Current Affairs One - Liner : 20th July 2024

On July 19, 2024, a major global IT outage occurred due to a faulty update from the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Approximately 8.5 million Windows computers crashed, affecting air travel, healthcare, and businesses.

The Assam Government has decided to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act of 1935. This move aims to prevent child marriages and ensure parity in marriage and divorce registration. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma plans to introduce a new bill for Muslim marriage registration in the next assembly session.

Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) recently became the 53rd Party to the 1992 UN Water Convention, officially known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. This accession marks Ivory Coast as the 10th African nation to join the treaty.

TechFini, a Mumbai-based fintech startup, has received approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to operate as a Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-based payment infrastructure provider. This certification enables TechFini to function as a UPI Issuer 2.0, UPI Acquirer 2.0, issuer and acquirer of credit lines on UPI, and enabler of RuPay credit cards, among other services.

FICCI forecasts India's GDP to grow by 7% in FY25, with CPI inflation projected at 4.5%. The survey, released on July 18, 2024, highlights India's economic resilience amidst global challenges. Agriculture is expected to rebound significantly, contributing to overall growth.

Researchers from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered a new plant species called Phlogacanthus sudhansusekharii in the Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh.
Scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) collaborated with NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite to create the most comprehensive map of Adam’s Bridge, also known as Ram Setu. This submerged ridge stretches from Dhanushkodi in India to Talaimannar Island in Sri Lanka. The mapping exercise utilized ICESat-2’s laser beams to ascertain that 99.8% of Adam’s Bridge lies submerged in shallow waters.

International Moon Day is celebrated annually on July 20th to commemorate the Apollo 11 moon landing. The 2024 theme is "Illuminating the Shadows", focusing on sustainable lunar exploration, public awareness, and international cooperation.

Ursula von der Leyen was elected for a second term as President of the European Commission on July 18, 2024. With 401 votes in favor, the European Parliament re-elected her in a secret ballot.
Vinay Mohan Kwatra was officially appointed as India’s next Ambassador to the United States on July 19, 2024. He is expected to assume the position shortly. Kwatra, a former Foreign Secretary, brings extensive diplomatic experience to this crucial role.
ESAF Small Finance Bank has secured the approval of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to extend the term of K Paul Thomas as its Managing Director and CEO for another three years.
Eurosport India appointed Shikhar Dhawan as its brand ambassador for MotoGP™ in India on July 18, 2024. His dynamic presence on the cricket field will now ignite his passion for racing through Eurosport India’s latest campaign, ‘Face Kar Race Kar’ .
UPSC Chairman Dr. Manoj Soni confirmed his resignation from the top post five years before his tenure was scheduled to end. His term as chairman began on May 16, 2023, and was originally set to conclude in 2029.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum was honored with the Gandhi Mandela Award 2020 on July 18, 2024. The award ceremony took place in Mexico City, Mexico, commemorating the 106th birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela
Lallianzuala Chhangte and Indumathi Kathiresan were named the AIFF Best Men’s and Women’s Players of the Year 2023-24 in a glittering AIFF Award Night held in New Delhi on July 19, 2024.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) awarded the Taxnet 2.0 project to Bharti Airtel on July 19, 2024. This project aims to upgrade the Income Tax Department's digital infrastructure. Bharti Airtel will provide network connectivity, facility management, and video conferencing services.
The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) received the Best Technology Award on July 20, 2024 during the 96th Foundation Day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The award recognized IISR’s groundbreaking work in horticultural studies.

Dr. M. S. Valiathan, the renowned cardiac surgeon and founder of the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), passed away on July 17, 2024. He was 90 years old. Dr. Valiathan was born in Kerala in 1934 and made significant contributions to the medical field in India.

Questions:

1 Which company was awarded the Taxnet 2.0 project by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on July 19, 2024?

2 Which country recently became the 53rd Party to the 1992 UN Water Convention?