NATIONAL NEWS
India launches new trilateral with Italy and Japan for Indo-Pacific stabilityIndia-Italy-Japan launched their trilateral, the second trilateral involving India and a European power – hoping to create stability and a rules-based international order based on the consent of all, not on the power of the few in the Indo-Pacific region.
- The trilateral was launched through a virtual meeting involving the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Embassies of Italy in Tokyo and New Delhi and the Japanese foreign ministry besides representatives of the three countries’ important think tanks.
- Last year, India-France-Australia launched a trilateral mechanism and this has taken momentum with the foreign ministerial level meet this year. India and Japan are part of two other trilateral mechanisms for the Indo-Pacific region –– India-Japan-USA and India-Japan-Australia. Besides, India and Australia have launched a trilateral involving Indonesia, SE Asia’s biggest country. India-Japan-Russia has launched track two level trilateral mechanism for the Indo-Pacific region with special focus on Russian Far-East.
A high-level committee consisting of representatives from the services and the Ministries concerned has been formed for wider consultations on the creation of integrated triservice theatre commands.
- The panel includes the Vice Chiefs of the three services, the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, and representatives Ministries such as Home Affairs, Finance and Law.
India has agreed to host the 9th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER9) next year, the International Energy Forum (IEF) said.
- The 9th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable, dates of which will be announced later, will take forward the understandings reached in the previous meeting in Abu Dhabi during 2018, which was co-hosted by India. That meeting focused on global energy security in the age of change.
The Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi launched a nationwide “JaanHaiToJahaanHai” awareness campaign to create awareness on Corona vaccination in rural and remote areas of the country and also to “Crush and Curb” the rumours and apprehensions, being spread by some vested interests regarding the on-going vaccination drive.
- Under the campaign various religious leaders, prominent people from social, educational, cultural, medical, science and other fields are giving effective messages to the people to get vaccinated and street plays will also be organised across the country.
Indian Naval Ships Kochi and Teg along with P8I and MiG 29K aircraft are participating in a Passage Exercise with US Navy Carrier Strike Group Ronald Reagan during its transit through Indian Ocean Region.
- The Indian Naval warships along with aircraft from Indian Navy and Indian Air Force will be engaged in joint multi-domain operations with the Carrier Strike Group.
- The two-day exercise aims to strengthen bilateral relationship and cooperation by demonstrating the ability to integrate and coordinate comprehensively in maritime operations. High tempo operations during the exercise include advanced air defence exercises, cross deck helicopter operations and anti-submarine exercises.
In Gujarat, the state government announced the policy for electric vehicles for the next four years. Announcing the policy, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said the state aims to witness 2 lakh electric vehicles on the roads in next 4 years.
- The policy also aims at making Gujarat, the manufacturing hub for e-vehicles. with the new policy minimum 6 lakh tonnes of carbon emission will be reduced.
- The policy also aims to establish additional 250 charging stations which will take the total number of charging stations in the state to 528.
- The state government will provide subsidy up to Rs. 20 thousand for 2 wheelers, 50 thousand for 3 wheelers and up to 1.5 lakh for 4 wheelers which will be directly credited to bank accounts through DBT.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa launched the state Learning Management System to promote digital learning in higher education.
- As part of the programme organised by the department of collegiate education in Bengaluru, the Chief Minister will also launch 2500 smart classrooms and virtually distribute Table PC to 1.55 lakh students.
- This smart learning management system will cover 430 government first grade colleges, 87 government polytechnics and 14 Government engineering colleges.
- The students will be able to access learning material, interact with teachers via online and offline mode and at the same time the evaluation of students and teachers will be carried out through this digital media.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Bengaluru Ranked As One Of The Top 5 Technology Centers In Asia PacificBengaluru right now ranks as one of the top five tech centers in the Asia Pacific and Hyderabad in the Top ten list.
- The name of the report is ‘Growth engines of innovation: How Asia Pacific’s technology hubs are reshaping regional real estate’. It closely analyses how the growth in the tech sector is affecting change in the region's property markets.
- Beijing, Shanghai, Bengaluru, Shenzhen and Singapore currently rank as the top five technology centres in APAC.They offer a compelling balance of infrastructure and talent for occupiers and are well-positioned to deliver future growth and investment opportunities for owners.
- Other cities are developing strengths in specific areas of technology, e.g., Seoul and Hong Kong in fintech, while new centres such as Hyderabad and Sydney are emerging.
The Minister of State for Education Shri Sanjay Dhotre participated in the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting. The meeting was hosted in blended mode by Italy.
- G20 Education Ministers exchanged views on how to progress on the fight against educational poverty and inequalities, especially in context of the Covid 19 pandemic. The ministers also resolved to share innovative experiences implemented during the pandemic to ensure the continuity and quality of learning pathways through blended education.
- Representing India, Shri Sanjay Dhotre reiterated the country’s commitment towards reducing and eventually eliminating educational poverty, inequalities and early school leaving.
BANKING & FINANCE
SBM Bank, Paisabazaar introduce Step Up Credit CardLending marketplace Paisabazaar.com and SBM Bank India announced the launch of Step Up Credit Card–a credit-builder product designed for consumers with limited access to formal credit, due to ineligible credit score.
- The Step Up Credit Card, built in partnership with SBM Bank India, is the first product to be launched under Paisabazaar’s neo-lending strategy.
- A secured card provided against a fixed deposit (with SBM Bank India), Step Up Card helps consumers with damaged credit or those with no credit history to steadily build their Credit Score. While responsible use of Step Up Credit Card enables consumers to reach a strong Credit Score, it also allows them to enjoy benefits of a credit card, and earn strong returns on their fixed deposit.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was second in terms of reserves transferred to the government as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) for the fiscal year 2020-21. Turkey has been ranked first.
