1) Karnataka launches ‘Elevate 100’ scheme for start-ups
•The Karnataka government has launched the ‘Elevate 100’ scheme to identify and nurture innovative start-ups. The aim is to identify 100 most innovative start-ups in the state to elevate them to the next level of success.
•The Elevate scheme is the brainchild of the start-up cell, Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS), to help start-ups across the state succeed by providing them with access to mentors, networking opportunities, and in-depth sessions for start-ups on accounting, and emerging technologies. The website and logo for Elevate 2017 (www.elevate.bengaluruite.biz) were also unveiled.
2) New Israeli flower named after PM Modi
•A new fast-growing Israeli flower was today named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a special gesture to mark the first visit of an Indian premier to the Jewish nation.
•Israeli Crysanthumun flower will now be called “MODI”.
3) Indo-Thailand joint military exercise begins in Himachal Pradesh
•A 14-day joint military training exercise between India and Thailand started in Himachal Pradesh. The joint exercise of the Indian Army with the Royal Thailand Army commenced at Bakloh in Chamba district.
•The aim of this exercise is to build and promote closer relations while exchanging skills and experiences between the two armies. The previous edition of the exercise was held at Krabi in Thailand in 2016.
4) Himachal Pradesh DGP Sanjay Kumar appointed new NDRF chief
•Himachal Pradesh director general of police (DGP) Sanjay Kumar has been appointed as the new chief of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
•The Union home ministry has approved the appointment of Mr. Kumar, a 1985-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, to the top NDRF post. The post of NDRF director general (DG) fell vacant after incumbent R K Pachnanda was appointed as the chief of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
5) TERI ranked second among world's climate think tanks
•An international body which focuses on climate policies has ranked The Energy Resources Institute (TERI) among the top think tanks in the world. TERI was ranked number two by the International Center for Climate Governance (ICCG), an internationally-renowned body whose activities focus on the design of climate policy and related governance issues.
•The New Delhi-based think tank was ranked under the category '2016 Top Climate Think Tanks in the Rest of the World--Absolute Global Rankings' during ICCG's 23rd annual conference of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE) in Athens in Greece.
6) 22nd Asian Athletics Championships to kick off in Odisha
•The 22nd Asian Athletics Championships will be today inaugurated at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
•Over 1,200 athletes and officials from 44 countries in Asia will witness the largest sporting event Odisha is organising.
•Around 42 track and field events will be held in the championship and 20 world champions are likely to take part. The winners will qualify for the World Championship to be held from August 4-13 in London.
•The multipurpose Kalinga Stadium has been transformed into a world-class track and field facility adhering to the norms of the International Association of Athletic Federation within a record period of 90 days.
•Over 1,200 athletes and officials from 44 countries in Asia will witness the largest sporting event Odisha is organising.
•Around 42 track and field events will be held in the championship and 20 world champions are likely to take part. The winners will qualify for the World Championship to be held from August 4-13 in London.
•The multipurpose Kalinga Stadium has been transformed into a world-class track and field facility adhering to the norms of the International Association of Athletic Federation within a record period of 90 days.
