National News

1. Telangana registers first FIR under New Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Charminar Police Station

In Telangana, the first FIR under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, (BNS) which replaces the Indian Penal Code (IPC) from July 1, has been registered at the Charminar police station in Hyderabad.
An FIR under Section 281 of the BNS and sections 80(a) and 177 of the MV Act was registered by the Charminar police at 1 a.m. after they were found riding with improper number plates.
An hour later, the Rajendranagar police registered a case under Section 104 of the BNS following the death of a driver who crashed into the divider on the PVNR Expressway.

About The Three New Criminal Laws

On June 21, 2024, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPPG&P) had announced the enactment of three new criminal laws effective from July 1, 2024.
President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to these laws on 24th December 2023.
On 19th June 2024, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) proposal for the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES).
The scheme has a budget of over Rs 2200 crore for the period from FY25 to FY29

Enactment of three new criminal laws effective from 1 July 2024-

Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita (BNS2) Act, 2023
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita (BNSS2) Act, 2023
Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Adhiniyam Act, 2023

These new laws replaced British-colonial era laws-

The Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860
The Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973
The Indian Evidence Act (IEA), 1872

2.Jaishankar to represent India in place of Modi at SCO summit in Kazakhstan

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reached Astana in Kazakhstan on Tuesday to lead the Indian delegation at the SCO Council of Heads of State in place of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 3 and 4, the Ministry of External Affairs has said.
Leaders of other countries in the Eurasian group, newly expanded to include Belarus this year, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and the Presidents of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will be hosted by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Astana for a state visit and bilateral meetings ahead of the SCO, while Iran's President may not be able to attend as the country is in the middle of elections.
Shortly after landing, Mr. Jaishankar met Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu. In a social media post, he said that he had "discussed our expanding strategic partnership and India's increasing engagement with Central Asia in various formats''.
Mr. Jaishankar is expected to address the grouping during the plenary session on Thursday morning.
"At the summit, the leaders are expected to review the organization's activities over the past two decades and discuss the state and prospects of multilateral cooperation. Topical issues of regional and international importance are also expected to be discussed at the meeting," the MEA said in a press release on Tuesday, which did not give any reason for Mr. Modi's decision not to attend the summit on July 4.
While Mr. Modi may still address the Eurasian grouping virtually, his decision to drop out of the summit in Kazakhstan will avoid awkward moments from sharing the stage with the Chinese President and Pakistan PM, given the tense ties with both countries. Mr. Modi is due to meet the Russian President next week in Moscow for a bilateral visit.
However, the absence of Mr. Modi in Astana could disappoint the Central Asian leadership, given that his planned engagements with them have been canceled twice in recent years, once when they were invited to India for Republic Day in 2022 (the visit was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic), and when India turned the SCO Summit in July 2023 into a virtual format.
Given that the next SCO said on Tuesday. The dates of Mr. Modi's visit to Moscow will be announced a bit later but preparations for it are already at their final stages, he said.
Describing Mr. Modi's visit as "very important", Mr. Peskov said the leaders will discuss regional and global security, trade and all other topics.
Heads of Government meet is due to be held in Pakistan later this year, and the next SCO Summit will be hosted by China in 2025, it remains to be seen whether Mr. Modi will attend future SCO events as well.
On Thursday, the SCO Council will adopt the Astana Declaration, which is expected to focus on strengthening ties between SCO countries on economic issues, connectivity, fighting terrorism and regional developments.During the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting in May, MEA Secretary (Economic Relations) Dammu Ravi had promoted "maximising the utilization of the Chabahar Port" as well as using the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) connecting India to Central Asia and Russia via Iran, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) that has been stalled due to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Pakistan PM Mr. Sharif is expected to also offer Qasim port and Gwadar port for land-locked Central Asia's trade routes. India and Pakistan both became members of the SCO in 2017, and their leaders have often spared at the high-level meetings over issues like terrorism and transit trade, including in Uzbekistan in 2022, and last year's SCO Foreign Ministers meeting in Goa.
The leaders are also expected to discuss developments in Afghanistan, given that nearly all SCO members are engaged closely with the Taliban regime in Kabul.

