NEWS 16-08-2023. News For 18th-Aug (Friday) *Monthly News: Jul '23* *National* 1. Surat Diamond Bourse, a building in Surat, Gujrat, has surpassed the Pentagon (headquarters of the US Army) to become the *world’s largest office*. Surat is called the world’s diamond capital, where 90% of the precious stones are cut. 2.*‘Semicon India 2023’* anounced India’s prowess in the semiconductor domain. held in Gandhinagar, Gujrat, on July 28. America, India, Japan & Taiwan anounced their intent of start of Semiconductor manufacturing in India. 3. India has witnessed a decline in poverty, lifting 13.5 crore people out of deprivation in the last 9 years. 4. The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship has launched a free online training program called *Al for India 2.0 on World Youth Skills' Day - 15th July*. This aims to equip the youth with essential skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI). 5. India's Foreign Exchange has reached 15 month's high of 609 Bn Dollars. 6. The Central Govt has brought the GST Network under the purview of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Resultantly, it will now be possible to take strict action against those involved in tax evasion. 7. According to Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, around 41.5 crore people exited poverty within a span of just 15 years between 2005 and 2021 in India. 8.ISRO launched India’s third lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 on GSLV Mark 3, named *‘Bahubali’* This will explore the Moon’s South Pole, a region known for the presence of water molecules. 9. IIT Kanpur has successfully conducted a test flight for cloud seeding. *International* 1. Ministry of Education has signed MoU with Abu Dhabi & IIT Delhi to establish 1st campus of IIT Delhi in Abu Dhabi. 2. After USA, India & Japan have signed an agreement to jointly develop the semiconductor ecosystem. 3. India & UAE have signed a MoU to establish a framework for trade settlement in their respective national currencies. 4. India and France have agreed to work together to improve aeronautical technologies, focusing on combat aircraft engines and Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) engines. 5. India and Tanzania have started trade settlements in local currencies.This India -Tanzania bilateral trade has stood at USD 6.4 billion in 2022-23.Also India and Bangladesh has recently started trading in Rupees. 6. According to Goldman Sachs, India Will become the world’s second-largest economy by 2075, crossing Japan, Germany, and the US. 7. PM Modi was honoured with France's highest civilian and military honour, *'Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour'*. The first Indian PM to receive this honour. 8. Google is going to invest 10 billion dollars in India's digitization fund and will open Google's global fintech operation centre in GIFT City, Gujarat. 9. Egypt has conferred the *‘Order of the Nile’*, the highest honour of Egypt to India's PM Narendra Modi. *Defence* 1. HAL & Argentina have signed a Letter of Intent on productive cooperation and acquisition of Light and Medium Utility Helicopters for the armed forces of the Argentine Republic. 2. Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the procurement of 26 Rafale Marine aircraft from France and 3 Scorpene submarines. 3.INS Rana and INS Sumedha undertook Maritime Partnership Exercise with French Navy ship FS Surcouf in the Bay of Bengal on 30th of June 2023.This Exercise included tactical manoeuvres, replenishment at sea approaches, air defence against fighter aircraft and cross deck helicopter operations. 3.L&T and the DRDO have formed a partnership to create an Indigenous Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) System for the submarines in the Indian Navy. *Sports* 1. Anshuman Jhingran, an 18-year-old has became the youngest person ever to cross the North Channel in just 125 days. 2. World no 1 Carlos Alcaraz has won his first 2023 Wimbledon Men's Single title after defeating Novak Djokovic, held in London. 3. Indian shuttler Satwiksairaj Rankireddy made a World Record in the history of badminton by striking the fastest smash of 565kmph in the ongoing Korea Open 2023.He broke the record of Malaysian Tan Boon Heong by surpassing his speed by 72 kmph. 4. Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen has clinched Men’s Singles title of the Canada Open 2023 badminton tournament in Canada. 5. Jyothi Yarraji has won India’s 1st gold medal in the Asian Athletics Championships 2023 held in Bangkok, Thailand.She won the gold medal in the women’s 100m hurdles race. 6.India won the 2023 Asian Kabaddi Championship title for the 8th time by defeating Iran in finals organized in Busan, South Korea. 7.Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has won the *2023 Lausanne Diamond League* title with the throw of 87.66m. 8.India defeated Kuwait to lift its 9th South Asian Football Federation Championship(SAFF) Championships trophy held in Bengaluru, Karnataka. 9. The International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) has confirmed that the 2023 U-17 World Cup will be hosted by Indonesia. < < Back