Nagaland’s first Naga Traditional Cuisine lab has been launched at Japfü Christian College, under Kohima district. The Naga Traditional Cuisine lab was inaugurated by State Minister for Women Resource Development and Horticulture, Salhoutuonuo Kruse yesterday. 

Ms. Kruse lauded the college for the initiative. As per the skill emphasis of National Education Policy 2020, Japfü Christian College is initiating Naga traditional cuisine skill as an enhancement course under Nagaland University, wherein the main dishes of the 15 indigenous tribes of Nagaland are studied, cooked, and analyzed for retention and transmission of Naga food cultural identity. In its 16-acre campus, the college is preserving many indigenous fruit trees as well as other seasonal fruits that are adaptable to its environment. 

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023 were today introduced in the Lok Sabha. While introducing the Bills, Home Minister Amit Shah said, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 will replace the Indian Penal Code 1860 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha, 2023 will replace the Criminal Procedure Act, 1898. He said, Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 will replace the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
The Minister said these bills will transform the country's criminal justice system. The legislations are aimed to provide justice to the people rather than penalizing them. He said these bills have been brought after thorough deliberations. Talking about the provisions of the Bills, he said, provisions related to sedition will be repealed completely. He said, 313 changes have been made in the laws which are aimed to strengthen the criminal justice system. 

Mr. Shah said special provisions have been made to provide speedy justice to women and children. He added that special focus has been made to digitalize the entire criminal justice system. Later, the Bill was sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee for further deliberations. When the Bills were introduced, opposition members raising the issue of the suspension of Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury staged a walkout from the house.

In Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has launched the Indira Gandhi Smart Phone Scheme in a program organized in Jaipur today. Under this scheme, free smart phones with three years of data facility will be distributed to 1.3 crore women of the state. In the first phase, there is a plan to provide smartphones to 40 lakh women. More than 400 mobile distribution camps are being organized in the state. Mr. Gehlot launched the ‘Digital Sakhi Book’ at the event.  The Chief Minister said that this is the era of technology and smartphones will play an important role in women empowerment.

Akashvani correspondent reports that in the first phase, smartphones will be distributed to girl students studying in class 9 to class 12 in government schools, college students, single women and widows. Women heads of households who worked 100 days under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and 50 days under Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme, have also been selected in the first phase. Beneficiary women will be able to choose smartphones of their choice in the camps. Rupees 6 thousand 800 will be deposited in e-wallet through DBT for the purchase of these smart phones and SIM.

Jio Haptik has been honored with the Tech Startup of the Year (Artificial Intelligence) award at the prestigious 13th Annual Entrepreneur India Awards. Swapan Rajdev, Haptik’s co-founder & CTO, received the award as the ceremony organized by Entrepreneur India, in media partnership with Entrepreneur magazine and Entrepreneur.com, was held at the Hotel JW Marriott, Aerocity, New Delhi.

Jio Haptik emerged as the winner of the Tech Startup of the Year in AI from 1000 other entries for the same award, highlighting the company’s distinctive contribution to the technology landscape. It is testament to Jio Haptik's commitment to developing groundbreaking AI-driven solutions that set the industry benchmark for innovation and transformation.

To reinforce its value of 'Consumer Obsession', Tata AIA Life Insurance (Tata AIA) has introduced digital payments via WhatsApp and Unified Payment Interfaces. This industry-first feature provides an instant premium payment facility through WhatsApp and UPI-enabled payment options.

The newly added payment option is first-of-its-kind in the insurance industry. The agile, seamless process allows consumers to pay premiums digitally and receive a quick premium payment confirmation and acknowledgement. In addition to being easy to use for both tech and non-tech-savvy consumers, it also offers a hassle-free premium payment experience.

Subhash Runwal, Chairman – Runwal, a leading real estate developer with a legacy of over four decades, was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the first-ever RICS South Asia Awards. RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is a global industry body representing professionals across the country. Hosting its first-ever awards, it aimed to recognize global and Indian industry-leading achievements and demonstrate the upholding of the highest standards of professionalism and ethics by individuals and teams across built and natural environments. The award ceremony was graced by Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Govt. of India at The Lalit, Delhi.

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday launched ‘SuSwagatam’, an online facility to generate online electronic passes for visitors to enter the apex court's premises.

The portal, named SuSwagatam, allows visitors, litigants, counsel, judicial law clerks, staff, parties in the cases, and journalists to apply for electronic passes online.

Earlier, the procedure was to that visitors have to stand in queues at the E-Sewa Kendra, to get paper passes before entry was allowed into the court's premises.

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremasinghe has emphasised the importance of improving air and sea connectivity between the Northern regions of the island with South India. Addressing the Sri Lankan Parliament today, he said that the government has plans to enhance the Kankesanthurai Harbour, Vavuniya, and Palali Airports, as well as establishing a ferry service between the two countries.
 
Flight connectivity between Chennai and Jaffna was restarted in December last year after a hiatus of three years.

The exercise, which will be held from August 8 to 11, aims to share best practices and increase synergies between the two navies.

Two Indian Navy ships, INS Visakhapatnam and INS Trikand, arrived at Port Rashid in Dubai on Wednesday for a bilateral exercise with the UAE Navy. The exercise, which will be held from August 8 to 11, aims to share best practices and increase synergies between the two navies.

Under Rear Admiral Vineet McCarty's command, the ships will engage in professional interactions with the UAE Naval Force, focusing on maritime operations. 'Zayed Talwar,' a bilateral exercise, is scheduled to enhance interoperability and synergy between the two navies, contributing to regional security.

The Parliament has passed the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2023 with Rajya Sabha giving assent to it today. The Lok Sabha had passed it on Monday.

Replying to a debate on the Bill, Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala said, the Bill amends the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005. He said, it also decriminalizes certain offences under it to promote the ease of doing business. The Minister said, that the Fisheries department got a total allocation of three thousand 680 crore rupees from 1947 to 2014. He said, a separate Fisheries Ministry was created and over 20 thousand crore rupees have been allocated for Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana only. Mr Rupala said, Fishermen have been provided with Kisan Credit Cards. He said, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India will have a blue revolution which will take the fisherman community ahead. Mr Rupala said, different technologies are being used in the Fisheries sector. He said, the sector is also registering a high growth rate. The Minister said, the Bill was brought in April this year and it was later sent to the Standing Committee. He said consultation was held with coastal states and other stakeholders and several suggestions were received from the Standing Committee. The Minister said, maximum suggestions have been incorporated in the Bill.