3. Mixed signals India needs to strengthen momentum in the key industrial sectors

Output data for May from the eight core infrastructure sectors show broad industrial activity slowed under the onslaught of a heatwave that left homes, offices and factories countrywide using more power to run their fans and cooling systems. Only coal, to fuel the power plants, and electricity generation posted double-digit output growth, expanding by 10.2% and 12.8%, respectively, as per provisional data on the Index of Eight Core Industries released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on June 28.
And production in crude oil, fertilizers and cement shrank from their year-earlier levels, while output expansions decelerated in the remaining three sectors of natural gas, refinery products and steel. The heatwave's impact on economic activity in May was particularly prominent in India's northern parts, as it forced afternoon breaks at construction sites and daily peak power demand at the Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre consistently hovered around or exceeded 75 gigawatts.
Demand for cement and steel weakened as construction activity was understandably curbed by the temperatures, with both the key building materials also posting sequential declines in output. The year-on-year contraction in fertilizers for a fifth straight month in May is a cause for concern as it signals persisting weakness in the rural hinterland's mainstay agriculture sector. A smart uptick in May's index number for the farm input, from the revised reading for April, however, offers a glimmer of hope.
Official data for the core sector as well as the Index of Industrial Production, to which it contributes more than 40% weight, however, suffer from the infirmity of coming with a lag of more than a month. Meanwhile, the private sector, survey-based HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for June suggests that activity at factories rebounded last month from May's heatwave-hit three-month low. June's PMI reading of 58.3 was 0.8 percentage points higher than May's 57.5, and, according to HSBC India, "comfortably above its long-run average".
The survey also indicates that manufacturers stepped up output and buying to meet buoyant demand, and stepped up hiring to the fastest pace "seen in more than 19 years of data collection". However, both the job creation and demand were also accompanied by an intensification of increases in staff expenses and material and transportation costs that led to manufacturing companies raising their selling charges by the greatest extent in more than two years.
The inflationary trend, coupled with survey respondents' overall confidence in future output sliding to a three-month low, signals the economy still faces speed bumps. Policy-makers have a chance to use the upcoming Union Budget to make policy tweaks to help strengthen momentum in the key industrial sectors.

4.Andhra Pradesh launches NTR Bharosa Pension

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has launched the NTR Bharosa pension scheme in the state.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led government, which was sworn in on 12 June 2024, was fulfilling one of its election promises.
Under the NTR Bharosa pension scheme, the pension for old-aged people, widows, weavers, toddy tappers, fishermen, single women, traditional cobblers, transgenders and artists has been increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 per month.
Pension for the disabled and multi-deformity leprosy patients has been increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 per month.
The pension amount has been increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs15,000 for fully disabled people confined to beds or wheelchairs and those with severe muscular dystrophy.
It has also been enhanced from Rs 5,000 to 10,000 for people suffering from chronic diseases like kidney diseases and thalassemia.
The chief minister also announced that the state government would soon receive the Amma canteen in the state, and food would be provided at Rs 5 to the people.

About Andhra Pradesh

Capital – Amaravati
Chief Minister – N Chandrababu Naidu
Deputy CM – Pawan Kalyan
Governor – Abdul Nazeer
Legislative Assembly Seat – 175

5. IAF chief inaugurates newly established weapon systems school

Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari has inaugurated the newly established Weapon Systems School (WSS) at Air Force Station Begumpet, Hyderabad.
This follows the approval for the creation of a new Weapon System (WS) branch in 2022.
The new branch will have four streams;

Flying stream to operate the weapons and systems in airborne platforms like the Sukhoi-30 MKI and C-130J
Remote stream to operate remotely piloted aircraft
Mission commanders and operators for Surface to Air and Surface-to-Surface weapon systems
Intelligence stream for handling space-based intelligence and imagery.

