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December 2023

Indian IT giant Infosys has terminated a $1.5 billion agreement with a global company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. The deal, initially announced in September for 15 years, has been canceled by mutual agreement. The undisclosed global partner chose to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and both parties will not proceed with the Master Agreement.

Deal Background: Infosys signed a Memorandum of Understanding on September 14, 2023, for a $1.5 billion contract over 15 years with a global company focused on AI solutions.

Cancellation Announcement: The termination was confirmed in a regulatory filing to stock exchanges, following the earlier disclosure in September.

Reasons Unspecified: Infosys did not provide reasons for the cancellation of the project, leaving the details undisclosed.

Recent CFO Resignation: The termination comes shortly after the unexpected resignation of Infosys’ Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Nilanjan Roy. However, the company has not linked the deal cancellation to the CFO’s departure.

Business Pressures: The cancellation highlights potential challenges for Infosys and other IT companies in India, facing subdued business over the past few quarters.

Financial Overview: Infosys reported a 3.17% rise in net profit to ₹6,212 crore in the July-September quarter. The company had narrowed its revenue growth guidance to 1-2.5% for the full year.

Recent Wins: In the September quarter, Infosys secured significant deals, including a $7.7 billion contract, and more recently, a five-year deal with auto parts distributor LKQ Europe.

Upcoming Earnings Announcement: Infosys is scheduled to declare its October-December quarter earnings on January 11, 2024.

The termination of the $1.5 billion AI deal adds to the evolving landscape for Infosys, as the company navigates challenges and seeks new opportunities in the dynamic IT sector.

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India’s first solar mission, Aditya-L1, is scheduled to reach its destination, the Lagrangian point (L1), located 1.5 million km from Earth, on January 6, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission, launched on September 2, aims to study the Sun from a unique orbit.

Destination Day: ISRO chairman S Somanath announced that Aditya-L1 is expected to reach the Lagrangian point on January 6.

Mission Background: Launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on September 2, Aditya-L1 is India’s first space-based observatory designed to study the Sun.

Technical Maneuver: Once at the Lagrangian point, the spacecraft will require an engine firing to ensure it stays in its designated orbit and does not drift further.

Five-Year Mission: Aditya-L1, upon reaching its destination, will observe and measure various solar events for the next five years.

Global Impact: The data collected by Aditya-L1 will not only benefit India but also contribute valuable insights to understanding the dynamics of the Sun and its impact on life worldwide.

ISRO’s Vision: ISRO chief S Somanath emphasized the importance of India’s technological advancement and shared plans to build an Indian space station called ‘Bharatiya space station,’ aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directives.

Economic Growth: Acknowledging the changing landscape of the space sector, Somanath highlighted ISRO’s commitment to supporting and encouraging new actors, fostering economic growth around the new generation in the space industry.

As Aditya-L1 reaches this significant milestone, it marks a step forward in India’s space exploration journey, contributing valuable solar data for scientific understanding and technological growth.

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New Delhi – With a resolute commitment to environmental sustainability, the World Environment Council’s President Prof. Ganesh Channa today is announcing the launch of its second global campaign for the “Environment Protection Bank” program, approved by the United Nations. Set to commence on 1st Jan 2024, this initiative is poised to make significant strides in instilling a sense of environmental responsibility in the hearts of students in schools and colleges across the globe.

The “Environment Protection Bank” program is a pioneering effort designed to empower educational institutions to become active contributors to environmental conservation. Endorsed by the United Nations, the program introduces a unique approach to fostering sustainability by encouraging schools and colleges to adopt eco-friendly practices and initiatives.

Key Objectives of the Campaign:

Global Participation: The campaign invites educational institutions worldwide to participate in this transformative program, fostering a united front in the global fight for environmental protection.

Hands-On Learning: The “Environment Protection Bank” program emphasizes practical, hands-on learning experiences to enable students to actively engage with environmental issues and solutions.

UN-Approved Curriculum: Leveraging the expertise of the World Environment Council and UN guidelines, the program integrates an UN-approved curriculum focused on environmental conservation and sustainable practices.

Incentivized Eco-Actions: Schools and colleges participating in the program will be encouraged to undertake eco-friendly initiatives, with tangible incentives provided through the “Environment Protection Bank.”

Youth Empowerment: The program aims to empower the youth to be ambassadors of environmental change, fostering a generation that is not only aware of environmental challenges but actively works towards solutions.

Why “Environment Protection Bank”?

The concept of an “Environment Protection Bank” is rooted in the idea that every positive action for the environment is an investment in our shared future. By fostering a culture of environmental responsibility within educational institutions, the program aims to create a ripple effect, influencing broader communities and societies.

