French President Macron Appoints Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier as New Prime Minister
French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier, the European Union's former Brexit negotiator, as his new Prime Minister, in a bid to put an end to political paralysis following an inconclusive snap election.
The leftwing alliance that won June's election accused Macron of ignoring the result by picking a conservative. It called for demonstrations against Barnier's selection but did not have enough seats to block the choice on its own.
The far-right National Rally (RN), parliament's biggest single party, indicated it would not block Barnier for now, but could do so later if a range of demands were not met.
At 73, Barnier is the oldest Prime Minister in France's modern political history, taking over from Gabriel Attal, who was the youngest.
Indian-Americans Feature in TIME 100 Most Influential People in AI 2024
TIME Magazine unveiled its prestigious 'TIME100 Most Influential People in AI 2024' list, showcasing the individuals who are shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
This year's (2024) list proudly features several Indian-American innovators and leaders who are making significant contributions to the field. Among the notable names are Sundar Pichai, the visionary CEO of Google and Alphabet; Satya Nadella, the pioneering CEO of Microsoft; Rohit Prasad, the SVP and head scientist of Artificial General Intelligence at Amazon; and many more.
POP Launches India's First Multi-Brand Co-Branded Card with RuPay & Yes Bank
POP, a fintech enabler for direct to consumer brands started by former Flipkart employees, introduced India's first multi-brand co-branded credit card developed in collaboration with RuPay and Yes Bank.
As India's first multi-brand co-branded card, it brings together top brands such as Zomato, Blinkit, Cult, Rapido, Cleartrip, and Pharmeasy, covering key daily expenditure categories like e-commerce, groceries, F&B, travel, and health & fitness.
Ashok Leyland Inaugurates Advanced Uptime Solution Center at Ennore
Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, inaugurated its state-of-the-art Uptime Solution Centre at Ennore, Tamil Nadu.
This future-ready facility, with cutting-edge technology and proprietary predictive analytics, is designed to revolutionise the after-sales landscape by ensuring maximum fleet utilisation for commercial vehicle operators across India.
The advanced Uptime Solution Centre brings together teams from aftermarket services, vehicle engineering, and field quality to proactively support Ashok Leyland customers nationwide by promptly troubleshooting and resolving technical issues.
HDFC Bank Launches GIGA: Financial Services for India's Gig Workforce
HDFC Bank introduced GIGA, a new suite of financial products and services specifically designed for gig workers and freelancers in India. The initiative aims to cater to an estimated 30-50 million gig workers across various job sectors, from white-collar to pink-collar roles. The new offerings include a range of financial tools such as savings and current accounts, debit and credit cards, health insurance, flexible investment options, and customized asset products.
Europe Launches Last Vega Rocket with Observation Satellite
Europe's Arianespace launched the last Vega rocket, placing the Sentinel-2C satellite into orbit under the European Union's Copernicus programme to monitor Earth's environment.
The rocket, which does not have boosters strapped to its side unlike larger vehicles streaked into the night sky from a launch base in French Guiana.
The launch ended a 12-year career for the small launch vehicle, designed by Italy's Avio (AVI.MI), opens new tab. It is being replaced by the updated Vega C, which is due to return to service later this year (2024) after being grounded following a launch failure with the loss of two powerful imaging satellites in December 2022.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched a series of blockchain-based solutions, aimed at enhancing transparency, security, and efficiency in digital service delivery.
The Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack is designed to offer Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) with a geographically distributed setup to support a range of permissioned blockchain applications.
The stack is hosted across NIC Data Centers in Bhubaneswar, Pune, and Hyderabad, ensuring robust and scalable service delivery.
The government also introduced the NBFLite-Lightweight Blockchain Platform and Praamaanik, a blockchain-enabled solution for verifying the origin of mobile apps.
NBFLite is tailored for start-ups and academia to prototype blockchain applications, conduct research, and develop capacity. It was developed in collaboration with organizations such as C-DAC, NIC, IIT Hyderabad, and SETS Chennai.