International News

6. NewSpace India Ltd to launch Australia's 'Optimus satellite' under Space Maitri mission

ISRO's commercial arm NSIL said its latest rocket, the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), will make its first dedicated commercial launch when it puts into orbit the 'Optimus satellite' - built by Australia-based Space Machines Company.
The announcement was made jointly by NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) and Space Machines Company at the India Space Congress organised by the Satcom Industry Association-India.
"The first commercial launch was the 10-kg nanosatellite Janus through the SSLV-D2 mission," NSIL Chairman and Managing Director Radhakrishnan Durairaj said. The Optimus satellite is slated for a dedicated launch through SSLV in 2026, a mission that will be a defining moment for India and Australia in space cooperation.
The mission, called Space Maitri (Australia-India Mission for Technology, Research and Innovation), is an important milestone in the strategic partnership between Australia and India in the space sector, fostering closer ties between commercial, institutional and government space organisations of the two countries, NSIL said.
By focusing on debris management and sustainability, the mission aligns with the core values and objectives of both countries, promoting responsible space operations and mitigating the growing threat of space debris.
Recently, the Australian government has signed an $18 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). NewSpace India Limited is a commercial arm under the Department of Space (DoS). It was incorporated in March 2019 and was established to undertake high technology space-related activities in India.

7.SERA and Blue Origin make India partner nation for human spaceflight programme

The US-based Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA), in collaboration with Jeff Bezosfunded Blue Origin, has declared India as a partner nation in its human spaceflight programme for citizens of those countries.
Any Indian citizen can apply for the programme by paying a nominal fee of around US$2.50 for verification purposes. On July 1, SERA announced that it would offer six seats to citizens around the world on future missions of New Shepard, Blue Origin's reusable sub-orbital rocket.
New Shepard will carry selected astronauts on an 11-minute journey beyond the Kármán line (100 km), the internationally recognised boundary of space.
The final candidates will be selected through public voting, ensuring a democratic selection process. The selected astronauts will undergo training and experience weightlessness for several minutes during their suborbital flight.

8.UK gets world's first brain implant to control epileptic seizures

U.K. teenager Oran Knowlson has become the first person in the world to receive a brain implant to help control epileptic seizures. The deep brain stimulation (DBS) device, which sends electrical signals deep into the brain, has reduced Knowlson's daytime seizures by 80%.
Epilepsy, a condition that leads to recurrent seizures, in which a person experiences tremors in the arms and legs, temporary confusion, staring fits or muscle stiffness. It is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
In about 50% of cases, the disease has no identifiable cause. However, head injuries, brain tumors, certain infections such as meningitis or even genetics can lead to epilepsy.
It can increase the risk of accidents, drowning and falls. In India, 3 to 11.9 out of every 1,000 people suffer from epilepsy, according to a commentary in a 2022 Lancet study.
The neurostimulator delivers continuous electrical impulses to the brain to interrupt or block signals that cause abnormal seizures. The device, 3.5 cm square, 0.6 cm thick, was surgically implanted in Nolson's skull and anchored using screws.
The doctor then inserted two electrodes deep into his brain until they reached the thalamus - a relay station for all motor and sensory information. The ends of the electrodes were connected to the neurostimulator.
It can be recharged by wireless headphones. The device uses DBS, which is also used for movement disorders associated with Parkinson's and other neurological conditions.

9.Hungary becomes President of European Council

Hungary has taken over the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) Council from Belgium for six months, with a focus on enhancing EU competitiveness. Hungary will hand over the position to Poland on January 1 next, as member states rotate the presidency every six months.
Hungary's Minister for EU Affairs Janos Bocsa outlined seven top priorities during Hungary's presidency.
These priorities include enhancing the EU's competitiveness, strengthening European defence policy, enlarging the EU, preventing illegal migration, shaping the future of cohesion policy, formulating a farmeroriented EU agricultural policy, and addressing European demographic challenges.
The minister emphasised on the EU's competitiveness and in particular the European security and defence policy. He emphasised that the motto of Hungary's EU presidency is to make Europe great again.
The Council of the European Union is led by a member state on a rotating basis for a period of 6 months. This is the second time Hungary will hold the presidency since joining the EU in 2004. European Council
It is a collective body that defines all political directions and priorities of the European Union. It includes the President of the European Council and the European Commission as well as the heads of states or governments of EU member states.
The High Representative of the Union for Security Policies and Foreign Affairs also attends the conferences.
It was established as an informal conference in 1975. The European Council was established as a formal institution in 2009 after receiving the powers of the Lisbon Treaty.