How Schools and Colleges Can Participate:

Educational institutions interested in joining this global movement can register for the campaign on the World Environment Council’s official website. Detailed information about the program, curriculum, and participation guidelines is available to ensure a seamless and impactful integration of the “Environment Protection Bank” in schools and colleges worldwide.

The World Environment Council invites schools, colleges, educators, and students to join hands in this collective effort to build a sustainable future for our planet.

For more information and to register for the campaign, please visit World Environment Council’s official website: www.wec.org.in or contact +91-8130305369 Email id: worldenvironmentcouncil@gmail.com. Together, let’s bank on a greener future!

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Every year on December 22, we mark National Mathematics Day to honor the remarkable Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan. The day holds special significance as it coincides with his birthday.

History and Significance:

The Indian government, under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2012, declared December 22 as National Mathematics Day.

In the same year, it was also celebrated as the National Mathematics Year.

Srinivasa Ramanujan, born on December 22, 1887, in Tamil Nadu, made significant contributions to mathematics at a young age.

Despite facing poverty in his early life, Ramanujan excelled in trigonometry by the age of 12.

His work covered diverse areas such as Riemann series, hypergeometric series, elliptic integrals, continued fractions, and functional equations of the zeta function.

Ramanujan’s first paper was published in the Journal of the Indian Mathematical Society in 1911.

He earned a research-based B.A. degree from Cambridge University in 1916 but sadly passed away at the age of 32 in 1920, leaving behind around 4,000 original theorems.

Celebrations and Awareness:

National Mathematics Day aims to raise awareness about the importance of mathematics and honor Ramanujan’s contributions.

The day encourages students to go beyond textbooks, fostering critical thinking and logical reasoning.

Schools and colleges organize various competitions, Olympiads, and educational events to celebrate the occasion.

Mathematics, integral to our daily lives, has been enriched by the works of great Indian mathematicians like Aryabhata, Brahmagupta, Mahavira, and Bhaskara II.

As we celebrate National Mathematics Day, let’s appreciate the beauty of numbers and the incredible legacy left by Srinivasa Ramanujan, inspiring generations to come.

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Global tech giant Meta, known for platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has raised concerns about the Indian government’s proposed telecom law. The worry stems from the possibility of the law extending its regulatory reach to over-the-top (OTT) applications, including messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal.

Regulatory Ambit: Meta is worried that the new Telecom Bill, presented in the Indian Parliament, could be used to regulate OTT services in the future. This includes internet apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.

Internal Communication: Shivnath Thukral, Meta’s Director and Head of India Public Policy, shared these concerns in an internal email to colleagues. He highlighted the potential for the government to apply the legislation to OTT services at a later date.

Changes in the Bill: While the specific term ‘OTT’ has been removed from the current version of the legislation, concerns persist due to the expansive definitions of ‘telecommunication services’ and ‘messages’ in the bill.

Government Powers: The proposed law grants the government extensive powers, including the ability to intercept messages, establish encryption standards, and assume control over telecom networks.

Broader Definitions: Experts are cautious about the broad definitions in the bill, even though the reference to ‘OTT’ has been omitted.

Ongoing Debate: Meta’s concerns add to the ongoing debate around the balance between regulatory control and the freedom of internet applications in India.

As the Telecom Bill progresses through the legislative process, the tech industry and policymakers will continue to navigate discussions regarding regulatory frameworks, privacy, and the evolving landscape of digital communication in India.

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Google has agreed to pay a whopping $700 million and make some changes for around 102 million customers in the United States. This comes as part of a deal related to an antitrust case over fees that Google charged through its app store.

Here’s what you need to know:

The Payment: Google will pay $700 million. The majority, $630 million, will go into a fund to compensate US customers who were charged higher prices for digital transactions within apps downloaded from the Play Store.

Who Gets the Money: Around 71% of the people covered by the settlement, which is about 70 million customers, will receive at least $2. The amount might increase based on how much they spent on the Play Store between August 16, 2016, and September 30, 2023.

Additional Fund: Google will put an extra $70 million into a separate fund that the states will use to cover penalties and other costs.

Changes for Android Users: Google will make it easier for people to download and install Android apps from sources other than the Play Store for the next five years. It won’t give security warnings when users opt for alternatives.

Developer Choices: Google agreed to allow app developers to let users pay using a different payment system instead of Google’s.

Legal Perspective: Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser stated that they took legal action because using monopoly power to increase prices and limit consumer choice is illegal.

