The Ministry of Science and Technology on Wednesday launched India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) data bank that is aimed at propelling innovation and boosting the country’s national security.

The initiative will provide researchers, startups, and developers access to high-quality, diverse datasets essential for creating scalable and inclusive AI solutions.

It was launched by Minister of Science and Technology Minister (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh at the 7th Edition of the ASSOCHAM AI Leadership Meet 2024.

The event, themed “AI for India: Advancing India’s AI Development – Innovation, Ethics, and Governance”, showcased India’s strategic roadmap for harnessing the transformative potential of AI.

The AI Data Bank will enhance “national security through real-time analytics of satellite, drone, and IoT data”, the Minister said.

After successfully conducting the women’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament at Rajgir, Bihar will host the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025 in April next year.

For the first time, the Khelo India Para Games (KIPG), which was organized for the first time in Delhi last year, will also be held in the same state. There will be a gap of 10 to 15 days between KIYG and KIPG.

“Bihar has recently showcased its capability to host major sporting events,” said Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

The Ministry said Bihar is an “integral part of plans to develop infrastructure and provide support to athletes from the grassroots level”.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) formalised an important step towards enhancing bilateral financial cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Mumbai on November 21, 2024.

The agreement outlines a framework to encourage the use of local currencies—the Indian Rupee (INR) and the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)—for a wide range of cross-border transactions.

Under this framework, exporters and importers from both nations will have the option to invoice and settle trade in their respective domestic currencies. The scope of transactions includes current account dealings, such as trade in goods and services, as well as permissible capital account transactions.

Pankaj Tripathi has been bestowed with a special honour. The actor has been appointed as the Festival Ambassador for the Arunachal Rang Mahotsav 2024 (ARM '24). ICYDK: the Arunachal Rang Mahotsav is the largest international theatre festival in Northeast India. The event celebrates Arunachal Pradesh's creative talent and rich cultural heritage. Scheduled to be held from November 22 to December 5, the 15-day ceremony will welcome Pankaj Tripathi and his wife Mridula as honorary attendees.

Sharing his joy on being appointed as the Festival Ambassador, Pankaj Tripathi said, “It is a great honour for me to be associated with the Arunachal Rang Mahotsav 2024 as its Festival Ambassador. Theatre holds a very special place in my heart, as it was my first teacher and my first love of the performing arts. I owe everything I am today to the lessons I learned on the stage and the passion I developed for storytelling during my early days in Gopalganj, performing street plays and rangmanch."

Karnataka Information Technology Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday said 100 engineering colleges are set to be “adopted” by an equal number of corporates by next year, as the government makes efforts to rope in industries to boost the employment prospects of students.

Citing an example, he quoted a big automobile company as saying that it is ready to provide jobs but students are not employable as they lack training.

“So, we suggested that they give training. We will create an environment for it. Taking a practical approach, they have asked us to provide a framework. So, 100 colleges will be adopted by 100 corporates or GCCs (Global Capability Centres) working in Karnataka as a start probably by next academic year. They have committed,” he said.

In a historic move, the UN Climate Change COP29 has included tourism in its action agenda, with over 50 governments endorsing the COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism. This groundbreaking initiative, spearheaded by the COP29 Presidency under Azerbaijan, aims to transform the global tourism sector into a climate-resilient, low-carbon industry.

A spokesperson for the COP Presidency said these initiatives are set to play a vital role in tackling climate change and promoting urban resilience.

With its tourism declaration, the COP29 Presidency is focused on supporting the tourism sector, a key economic driver, in adopting sustainable practices to reduce its environmental impact.

Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan along with Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday launched a World Bank report titled ‘Jobs at Your Doorstep: A Jobs Diagnostics for Young People’ that covers six states in India.

Pradhan complimented the World Bank team for the detailed report and urged them to adopt a pan-India framework as well.

“Such in-depth diagnostics on skilling and jobs will enable stakeholders to create new architectures and make progressive policies for empowering our population,” the minister said.

The Jobs at Your Doorstep report serves as both a diagnostic and roadmap to providing strategic linkages and convergence between education and the jobs agenda of India. It goes deep into the job landscape of six states — Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan — and identifies key priority sectors and roles that offer the highest employment potential for young people graduating from secondary school.

A remarkable archaeological discovery has come to light at Kanhirapoil in Madikkai panchayat where 24 pairs of prehistoric footprints and a human figure have been found carved into rock on private property. Experts believe these carvings date back to the Megalithic period, providing a fascinating glimpse into ancient culture.

The find was first reported by local archaeology enthusiast Satheesan Kaliyanam, following which archaeologist Professor Ajith Kumar and history Professor Nandakumar Koroth confirmed its significance during a site visit.

The carvings, made with iron tools, include footprints varying in size from six to ten inches, suggesting representations of both children and adults. At the end of the footprints, a human figure has been intricately etched, accompanied by four circular pits around it.

Mali’s ruling junta on Thursday appointed a new prime minister from the ranks of the military generals, a day after firing his predecessor for criticising the military regime. The move effectively consolidates all power in the African country in the hands of military generals. Mali has been ruled by military leaders since the junta seized power in 2020 and staged another coup the following year.

Choguel Maiga, who was a civilian and criticised the junta for postponing the presidential election scheduled for 2024, was removed on Wednesday, a move announced in a presidential decree issued by Gen. Assimi Goita, Mali’s leader, and read on state television channel ORTM.

Goita on Thursday appointed Gen. Abdoulaye Maïga as prime minister, according to an announcement on ORTM by Alfouseyni Diawara, secretary general of the Malian presidency. The two Maïgas are not related.