10. Beijing, Manila hold talks after maritime stand-off

China and the Philippines held a crucial meeting on Tuesday to ease escalating tensions following their worst confrontation in the disputed South China Sea that sparked fears of a wider conflict that could involve Manila's ally, the U.S. There was no mention of any major agreement to try to prevent a repeat of the chaotic June 17 clash at Second Thomas Shoal that caused injuries to Filipino navy personnel and damaged two military boats.
Manila said in a statement late on Tuesday. "There was substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea, but significant differences remain."
Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro told her Chinese counterpart, Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong, "that the Philippines will be relentless in protecting its interests and upholding its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction" in the South China Sea.
An agreement was signed to improve communications during emergencies at sea and both sides agreed to continue talks on enhancing ties between their coast guards but no details were provided.
Differences remain
The Chinese and Philippine delegations "affirmed their commitment to de escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions," the Department of Foreign Affairs.

11. 13th edition of India-Thailand joint military exercise 'Maitri' started in Thailand

The 13th edition of the IndiaThailand joint military exercise 'Maitri' is being held at Fort Wachiraprakan in Tak province of Thailand from 1 to 15 July. The last edition of this exercise was held in Umroi, Meghalaya in September 2019. Exercise Maitree is held alternately in Thailand and India since the year 2006.
The Indian Army contingent comprising 76 personnel is being represented mainly by a battalion of Ladakh Scouts as well as personnel from other branches and services, the Defence Ministry said.
The Royal Thailand Army contingent also comprises 76 personnel, mainly from the 1st Battalion of the 14th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Division.
The aim of Exercise Maitree is to promote military cooperation between India and Thailand. The exercise will enhance joint capabilities in carrying out joint counter-insurgency and counterterrorist operations in jungle and urban environments under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the ministry said. The exercise will focus on high level of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical exercises. Exercise Maitree will enable both sides to share their best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for conducting joint operations.
The exercise will also enable both sides to share their best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for conducting joint operations, the ministry said. The tactical drills to be carried out during the exercise will include establishment of a joint operation centre, establishment of an intelligence and surveillance centre, use of drones and counter drone systems, security of landing site, small team insertion and evacuation, special heliborne operations, cordon and search operations, room intervention drills and demolition of illegal structures.
Other Defence Exercises - Siam Bharat Abhyas (Air Force) and India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol' (CORPAT) (Navy).

12 Nepali Congress, CPN-UML arrive at agreement to oust Prachanda as PM

Embattled Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has decided not to resign from the post despite an agreement reached between the country's largest parties Nepali Congress and CPN- UML to form a new coalition government.
In a meeting of the office-bearers of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre), held in Baluwatar, Prachanda said he would rather face a vote of confidence in parliament than resign from the post, party secretary Ganesh Shah said
● Prachanda, 69, a former guerilla leader, has won four votes of confidence in parliament during his year and-a-half term.
The Nepali Congress, the largest party in the 275-member House of Representatives, has 89 seats at present, while the CPN- UML has 78 seats. Their combined strength of 167 is sufficient for a majority of 138 seats in the Lower House. Mr. Prachanda's Maoist party has 32 seats.
According to the agreement, finalized between Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) chairman K.P. Sharma Oli, the leaders will share the Prime Ministerial position on a rotational basis for the rest of the term of Parliament.
Nepal has had 13 governments in the last 16 years, indicating the fragile nature of the Himalayan nation's political system.
Mr. Oli and Mr. Deubaagreed to form a new government, amend the Constitution, and work out a power-sharing formula, which they reportedly shared with a few confidants, media reports said. The Ministers belonging to the CPN-UML in the Pra chanda-led Cabinet are likely to resign en-masse, sources close to the CPN- UML said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ravi Lamichhane accused the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML of forming the new alliance after the Prachanda-led coalition government started opening the files of f corruption cases involving political leaders.

