NATIONAL NEWS

The 4th ECSWG and Environment and Climate Ministers’ Meeting

• The 4th Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting began in Chennai.
• The three-day meeting brings together around 300 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries, and several International Organisations, with a focus on finalising the Ministerial Outcome and the Presidency Documents.
• The 4th ECSWG and Minister’s Meeting will focus on three key areas – land restoration, circular economy, and blue economy.
• These topics will take centre stage during the meeting to address environmental and sustainability challenges.
• On the first day of the event, there will be two parallel sessions -: the Environment Track and the Climate Track.
• These sessions will delve into different aspects of environmental and climate issues, focusing on in-depth discussions about land degradation, biodiversity, and climate change.
• The 4th ECSWG and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting deliberations will end with the G20 Environment and Climate Ministers’ Meeting on Day 3, wherein the Outcome and the Presidency documents will be released.

Flight Training Academies in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh

• Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel inaugurated three Flight Training Organizations (FTO) in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.

• With the opening of three FTOs in Khajuraho, the total number of FTOs in Madhya Pradesh will be six, three at Khajuraho, one at Indore, one at Sagar, and one at Guna.

• These six FTOs will enhance the potential of the state to be a major contributor to pilots in the aviation industry.

• Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia announced soon begin wide-body aircraft between Khajuraho and Varanasi.

• Indian Flying Academy is a unit of Shaurya Flight Sim Pvt Ltd that has been established at Khajuraho Airport under the ‘Aatam Nirbhar Bharat’ initiative taken by the honourable Prime Minister.

South Eastern Coalfields Ltd to Invest Rs 169 Crores on Plantation

• Chhattisgarh-based Coal India subsidiary, South Eastern Coalfields (SECL), will invest Rs. 169 crores on a plantation in its operating States of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh during the next five years.

• The company has recently signed MoU with Chhattisgarh Rajya Van Vikas Nigam (CGRVVN) and Madhya Pradesh Rajya Van Vikas Nigam (MPRVVN) for carrying out plantation work in these States.
• The plantation will be carried out for a period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28 with its subsequent maintenance of 4 years for each consecutive year of the plantation.
• As per the MoU, SECL will spend Rs. 131.52 crore in Chhattisgarh and Rs. 38.11 crore in Madhya Pradesh for plantation work.
• The company in partnership with the state nigams will plant more than 26 lakh saplings in the state of Chhattisgarh and almost 12 lakh saplings in Madhya Pradesh.

BANKING

Canara Bank to Sign ₹3,000 Crore IT Transformation Deal

• Public sector bank Canara Bankwill be signing a ₹3,000 crore IT transformation deal to revamp and enhance its tech infrastructure.

• In a highly competitive bidding race, global tech giants IBM and its managed infrastructure services spin-off Kyndryl are the frontrunners, positioning themselves to secure the partnership.

• It is to modernise and enhance Canara Bank’s technological capabilities, enabling it to provide efficient banking solutions to its customers.

SPORTS

ISSF World Championship held in South Korea

• India secured the 2nd position on the medals tally at the ISSF Junior Shooting World Championships 2023 held in Changwon, South Korea.

• The Indian shooters claimed a total of 17 medals in the under-21 age category, including 6 Gold, 6 Silver, and 5 Bronze.

• The competition had 90 Indian participants who competed in pistol, rifle, and shotgun events.

• The majority of the medalists were Khelo India athletes, and seven Indian participants won more than one medal.

• Abhinav Shaw and Kamaljeet both won two gold medals each, while Sainyam secured three medals – one gold in the 10m air pistol women’s category, and one bronze each in the 10m air pistol mixed team and women’s team events.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Miles Franklin Literary Award

• Sri Lankan-born Australian author Shankari Chandran has been awarded the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Prize in 2023 for the novel ‘Tea Time at Cinnamon Gardens’.

• Chandran's award-winning novel, titled 'Tea Time at Cinnamon Gardens', revolves around themes of family, memories, community, race and highlights Australia's complex relationship with multiculturalism and the consequences of colonialism.

• Chandran's story emphasises that our personal stories play an important role in shaping us as individuals and the fabric of society.

• 'Tea Time at Cinnamon Gardens' is Chandran's third published novel, which shows his growth and dedication as a writer.
• Miles Franklin Literary is an annual award given to a novel of the highest literary merit that explores some aspect of Australian life.
• The Miles Franklin Literary Award is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious literary awards in Australia.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Institute of Cost Accountants of India’s Central Council Member

• City-based Cost and Management Accountant (CMA) Neeraj Joshi has been elected as the Central Council Member (CCM) of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) and CMA Chaitanya Moharir elected as the Western India Regional Council Member (RCM).
• This is the second time that Joshi and Moharir represented Pune at the central and regional council.
• The ICMAI is a professional accountancy body in India under the administrative control of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.
• The Institute was established by a special act of Parliament, namely, the Cost and Works Accountants Act, 1959 as a statutory professional body for the regulation of the profession of cost and management accountancy.

Chief Justice of Bombay High Court

• The President of India Droupadi Murmu appointed Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya from the Allahabad High Court (HC) as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.

• Currently he was Senior Judge of Allahabad High Court at Lucknow Bench.

• The position of Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court had been vacant since the retirement of CJ RD Dhanuka on May 30, 2023.

• Justice Upadhyaya’s name was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
• Currently, the Bombay HC, which has a sanctioned strength of 94 judges, is functioning with 66 judges, including 40 permanent and 26 additional judges.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

SpaceX Launches 'Jupiter 3'

• SpaceX launched the world's largest private communications satellite 'Jupiter 3' using a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex-39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

• The 'Jupiter 3' satellite, developed by Maxar Technologies in Palo Alto, California, holds the record as the largest commercial communications satellite ever built.

• Its size would be comparable to the wingspan of a commercial airliner, measuring between 130 and 160 feet (40 to 50 m).

• Its larger size will enable it to double current internet capacity to 500 Gbps, significantly improving connectivity in areas with limited cable and fibre options.

• 'Jupiter 3' will play a key role in enhancing enterprise networks, meeting the connectivity needs of businesses across North and South America.

• Additionally, the satellite will serve as a reliable backhaul solution for mobile network operators (MNOs), ensuring smoother and more efficient data transmission within the region's mobile networks.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Hepatitis Day

• World Hepatitis Day is observed globally on 28 July.

• Its main objective is to raise awareness and drive meaningful change about the global burden of viral hepatitis, which causes liver inflammation, chronic disease and liver cancer.

• The theme for World Hepatitis Day 2023 is 'We are not waiting'.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a campaign to make the world free of hepatitis.

• The World Hepatitis Alliance was established in 2007.
• The date of 28 July was chosen because it is the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr. Baruch Blumberg.

OBITUTARY

The ‘World’s Most Famous Hacker Kevin Mitnick

• One of the most famous Computer hackers in the history of cybersecurity, Kevin Mitnick passed away at the age of 59.

• He was an American computer security consultant, author, and convicted hacker.

• He is best known for his high-profile 1995 arrest and 5 years in prison for various computer and communications-related crimes.

• He began his hacking journey at the young age of 12 years in 1979.

• He became a White Hat hacker and cybersecurity consultant after serving a five-year term in Prison.
• He established the Mitnick Security Consulting firm in 2003.
• He provided cybersecurity advice to Fortune 500 companies and government agencies.
• He became the part owner of KnowBe4, a company offering phishing security awareness training.
• Mitnick published a memoir on his hacking career, “Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker,” in 2011.