Google’s Response: Google seems positive about the settlement, aiming to move forward and highlighting their commitment to app store choice. The deal still needs approval from US District Judge James Donato.

This settlement is a significant step in addressing concerns about competition and pricing in the tech giant’s app store, bringing relief and potential compensation to millions of Americans.

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New Delhi : The Sahitya Akademi has declared the winners of its annual Sahitya Akademi Award for 2023, spanning 24 languages. This year, the accolades encompass nine poetry collections, six novels, five short story compilations, three essays, and one literary study. Rajasekaran, a Tamil author, clinched the award for his novel “Neervazhi Padooum,” while Patanjali Sastry, a Telugu writer, secured recognition for his short story collection. EV Ramakrishnan, a Malayalam litterateur, was honored for his literary study, “Malayala Novelinte Deshakalangal.”

The distinguished poets acknowledged in this year’s awards include Vijay Verma in Dogri, Vinod Joshi in Gujarati, and Ashutosh Parida in Odia. For outstanding short story collections, the recognized authors are Pranavjyoti Deka in Assamese, Nandeswar Daimary in Bodo, and Taraceen Baskey in Santali.

Sahitya Akademi will confer the award for Hindi novels upon Sanjeev for “Mujhe Pahachaano” and for English novels upon Neelam Saran Gour for “Requiem in Raga Janki.”

The awards, presented as a casket comprising an engraved copper plaque, a shawl, and a cash prize of one lakh rupees, are scheduled to be conferred at the award presentation ceremony on March 12th of the following year. These honors pertain to books initially published in the five years immediately preceding the award year, covering the period from January 2017 to December 31, 2021.

Sahitya Akademi Award Winners List 2023
LanguageName of the Book (Genre)Awardee’s Name
AssameseMon Mora Tora (Short Stories)Jintu Gitartha
BengaliMathrakha (Short Stories)Hamiruddin Middya
BodoSom, Jiu, Arw.. . (Poetry)Mainaosri Daimary
DogriAhlada (Plays)Dheeraj Bismil
EnglishLords of the Deccan: Southern India from the Chalukyas to the Cholas (Historical)Anirudh Kanisetti
GujaratiGet Together (Short Stories)Sagar Shah
HindiChandpur Ki Chanda {Novel)Atul Kumar Rai
KannadaPhoo Mattu Ithara Kathegalu (Short Stories)Manjunayak Challur
KashmiriLalli Nilvath Tchali Na Zanh (Poetry)Nighat Nasreen
KonkaniShots (Short Stories)Tanvi Kamat Bambolkar
MalayalamAcnante Alamara (Poetry)Ganesh Puthur
MarathiSwatahala Swataviruddh Ubhe Kartana (Poetry)Vishakha Vishwanath
NepaliGhat-Pratighatka Udgarharu (Poetry)Naina Adhikari
PunjabiChitt Da Jugraphia (Poetry)Sandeep
RajasthaniAntas Ro Olmo (Poetry)Devilal Mahiya
SantaliDusi (Short Stories)Bapi Tudu
SindhiGlamour (Short Stories)Monika J. Panjwani
TamilThirukarthiyat (Short Stories)Ram Thangam
TeluguVivechani (Criticism)Johny Takkedasila
UrduZahan Zaad (Short Stories)Tauseef Bareitvi
Sahitya Akademi Bal Sakhitya Award Winners List 2023
LanguageName of the Book (Genre)Awardee’s Name
AssamesePowalmoni Aru Chichingar Duhxahaxik Abhijan (Novel)Rothindranath Goswami
BengaliEroplaner Khata (Novel)Shyamalkanti Das
BodoGosainiwjwn Nwjwr (Short Stories)Pratima Nandi Narzaree
DogriKanjan (Poetry)Baiwan Singh Jamoria
EnglishGrandparents’ Bag of Stories (Stories)Sudha Murty
GujaratiHun Myaun, Tun Choon Choon (Poetry & Stories)Rakshabahen Prahladrao Dave
HindiKotuk App (Short Stories)Suryanath Singh
KannadaSurakki Gate (Novel)Vijayashree Haladi
KonkaniJaann (Novel)Tukaram Rama Shet
MaithiliOl Katra, Jhol Katra (Poetry)Akshay Anand ‘Sunny’
MalayalamPerumazhayathe Kunjithalukal (Novel)Priya A.S.
MarathiChhand Del Aanand (Poetry)Eknath Avhad
NepaliBal Ekanki Natakharu (Play)Madhusudan Bisht
OdiaJejenka Gapa Ganthili (Short Stories)Jugal Kishore Sarangi
PunjabiSachi Di Kahani (Short Stories)Gurmeet Karyalvi
RajasthaniTabran RI Duniyan (Memoir)Kiran Badal
SanskritManavi (Novel)Radhavallabh Tripathy
SantaliNene-Pete (Short Stories)Dholan Rahi
SindhiVanganmal Ji Shaadi (Poetry)Mansing Majhi
TamilAadhanin Bommai (Novel)Udhayasankar
TeluguVajra a Vaana (Short Stories)D.K. Chaduvula Babu
UrduMamta Ki Dor (Short Stories)Late Mateen Achalpuri (Posthumous)
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Recently, 141 Members of Parliament (MPs) found themselves suspended—95 from Lok Sabha and 46 from Rajya Sabha—following a spirited disagreement over the opposition’s plea for a statement from Union Minister Amit Shah regarding the Parliament security breach.

