NATIONAL NEWS
Andhra Pradesh introduces programme to transform foundational learning with World Bank aidAndhra Pradesh has started a programme to transform foundational learning in government schools for which the World Bank has approved a loan of 250 million dollars.
- The main objectives of the programme called Supporting Andhra’s Learning Transformation (SALT) are strengthening foundation schools and providing training and skill development to teachers.
- Establishing and strengthening foundation schools is in tune with the National Education Policy, 2020, and Andhra Pradesh aims to become the first state to do so.
The government allocated an additional Rs 19,041 crore to provide broadband connectivity in all villages under the BharatNet project.
- Under the BharatNet project, the government initially targeted to cover all 2.52 lakh gram panchayats with high-speed broadband services. The Prime Minister later announced expansion of the project to cover all villages as well.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
US Announces USD 41 Million Additional Covid-19 Assistance to IndiaThe US has announced an additional USD 41 million assistance to help India respond to the Covid-19 pandemic and strengthen the country’s preparedness for the future health emergencies, taking the total aid to more than USD 200 million.
- USAID’s assistance will support access to Covid-19 testing, pandemic-related mental health services, timely referrals to medical services, and access to healthcare in remote areas.
- Through this additional funding, USAID will continue to partner with India to strengthen healthcare supply chains and electronic health information systems, support its vaccination efforts, and mobilize and coordinate private sector relief.
The Turkish and Azerbaijani militaries have started joint drills called "Mustafa Kemal Atatürk 2021," in Baku, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said.
- The two countries deployed tanks, helicopters and drones in the drills in an effort to improve the two countries' combat interoperability.
- The drill aims to enhance the interaction of the two militaries during combat operations and develop the decision-making and managing skills of commanders.
In a bid to boost the start-up ecosystem and promoting the transition to a Low Carbon Lifestyle in the Asia Pacific, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with Massive Earth Foundation (MEF) has announced the launch of LowCarbon.Earth.
- A first of its kind unique initiative of Industry-Academia Partnership, the program will provide a platform for start-ups to interact with established corporates, leading technology companies and industry mentors to build collective capabilities for the industry in the cutting-edge areas of advanced sustainable technologies.
- MEF along with the UNEP, through this initiative, aims to tap the potential of emerging technologies like Low Carbon Energy, Low Carbon Mobility, Low Carbon Agriculture, Low Carbon Packaging, Low Carbon Buildings and Low Carbon Consumption to uncover start-ups and seed a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship and product development amongst young professionals in the region.
Six medical colleges from India have found a place in the list of the World's 100 best medical colleges for the year 2021, in a ranking released by CEO World Magazine.
- The All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi has bagged 23rd position, while AFMC Pune has bagged 34th rank, followed by CMC Vellore (49), JIPMER Pondicherry (59), Medical College Chennai (64), and IMS BHU Varanasi (72).
- The US-based Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine ranked first with the highest score of 99.06, followed by Harvard Medical School, Perelman School of Medicine, and NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Towards enhancing military cooperation with friendly nations, Indian Naval Ship Tabar commenced her prolonged deployment on 13 June and will visit a number of ports in Africa and Europe till end September.
- The ship will participate in a number of joint exercises with friendly navies.In addition to PASSEX with host navies of countries being visited, the ship is also scheduled to participate in bilateral exercises like Ex Konkan with Royal Navy, Ex Varuna with French Navy and Ex Indra with Russian Federation Navy.
- The deployment will also see participation by the ship in the Russian Navy Day celebrations from 22 to 27 July.
BANKING & FINANCE
Gadkari launches Indian Bank’s ‘MSME Prerana’ in MaharashtraIndian Bank launches its flagship Business Mentoring Program ‘MSME Prerana’ in the state of Maharashtra. It was launched by Shri Nitin Gadkari,Union Minister of MSME and Road, Transport and Highway.
- ‘MSME Prerana’ is a novel, unique and innovative business mentoring program, first of its kind to empower MSME Entrepreneurs. The program will begin from Nagpur followed by other important cities in Maharashtra.
- Indian Bank is providing financial support to its 20 lakhs MSMEs with credit exposure of over ₹70,180 cr ‘MSME Prerana’ has been launched with an aim to develop managerial and financial capabilities of MSME Entrepreneurs besides creating awareness on various initiatives taken by GOI / State Govts. / RBI and Other agencies.
Commercial Bank of Kuwait has selected Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.'s 'BaNCS for Treasury' solution to "manage risk better, enhance asset class coverage, and drive future growth".
- The software product will help CBK offer a wider range of cash and derivative treasury products, integrate various trading and messaging platforms, manage cash and positions in real time, and offer extensive accounting and reporting capabilities.
- This front-to-back, cross-asset solution will enable the bank to lay a firm foundation for digitisation and expand its customer base.
Dvara e-Dairy Solutions Pvt Ltd announced its partnership with IFFCO Tokio General Insurance for providing artificial intelligence (AI) powered digital cattle identity solution for cattle insurance.
- The company''s ''Surabhi e-Tag'' is AI-powered digital tag that identifies cattle based on muzzle identity.
- Muzzle images of the cattle are collected through the Surabhi mobile application and stored in hi-resolution images as a unique digital identity.
