ASSAM

A Regional Inland Navigation Institute – the second such institute in the country that would impart training in various subjects related to inland water transport – would soon come up in the State

The Central government has committed Rs 50 crore for the institute once the State government identifies the land.

Meanwhile, the IWT will launch four new modern vessels in Majuli by this month-end. Two of them will be 28-metre-long catamaran vessels, having a capacity to carry six vehicles and over 100 passengers. The vessels are being built at a cost of Rs 1.9 crore each – all funded by the State government.

A ro-ro service is also likely to be launched in the river island by next month.

Around 5,000 islanders cross the Brahmaputra daily from three ghats. Presently, the IWT operates two vessels while there are also eight ferry services operated by private parties.

The State government had sanctioned altogether 15 modern vessels, four of which were recently launched in Barak valley. The remaining eight would be launched by November this year.

INTERNATIONAL

· India ranks 109th, stands behind Pakistan in 4G speeds

According to data speed tester Ookla, India ranks 109th in overall 4G mobile internet speeds with an average download speed of 12Mbps which is less than Pakistan (14.03 Mbps).
Out of the list comprising 124 countries, Qatar ranked first in the list with 63.22 Mbps average download speed.
Norway stood second in the list with 62.14 Mbps download speed.

· Scientists discovered 12 new moons around Jupiter

Scientists have found 12 new moonsorbiting around Jupiter, bringing its total number of moons to 79, the most for any planet in the solar system. One of the moons has been called a “real oddball” due to its tiny size.
Scientists think the vast number of objects orbiting the planet is probably the result of collisions earlier in its life, which have been captured by Jupiter and now continue to orbit it.

In 2018 ‘Soft Power 30’ index, published by UK-based strategic communications consultancy firm Portland and the University of Southern California Center on Public Diplomacy, France placed second and Germany as third followed by the US.
India does not figure on the list, but this year’s report also features a chapter dedicated solely to Asia, listing 10 countries in the region, ranking India’s soft power as eighth

NATIONAL

India accounts for one-fifth of global deaths due to floods, according to government data.

As many as 107,487 people died due to heavy rains and floods across India over 64 years between 1953 and 2017, according to Central Water Commission data.

Damage to crops, houses and public utilities was reported to be Rs 365,860 crore.

Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) is to add muscle to their spacecraft lifting power in all three satellite launch vehicles. The space agency has improved the thrust of the Vikas engine that powers all of them. The high-thrust engine qualified after a ground test lasting 195 seconds (over three minutes).
The high-thrust Vikas engine is expected to put 4,000 kgsatellites to space. It will improve the payload capability of PSLV, GSLV and GSLV Mk-III launch vehicles.
The Vikas engine is used in the second stage of the light lifting PSLV; the second stage and the four add-on stages of the medium-lift GSLV; and the twin-engine core liquid stage of Mk-III. ISRO is to try out Vikas by replacing it first in Mk-III with a cleaner and safer semi-cryogenic engine.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has planned to upgrade infrastructural and tourist-friendly facilities at seven sites, which are approved under Adarsh Smarak Schemefor Conservation of Monuments, in Tamil Nadu.
The Adarsh Monuments proposed to be upgraded by the Ministry of Culture include the Shore Temple in Mamallapuram, Vellore Fort, Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, Kailasanathar Temple in Kancheepuram, Sittannavasal Caves, Gingee Fort and Moovar Koil in Kodumbalur. The work has already begun at the Shore Temple in Mamallapuram.

Inflation based on wholesale prices accelerated to over 4-year high of 5.77% in June on increasing prices of vegetables and fuel items, raising chances of rate hike by the RBI in its monetary policy review next month.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation stood at 4.43% in May and 0.90% in June last year, as per the government data released on Monday. Inflation is at the highest level since December 2013, when it was at 5.9%.

Retail inflation, which the Reserve Bank of India takes into account while formulating its monetary policy, had touched a 5-month high of 5% in June. It is based on Consumer Price Index (CPI). RBI targets to keep inflation at 4%, (+/- 2%), and its rise beyond this comfort zone will put pressure on the central bank to hike rates.