Kapil Parmar, India's First-ever Para Judo Medallist
India's Kapil Parmar created history when he won a bronze medal at the Paralympics, becoming India's first-ever para judo medallist. He defeated Brazil's Elielton de Oliveira in the men's 60kg (J1) to achieve that feat.
The athlete had won a silver medal in the Asian Para Games 2022 and a gold in the Commonwealth Championships in 2019. He also won gold in the IBSA Judo Grand Prix Antalya in 2024 as well as a gold in IBSA Judo Grand Prix Tbilisi in the same year. In 2023 he nabbed another gold in the IBSA Judo Grand Prix Alexandria and also won a bronze in the IBSA World Games in 2023.
Dharambir Wind India's 5th Gold Medal
India's Dharambir won the gold medal in the men's club throw F51 event at the Paralympics 2024. Dharambir at the Stade de France - Seat DT/Club, finished on top with the best throw of 34.92m, shattering the Asian record. Pranav Soorma, another Indian, bagged the silver medal with the best attempt of 34.59m in the event.
India scripted history by securing its first-ever 1-2 finish on the podium in a track and field event at the Paralympics. The gold medal that Dharambir won was also India's first medal in club throw in the history of the quadrennial sporting spectacle and India's fifth gold medal at the Paralympics.
Paris Paralympic Games 2024: Britain's Sarah Storey Wins Record 18th Gold Medal
Sarah Storey extended her record as the most successful British Paralympian, winning the women's C5 time trial at the Paris Games to claim her 18th gold medal.
It was 46-year-old Storey's 13th Paralympic gold medal in cycling, with the other five won in swimming.
She overtook swimmer Mike Kenny's record of 16 Paralympic gold medals.
Storey completed the course in 20 minutes and 22.15 seconds, beating French silver medallist Heidi Gaugain by more than four seconds.
PM Modi Launches 'Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari' Initiative in Gujarat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the "Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari" initiative in Gujarat's Surat, a step aimed at strengthening community involvement in water conservation.
The initiative aligns with the ongoing "Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain" campaign, reinforcing Modi's vision of collaborative water management to ensure long-term water security.
The initiative seeks to mobilise citizens, local bodies, industries and stakeholders in Gujarat to implement rainwater-harvesting structures. These efforts are expected to serve as a model for other states, promoting sustainable water-management practices and enhancing water security across the country.
UP Women's Commission Gets New Chaorperson
The Uttar Pradesh government announced new appointments to the state women's commission. Babita Chauhan was appointed as Chairperson, while Aparna Yadav and Charu Chaudhary were designated as Vice-Chairpersons.
Aparna Yadav, a BJP leader and the younger daughter-in-law of Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, was appointed as one of the Vice-Chairpersons of the UP Rajya Mahila Aayog.
Governor Anandiben Patel exercised her powers to nominate Babita Chauhan as chairperson of the UP Rajya Mahila Aayog, and Aparna Yadav and Charu Chaudhary as vice-chairpersons of the commission for a period of one year or till UP government's decision.
Indian Navy's P8i Aircraft Lands in France for Varuna Exercise
In a significant demonstration of growing Indo-French naval cooperation, the Indian Navy's P-8I aircraft made its first-ever deployment in Europe, at Air Base 125 Istres-Le Tube in France. This deployment marked a historic moment as the aircraft joined the French Navy for the 22nd edition of Exercise Varuna, a biennial bilateral naval exercise that underscores the deepening synergy between the two nations' maritime forces.
The Varuna Exercise, initiated in 1993 and christened with its current name in 2001, has evolved into a key component of the India-France strategic bilateral relationship. The 22nd edition of Exercise Varuna was conducted in the Mediterranean Sea from September 2-4, 2024. It involved advanced tactical exercises designed to enhance interoperability and operational capabilities between the two navies.
Siddhartha Aggarwal Sets Record as Oldest Indian to Swim English Channel Solo
Siddhartha Aggarwal from Bengaluru made history by becoming the oldest Indian to swim solo across the English Channel. At the age of 49, Aggarwal completed the 42 km swim in 15 hours and six minutes. His remarkable achievement surpassed the previous record set by Srikaanth Viswanathan, who swam the Channel solo at age 46 in 2018.
