National News

1.Itanagar Woman Police Station Achieves ISO 9001:2015 Certification

The Woman Police Station in Itanagar, under Capital Police, has achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification.
This certification is globally recognized for establishing and maintaining a high-quality management system. It signifies the station’s commitment to effectively handling crimes against women and children.
The certification process involved a rigorous evaluation of the station’s procedures, policies, and practices.
The ISO 9001:2015 certification is an international standard that signifies the implementation of a comprehensive quality management system.

About Arunachal Pradesh

Capital – Itanagar
Chief Minister – Pema Khandu
Governor – LG (Retd) Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
Legislative Assembly Seat – 60

2. New criminal law system will come into force from today

India's three new criminal laws - Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Act (BSA) will come into force from July 1, 2024.
The Indian Justice Code, the Indian Civil Protection Code and the Indian Evidence Act, which will replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860; Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898; and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, respectively, received President Draupadi Murmu's assent on December 25, 2023.
These bills were passed by Parliament during the winter session last year. These laws aim to create a more accessible, supportive and efficient justice system for all.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced three amended bills in the Lok Sabha on December 12, 2023, to replace the existing Britishera criminal laws after the withdrawal of the previous versions introduced in August 2023. Bharatiya Nyaya(Second) Sanhita (BNS2)
The BNS2 retains the existing IPC provisions on murder, assault and causing hurt while including new offences such as organised crime, terrorism and mass grievous hurt or murder. It also includes community service as a punishment.
Terrorism: It is defined as acts that endanger the integrity of the nation or create terror among the public. The punishment may range from death or imprisonment for life to imprisonment with fine.
Organised crime: It includes kidnapping, extortion, financial scams, cyber crime, etc. The punishment for those committing or attempting organised crime varies from life imprisonment to death penalty with fine.
Mob lynching: The BNS2 identifies murder or grievous hurt by five or more persons on specific grounds (race, caste, etc.) as a punishable offence, attracting life imprisonment or death penalty.
Sexual crimes against women: While retaining IPC sections on rape, voyeurism and other violations, the BNS2 raises the age for classifying a victim as an adult in a gang rape case from 16 to 18 years. It also criminalises having sexual intercourse with a woman by deception or false promise.
Sedition amendment: The BNS2 abolishes the offence of sedition and replaces it with penal provisions for activities that threaten national sovereignty or unity by inciting dissension, armed rebellion or by various means.
Negligent deaths: The BNS2 increases the punishment for negligent death under Section 304A of the IPC from two to five years. However, it stipulates that doctors will still face a two-year jail term if found guilty.
Supreme Court compliance: These do not include adultery as a crime and bring it in line with certain Supreme Court judgments by providing for life imprisonment as the punishment for murder or attempted murder by a person sentenced to life imprisonment.

3.Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha(Second) Sanhita (BNSS2)

Conditions of detention: The BNSS2 changes the rules for undertrial prisoners, restricting release on personal bail for those accused of serious crimes, including life sentence cases and persons facing multiple charges.
Medical examination: It broadens the scope of medical examination, allowing any police officer (not just a sub-inspector) to request one, making the process more accessible.
Forensic examination: Forensic examination is mandatory for crimes punishable with at least seven years of imprisonment. It requires forensic experts to collect evidence at crime scenes and record the process electronically.
Sample collection: Going beyond the specimen signatures or handwriting orders of the CrPC, it provides power to collect fingerprints and voice samples even from persons who have not been arrested.
Timelines: BNSS2 sets strict timelines: medical reports for rape victims within 7 days, judgment within 30 days (extendable to 45), updates on the victim’s progress within 90 days and framing of charges within 60 days from the first hearing.
Court hierarchy: The CrPC arranges India’s criminal courts hierarchically from magistrate courts to the Supreme Court. It previously allowed cities with a population of over one million to have metropolitan magistrates, but BNSS2 eliminates this distinction and the role of metropolitan magistrates.

4.Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Act (BSA2)

Documentary/Written Evidence Definition Expansion: BSB2 broadens the definition of documents to include traditional writings, maps and caricatures as well as electronic records.
Primary and Secondary Evidence: Primary evidence retains its status, including original documents, electronic records and video recordings. Testimony of a qualified person examining documents as well as oral and written confessions are now considered secondary evidence.
Oral Evidence: BSB2 allows the electronic provision of oral evidence, enabling witnesses, accused persons and victims to testify electronically.
Admissibility of Electronic Records: Electronic or digital records are given equal legal status to paper records.
This includes information stored in semiconductor memory, smartphones, laptops, emails, server logs, location evidence and voicemails.
Revised clarification for joint trials: Joint trials include cases where one of the accused parties is not present or has not responded to the arrest warrant, which are now classified as joint trials.

