NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. MicrobioTx launches India’s first Hyper-Personalised Probiotic: MicrobioTx, a Bengaluru-based gut health startup, introduced Personal Probiotics, India’s first prebiotic and probiotic blend handcrafted based on individual gut profile, and GutChat, a free gut health-focused chatbot for gut health enthusiasts. Personal probiotics are hand-crafted based on the results of a unique, patent-protected and clinically proven gut microbiome test. It is estimated that 1 out of every four individuals in urban India suffers from gut-related issues. The key factors causing the conditions include inadequate fiber intake, irregular eating habits, low water intake, stress, and consumption of processed, fatty and oily food. World Microbiome Day – 27 June
2. RPF launches Sangyaan App to educate and empower RPF Personnel: The Director General of Railway Protection Force (RPF) Manoj Yadava has launched the mobile application-Sangyaan App. It is designed and developed by the Tech Team of RPF to provide in-depth information on three new Criminal Acts: The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023. Sangyaan App aims to educate and empower RPF Personnel by providing comprehensive information to understand the provisions of both new and old criminal laws, while highlighting the relevance of these new acts in the context of RPF operations. The app features user-friendly navigation, a searchable database and offline access, making it a practical tool for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest legal developments in India.
3. Bioplastic Park to be set up in UP Lakhimpur Kheri district: The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to set up a bioplastic park in the state to deal with the problem of environmental pollution caused by the pertoleum derivative based plastic products in the state. The bioplastic park to be developed on 1000 hectares of land will be constructed in Kumbhi village, Gola Gokarnnath tehsil, Lakhimpur Kheri district. The project will be developed with an estimated cost of Rs 2000 crore. The state government has made the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) the nodal agency for the development of the bioplastic park.
4. Central Railway installs first-ever Floating Solar Plant in Nashik Lake: In a first for the Indian Railways, the Central Railway (CR) has installed a floating solar power plant of 10MWp capacity in the Igatpuri Lake in Nashik, Maharashtra. Stepping towards its ultimate goal of zero carbon emission by 2030, the CR has already commissioned 12.05 MWp (MegaWatt peak) solar plants on railway stations’ rooftops and buildings, adding 4 MWp last year. This has resulted in a saving of ₹4.62 crore in 2023-2024, plus saving carbon footprints of around 6.95 tons. We plan to install additional 7 MWp solar power plants in the current year. Besides 61 MW solar energy, the CR is already tapping 56.4 MW wind energy, and it has signed PPA’s to utilize 325 MW solar and wind energy on a 24-hour basis. The CR’s current monthly power consumption is 236.92 million units for traction work and 9.7 million units for other non-traction works. After the commissioning of the above sources of renewables, the CR expects that 70 per cent of its traction energy will be green.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. S Jaishankar to represent India at SCO summit in Kazakhstan: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent India at the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Astana. The SCO summit to be held on July 3 and 4 is expected to focus on the regional security situation and ways to boost connectivity and trade. The SCO, comprising India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan is an influential economic and security bloc that has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organisations. India’s association with the SCO began in 2005 as an observer country. It became a full member state of the SCO at the Astana summit in 2017. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Pakistan became its permanent member along with India in 2017.
2. Turkey removed from Money Laundering Grey List: Turkey has been removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) ‘grey list’ after recent evaluations of the country’s progress on money laundering and terrorist financing. Turkey was placed on the FATF grey list in 2021 due to concerns about money laundering and terrorist financing in the country. Turkey has made “significant progress” in improving its regime of anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism. Turkey’s removal from the grey list is expected to enhance foreign investor confidence and potentially boost the Turkish lira and assets. The move comes at a crucial time as Turkey battles soaring inflation and a cost-of-living crisis. Improved international standing could facilitate better economic conditions and investor relations.
