Kiren Rijiju Launches India’s Maiden Winter Scientific Arctic Expedition

• Shri Kiren Rijiju, minister of Earth Sciences, inaugurated India's first winter scientific expedition to the Arctic.
• The event took place at headquarters of Ministry of Earth Science in New Delhi on 18thDecember 2023.
• It will provide researchers with a unique opportunity to conduct scientific observations during the polar nights, experiencing nearly 24 hours of darkness and sub-zero temperatures, reaching as low as 15 degrees Celsius.
• This initiative aims to enhance our comprehension of the Arctic, with a particular focus on phenomena like climate change, space weather, sea-ice and ocean circulation dynamics, and ecosystem adaptations.
• These insights have broader implications for understanding weather and climate patterns in the tropics, including the monsoon season.

Accenture Opens genAI Studio in Bengaluru

• Accenture inaugurated a Generative AI Studio in Bengaluru, bringing together the company's expertise and technological investments.
• The studio is designed to provide a comprehensive suite of generative AI capabilities, optimizing business processes and facilitating the reinvention of enterprises.
• The studio focuses on modern data and AI frameworks, fostering co-creation between Accenture’s data and AI team and clients.

IndiGo Becomes First Indian Airline to Carry 100 million Passengers This Year

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• The private airline IndiGo announced its achievement of becoming the first Indian airline to carry 100 million passengers within a single calendar year.
• With this IndiGo has entered an exclusive group of global carriers operating at such a significant scale.
• This accomplishment solidifies IndiGo's position among the world's ten largest airlines in terms of passenger traffic.

India Rejects Interim Arbitration in WTO Dispute

• At the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement body meeting, India refused to consider interim arbitration for settling the dispute related to import duties on specific information and communications technology (ICT) products.
• The European Union (EU) has expressed its dissatisfaction to India’s decision.

Maheshwar Dayal Appointed as Director General of Prisons

• Maheshwar Dayal, a senior IPS officer and Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), assumed the role of Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services.
• Previously, he held positions such as Superintendent of Police (SP) in Virudhunagar, The Nilgiris, and Nagapattinam districts, as well as Deputy Commissioner of Police in Tirunelveli, Tiruchi, and Gurgaon, Haryana.
• His extensive career also includes roles as the Commandant of Tamil Nadu Special Police, Tihar Battalion, and Deputy Inspector General of Police in the Central Industrial Security Force and the Bureau of Civil Aviation.