State News

13. ‘Behdinkhalam Utsav’ organized in Meghalaya

Behadinkhalam festival of Meghalaya is the most celebrated cultural festival among the Panar tribe. Behdienkhlam (chasing away the Demon of Cholera) is celebrated every year in July after sowing, it is the most important dance festival of the Jaintia tribes.
This festival is also an invocation to the Yatra God, seeking his blessings for a bountiful harvest. Women, however, do not participate in the dance, as they have an important function of offering sacrificial food to the spirits of ancestors.
This festival held in Jowai is one of the most famous and entertaining festivals of Meghalaya. Behdienkhlam Rituals Behdienkhlam Festival A series of religious rituals are performed by the Daloi (headman).
Behdienkhlam Cultural Festival During the Yatra, young men strike bamboo sticks on the roof of every house as a symbolic gesture of driving away evil spirit, plague and disease. The climax of the festival is a fight for a large, unclothed beam between two groups of people opposing each other.
This makes the heavy beam cross a muddy pit called Wah-et-Nar. This part of the event involves a lot of horse-play when the participants smear mud on each other.
The climax of this famous festival of North East India is when people dressed in their best costumes gather at a place called Mynthong to watch a football-like game called Dad-Lawakor.
This game is played with a wooden ball between the northern and southern people. The side that wins the match by putting the ball on the other side means that the next year there will be a bountiful harvest in that particular area.

Defence News

14. Indian Army gets most powerful non-nuclear explosive ‘SEBEX 2’

India has taken a significant leap in military technology with the development of SEBEX 2, a powerful new explosive. Certified by the Indian Navy, SEBEX 2 is reported to be twice as lethal as standard trinitrotoluene (TNT), making it one of the most powerful nonnuclear explosives globally.
SEBEX 2 was rigorously tested under the Indian Navy's Defence Export Promotion Scheme. The formulation was developed by Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), a subsidiary of Nagpur-based Solar Industries.
The development of SEBEX 2 falls under the Make in India initiative, reflecting India's commitment to advance its defence capabilities with indigenous technologies. The explosive uses a composition based on high-melting point explosives (HMX), which significantly improves the lethality of warheads, aerial bombs, artillery shells and other munitions.
Currently, the most powerful conventional explosives used in India, especially in the BrahMos warhead, have a TNT equivalence of around 1.50. Most conventional warheads around the world have a TNT equivalency of 1.25 to 1.30.
Economic Explosives Limited is also developing another version which is expected to have an explosive power of 2.3 times that of TNT. EEL has also developed SITBEX 1, the first thermobaric explosive certified by the Indian Navy.
The Indian Army is celebrating the year 2024 as the ‘Year of Technology Absorption’. The theme marks the army’s firm focus on adopting technology to transform itself so as to stay ahead of enemies in the changing scenario.

15. Advanced medium combat aircraft prototype expected to be ready by 2028-29

As the project for the design and development of the indigenous fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA), Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), makes progress, the Defence Ministry is working out a model for bringing in the private sector in a big way, which is important for timely execution of the project, according to official sources. The first prototype is expected to be ready by 2028-29.
"The design of the AM- CA is ready. The prototype is expected to roll out by 2028-29 and the production is expected to begin from 2032-33. The target is to have it ready for induction in 2034, a decade from project sanction," an official source said.
In preparation to have the manufacturing and deliveries on track, there is significant private industry involvement that is being envisaged. "We have to decide a model for private sector involvement. A model is expected to be worked out in the next six months," an official source said.
The Defence Ministry has already issued an Expression of Interest (Eol) to the industry and three responses were received. The target is to have the AMCA ready for induction by 2034
The AMCA project is particularly critical as it is India's only FGFA that is planned for induction at a time when a series of such FGFA development projects are making progress worldwide. China, which has made great progress in the development and deployment of FGFAs, has recently deployed its twin engine J-20 FGFA in Tibet bordering India.
CCS clearance
The AMCA project got sanction from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in March. It is envisaged as a 25-tonne twin-engine stealth aircraft with internal weapons bay and diverterless supersonic intake which has been developed in India for the first time.
It is intended to have an internal carriage of 1,500 kg of payload and 5,500 kg of external payload with 6,500 kg of internal fuel. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is the production agency for the project, has already initiated activities.

