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- Russia launched a powerful X-ray space telescope called Spektr-RG from a cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, in a joint project with Germany. It was launched from the launch vehicle ‘Proton-M rocket’ to observe black holes, neutron stars and magnetic fields. Spektr-RG is a space observatory that intends to replace Spektr-R, known as the Russian Hubble, which Russian space agency (Roscosmos) lost control of in January 2019. Spektr-R was launched in 2011.
- International Arbitration Court has imposed over $5 billion penalty on Pakistan for unlawful denial of a mining lease to a company called Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) for Reko Diq project in 2011. TTC is a joint venture between Chilean mining company Antofagasta and Canada’s Barrick Gold Corporation and it had claimed 11.43 billion dollars in damages. In 2012, TCC filed claims for international arbitration before World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). ICSID was established in 1966.
- According to the first comprehensive census of orchids of India titled ‘Orchids of India: A Pictorial Guide’, India is home to 1,256 species of orchid. The census containing photographs of 775 species was published by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and was unveiled by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The highest number of orchid species was recorded in Arunachal Pradesh with 612 species.
Sarvita Sethi and Harsh Bhutani - Global beverages major Coca-Cola India and South West Asia business unit on 16th July announced major changes in its leadership team with Sarvita Sethi being appointed as the Vice President for “Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and new ventures”. Sethi was previously the Vice President – Finance for India and South West Asia. Harsh Bhutani will be the next Vice President – Finance (CFO) of Coca-Cola India & South West Asia, with effect from 1st August. Bhutani currently heads Finance and Business Services verticals for Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd. as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer.
- The 8th meeting of the India-Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was held in New Delhi on 16th July, 2019. The Joint Working Group reviewed threats posed by terrorist groups worldwide and in their respective regions including cross border terrorism. It discussed measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sphere of counter-terrorism through information sharing, mutual capacity building and sharing of best practices.
- Union Panchayat Raj Minister Narendra Singha Tomar informed the Lok Sabha on 16th July, 2019 that over 1,28,000 Gram Panchayats are linked with optical fibre under the Bharat Net programme. He said that 2,19,000 Gram Panchayats have uploaded their development plan and the details of 16 lakh works taken up by them are on the website ensuring transparency.
- Justice A K Sikri, former Supreme Court judge has been appointed as an International Judge of the Singapore International Commercial Court. He retired from Supreme Court of India on 6th March, 2019. He was appointed as the Chairman of News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) on 14th May, 2019. The Singapore International Commercial Court was officially launched on 5th January, 2015 with a vision to promote Singapore as a leading dispute resolution hub.
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