Tennis Legend Luis Ayala Passes Away at 91
The tennis world mourns the loss of a true legend as Luis Ayala, one of Chile's most celebrated athletes, passed away at the age of 91. The Chilean Tennis Federation made the somber announcement, marking the end of an era in South American tennis history.
Born in Santiago, Chile, Luis Ayala emerged as a dominant force in tennis during the 1950s and 1960s. His journey from a young enthusiast to an international tennis star is a testament to his dedication and skill.
Over his illustrious career, Ayala amassed an impressive: 46 singles titles
This remarkable achievement solidified his status as one of the most successful tennis players of his generation.
Women and Child Development Ministry Wins 2024 e-Governance Gold for Poshan Tracker
The Ministry of Women and Child Development was honoured with the National Award for e-Governance 2024 (Gold) for its digital initiative, Poshan Tracker. This tool, part of Mission Poshan 2.0, enables real-time monitoring of children's growth, focusing on those aged 0-6 years. Using WHO growth charts, the program tracks key anthropometric data, including height and weight, helping Anganwadi Workers identify nutritional deviations early and intervene promptly. The program has achieved significant milestones, covering 8.9 crore children, with 8.57 crore measured in just one month.
The Poshan Tracker, an ICT-based system, plays a crucial role in ensuring the timely identification of growth issues among children. With Growth Measuring Devices (GMD) available at every Anganwadi Centre (AWC), accurate data entry and continuous monitoring are carried out to provide targeted nutritional interventions. The initiative has shown impressive results, contributing to improved health and nutritional outcomes for millions of children.
On Teacher's Day, 82 Educators Conferred upon Special Awards
President Droupadi Murmu conferred the 'National Teachers' Award to 82 educators from across institutions, during a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan on the occasion of Teacher's Day.
Fifty of the total 82 awardees are attached with schools, 16 (higher education), and 16 (Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship).
Murmu congratulated the winners and said that "teachers have to prepare citizens who are not only educated but also sensitive, honest and enterprising". Mentioning that moving ahead in life is success, but the meaning of life lies in working for the welfare of others, she stated: "We should have compassion. Our conduct should be ethical. A successful life lies in a meaningful life. Teaching these values to the students is the duty of teachers."
IIT Madras, National Defence College Partner to Offer Executive MBA in Leadership
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) partnered with National Defence College (NDC), an apex inter-service training institute in New Delhi, to offer an Executive MBA Programme in 'Strategic Leadership and Public Policy'.
This user-oriented programme will last for one year. The programme will be for a 48-week duration with lecture-based courses and practical modules including a thesis.
It is aimed at the intellectual development and strategic enculturation of selected senior officers of the armed forces of India and friendly foreign countries, along with civilian government services of India (IAS, IPS, IRS, DRDO, etc.), for higher leadership positions.
An MoU for this programme was signed by Professor M. Thenmozhi, Professor and Head, Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Madras and Brigadier Rajesh Raman, Secretary, National Defence College at New Delhi, in the presence of Professor V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, and Dipti Mohil Chawla, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence.
ISB, IIM-Ahmedabad among Best global Institutes Featured on LinkedIn's Top MBA List
LinkedIn launched a list of the top 20 MBA institutes worldwide to help professionals identify the top business schools that will help them grow their careers. Stanford University leads the global list, followed by Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires (INSEAD), France, and Harvard University, USA, at second and third rank, respectively.
LinkedIn's list, as per a statement, evaluates each institute on five key pillars including job placement, ability to advance, network strength, leadership potential, and gender diversity. Here is the list of the institutes that feature under the top 20: Stanford University, INSEAD, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Indian School of Business, Northwestern University, Dartmouth College, Columbia University, University of Chicago, University of London, University of Virginia, Duke University, WHU, University of Oxford, Yale University, Cornell University, University of California, Berkeley, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and University of Navarra.
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