Apointment

16. LG NS Raja Subramani assumes charge as Vice Chief of Army Staff

Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani assumed the charge as the Vice Chief of Army Staff on 1 July 2024.
He replaced former Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, who took charge as the 30th Chief of Army Staff on 1 July 2024.
Before his appointment as the Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani was the Commander-in-Chief of the Army’s Central Command based in Lucknow.
While, Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh assumed command of the Jaipur-based South-Western Command of the Indian Army, also known as the Sapta Shakti Command. The Sapta Shakti command was raised in 2005.

Recent Appointment in Defence Sector

● Chief of Intelligence Bureau – Tapan Kumar Deka (reappointment for 1 year)

● First Woman Helicopter Pilot – Anamika B. Rajeev

● Additional Directors in CBI – A.Y.V. Krishna and N. Venu Gopal

● Chief of Personnel (CoP) of Indian Navy – Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla

● DG of National Security Guard (NSG) – Nalin Prabhat (replace Daljit Singh Chaudhary)

● Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) – Sapna Tewari

Sports

17. India’s Jyothi Yarraji wins Gold in Women’s 100m Hurdles at National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships

India’s Jyothi Yarraji has won gold medal in the Women’s 100m Hurdles at the National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships in Panchkula.
Jyothi won with a timing of 13.06 seconds. While in Men’s 110m Hurdles, Tejas Shirse won the gold medal with a timing of 13.54 seconds.
Both Jyothi and Tejas are most likely to qualify for Paris Olympics via World rankings.

18. India tops U-23 Asian Wrestling Championships in Jordan

India emerged as the top-performing nation at the Under 23 Asian Wrestling Championship 2024 in Amman, Jordan.
Indian wrestlers secured a total of eight medals in freestyle wrestling: four gold, two silver, and two bronze.
This achievement marks India’s best-ever performance at the prestigious event, with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan securing second and third places respectively.
Abhimanyu in the 70 kg category, Jointy Kumar in 92 kg, Sahil Jaglan in 97 kg and Anirudh Kumar in the 125 kg category bagged the gold medals.
Rohit in 65 kg and Jaideep at 74 Kg contributed with silver medals, while bronze medals were secured by Shubham in 57 kg and Amit in 79 kg.

19. Viswanathan Anand wins Leon Masters title for the 10th time

Viswanathan Anand, former World Chess Champion from India achieved a unique feat. He won the Leon Masters Chess Championship for the tenth time, defeating Jaime Santos Latasa of Spain 3-1 in the final on 30 June 2024 in Leon, Spain.
The Leon Masters is a prestigious chess tournament held in Leon, Spain. It sees four top players compete against each other. In 2024, the participants were: Viswanathan Anand, Arjun Erigassi (India), Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) and Jaime Santos Latasa (Spain).
In the semi-finals, Anand defeated Veselin Topalov while Jaime Santos Latasa won against Arjun Erigassi. Anand's win in 2024 is his 10th victory in the Leon Masters. His previous wins include 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2016 and now 2024.
Viswanathan Anand was born on 11 December 1969 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He is considered to be the best chess player India has ever produced. At the age of 15, he became the youngest Indian to achieve the International Masters (IM) norm.
Anand became India's first chess Grand Master in 1988. He has been a five-time World Chess Champion. From 2000 to 2002, Anand was the FIDE World Chess Champion.