SPORTS
Badminton Sudirman Cup moved to Finland, World Tour Finals to IndonesiaIn badminton, two key tournaments, the Sudirman Cup Finals 2021 and the BWF World Tour Finals, which were originally planned to take place in China this year, have now been moved to Vantaa, Finland and Bali, Indonesia respectively.
- Vantaa, Finland is the new host of the Sudirman Cup Finals 2021 from September 26 to October 3, followed by the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2020 in Aarhus, Denmark which had been postponed last year.
- The final tournament of the calendar year will be the World Championships in Huelva, Spain in mid-December.
The BCCI has communicated to its member associations that this year’s T20 World Cup will be held in the UAE.
- However, BCCI retains the hosting rights of the 16-team event that is scheduled to begin on October 17
Madhya Pradesh allrounder Anshula Rao has been handed a four-year ban by the National Anti-Doping Agency for failing a dope test, backdated to July 2020.
- Rao thus becomes the first woman cricketer to have been punished for doping.
- She tested positive for the aforementioned steroid last year in March 14 in Baroda and subsequently, failed to prove that the banned substance entered her body unknowingly.
India captain Mithali Raj has returned to the top five of the latest ICC Women’s ODI Rankings for batswomen after top-scoring for India with 72 in the series opener against England in Bristol.
- The 38-year-old, who has completed 22 years in international cricket, rescued her side from a precarious 27 for two but India’s total of 201 for eight was not challenging enough for England, who will be defending their World Cup title in New Zealand next year.
- Hard-hitting opener Shafali Verma, the top-ranked T20I batter, has entered the ODI rankings at 120th place after scoring a 14-ball 15 on debut.
APPOINTMENTS
European Space Agency To Hire First Disabled AstronautThe European Space Agency hopes to hire and launch the world's first physically disabled astronaut and several hundred would-be para-astronauts have already applied for the role.
- The 22-member space programme has just closed its latest decennial recruitment call for astronauts and received 22,000 applicants.
Shambhu Nath Srivastava, a former judge of Allahabad High Court and former chief Lokayukta of Chhattisgarh, has been appointed the chairman of the Indian Federation of United Nations Associations (IFUNA) .
- He succeeds Mukul Sangma, a former chief minister of Meghalaya.
- The IFUNA, affiliated to the World Federation of United Nations Associaions, (WFUNA) Geneva, enjoys special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, brings people and issues together to promote collective acton for a sustainable world.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet gave a one-year extension to Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha.
- Sinha is a former Uttar Pradesh-cadre IAS officer.
- Sinha has been given an extension till June 30, 2022, a notification said.
AWARDS
Journalist P Sainath Wins Japan’s Fukuoka Grand PrizeRenowned journalist and founder of PARI (People’s Archive of Rural India) P Sainath has been awarded the Fukuoka Grand Prize for 2021.
- The award, established by Japan’s Fukuoka city and the Fukuoka City International Foundation, is given to individuals and organisations for their work in preserving Asian culture.
- Besides the Grand Prize, there are two more award categories, academics and culture. The Academics Prize was given to Professor Kishimoto Mio, a historian from Japan who specialises in the socio-economic history of China in the Ming-Qing period. Thailand-based writer and filmmaker Prabda Yoon received the Arts and Culture Award.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Dept of Justice launches Enforcing Contracts PortalThe Department of Justice has launched Enforcing Contracts Portal. The portal aims to promote ease of doing business and improve the ‘Contract Enforcement Regime’ in the country.
- The portal will provide easy access to latest information on commercial cases in Dedicated Commercial Courts of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. The portal will also provide access to a repository of commercial laws.
OBITUARIES
Pakistan's former caretaker PM Mir Hazar Khoso passes awayPakistan's former caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso passed away due to a cardiac arrest. He was 95.
- Khoso was a retired judge and served as acting Prime Minister for three months in 2013 to oversee the federal elections which resulted in the victory of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
BOOLS & AUTHORS
A Book Titled “Kashmiri Century: Portrait Of A Society In Flux” ReleasedA book titled “Kashmiri Century: Portrait of a Society in Flux” written by Khemlata Vakhlu, has been released recently.
- A Kashmiri Century is a powerful and rare compilation of human-interest stories. Spanning a full century, it throws a compassionate light on the innocent and hard-working people who live in the beautiful valley of Kashmir.
- The stories are all based on the author’s personal experiences and her intimate understanding of what it means to be a Kashmiri-speaking native.
A book titled “Policymaker’s Journal: From New Delhi to Washington, DC” authored by Kaushik Basu released soon.
- This book charts the course of Kaushik Basu’s career over seven years, as he moved out of the cloisters of academe to the frenetic world of policymaking, first in India as Chief Economic Adviser to the Indian Government and after that as Chief Economist at the World Bank in Washington.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day Of ParliamentarismJune 30 is observed as the International Day of Parliamentarism every year.
- It marks the day of the establishment of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the global organization of parliaments in 1889.
- The day celebrates parliaments and recognises the significance of parliamentary systems of government in shaping modern societies.
World Asteroid Day is marked and celebrated globally on June 30 every year.
- It is usually observed in order to raise public awareness about asteroid’s hazardous effect and the measures that should be taken in case of a near-Earth object threat.
