KERALA

Hundreds of volunteers and fishworkers in Kerala joined teams from the armed forces, the National Disaster Response Force, and State government agencies on Friday in a massive operation to rescue over 82,000 persons from flooded locations in four districts.

The rescue efforts, which commenced at daybreak, continued into the night. Helicopters and boats were pressed into service at Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur to locate flood victims, drop food supplies, and shift people to higher locations.

As many as 164 people have been killed in rain-related incidents across the State over the last nine days, taking the death toll in the monsoon season since May 29 to 324.

Rescue workers braved heavy rain and strong river currents to help stranded residents to safety. The breakdown of communication and power supply hampered efforts to locate people in the worst-affected areas.

INTERNATIONAL

The Austrian capital, Vienna, has beaten Australia’s Melbourne to be named the world’s most liveable city.

It’s the first time a European city has topped the rankings of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) annual survey.

The worldwide league table ranks 140 cities on a range of factors, including political and social stability, crime, education and access to healthcare.

· India to participate in SCO Peace Mission 2018 exercise at Russia

India will participate for the first timein the joint SCO Peace Mission Exercise, a part of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) initiatives, being conducted by Central Military Commission of Russia from August 22-29 at Chebarkul.
India became a full member of the SCO in June 2017.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is aneight-member multilateral organization, established on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai, China.
8 members of SCO are:- China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.

· India released 470 Million Nepali Rupees Grant for Terai Roads Project in Nepal

Indian Ambassadorto Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri handed over a cheque of the grant to Secretary, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport of Nepal, Madhusudan Adhikari in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The amount has been released to maintain fund liquidity for the ongoing construction of 14 road packages under Postal Highway Project.

NATIONAL

NITI Aayog has launched “Pitch to MOVE” – a mobility pitch competition that aims to provide budding entrepreneurs of India a unique opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a distinguished jury.

Startups working in the various fields of mobility can pitch their ideas to industry leaders and Venture Capitalists for raising investments.

Winners of the event will be felicitated by Hon’ble PM during the Global Mobility Summit.

“Pitch to MOVE” is organised by NITI Aayog in collaboration with Invest India and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) as a part of a series of engaging featured events in the run up to the main event.

The airport will be inaugurated on August 15 by Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar.
The team informed that the airport selected by the Ministry of Civil Aviation under the RCS-UDAN Scheme in which one airline namely M/s Pinnacle Airways Limited have bid for two routes namely Delhi-Hisar and Hisar-Chandigarh.

According to a survey conducted by UK-based online market research data, companies followed by Tata Motors, Patanjali, Reliance Jio and BSNL.
The survey, which covered 152 brandsacross 11 categories, is based on data collected online by YouGov Omnibus among 1,193 respondents in the country.

Indias first genetic bank for wildlife conservation inaugurated in Hyderabad

It is India’s first genetic resource bank where the genetic material will be stored for posterity which will further the cause of conservation of endangered species.
It is equipped with sophisticated equipment to preserve the genetic resources that could be utilized to virtually resurrect an animal species.
Laboratory of Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES)developed a universal DNA based marker for identification of wild animals from parts and remains.

Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra inaugurated three apps along with Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Justices Madan B. Lokur and A.M. Khanwilkar.

Chief Justice Misra said the services provided by the apps include e-filing along with user manual, e-payment options, National Service and Tracking of Electronic Processes (NTSEP).

President Ram Nath Kovind approved these names on the eve of Independence Day along with three Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 93 Sena Medals (Gallantry) and, 11 Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry).
He also conferred Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) to Group Captain Abhishek Sharma, Squadron Leader Vernon Desmond Keane and Sergeant Shashidhar P Prasad.