- RBI has transferred Rs 99,122-crore surplus to the government for FY21 which is 73% higher than the Rs 57,128 crore paid out in 2019-20.
- The surplus transferred by RBI constitutes 0.44% of GDP, while that of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey constitutes 0.5% of GDP.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Moody’s Revises India’s GDP Growth Rate To 9.6%Moody’s Investors Service has slashed India’s growth projection to 9.6 per cent for the 2021 calendar year, from its earlier estimate of 13.9 per cent. For the calendar year 2022, GDP growth is projected at 7 per cent.
- The agency expects the overall hit to India’s economy owing to the coronavirus pandemic to be softer than that during the first wave last year. Moody’s further stated that with states now easing restrictions, economic activity in May is likely to signify the trough.
SPORTS
New Zealand Crowned First ICC World Test ChampionshipNew Zealand captain Kane Williamson savoured his team's special win after they beat India in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Ageas Bowl Stadium (Rose Bowl Stadium) in Southampton, England.
- Kyle Jamieson (NZ) has been adjudged as the “Player of the match”, while Kane Williamson (NZ) is the “Player of the series”.
- The first test championship began in 2019 with the finals being played in 2021.The next Test Championship will be held between 2021-2023.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) roped in mobile gaming platform MPL Sports Foundation as the principal sponsor of the country's contingent for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and next year's Birmingham Commonwealth Games. The association is set to last till December 31, 2022.
- The IOA also said that diary giant Amul has agreed to be a sponsor for the Tokyo Games to be held from July 23 to August 8.
- The Indian Olympic Association also roped in the JSW Group as another sponsor for the country's Tokyo Olympics contingent.
APPOINTMENTS
Rani Rampal, Manpreet Singh Named Captains Of Indian Hockey TeamsManpreet Singh and Rani Rampal have been named as captains of the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams respectively for Tokyo Olympics 2020.
- Hockey India have also chosen two vice-captains each for both teams. While Birendra Lakra and Harmanpreet Singh are the vice-captains for the men’s hockey team, Deep Grace Ekka and Savita Punia are the vice-captains for the women’s hockey team.
Dr Pratima Murthy, head of Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru has been appointed as Director of the Institute for a period of five years. She will retire in March 2026.
- Dr Murthy was awarded the WHO Regional Director's Special Recognition Award on 'World No Tobacco Day 2021' last month.
- In the absence of a regular director, the Centre had appointed three acting directors from December till recently after the-then director Dr BN Gangadhar superannuated in December last year.
Premium smartphone brand OnePlus said it has roped in cricketer Jasprit Bumrah as the brand ambassador for its wearables category.
- The partnership with Bumrah reiterates the brand philosophy of 'Never Settle' and the company's pursuit towards perfection.
AWARDS
Jamsetji Tata Tops Inaugural List Of Top Philanthropists Of The CenturyJamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, founder of the Tata Group, has topped the EdelGive Hurun Philanthropists of the Century. The report pegs the current value of his donation – mainly to education and healthcare – at $102.4 billion with the start of his key endowments way back in 1892.
- Tata is the only Indian in the top 10 list. The other Indian among the top 50 is Azim Premji, former chairman of Wipro, who is ranked 12th. Bill Gates & Melinda French Gates, Henry Wellcome, Howard Hughes and Warren Buffett are among the top 5. Mackenzie Scott, the former wife of Jeff Bezos, Donated $8.5 billion directly to charities, most ever in a single year by a living donor.
- The world’s 50 most generous individuals in the last century came from five countries, according to the EdelGive Hurun report, overwhelmingly led by the US with 39, followed by 5 from the UK, China (3), India (2) and Portugal & Switzerland (1 each). Their donations amounted to $832 billion, of which $503 billion are in foundations and $329 billion have been disbursed in the last century.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Israel successfully tests laser that can shoot down drones mid-airThe Israeli military said it has successfully tested an airborne high-power laser that can shoot down drones, technology it hopes to deploy on a larger scale in the coming years.
- Israel already boasts a large and sophisticated air defense system, which the military says had a 90 per cent interception rate against thousands of rockets fired from Gaza during last month's 11-day war.
- The laser technology would complement that system.
ENVIRONMENT
World’s First-Ever Genetically Modified Rubber Planted In AssamThe world’s first genetically modified (GM) rubber plant was planted on the outskirts of Guwahati, Assam.
- Developed at the Kerala-based Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII), the sapling was planted by Rubber Board chairman and executive director KN Raghavan at the board’s farm in Sarutari near Guwahati.
- The plant, which has additional copies of gene MnSOD (manganese containing superoxide dismutase) in it, is expected to revolutionise natural rubber production in India.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Actor Will Smith Announced His Autobiography ‘Will’Actor Will Smith, who revealed the title and cover of his upcoming autobiography “Will”. The book, to be published November 9, 2021 by Penguin Press.
- Will Smith is co-writing the book with author Mark Manson, and the cover is designed by New Orleans artist Brandan “BMike” Odums. Smith will also narrate the audiobook of Will from Penguin Random House Audio.
Theatre personality Arvind Gaur has released the book ‘Habba Khatoon’ authored by Kajal Suri. It was Published by Sanjana Prakashan.
- Habba Khatoon, also known by the honorary title ‘The Nightingale of Kashmir’, was a Kashmiri poet and ascetic. She was the wife of Yousuf Shah Chak, the last Emperor of Kashmir.
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