investments in various sectors like refining, petrochemicals, renewable energy, power, telecommunications, and innovation. Both sides showed interest in fostering investments that benefit both economies.
Mishra reaffirmed India's strong commitment to supporting Saudi investments worth $100 billion, as promised during the Crown Prince's visit. The meeting concluded with a decision for ongoing consultations between the technical teams from both countries to finalize specific investment agreements.
Amazon Pay, Adyen, and BillDesk Obtain RBI Cross-Border Payment License
Three prominent payment companies, Amazon Pay, Adyen, and Mumbai-based BillDesk, secured the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) cross-border payment aggregator license. This follows Bengaluru-based Cashfree's earlier acquisition of the same license. Cashfree received its license on July 22, Adyen and Amazon Pay on July 25, and BillDesk on July 29.
The cross-border payment aggregator license opens significant opportunities in India's vast market for international remittances and global freelancers. These companies can now facilitate international currency transactions for Indian exporters and assist global brands in selling products in India through popular local payment methods.
All four companies, including Cashfree, also hold domestic payment aggregator licenses. This dual licensing enables them to offer merchant payment services both within India and internationally, thereby expanding their service offerings and market reach.
Ministry of Earth Sciences Celebrates 18th Foundation Day
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) celebrated its 18th Foundation Day at its Prithvi Bhavan Headquarters, marking nearly two decades of significant contributions to Earth system sciences. Founded on July 27, 2006, MoES has been at the forefront of scientific research and services. The Ministry's achievements span across all spheres of earth system sciences: air or atmosphere, water or hydrosphere, land or lithosphere, solid earth or cryosphere, life or biosphere and their interactions, reflecting its commitment to scientific and technological progress.
MoES launched the following publications to commemorate its 18th Foundation Day:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD)—a sub-ordinate office of MoES, released the 'Standard Operation Procedure on "Cyclone Warning in India" and 'Competency Framework for Monitoring and Forecasting High-impact Weather Events'.
The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa—an autonomous institute of MoES, released a consolidated report on the 14th Indian Arctic Expedition (2023-24), including India's maiden winter Arctic Expedition (launched on December 18, 2023).
The Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi—an attached office of MoES, released a catalogue entitled 'Taxonomy and Systematics of Anomuran Crabs (Paguroidea, Chirostyloidea and Galatheoidea) from the Indian EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone)'.
The first issue of the MoES Newsletter, envisaged to be a quarterly publication highlighting news, events, and updates from MoES, was also released.
SpaceX and NASA Set Crew-9 Launch for August 18
SpaceX and NASA said that they plan to launch the space agency's Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) no earlier than Aug. 18. The announcement cames a day after the Federal Aviation administration cleared SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket to return to space following a rare mid-flight failure earlier this month (July), which had grounded it.
NASA and SpaceX will embark on their ninth crew rotation mission to the ISS, with NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Nick Hague, Stephanie Wilson, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, launched aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
Paris Olympics 2024: India Shooter Arjun Babuta Misses Medal by 1.4 Points in 10m Air Rifle Event
India shooter Arjun Babuta missed a medal men's 10m air rifle event at the Paris Olympics 2024 by the barest margin of 1.4 points. India still has only one medal at the Paris Games, thanks to Manu Bhaker's historic bronze in women's 10m air pistol event.
Babuta finished fourth with a total score of 208.4 after 20 shots while third-placed Victor Lindgren of Sweden finished with 209.3 points.
India to Host 2025 Men's Asia Cup in T20 Format
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced that India will host the next edition of the Men's Asia Cup cricket tournament in 2025. This significant event will be played in the T20 format, serving as a precursor to the T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in India in 2026.
Since 2016, the Asia Cup has adopted a strategic approach of aligning its format with the upcoming World Cup. This means that the tournament is played in the same format (T20 or ODI) as the World Cup that follows, providing teams with valuable practice in the relevant format.
Chennai to Host Country's First Street Circuit Race at Night
The southern Indian metropolis of Chennai will be hosting what is being dubbed India's first night street race. The car racing event will take place from August 30 to September 1, along a 3.5-kilometre stretch, part of which lies along the city's scenic Marina Beach Road and adjoining arterial roads. The Chennai night race is being supported by the Tamil Nadu government.
According to the event hosts, the race will be on the lines of night races being held in Singapore and Saudi Arabia.
