INTERNATIONAL
US lists Syed Salahuddin as global terrorist
The United States on 26th June designated Syed Salahuddin, Chief of Kashmiri militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, a global terrorist. Salahuddin now joins Lashkar-e-Taiba Chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim in the list of global terrorists. The Hizbul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks under Salahuddin’s leadership, including the April 2014 explosives attack in Jammu and Kashmir
US social media, Microsoft join hands to fight against terrorism
Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube announced 26th June the formation of a forum to help make their “consumer services hostile to terrorists and violent extremists, The four technology giants said the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism will formalize and structure existing and future areas of collaboration and foster cooperation with smaller tech companies, civil society groups and academics, governments and supranational bodies such as the European Union and the United Nations
Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube announced 26th June the formation of a forum to help make their “consumer services hostile to terrorists and violent extremists, The four technology giants said the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism will formalize and structure existing and future areas of collaboration and foster cooperation with smaller tech companies, civil society groups and academics, governments and supranational bodies such as the European Union and the United Nations
Sharjah named World Book Capital 2019
Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) was named World Book Capital for the year 2019 by the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova. The city was selected because of the very innovative, comprehensive and inclusive nature of the application, with a community-focused activity program containing creative proposals to engage the very large migrant population. Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital undertake to promote books and reading and to organize activities over the year. As the nineteenth cities to bear the title since 2001, Sharjah follows Athens (2018) and Conakry (2017), New Delhi was World Book Capital in 2003
Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) was named World Book Capital for the year 2019 by the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova. The city was selected because of the very innovative, comprehensive and inclusive nature of the application, with a community-focused activity program containing creative proposals to engage the very large migrant population. Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital undertake to promote books and reading and to organize activities over the year. As the nineteenth cities to bear the title since 2001, Sharjah follows Athens (2018) and Conakry (2017), New Delhi was World Book Capital in 2003
NATIONAL
Quality of life in 116 major cities to be assessed
The Ministry of Urban Development on 23rd June launched the City Liveability In
for measuring the quality of life in 116 major cities including smart cities and cities with a population of above one million each. The Index, a Common Minimum Reference Framework to enable the cities know where they stand in terms of quality of life and the interventions required to improve the same was launched by the Minister of Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu
The Ministry of Urban Development on 23rd June launched the City Liveability In
for measuring the quality of life in 116 major cities including smart cities and cities with a population of above one million each. The Index, a Common Minimum Reference Framework to enable the cities know where they stand in terms of quality of life and the interventions required to improve the same was launched by the Minister of Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu
30 new cities announced under Smart Cities Scheme
The Union Urban Ministry announced 30 more smart cities in which Tiruppur, Tirunelveli, Tiruchirapalli and Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu are also included. With this, the total number of cities to be developed as smartcities has gone to 90. Of the 30 cities announced, 26 have proposed affordable housing projects that benefit the urban poor, 26 cities will be taking up school and hospital projects, 29 will be taking up redesign and redevelopment of roads. The 30 cities proposed a total investment of Rs 57,393 crore under their respective smart city plans, With this the total investment approved under the smart city plans of 90 cities has gone upto Rs 1,91,155 crore under the Smart City Mission, which was launched on June 25, 2015
The Union Urban Ministry announced 30 more smart cities in which Tiruppur, Tirunelveli, Tiruchirapalli and Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu are also included. With this, the total number of cities to be developed as smartcities has gone to 90. Of the 30 cities announced, 26 have proposed affordable housing projects that benefit the urban poor, 26 cities will be taking up school and hospital projects, 29 will be taking up redesign and redevelopment of roads. The 30 cities proposed a total investment of Rs 57,393 crore under their respective smart city plans, With this the total investment approved under the smart city plans of 90 cities has gone upto Rs 1,91,155 crore under the Smart City Mission, which was launched on June 25, 2015
New panel on Education
The Human Resource Development Ministry has appointed a new nine-member panel to work on a new Education Policy, This will be led by ISRO former chief K.Kasturirangan. It also includes former IAS officer KJ.Alphonse Kanamthanam. He had played a key role in helping Kerala’s Kottayam and Ernakulam districts achieve 100 percent literacy
The Human Resource Development Ministry has appointed a new nine-member panel to work on a new Education Policy, This will be led by ISRO former chief K.Kasturirangan. It also includes former IAS officer KJ.Alphonse Kanamthanam. He had played a key role in helping Kerala’s Kottayam and Ernakulam districts achieve 100 percent literacy
BILATERAL
India, Portugal sign 11 pacts
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24th June held discussions with his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa, during his first leg of three-nation tour. Both countries have signed 11 agreements ranging from science and technology, education, anti-terrorism, climate among others, after their talks, The two countries also announced a four-million-Euros joint fund to bolster research in science and technology. Theagreements signed included cooperation in outer space, double taxation avoidance, nano technology, improving culturalties, youth and sports, higher education and scientific research and Portuga. – India business hub and Indian Chamber of Commerce.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24th June held discussions with his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa, during his first leg of three-nation tour. Both countries have signed 11 agreements ranging from science and technology, education, anti-terrorism, climate among others, after their talks, The two countries also announced a four-million-Euros joint fund to bolster research in science and technology. Theagreements signed included cooperation in outer space, double taxation avoidance, nano technology, improving culturalties, youth and sports, higher education and scientific research and Portuga. – India business hub and Indian Chamber of Commerce.