5. DRDO takes up study on development of indigenous conventional submarine

As the procurement of new submarines under P-751 goes on, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has taken up a preliminary study on the design and development of an indigenous conventional submarine under Project-76.
"DRDO has to go ahead from the Defence Ministry to carry out a preliminary study to determine the project contours. It is expected to take up to a year after which a formal case will be put up to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for project sanction," a defense source said.
This will be a continuation of the advanced technology vessel (ATV) project, to build a conventional submarine, under which the Arihant series of nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) are being built and another project for building nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) is currently underway, the source said.
Under P-76, there will be substantial indigenous content, including weapons, missiles, combat management system, sonars, communications, electronic warfare suite, mast and periscope, sources said. The Navy has a 30- year submarine building programme, and after the P-751, it intends to design and build conventional submarines indigenously, senior officials had stated on several occasions.
Propulsion module An air independent propulsion (AIP) module signed and developed by the DRDO is now awaiting fitment on the Scorpene-class submarines. The first Scorpene-class submarine Kalvari is expected to go for refit in 2025 when the fitment process will begin and is expected to take two to three years, sources said.
An AIP module acts as a force multiplier as it enables conventional submarines to remain submerged for a longer duration there-by increasing their endurance and reducing chances of detection.

International News

6. World's largest 'Yug Yugin Bharat Sangrahalaya' to be built in India with the cooperation of France

Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that India's new National Museum 'Yug Yugin Bharat Sangrahalaya' will be built in North and South Blocks under the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, which aims to revitalize India's central administrative area located near Raisina Hill in New Delhi.
This museum will be spread over an area of 1 lakh 54 thousand square meters, making it the largest museum in the world. This museum will be developed in collaboration with France.
The Ministry of Culture organized a four-day inter-ministerial stakeholder consultation and capacity building workshop for the upcoming Yug Yugin Bharat Sangrahalaya from 26 to 29 June 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Participating on the last day of the Indo-France Collaborative Capacity Building Workshop on Yug Yugin Bharat Sangrahalaya, Shri Shekhawat said that the museum will be a testimony to India's rich heritage and unwavering spirit of progress.
He said that it will go beyond the traditional museum experience and embody the spirit of inclusiveness. Shri Shekhawat said that it will be a museum of the people, by the people and for the people.
The video walkthrough for the museum was first unveiled by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 18.05.2023 during the inauguration of the first International Museum Expo organised by the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) Division of the Ministry of Culture and was reiterated during the inauguration of Bharat Mandapam in July 2023.
The museum will be developed through adaptive reuse in collaboration with France, as France has its expertise in similar projects like the Louvre, which also houses the French Ministry of Finance.

7. Antonio Costa appointed as the next President of the European Council

Former Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Costa has been elected as the new President of the European Council of the European Union. Antonio Costa will replace Charles Michel of Belgium and will take over on 1 October 2024.
The European Council has also elected Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the next High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. She will replace Josep Borrell of Spain.
The European Council of the European Union elects the President of the European Council by secret ballot.
The European Council comprises the heads of state/government of the 27 EU member states, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. However, only the heads of state/government participate in the election of the President of the European Council.
The President of the European Council is elected for a term of 2.5 years and can be re-elected once. Thus, a person can hold the office of President of the European Council for a maximum of five years.
The office of the President of the European Council was made a permanent body in 2009 following the entry into force of the 2007 Lisbon Treaty. European Union
The European Union is an international organisation created by the Maastricht Treaty, which entered into force on 1 November 1993. The aim of the Maastricht Treaty was to further the political and economic integration of European countries by establishing a common currency (the euro), a unified foreign and security policy and common citizenship rights.
The European Union has a 720- member European Parliament whose members are elected by the people of the European Union. The European Parliament sits in Luxembourg, Brussels (Belgium) and Strasbourg (France).