Rashtrapati Bhavan Announces Key Changes in Governorship
The Rashtrapati Bhavan announced a significant reshuffling of governors across several Indian states. This move marks a major change in the political landscape, with new faces taking charge of crucial gubernatorial positions.
Om Prakash Mathur, a seasoned BJP leader, was appointed as the new Governor of Sikkim. This appointment brings a wealth of political experience to the north-eastern state.
C. P. Radhakrishnan, who previously held additional charge of Telangana, was appointed as the new Governor of Maharashtra. He succeeded Ramesh Bais, marking a significant change in one of India's most populous states.
Santosh Kumar Gangwar, who formerly served as the Union Labour and Employment Minister, took over as the Governor of Jharkhand, succeeding Radhakrishnan in this role.
Jishnu Dev Varma, who previously served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura, was appointed as the new Governor of Telangana. This appointment brings north-eastern representation to a southern state.
A Special Appointment: Puducherry's New Lt Governor
In a notable appointment, K. Kailashnathan, a former IAS official and key advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was named the new Lt Governor of Puducherry. Kailashnathan, who retired as the chief principal secretary to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, brings a wealth of administrative experience to this role.
India Launches Report On Adolescent Well-being
"India has and will continue to remain steadfast in its commitment to nurturing adolescents' talents, supporting their ambitions and empowering them to build a brighter, inclusive future for all." This was stated by Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary on the occasion of the launch of 'Economic Case for Investment in the Well-being of Adolescents in India" report. The report builds on the global findings presented in "Adolescents in a Changing World – The Case for Urgent Investment," commissioned by the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) released at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva. It highlights significant improvements in adolescent well-being in India over recent decades, showcasing the Government's extensive policies and programmes aimed at promoting the health and well-being of adolescents.
Representatives from various sectors, including education, health, and international organisations, attended the event, discussing the multifaceted approach needed to address adolescent well-being. The launch of the U-WIN platform, modelled after the Co-WIN platform, was also announced, which aims to digitise and monitor health records of children.
First STI Conclave on 'Traditional Knowledge for Sustainable Livelihoods'
The International Science, Technology, and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation (ISTIC) under the auspices of UNESCO together with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) constituents, Traditional Knowledge Digital Library Unit (CSIR-TKDL Unit), New Delhi, and CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad, India organised a STI Conclave on 'Traditional Knowledge for Sustainable Livelihoods' in New Delhi, India.
N. Kalaiselvi, DG, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR inaugurated the first STI Conclave. The Guests of Honour were D. Srinivasa Reddy, Director, CSIR- IICT, Hyderabad and Benno Boer, UNESCO Natural Science Specialist in New Delhi. The Plenary Talk was delivered by Prof. Anant Darshan Shankar, Founder and Vice Chancellor of the Trans-Disciplinary University (TDU), Bengaluru.
India and Combodia Strenghten Dfefence Ties at Second Army to Army Staff Talks
India and Cambodia strengthened defence ties at second Army to Army Staff Talks. The second Army to Army Staff Talks (AAST) between India and Cambodia concluded successfully in Hyderabad. The five-day engagement focused on enhancing military cooperation between the two nations.
The 30th of July marks the annual World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, a crucial observance that brings global attention to the ongoing fight against human trafficking.
In 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/68/192 designated July 30 as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons and declared that such a day was necessary to raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.
This year's (2024) theme, 'Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking', underscores the urgent need to protect one of society's most vulnerable groups: children.
International Friendship Day
International Friendship Day is observed on July 30. This day honours friends and their important role in improving our lives.
The day was proclaimed in 2011 by the United Nations General Assembly. They wanted to promote the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.
Each year, International Friendship Day is celebrated with a specific theme that highlights different aspects of friendship. This year (2024), the theme for International Friendship Day is 'Embracing Diversity, Fostering Unity' by the United Nations. This theme emphasises the importance of creating connections and understanding between people from diverse backgrounds, fostering a spirit of unity and cooperation.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh Conferred the Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award
In a ceremony to mark the International Meet of leading medical celebrities, professionals and medicos from all over the country and abroad, Union Minister Jitendra Singh was conferred the prestigious 'Lifetime Achievement Award' in recognition of his exemplary dedication to the advancement of diabetology, diabetes care and diabetes research which earned him acknowledgement across the country and overseas.