ECONOMY
CVC probes corruption in Private Banks
The Central Vigilance Commission, CVC can now probe allegations of corruption in private sector banks and against their employees. The move comes after the Supreme Court in 2016 ruled that the Chairman, Managing Directors and other officers of a private bank could be seen as public servants when it came to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The anti-corruption watchdog is the statutory body which probes cases of graft involving central government departments public sector organisations, including banks and insurance companies, and their employees.
In principle approval for disinvestment of Air India
The government gave an in-principle approval to the disinvestment of Air India. A Group of Ministers (GoM) will be formed to look into the disinvestment which will decide on the quantum of disinvestment. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval to fourth tranche recommendations of NITI Aayog on strategic disinvestment of CPSE based on the recommendations of Core Group of Secretaries on Disinvestment (CGD)
States’ fiscal deficit soars to Rs.4.93 trillion in fy16
According to Reserve Bank of India statistical publication “Handbook of Statistics on states 2016-17, the gross fiscal deficits of all the states has reached to 4,93,360 crore Rupee in the last fiscal from the 18,790 crore rupees in the financial year 1991. Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan lead the list of states with highest deficit. It is estimated to be 4,49,520 crore rupees as per the budget estimates of the states for the fy 2017.
Indian wealth in Swiss banks hits a record low
Money parked by Indians in Switzerland’s banks nearly halved to 676 Swiss francs (CHF), about Rs 4,500 crore, in 2016 to hit a record. The total funds held by Indians directly with Swiss banks stood at CHF 664.8 million at the end of 2016. The total money of Indians fell by 45 per cent during 2016 to CHF 675.75 million, marking the biggest-ever yearly decline in such funds.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Cartosat-2 launched successfully
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 23rd June launched the 712 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation along with 30 other satellites. The satellite mission was launched at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Cartosat-2, is a remote sensing satellite that is similar in configuration to earlier satellites in the series with the objective of providing high-resolution scene specific spot imagery. Cartosat-2 was launched using rocket PSLV C-38. This was the 40th flight of PSLV. Of the 30 nano-satellites, 29 are from 14 different countries including France Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States. The other is a domestic payload of a private educational institution.
G-Sat-17 launched from Guyana
GSAT-17 became India’s third
communication satellite to successfully reach orbit in the past two months. GSAT-17 was launched on 29th June using the European Ariane 5 Launch Vehicle from Kourou, French Guiana. ISRO’s Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka took over the command and control of GSAT-17 immediately after its separation from the launch vehicle. GSAT 17’s launch will be the21st satellite from ISRO by Arianespace, and it’s designed in orbit operational life is about 15 years
SPORTS
Kidambi Srikanth triumphs in Australia Open Super Series
Kidambi Srikanth won his fourth Australian Open Super Series title On 25th June, in the final he defeated reigning Olympic and World Champion Chen Long. This victory is his second successive one after clinching the Indonesia Open Super Series Premier title.
Srinivas Gokulnath creates record
Srinivas Gokulnath created history by becoming the first Indian to complete the 4,900 km Race Across America(RAAM) in solo category. Considered to be the toughest cycle race in the world, he cycled for eleven days, 18 hours and 45 minutes.
PERSONS IN NEWS
Mamata Banerjee: West Bengal ChiefMinister Mamata Banerjee received the highest prize in United Nations Public Service Award for the State Government’s Kanyashree Prakalpa (Girl Child) Scheme in The Hague, Netherlands,
Vladimir Voronkov: The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed Russian diplomat Vladimir Voronkov to head the newly established UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT).
Palbinder Kaur Shergill: She has been appointed as a Judge of the Canadian Supreme Court of British Columbia. She is an Indian-origin Sikh woman. She is the first turbaned Sikh to be appointed to the judiciary of the Canada.
Vohra: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N Vohra is appointed as the President of the India International Centre (IIC), one of the premier cultural institutions in the country.
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