20.India tops country at Under 23 Asian Wrestling Championships in Jordan

In wrestling, India tops the Under 23 Asian Wrestling Championships 2024 in Amman, Jordan. The young Indian wrestlers won a total of eight medals in freestyle wrestling, including four gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
Abhimanyu in 70kg category, Joyenty Kumar in 92kg, Sahil Jaglan in 97kg and Anirudh Kumar in 125kg category won gold medals. Rohit in 65kg and Jaideep in 74kg won silver medals, while Shubham in 57kg and Amit in 79kg bagged bronze medals. This is the best ever performance of the Indian contingent in the prestigious event. Kazakhstan finished second while Kyrgyzstan finished third.

Award News

21. P Geetha conferred with first 'K Saraswathi Amma Award'

Writer, critic and feminist activist P Geetha was conferred with the first K Saraswathi Amma Award instituted by WINGS (Women Integration and Development through Sports) Kerala for Feminist Studies. Her work Aan Thachukal (Male Writings), based on the screenplays of M T Vasudevan Nair, won the award.
After presenting the award to Ms Geetha, writer and social activist Sarah Joseph said it was poetic justice that an award was named after Saraswathi Amma, a writer who was largely sidelined by the mainstream patriarchal literary world during her time.
The injustice meted out to the ahead-of-its-time Saraswati Amma is a classic example of society’s intolerance towards female talent. At that time, no writer was willing to write a preface for her works, which included a dozen short stories, a novel, a play and a collection of essays. Saraswati Amma wrote about ‘gender equality’ at a time when the idea was not familiar in Kerala society.”
Saraswati Amma published her first short story in 1938. In her time, she was called a ‘man-hater’, later the feminist world hailed her as a pioneer of feminist literature.
Wings founder N A Vinay, who presided over the function, said they decided to set up an award in Saraswati Amma’s name to honour her bold stand.

Important day

22. 2 July – World Sports Journalists Day

World Sports Journalist Day is celebrated every year on July 2.
Sports Journalists Day marks the success of sports media professionals and motivates them to put more effort into spreading knowledge about sports among the general public.
The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) established World Sports Journalists Day on July 2, commemorating the formation day of AIPS as an organisation in 1994 during the Summer Olympics in Paris.
This day is marked to honour the outstanding work of journalists in the field of sports journalism. Over the years, many sports media professionals have been honoured for their accomplishments on this special day.

23.2 July – World UFO Day

World UFO Day is observed every year on 2 July.
This extraordinary day is all about studying the Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and bringing people together to discuss possibilities of life beyond Earth.
It was first celebrated on June 24. In 1947, Kenneth Arnold’s well-known UFO sighting prompted the selection of this date.
The date was later postponed to July 2. July 2 marks the anniversary of the 1947 Roswell incident.

What is a UFO?

Unidentified Flying Object is an abbreviation for UFO. In simple terms, anything flying in the air that we are unable to easily can be called a UFO. UFOs aren’t generally always alien spaceships; they could be:
Weather balloons, Natural events in the sky, Satellites, Unusual aircraft.

24. 3 July- International Plastic Bag Free Day

International Plastic Bag Free Day is observed annually on July 3.
Objective – To raise awareness about the problem of plastic pollution. It also emphasises the significant threat plastic poses to ecosystems, particularly affecting terrestrial and marine species.
Rezero, a member of Zero Waste Europe (ZWE), initiated the first International Plastic Bag Free Day on July 3, 2008. The occasion was initially celebrated in Catalonia alone but gained wider recognition the following year when ZWE introduced it to the European Union.

25. 3 July – Disobedience Day

Disobedience Day is observed every year on 3 July.
Disobedience Day invites us to reflect on the profound impact of civil disobedience throughout history and its relevance in contemporary society.
This observance not only commemorates pivotal moments in the struggle for justice and rights but also serves as a reminder of the power of collective action and nonviolent resistance.
The history of civil disobedience is rich and varied, reflecting diverse struggles for human rights, freedom, and equality around the world.

Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 3rd July 2024