State News

8. First International Dairy Federation Asia-Pacific Summit held in Kochi, Kerala

The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and International Dairy Federation (IDF) are jointly organizing the first IDF Regional Dairy Summit Asia Pacific-2024 in Kochi, Kerala from 26 to 28 June 2024.
The event themed 'Farmer-Centric Innovation in Dairy' will bring together leaders and experts from the global dairy sector to engage in insightful deliberations. Over 1,000 delegates and participants from over 20 countries attended the event. The goal was to collectively address key issues affecting the dairy sector, particularly in the Asia Pacific region and globally, in a communication here said.
The sessions promise to showcase global and regional perspectives on dairy farming and innovation, Mr Shah said. They will explore ways to increase productivity, ensure transparency in milk collection and promote sustainable practices.
IDF is the principal source of scientific and technical expertise for all stakeholders in the dairy chain. Since 1903, IDF's network of dairy experts has provided a mechanism for the dairy sector. It is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

9. Assam government announces launch of 'Witness Protection Scheme'

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma approved the state's first witness protection scheme to ensure fair justice delivery system and to comply with Section 398 of the Indian Civil Protection Code, 2023.
It aims to ensure the protection of witnesses against imminent threats during investigation and trial of any case.
According to this scheme, a witness in any case can apply for witness protection in the prescribed form before the competent authority through its member secretary to obtain a protection order.
There will be a standing committee headed by the District and Sessions Judge in each district. The Chief of Police in the district and an officer not below the rank of ADC nominated by the District Magistrate will be its members and the Head of Prosecution in the district will be its Member Secretary.
Witnesses will be classified as A, B and C according to the threat perception. A witness protection fund has been constituted under the scheme. "State Witness Protection Authority will be constituted," CM Biswa Sarma said on his social media handle.
The security measures under the Witness Protection Scheme will include conducting in-camera trials, installation of security devices like CCTV, security gates, alarms, fencing etc. at the house of the witness, tight security and patrolling near the house of the witness, temporary change of residence, escort to and from the court, provision of government vehicle for the date of hearing etc.

Awards

10. GRSE wins ‘Sustainable Governance Champion Award 2024’

Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd. has received the “Sustainable Governance Champion Award” at the Outlook Planet Sustainability Summit & Awards 2024.
GRSE demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainable practices and governance excellence.
The award acknowledges GRSE’s integration of sustainability into core operations.
GRSE is recognized for driving innovation in sustainable shipbuilding practices. The company promotes environmental stewardship within the maritime and defense sectors.

Defence

11. Thales inks pact with Adani Defence to manufacture 70mm rockets in India

Adani Defence & Aerospace – the defence arm of the Adani Group – has signed an agreement with the Thales Group to manufacture 70mm rockets in India.
This partnership is not only significant for their commitment to India, “but it also allows us to strengthen our partner network worldwide”.
This partnership is a key milestone in our continued support of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision for India’s growing defence industry.

About Thales Group

Thales Group is a French multinational company that designs, develops and manufactures electrical systems as well as devices and equipment for the aerospace, defence, transportation and security sectors.
The company is headquartered in Paris.

12. INS Shivalik participated in 'RIMPAC Exercise- 2024' held in Hawaii, USA

Indian Navy's indigenous stealth frigate INS Shivalik, deployed in the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, is participating in the 29th edition of the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise being held in Hawaii, which is the world's largest international maritime exercise.
According to the US Navy, about 29 countries, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft and over 25,000 personnel will train and operate in and around the Hawaiian Islands during the exercise.
The exercise is being conducted under the theme 'Partners: Integrate and Ready', which will run till August 1.
The participating forces in this exercise, organized by the Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, will integrate and practice a wide range of capabilities ranging from disaster relief to maritime security operations and from sea control to complex warfare.
Apart from India, the participating countries include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, South Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, United Kingdom and USA.
Earlier this month, INS Shivalik participated in the eighth edition of the bilateral Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2024 (JIMEX 24) held at Yokosuka, Japan.
A contingent of the Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in Exercise Red Flag 2024 held at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska of the United States Air Force from 04 June to 14 June 24. This was the second edition of Exercise Red Flag 2024.
The 14-day bilateral tri-service exercise, 'Tiger Triumph-24' between India and the US concluded at Visakhapatnam from March 18-25.

Appointment News

13. Bank of Baroda appoints tennis player Sumit Nagal as its brand endorser

Bank of Baroda has appointed tennis player Sumit Nagal as its brand endorser. The bank said the move is in line with its philosophy of supporting emerging talented and ambitious Indian sportspersons who compete with the best players on the world stage.
Other endorsers of Bank of Baroda include badminton star PV Sindhu and young cricket icon Shefali Verma. Several years ago, the bank had appointed Rahul Dravid as its brand ambassador.
Nagal, currently the highestranked Indian singles tennis player, achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 71 on 17 June 2024 and made it to the Indian contingent for the Paris Olympics.
In January 2024, he became the first Indian player in 35 years to defeat a seeded player in a Grand Slam men's singles match at the Australian Open 2024.
Debdutt Chand, MD & CEO, Bank of Baroda said, “Tennis is a global, highly competitive and demanding sport, and this makes Sumit’s journey and what he has achieved all the more inspiring and extraordinary.
The 26-year-old Nagal started playing tennis at the age of 8. He won the 2015 Wimbledon Boys Doubles title. He is the first Indian to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam singles at the Australian Open 2024 in three years and the first Indian to win 2 ATP Challenger singles titles in Europe.
Recently, in April 2024, he became the first Indian player to qualify for the main draw of the Monte Carlo Masters tournament in 49 years and the first Indian male player to win a Masters 1000 match on clay by defeating Matteo Arnaldi in the round of 64.

14. Actor Siddique elected AMMA general-secretary

Actor Siddique has been elected general-secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). He defeated Kukku Parameswaran and Unni Sivapal in the election held on Sunday.
Edavela Babu, who was the longest-serving general secretary of the organisa- tion, had opted out earlier.
Jagadeesh and Jayan Cherthala were elected vice-presidents and Babu-raj joint secretary.
Kalabhavan Shajon, Suraj Venjaramoodu, Joy Mathew, Suresh Krishna, Tini Tom, Ananya, Vinu Mohan, Tovino Thomas, Ansiba Hassan, and Sarayu were elected to the exeсtive committee of the association. Actors Mohanlal and Unni Mukundan were earlier elected president and treasurer of the organization unopposed.

15. New Chief Secretaries take charge in Maharashtra, U.P. and Odisha

Senior IAS officer Sujata Saunik made history on Sunday by becoming the first woman Chief Secretary of Maharashtra.
The 1987-batch IAS officer was appointed by the Mahayuti government following the retirement of incumbent Nitin Kareer. Ms. Saunik will be serving a one-year tenure before retiring in June next year.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, had reportedly unanimously appointed Ms. Saunik for the role, signaling support for women voters ahead of the upcoming Assembly election.
The transition of authority took place during a ceremony at the Secretariat in south Mumbai, on Sunday evening, where Mr. Kareer formally handed over the charge to Ms. Saunik.
Change in U.P. Meanwhile, senior IAS officer Manoj Kumar Singh took over as the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, an official statement said.
The 1988-batch IAS officer replaced Durga Shankar
Mishra, it added. Also, senior IAS officer Manoj Ahuja on Sunday took charge as the Chief Secretary of Odisha. He assumed charge from Pradeep Kumar Jena.
Back to parent cadre
Mr. Ahuja was on central deputation and had served as the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
On the request of the Odisha government, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet had on June 25 approved the repatriation of Mr. Ahuja to his parent cadre.

Sports

16. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma & Ravindra Jadeja announces retirement from T20Is

India captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has announced retirement from T20 international cricket after winning the World Cup final against South Africa.
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has also announced his retirement from T20 internationals.
Rohit Sharma’s T20 international career began in 2007, and over the next 17 years, he transformed into one of the most feared batsmen in the shortest format of the game.
Virat Kohli’s T20 international career began on June 12, 2010, when he made his debut against Zimbabwe.
Jadeja made his debut in T20Is against Sri Lanka back in 2009, he played 74 matches, scoring 515 runs and taking 54 wickets.

Recently Retired Players

Trent Boult (New Zealand) – International cricket
David Wiese (Namibia) – International cricket
Kedar Jadhav (India) – International cricket
Dinesh Kartik (India) – All forms of cricket
Bernadine Bezuidenhout (South Africa and New Zealand) – International Cricket

About T -20 World Cup 2024

Edition – 9th
Host Country – West Indies and United States
Number of teams – 20
Final Match – Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados
Winner – India ● Runners-up – South Africa
South Africa Captain – Aiden Markram
India Captain – Rohit Sharma
Most Runs – Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan; 281 runs in 8 matches)
Most wickets – Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan; 17 wickets in 8 matches), Arshdeep Singh (India; 17 wickets in 8 matches)
Player of the Series – Jasprit Bumrah
Player of the Match – Virat Kohli
Prize money for Winner – USD 2.45 million
Prize money for Runners-up – USD 1.28 million
Brand Ambassador – Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi and Usain Bolt
Participate Country – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, England, Afghanistan, Australia, Ireland, Canada, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Netherlands, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, Sri Lanka, Uganda, United States, West Indies.
India is the most successful team with second titles.