3. Deputy NSA Vikram Misri to be new Foreign Secretary: Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri will take charge as the Foreign Secretary on July 15. Misri, who is a former Indian ambassador to China, will succeed current Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra. Before he was appointed as the Deputy NSA, Vikram Misri served as India’s ambassador to China from 2019-2021. Misri, 59, is believed to have played a key role in talks between India and China after tensions flared significantly following the Galwan Valley clashes in June, 2020. Misri also served as India’s ambassador to Spain (2014-2016) and Myanmar (2016-2018) besides having stints in many Indian missions including Pakistan, the US, Germany, Belgium and Sri Lanka.
4. What is Teesta Treaty?: In June 2023, when Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, paid a state visit to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that a technical team would go to Bangladesh to talk about how to protect and control.
5. Global Liveability Index 2024: The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) just released its most recent Global Liveability Index, which once again names Vienna, Austria, as the best place to live in the world. The 2024 index, which came out today, rates towns around the world.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Indian Navy Joins World’s Largest Naval Exercise RIMPAC: As a participant in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) 2024, the Indian Navy has made a strong statement in the world of military exercises. This exercise is the world’s biggest international maritime warfare exercise, and it takes place.
SPORTS
1. India beat South Africa by 7 runs to win ICC T20 World Cup 2024: India ended their 13-year wait for an ICC Cricket World Cup trophy when they beat South Africa by seven runs to lift the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in a thrilling final at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. India also became the first team to win the men’s T20 World Cup without losing a game all tournament. India won all eight matches they played in the tournament, and had one washout: the first-round game against Canada. With 281 runs from Eight games, Rahmanullah Gurbsaz of Afghanistan is the top scorer in the T20 World Cup 2024. While Rohit Sharma was second in the list with 257 runs at a strike rate of 156.70. Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi was the joint highest wicket-taker with along with India’s Arshdeep Singh – 17 wickets.
2. India Wins T20 World Cup 2024, BCCI Announces Rs 125 Crore Prize: India’s cricket team won the T20 World Cup, beating South in a historic win. It was their first title in 13 years. It hit the effects in an exciting final that took place in Barbados.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. NASA picks SpaceX to destroy International Space Station: NASA had picked SpaceX to build a vessel to carry the International Space Station back through Earth’s atmosphere and on to a final resting place in the Pacific Ocean after it is retired in 2030. Elon Musk’s company has been awarded a contract with a potential value of US$843 million to develop and deliver the spaceship, dubbed the US Deorbit Vehicle. Selecting a US Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations. Weighing 430,000 kilograms (950,000) pounds, the ISS is by far the largest single structure ever built in space. The first segment of the ISS was launched in 1998, and it has been continuously inhabited by an international crew since 2001.
2. What Is Snowblind Malware?: As more people use mobile banking, they are enjoying never-before-seen levels of convenience when handling their money. But this change has also caught the attention of hackers who want to steal private user data.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Naveen Chandra Jha appointed as MD & CEO of SBI General Insurance: Naveen Chandra Jha has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of SBI General Insurance Company Limited. He succeeds Kishore Kumar Poludasu. Jha has been associated with the State Bank of India since 1994 and has held several key positions during his tenure. Prior to his current role at SBI General Insurance, Jha served as Deputy Managing Director of SBI.
2. India Tops Global Remittance with $125 Billion in 2023: In 2023, India achieved the highest record of remittance inflows globally, amassing USD 125 billion. Strategic economic deals and strong job markets in other countries, especially in the US, UK, and Singapore, were the main things that caused this rise.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Dr. Usha Thakur awarded 12th Vishwa Hindi Samman: Usha Thakur was awarded the 12th Vishwa Hindi Samman (World Hindi Conference) at a Hindi Samvad event organized by the Embassy of India in Nepal. She has translated more than 40 literatures in Hindi and Nepali and strengthened Hindi language. This award is given by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. 12th World Hindi Conference was held in Fiji in 2023. As Dr Thakur could not attend the event in Fiji, she was given the award in an event organized in Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu.