116 people killed in a stampede at prayer meet in Uttar Pradesh

At least 116 people were killed and over 200 injured in a stampede at a religious event in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh said seven of the dead were children, one was a man, and the rest were women.

According to Sikandrarau Sub-divisional Magistrate Ravindra Kumar, the devotees also wanted to collect some soil from around his feet.

Mixed signals

Output data for May from the eight core infrastructure sectors show broad industrial activity slowed under the onslaught of a heatwave that left homes, offices and factories countrywide using more power to run their fans and cooling systems. 

Only coal, to fuel the power plants, and electricity generation posted double-digit output growth, expanding by 10.2% and 12.8%, respectively, as per provisional data on the Index of Eight Core Industries released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on June 28. 

Production in crude oil, fertilisers and cement shrank from their year-earlier levels, while output expansions decelerated in the remaining three sectors of natural gas, refinery products and steel. 

Digital jurisprudence in India, in an Al era

Even though Generative AI (GAI) stands as a transformative force, wielding power to revolutionise society in ground-breaking ways, existing legal frameworks and judicial precedents that have been designed for a pre-AI world may struggle to effectively govern this rapidly-evolving technology.

The landmark Shreya Singhal judgment addressed this by upholding Section 79 of the IT Act which grants intermediaries 'safe harbour' protection against hosting content, contingent upon meeting the due diligence requirements outlined in Section 3(1)(b) of the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules. 

France: India's steady partner in green growth

On July 14, 2023, in Paris, President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi elevated the 'Partnership for the Planet' as one of the three pillars of the Indo-French Horizon 2047 Roadmap. 

This decision reflects the intensification of Indo-French cooperation over the past few years on issues such as climate change, biodiversity, health, and environment. 

It also shows a deep convergence of views between France and India: our two countries champion the idea that socioeconomic development and environment protection can go hand and hand, are committed to bridging North-South divides, and believe that we can together find sustainable solutions for the world and for our own green transitions. 

This has led to high-profile joint initiatives on the world stage, such as the International Solar Alliance. 

On improving rural mobile connectivity

An important factor impeding the deployment and/or use of cellular networks in rural areas is the relatively lower income of the people here. 

A big chunk of the rural population finds mobile services unaffordable.

The IEEE-2061 standard proposes the use of a multi-hop wireless middle-mile network to extend connectivity to areas where optical-fibre links are not available.

If adopted, IEEE 2061 can help provide affordable connectivity to rural populations. 

Its novel concepts, including the CN bypass, and integrated AN control may also pave the way towards a scalable mobile network in the future. 

Jaishankar to represent India in place of Modi at SCO summit in Kazakhstan

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reached Astana in Kazakhstan lead the Indian delegation at the SCO Council of Heads of State in place of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 3 and 4, the Ministry of External Affairs has said.

Leaders of other countries in the Eurasian group, newly expanded to include Belarus, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and the Presidents of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will be hosted by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the summit. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Astana for a state visit and bilateral meetings ahead of the SCO, while Iran's President may not be able to attend as the country is in the middle of elections. 

Fact-check unit needed to protect people from fake news: Centre in Bombay HC

Tiebreaker judge Justice A.S. Chandurkar of the Bombay High Court continued hearing the arguments by the Union government in the petitions filed by comedian Kunal Kamra and others challenging Rule 3(1)(b)(v) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

The Rule empowers the government to establish a fact-checking unit (FCU) to identify fake, false, and misleading information about its business on social media. 

Advanced medium combat aircraft prototype expected to be ready by 2028-29

As the project for the design and development of the indigenous fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), makes progress, the Defence Ministry is working out a model for bringing in the private sector in a big way, which is important for timely execution of the project, according to official sources. 

The first prototype is expected to be ready by 2028-29.

"The design of the AM- CA is ready. The prototype is expected to roll out by 2028-29 and the production is expected to begin from 2032-33. 

The target is to have it ready for induction in 2034, a decade from project sanction," an official source said.

RBI proposes rationalising norms on EXIM deals

The RBI proposed rationalising regulations that cover export and import transactions to promote ease of doing business and empower banks to provide more efficient service to their foreign exchange customers.

The central bank has issued 'Regulation of Foreign Trade under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 - Draft Regulations and Directions'. 

Nepali Congress, CPN-UML arrive at agreement to oust Prachanda as PM

Embattled Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has decided not to resign from the post despite an agreement reached between the country's largest parties - Nepali Congress and CPN- UML to form a new coalition government.

In a meeting of the office-bearers of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist- Centre), held in Baluwatar, Prachanda said he would rather face a vote of confidence in parliament than resign from the post, party secretary Ganesh Shah said.