Complete T20 Word Cup Winner List

2007 – India
2009 – Pakistan
2010 – England
2012 – West Indies
2014 – Sri Lanka
2016 – West Indies
2021 – Australia
2022 – England
2024 – India

Upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Events

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – India and Sri Lanka
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 – Australia and New Zealand
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2030 – England, Ireland and Scotland

About International Cricket Council (ICC)

The International Cricket Council is the global governing body of cricket.
It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from Australia, England and South Africa.
It was renamed as the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1987.
Formation – 15 June 1909
Headquarters – Dubai, UAE
Chairman – Greg Barclay (New Zealand)
Deputy Chairman – Imran Khwaja (Singapore)
CEO – Geoff Allardice (Australia)
General Manager – Wasim Khan
Membership – 108 members

Important day

17. 30 June – World Asteroid Day

International Asteroid Day is observed every year on 30 June.
Objective – To raise awareness about asteroids and the potential hazards they pose to our planet.
This day serves as a reminder of the importance of scientific research and international collaboration in detecting and mitigating asteroid impacts.
In 1908, the asteroid event also known as the Tunguska Event occurred in a Siberian desert area; the area is now referred to as Krasnoyarsk Krai.
The asteroid did not leave any impact crater – it is believed to have disintegrated after entering the earth’s surface.
Stephen Hawking, along with a few other people, including an Apollo 9 astronaut and Brian May, the guitarist for Queen and also an astrophysicist, founded International Asteroid Day.
In 2014, the day was officially launched. In 2016, the United Nations announced the day to be celebrated every year.

18. 30 June – International Day of Parliamentarism

● The International Day of Parliamentarism is observed annually on June 30th.

● This day celebrates the role of parliaments in democratic governance and highlights their importance in building peace and understanding between nations.

● Theme 2024 – Parliamentary diplomacy: Building bridges for peace and understanding.

● This special day, established by a United Nations General Assembly Resolution in 2018, serves as an opportunity to reflect on the progress made by parliaments worldwide in achieving predetermined goals.

19. 1 July – National Doctor’s Day

National Doctor’s Day is observed every year on July 1.
This day is recognized for the excellent contributions made by doctors and other healthcare professionals who play an important role in guiding us toward a healthy and happy life.
Theme 2024 – Healing Hands, Caring Hearts.
On July 1, 1882, Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy was born. He was a renowned physician and served as the second Chief Minister of the state of West Bengal. His contributions to healthcare and the public health are celebrated till date.
July 1 was announced as National Doctor’s Day in 1991 by the Government of India to commemorate the birth anniversary of the celebrated doctor – Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy. Ranks and

Reports News

20. India ranked 72nd in IMF's Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released the Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index (AIPI) dashboard on its website, which tracks 174 economies globally for AI readiness.
The index has classified each country into an advanced economy (AE), emerging market economy (EM) and low-income country (LIC).
Singapore (0.80), Denmark (0.78) and the United States (0.77) are among the AEs with the highest ratings, while India is classified as an EM with a rating of 0.49.
India is ranked 72nd among the total 174 countries, while Bangladesh (0.38) is 113th, Sri Lanka (0.43) is 92nd and China (0.63) is 31st.
Each country is rated based on an assessment of readiness in four key areas – digital infrastructure, human capital and labour market policies, innovation and economic integration, and regulation.
Earlier this year, the IMF published a blog on January 14 based on its research paper, which said AI could threaten 33 per cent of jobs in AE, 24 per cent in EM, and 18 per cent in LIC. Overall, 40 per cent of jobs worldwide will be affected by AI, replacing some and promoting others.
Most emerging market economies and low-income countries have a lower share of high-skilled jobs than advanced economies, and will therefore likely be less affected by AI and face less immediate disruptions.