CWC Wins GEEF Global WaterTech Award 2024
The Central Water Commission (CWC) was honoured with the GEEF Global WaterTech Award in the category 'Water Department of the Year' at the Global Water Tech Summit – 2024, held by the Global Energy and Environment Foundation (GEEF) in New Delhi.
The Global WaterTech Award celebrates significant achievements in the water sector, including advancements in innovation, technology, conservation, and sustainable development.
Nanigopal Mahanta New Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University
The Gauhati University, Assam appointed Nanigopal Mahanta as the 18th vice chancellor of the University. The announcement was made by Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu. The Vice Chancellor was serving as the political science professor at the varsity.
Nanigopal Mahanta earlier served as the education adviser to the Assam government. Along with it, the education minister also appointed new Vice Chancellors of Bhattadeva University and Rabindranath Tagore University.
Professor Dhanpati Deka took charge as the Vice Chancellor of Bhattadeva University, while Professor Manabendra Dutta Choudhury was appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Rabindranath Tagore University.
Fourth Anniversary of NEP 2020 Celebrated at Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam 2024
The Ministry of Education celebrated the 4th anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 at the Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam (ABSS) 2024, held at the Manekshaw Centre Auditorium in New Delhi. The event, attended by key ministers, officials, academicians, and students, featured the release of books and lecture notes by the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Division. The celebration also included the launch of several significant initiatives and a series of thematic sessions on various NEP 2020-related topics.
The books released are: 'Kautilya's Arthashastra: Timeless Strategies for Modern Governance' by Vinayak Rajat Bhat and Tejusvi Shukla, 'Marma Kannadi: Decoding the Human Body the Siddha Way' by Gurukkal Dr. S. Mahesh and 'Shodha Vijaya', a collection of research articles on southern dynasties, focusing on the Vijayanagara Karnata Kingdom, edited by Dr. Manorama B. N.
The UNESCO World Heritage committee decided to register Japan's controversial Sado gold mine as a cultural heritage site. The country agreed to include it in an exhibit of its dark history of abusing Korean laborers during World War II. The decision signals an improvement in ties between Tokyo and Seoul.
The mine on an island off the coast of Niigata in northern Japan operated for nearly 400 years and was once the world's largest gold producer before closing in 1989. It was also linked to Japan's wartime abuse of Korean labourers.
Breaking Rocks and Barriers: The Adventurous Life of Sudipta Sengupta
Sudipta Sengupta, a name that resonates with groundbreaking achievements in geology and mountaineering, is the subject of a new book titled 'Breaking Rocks and Barriers' released in July 24 by HarperCollins India. This book offers a captivating glimpse into the life of one of India's most remarkable women scientists and adventurers.
In 1983, Sengupta etched her name in history as one of the first Indian women to set foot in Antarctica. She was a crucial member of the Third Indian Expedition to Antarctica, which took place from December 3, 1983, to March 25, 1984. This expedition marked a significant milestone in India's scientific pursuits and gender equality in field research.
Indian Destinations on TIME's 'World's Greatest Places of 2024'
The TIME magazine published its prestigious list of the 'World's Greatest Places' for 2024, throwing light on 100 extraordinary destinations to visit and stay. Three Indian destinations have been named on the list.
Museum of Solutions (MuSo), a unique children's museum in Mumbai, Manam Chocolate, a factory in Hyderabad, and NAAR, a restaurant in Himachal Pradesh were recognised in the prestigious list.
IAMC, CIETAC and AIADR Unite Host the 1st Asia ADR Summit; Sign MOUs for Enhanced Regional Cooperation
The first Asia ADR Summit, a two-day event organised by the International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC) Hyderabad was in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution (AIADR) and the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC).
The summit was a first-of-its-kind event which brought together leaders, visionaries and innovators to shape the future of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Asia.
In a significant move to encourage cross-border dispute resolution, IAMC Hyderabad signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), with four prominent institutes: Borneo International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation (BICAM), China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), Maldives International Arbitration Centre (MIAC), and the Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution (AIADR) at the Asia ADR Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
By signing these Memoranda of Understanding, the institutions have shown a united commitment to encouraging international arbitration through shared knowledge and resources. It also paves the way for collaborative efforts including conferences, workshops, and training programs centred on international arbitration and other dispute resolution methods.
+91-85588-96644
