1) World Population Day 2016 observed with theme Investing in teenage girls

a) World Population Day was observed on 11th July, 2016, worldwide. This day is celebrated with an intent to raise awareness of global population issues.

b) The theme for this year is ‘Investing in Teenage girls’ and focuses on the empowerment of teenage girls. Teenage girls who face a lack of school and early marriage and motherhood which leaves them vulnerable to illness, injury and exploitation. They are denied even their basic rights.

c) These challenges are exacerbated among marginalized girls, such as members of ethnic minorities or those living in poverty or remote areas.

d) The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989.

e) The theme of the 2015 World Population Day was Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies.

2) IUCN declares Bornean Orangutan as critically endangered

a) According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Bornean Orangutan has been declared as critically endangered.

b) Sharp decline in population has been observed due to habitat destruction and illegal hunting which accounts for 86% population reduction between 1973 and 2025.

c) Also, the IUCN also put the whale shark, the largest fish in the world, on the Endangered list.

3) Sushila Karki confirmed as Nepal’s first woman Chief Justice

a) Sushila Karki has been appointed as the first woman chief Justice with a unanimous decision by the parliamentary panel.

b) Karki (64), who has done her Masters in Political Science from Banaras Hindu University, is famous for her ‘zero-tolerance’ for corruption.

c) Karki was recommended for the top judicial post on April 10 this year by the Judicial Council but her appointment was pending due to delay in the formation of the PHSC for some technical reasons.

d) Currently, 11 nominees are awaiting the PHSC hearing for their appointment as the SC judges.

4) Sanjay Gupta named CMD of Konkan Railway

a) Sanjay Gupta has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL).

b) Prior to his appointment, he served as the Director (Operating and Commercial) of KRCL. He will be replacing Bhanu Prakash Tayal.

5) Ad award for Srinivasan K Swamy

a) The Advertising Club Madras has conferred its Distinguished Service Award on Srinivasan K Swamy, Chairman and Managing Director, R K Swamy BBDO for his outstanding contribution to the advertising industry.

b) The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) will, on 29th July, present him with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Mumbai.

c) This award is the highest honour to be given to an individual in India for their outstanding contribution to the advertising industry. This award was instituted in 1988 by AAAI and so far 23% of people have only received it.

6) Noted Pakistani philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi has passed away

a) Legendary Pakistani philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi passed away at the age of 92 due to respiratory ailment during dialysis.

b) Famous for his social services, he established Edhi Foundation and village which is a home to poor, needy, orphans and addicts.

c) Nominated several times for the Nobel peace prize he was again in this year’s list. He has won a host of international awards in recognition of his work.

7) NASSCOM unveils India’s first Centre of Excellence on Internet of Things

a) National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) unveiled India’s first Centre of Excellence focused on Internet of Things (CoE- IoT) at its Startup Warehouse in Bengaluru.

b) The centre is a joint initiative between the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeITY), Education and Research Network (ERNET) and NASSCOM and will function as an enabler of funding, accelerating, and mentoring for start-ups in this area.

c) It is also supported by Accenture, Cisco, Intel, HCL Technologies, Qualcomm, TCS and L&T Technology Services, among others.

8) Google acquires Paris-based startup Moodstocks

a) Tech giant Google has expanded its technology services by acquiring Paris based start up Moodstocks, which has developed machine learning based image recognition technology for smartphones.

b) The acquisition by Google will see it add the recognition technology of Moodstocks to its already large number of services it offers which use machine learning, such as Google Translate, Smart Reply in Inbox and the Google app.

c) The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Moodstocks’ team will also move over to Google’s R&D center in Paris.

9) Andhra Pradesh decided to conduct ‘Smart Pulse Survey’ of 1.48 crore households

a) Andhra Pradesh government has decided to conduct a ‘Smart Pulse Survey’ for collecting socioeconomic data of 1.48 crore households in the state. The survey will be conducted between 8 July to 30 July 2016.

b) The state Cabinet decided to conduct the survey to determine the socio-economic status and collect all other relevant details of each household in the state. Revenue and civic staff would go round the houses and collect the data during the above dates. Citizens can provide their details even over internet.

c) The state government has appointed senior IAS officers, who previously served as Collectors, as nodal officers for the 13 districts to oversee the survey.

10) Legendary football coach Amal Dutta passes away

a) Former India international Amal Dutta, the first professional football coach of the country, has passed away at the age of 86 due to age related ailments.

b) A midfielder, who represented India at the 1954 Asian Games, the former Mohun Bagan and East Bengal footballer later made a name for himself as a tactical genius as he pioneered professional coaching in India.

c) Known for his humility and gentle behaviour, Dutta was the brain behind Mohun Bagan’s Diamond system — a 4-1-2-1-2 formation — in the late 1990s, that had taken the club to a different level.