21. World Bank – $1.5 billion funding for India’s Operation Green Hydrogen

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved $1.5 billion in funding for a second operation to help India accelerate its development of low-carbon energy. The operation will seek to promote the development of a vibrant market for green hydrogen, scale up renewable energy, and encourage finance for low-carbon energy investments.
In June 2023, the World Bank approved the first Low-Carbon Energy Programmatic Development Policy Operation of $1.5 billion. It will support reforms to boost the production of green hydrogen and electrolysers, a critical technology needed for green hydrogen production.
The operation also supports reforms to boost renewable energy penetration, for example, by encouraging battery energy storage solutions and amending the Indian Electricity Grid Code to improve renewable energy integration into the grid.
The reforms supported by the operation are expected to result in the production of at least 450,000 metric tons of green hydrogen and 1,500 MW of electrolysers per year from FY25/26.
The financing includes a $1.46 billion loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and a $31.5 million loan from the International Development Association (IDA). Vienna tops EIU Global Liveability Index 2024
Vienna has been declared the world's most liveable city for the third consecutive year, according to the results of the latest annual Global Liveability Index from The Economist Intelligence Unit, EIU.
After Vienna, Copenhagen in Denmark maintained its second ranking, while Zurich in Switzerland moved up from sixth to third. Melbourne in Australia slipped to fourth place, sharing fifth with Calgary, Canada, and Geneva, Switzerland.
Despite improvements, the continent is also home to the least liveable cities - Algiers (Algeria), Tripoli (Libya) and Damascus (Syria). The biggest increases in scores were recorded by cities in the UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai) and Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar). Pakistan's Karachi is among the bottom 10
The index ranks the liveability of 173 cities across five key categories, including stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
This year's survey saw an increase in average scores in developing countries due to gains in healthcare and education, although this was largely offset by a drop in scores for several top-tier cities.
Western Europe retained its position as the most liveable region in the world, with Copenhagen, Zurich and Geneva once again making the top ten. The 30 Western European cities in this year's ranking recorded an impressive average score of 92 out of 100. Tel Aviv has slipped to the bottom, dropping 20 places to 112th place due to Israel's conflict with Hamas.
The housing crisis has led to a drop in Canada's infrastructure score, with Toronto recording the biggest drop among Canadian cities, and dropping from our list of the top ten most liveable cities to 12th place. EIU
The EIU is the world's leading resource for economic and business research, forecasting and analysis, inspiring business leaders to act with confidence since 1946. The EIU is headquartered in London, UK, with offices in over 40 cities and a network of experts and analysts in nearly 750 countries worldwide.

23. India identified 641 fauna species, 339 taxa of plants in 2023

A new species of turmeric in Manipur and a new kind of bat in Karnataka are among the plant and animal species which were discovered in India in 2023, show data released by Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav on Sunday.
A total of 641 species 442 entirely new to science and 199 newly recorded in the country were added to Indian fauna in 2023. India added 339 taxa 326 species and 13 infraspecific taxa to its plant database. Of these, 171 taxa are new to science and 168 new to distributional records from India. Taxa can refer to sub-species or varieties of
The discoveries include a new species of turmeric from Manipur and a bat from Kodagu, a plant species.
Among the new plant discoveries were Curcuma kakchingense, a new species of turmeric discovered at Kakching in Manipur, and Asystasia venui, a flowering plant discovered in the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden at Howrah in West Bengal.
Most of the new animal discoveries were reported from southern India.

Books

24. Modi releases books on Venkaiah Naidu, says he is an 'inspiration’

Releasing three books on the life and works of former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu through video conferencing on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the journey of Mr. Naidu's life is a source of inspiration for the younger generations.
The programme was organized in Hyderabad on the eve of Mr. Naidu's 75th birthday.
Mr. Modi said the life of Mr. Naidu was a perfect glimpse of the amalgamation of ideas, vision and personality. "No one can match the level of Mr. Naidu's wit, spontaneity, quick counters and one liners," he said, remembering his long association with Mr. Naidu.
Mr. Modi released three books Venkaiah Naidu: Life in Service, a biography authored by the former Resident Editor of The Hindu's Hyderabad edition, S. Nagesh Kumar; Celebrating Bharat: The Mission and Message of Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu as 13th Vice-President of India, a photo chronicle compiled by I.V. Subba Rao, former secretary to the Vice-President; and Mahaneta: Life and Journey of Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, a pictorial biography in Telugu authored by Sanjay Kishore.
He said the three books would become "a source of inspiration for the people", while also "illuminating the correct path to serving the nation".
Mr. Modi said he had had the opportunity to work with the former V-P for a long period since Mr. Naidu became the BJP president, followed by his senior role in the Cabinet, his tenure as the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
"One can imagine the wealth of experience a person hailing from a small village may have gathered while holding such significant posts," he said.

Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 1st July 2024