Year: 2020

A global virtual conference aimed at promoting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for the development of Odisha and advancement of Odia language in the digital era is being organized on 4th October Sunday, on the virtual meeting platform Zoom. The conference, called Odias in ML Conference, is being organized by a group of Odias, also called Odias in ML, with a shared interest in AI and ML. The conference also aims to showcase career and entrepreneurship opportunities in AI and ML for Odias across the…

To strengthen the communication network for Indian Army, ITI Limited, a telecom & defense equipment manufacturing PSU has today signed Rs 7,796 crore Phase IV Project of Army Static Switched Communication Network (ASCON) for deploying strategic network for secured communication across the country and subsequent maintenance for next 10 years.   The contract was signed by Shri Rakesh Mohan Agarwal, CMD, ITI Limited and Joint Secretary & Acquisition Manager (Land Systems), Ministry of Defense, Government of India in New Delhi today.   ASCON is the army’s telecom network spread across…

The world’s largest vaccine manufacturing company, Serum Institute of India (SII) said that it would get a further $150 million in funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the GAVI vaccines alliance to make an additional 100 million Covid-19 vaccine doses for India and other low- and middle-income countries next year. The collaboration builds upon an initial agreement signed in August by the company with the GAVI alliance and the Gates Foundation, with the total number of vaccine doses to be covered by the partnership now up to…

Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister Petroleum and Natural Gas  invited companies to develop 6.5 million tonnes (MT) of crude storage capacities across the country, as the Centre aims to increase crude and petroleum products storage capacity from existing 74 days to 90 days.   India’s existing strategic petroleum reserve facilities are located in Visakhapatnam (1.3 MT), Mangaluru (1.5 MT) and Padur (2.5 MT). As per the consumption pattern of FY20, the storages can provide for about 9.5 days of crude oil requirement. State-run oil marketing companies (OMCs) can stock for another…

A historic verdict of demolishing Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992 was finally served. Nearly 28 years after the Babri Masjid was razed by a mob in Uttar Pradesh. A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Lucknow on Wednesday has acquitted all the 32 accused in the case, including BJP veterans LK Advani and MM Joshi. The court said there was no “conclusive proof” against the accused. In its verdict which came almost 28 years after the 16th-century structure was brought down in Ayodhya, the Special CBI court observed that the incident was spontaneous and accused leaders tried…

Kim Jong Un apologised over the killing of South Korean in North Korean waters, Seoul’s presidential office said.   The North Korean leader described the incident as a “disgraceful affair” and apologised “for disappointing President Moon and South Koreans”, as reported by the news agency.   Earlier, South Korean officials claimed that a suspected defector was shot dead in the water by North’s soldiers at sea and his body burned as a precaution to contain a novel coronavirus.   It is the first killing of any South Korean citizen by…

Workers clearing the underground drainage system in Mexico City were shocked to discover a gigantic rat there. According to a report, crews were working hard to remove 22 tons of litter from the city’s sewage tunnels when they came across the huge, life-like ‘rat’.   It turned out to be a Halloween prop that had ended up underground.   In a now-viral video posted to Facebook, the giant rat can be seen dwarfing the humans around it. A worker can be seen hosing off the incredibly realistic rat sculpture, which…

The Rajya Sabha on Saturday passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill (IBC), 2020 to ensure that fresh insolvency proceedings will not be initiated for at least six months starting March 25 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bill replaces an ordinance passed in June.   Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Rajya Sabha on Saturday that the IBC is not a recovery law, and saving the lives of the companies is important than recovery of loans, which may be utilised through other options.   She said that there…