Microsoft outage disrupts several sectors worldwide

A faulty update knocked out several Windows computers and servers around the world on Friday, sending them through a boot loop featuring a so-called blue screen of death, disrupting aviation, banking, telecommunications, hospitals, TV channels and other companies.

The update was part of the Falcon endpoint threat detection and response product developed by CrowdStrike, a Texas-based cybersecurity firm.

Flights were briefly grounded in the United States, with airports reeling under a complete collapse of their digital systems worldwide.

In India, airlines started checking passengers in manually at airports serving Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai, among others, issuing handwritten boarding passes as blue error screens took over flight information display boards.

Bangladesh unrest: 105 dead, TV news off air, jail stormed

At least 105 people have been killed in the violent student protests against quotas for government jobs in Bangladesh. According to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, at least 52 people were killed in the capital city.

Television news channels in the country were off the air and telecommunications were widely disrupted on the day.

Wrongheaded policy

Despite the fact that attempts to provide reservation in jobs for local workers have been proven unconstitutional and have been rejected by courts, the temptation to pander to nativist sentiments remains among State governments. 

A case in point is the draft Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024, cleared by the government's cabinet but later "temporarily withheld" following an uproar from industry heads and trade bodies in Karnataka. 

The Bill envisaged that industries and other establishments would appoint local candidates in 50% of management positions and 70% of non-management positions, and set stringent criteria for defining local candidates.

The promise of parametric insurance

The warmest year on record was 2023. A report estimated that losses from natural disasters amounted to $280 billion in 2023, of which only about $100 billion was insured. 

The gap in insurance coverage was particularly wide between developed and developing economies. 

With the world experiencing a surge in extreme weather events, the insurance industry needs to enhance disaster resilience by devising a number of alternative methods of coverage.

At present, the globally accepted method of disaster risk reduction is to transfer risk through indemnity-based insurance products, which require physical assessment of damage for payouts. 

However, the past is no longer a precedent for what could follow. When calamities such as cyclones, floods, tsunamis, and storms hit large populations and wipe out settlements, especially of the economically disadvantaged communities with little record of their assets, it becomes difficult to verify the losses.

Situation in Bangladesh an 'internal matter', says MEA

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is following the ongoing protests in Bangladesh "closely", said a senior official of the Ministry of External Affairs. 

the Ministry's spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the clashes between the protesters and law enforcement officials as an 'internal matter' of Bangladesh.

Sources said the Indian High Commission was working with Bangladesh authorities to help Indian students who want to return home in view of the uncertainty and violence.

The protests in Bangladesh turned into violent clashes between the students and political parties on one side and the police on the other.

Uttarakhand HC allows protection to interfaith live-in couple under UCC

In the first such case, after the Uniform Civil Code of Uttarakhand Act came into force, the High Court recently allowed protection to an interfaith couple in a live-in relationship, provided they applied for mandatory registration under the new Act within 48 hours.

The July 18 judgment came while hearing a petition filed by a 26-year-old Hindu woman and a 21-year-old Muslim man who were in a live-in relationship for some time. 

Navy and Army chiefs receive Param Vishisht Seva Medals

Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi were presented the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service by President Droupadi Murmu at a defence investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. 

The President conferred 94 Distinguished Service Decorations to the personnel of the Armed Forces and the Indian Coast Guard during the ceremony. These decorations - 31 PVSMs, four Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, 59 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals have been given to the personnel for distinguished service of exceptional order, the statement added. 

3,000 Army troops, 500 special forces deployed in Jammu

Around 3,000 Army troops and 400 to 500 special forces personnel have been inducted into the Jammu area around a week ago, defence sources said. 

This is in addition to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) deployed there.

"There has been an augmentation of troop levels, both Army and considerable numbers of CAPFs, in the Jammu area recently," officials said.

In a first, Bihar unveils film promotion policy

With the intent to provide institutional support to filmmakers, the government of Bihar on Friday introduced the State's first film promotion policy. The policy will ensure a single window clearance for all government permissions as well as providing for adequate security and safety arrangements to filmmakers. The policy also offers financial incentives for regional films made in languages such as Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magahi, Angika, and Bajjika.

"The Cabinet today approved Bihar's new film promotion policy. There is significant potential and numerous opportunities for filmmaking in Bihar. The proposal had come from the State's Art, Culture, and Youth Affairs Department," Additional Chief Secretary S. Siddharth said. The policy includes financial aid of ₹4 crore for producing films, documentaries, and serials in regional languages.

Houthi drone hits Tel Aviv, one killed, 10 wounded

An Iranian-made drone sent by Yemen's Houthi rebels struck Tel Aviv, leaving one person dead and at least 10 wounded in the group's first lethal strike into Israel.

The aerial strike rumbled through the centre of the city near the U.S. Embassy, causing shrapnel to rain down and spreading shards of glass over a large radius. 

All eyes on election date in Sri Lanka amid concern over Bill

The date of Sri Lanka's Presidential election will be announced, the country's Election Commission said, amid fresh speculation in the wake of a gazette notification issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Dated July 18, 2024, the gazette notification pertains to amending a constitutional provision on whether a referendum is required to extend the term of office of the President or the duration of Parliament. 

While the existing Article refers to such a term extension to "over six years", the proposed Bill seeks to substitute that with the text "over five years".