Responding promptly, the Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a circular outlining the consequences of the suspension. The circular restricts the entry of suspended MPs into the Parliament chamber, lobby, and galleries. Moreover, they are barred from participating in the proceedings of Parliamentary Committees to which they belong, with their names absent from the business list.

Throughout their suspension, the MPs are prohibited from submitting notices, participating in committee elections, and claiming daily allowances. The circular clarified that if suspended for the remainder of the session, they won’t receive daily allowances, as their stay during suspension is not considered official duty residence under the law.

The suspension, causing dissatisfaction, prompted Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to declare a nationwide protest scheduled for December 22. Kharge underscored the united opposition’s stance against what they perceive as an undemocratic decision. He emphasized the persistent demand for Union Minister Amit Shah or PM Modi to address the Parliament about the security breach, a call that has gone unanswered.

As tensions escalate and the opposition unites against the suspension, the unfolding parliamentary drama raises important questions about the delicate balance between disciplinary actions and democratic rights within the Indian political landscape.

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OpenAI, the group behind powerful AI technology, has stopped ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, from using its technology. This decision came after it was found out that ByteDance used OpenAI’s technology secretly to create its own AI model named “Project Seed.”

Using someone else’s AI tech without permission is not cool in the AI world, and it’s against the rules set by OpenAI. The rules clearly say that the results from OpenAI’s model cannot be used to make AI models that compete with OpenAI’s own products and services. Microsoft supports OpenAI, and since ByteDance is getting access through Microsoft, they have to follow the same rules.

ByteDance, which is already under close watch because of its links to the Chinese government and concerns about TikTok, will face more scrutiny now. This new information makes things even more complicated for ByteDance in the United States.

OpenAI has said that ByteDance didn’t follow the rules, so they’ve suspended ByteDance’s account. A spokesperson from OpenAI mentioned, “While ByteDance’s use of our API was minimal, we have suspended their account while we further investigate. If we find out that they didn’t follow the rules, we’ll ask them to fix it or close their account.”

In June, ByteDance entered the AI competition in China by testing their own AI chatbot. They wanted to be like ChatGPT, an AI language model from OpenAI. This move put ByteDance in direct competition with other big tech companies like Alibaba and Baidu, all wanting to be the best in China’s growing AI market.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi used a AI tool called ‘Bhashini’ to translate his speech during an event in Varanasi. The AI-driven language translation system allows people to communicate in their own language while conversing with speakers of different Indian languages.

Expressing his optimism about the technology, PM Modi remarked, “This was my first experience. As usual, I speak in Hindi and AI will translate it to Tamil.” He addressed the audience at the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, highlighting the significance of the bond between Tamil Nadu and Varanasi as “unique.”

“This is a new beginning, and hopefully, it makes it easier for me to reach you,” the Prime Minister added, emphasizing the potential of AI to connect with a wider audience.

The innovative AI tool, ‘Bhashini,’ facilitated seamless real-time translation, enabling effective communication between speakers of different Indian languages. PM Modi praised the people of Kashi, expressing confidence that they would wholeheartedly embrace the visitors from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the month-long Kashi Tamil Sangamam.

The event, hosting around 1,400 dignitaries from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, promises a cultural extravaganza, featuring exchange programs and an exhibition showcasing the rich tapestry of art, music, handloom, handicrafts, cuisines, and other distinctive products from both Tamil Nadu and Varanasi.

As India celebrates this technological milestone, the use of ‘Bhashini’ marks a significant step towards bridging linguistic barriers, fostering unity, and promoting cultural exchange on a national scale. PM Modi’s embrace of AI for language translation opens doors to enhanced communication and understanding among diverse linguistic communities within the country.

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