INTERNATIONAL:
1. Bird Flu Vaccine
Why in news: Finland is set to become the first country to offer bird flu vaccination.
Key points:
• The aim is to reduce the risk of bird flu spreading to humans.
• H5N1 is a highly contagious disease viral disese, which affects both domestic and wild birds.
• Recently, First human case of 'bird flu' reported in Australia whereas first death is recorded in Mexico.
ECONOMY:
1. India Tops Global Remittance
Why in news: India Tops Global Remittance with $125 Billion in 2023.
Key points:
• The report is published by Migration and Development Brief, World Bank,
• India was followed by Mexico (USD 67 billion), China (USD 50 billion), the Philippines (USD 40 billion), and Egypt (USD 24 billion).
• Strategic economic deals and strong job markets in the counties like US, UK, and Singapore, were the important key behind this rise.
2. Currency Swap Framework
Why in news: RBI Revises SAARC Currency Swap Framework for 2024-2027.
Key points:
• It aims to help the member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) stay financially stable.
• The important change in the new system is the addition of a separate Indian Rupee (INR) Swap Window.
• This new window has a total sum of ₹250 billion and is meant to make swaps in Indian Rupee easier.
SCHEMES/CAMPAIGN:
1. Tobacco Free Educational Institutions
Why in news: MoE under the National Tobacco Control Programme launches nationwide campaign on Tobacco Free Educational Institutions.
Key points:
• Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education has developed a “ToFEI Implementation Manual” for schools.
• The objective is to make educational institutions across the nation comply with the ToFEI guidelines and become Tobacco Free Area.
• The initiative outlines several key measures to be implemented in schools nationwide, including the display of “Tobacco Free Area” signage within school premises, prohibiting evidence of tobacco use on campus, organizing regular tobacco control activities, and nominating “Tobacco Monitors” among staff.
• World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed on 31st May annually.
SCIENCE & TECH:
1. Zero-Debris Satellite
Why in news: ESA Develops Zero-Debris Satellite.
Key points:
• European space industry giants Airbus, OHB, and Thales Alenia Space have signed contracts with ESA to develop large low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite platforms adhering to Zero Debris standards.
• This initiative aims to pave the way for zero-debris production lines for a cleaner and safer space environment
• ESA introduced the Zero Debris approach with an ambitious goal to limit debris in Earth and lunar orbits by 2030.
2. GOES-U Satellite:
Why in news: SpaceX successfully launched the GOES-U satellite for NASA.
Key points:
• This program will improve weather tracking over the Western Hemisphere.
• At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, this launch took place.
• The satellite was on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
• Northern, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the west coast of Africa are all areas that it tracks.
• This is very useful for watching and predicting space weather events like solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index 2024
Why in news: IMF released Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index 2024, India Ranks at 72nd.
Key points:
• The goal of this project is to see how well each country can use and adapt AI technologies.
• There are three main groups of countries that the AIPI looks at: Low-Income Countries (LIC), Emerging Market Economies (EM), and Advanced Economies (AE).
• Singapore, Denmark, and the United States are at the top of the list of AEs.
• India, which is an EM ranked 72nd in the world.
• Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and China, were ranked 113th, 92nd, and 31st respectively.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. 12th Vishwa Hindi Samman
Why in news: Dr. Usha Thakur Receives Prestigious 12th Vishwa Hindi Samman.
Key points:
• 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.
• This award is given by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
• 12th World Hindi Conference was held in Fiji in 2023.
2. Golden Peacock Award
Why in news: Kapurthala Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala has been awarded the prestigious Golden Peacock Award.
Key points:
• It was awarded in the field of energy efficiency for the year 2024 under the Railways category.
• The awards ceremony organized by the Institute of Directors in Bengaluru.
3. Knights of the Order of Arts and Letters
Why in news: Indian-origin writer Pooja Nancy awarded Knights of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture.
Key points:
• The award was presented for playing an important role in cultural cooperation between Singapore and France.
• Pooja Nancy awarded Knights of the Order of Arts and Letters award along with Ivan Hang.
SPORTS:
1. ICC T20 World Cup 2024
Why in news: India beat South Africa by 7 runs to win ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Key points:
• India became the first team to win the men’s T20 World Cup without losing a game all tournament by winning all eight matches.
• Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the leading run-scorer in the tournament, with 281 runs followed by Rohit Sharma,s 257 runs.
• Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi was the joint highest wicket-taker along with India’s Arshdeep Singh – 17 wickets.
• Player of the match – Virat Kohli (India)
• Player of the tournament – Jasprit Bumrah (India)
• It was co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States from 1 to 29 June 2024
• The final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 was held at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
• Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced retired from T20 international cricket after the final of T20 world cup.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. António Costa
Why in news: Portugal’s António Costa elected as European Council’s Next President.
Key points:
• He became the first Portuguese leader to hold this position.
• He will take office in December 2024 succeeding Charles Michel of Belgium, who has been holding the post since 2019.
2. Ravi Aggarwal
Why in news: Ravi Aggarwal appointed as Chairman of CBDT.
Key points:
• He will replace Nitin Gupta whose tenure will be by Till 30th June.
• Apart from the Chairman in CBDT There can be six members.
3. CS Shetty
Why in news: CS Shetty will be appointed as the next chairman of SBI.
Key points:
• Public Sector Banks And the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) has selected CS Shetty for the post of Chairman of SBI.
• He will replace Dinesh Kumar Khara, who will retire on August 28 after completing 63 years of age
STATES/UTs:
1. First Woman Chief Secretary of Maharashtra
Why in news: Sujata Saunik becomes the first woman Chief Secretary of Maharashtra.
Key points:
• Saunik, a 1987 batch IAS officer, replaced Nitin Kareer, who retired from the post of Chief.
• Brajesh Mehrotra is current Chief Secretary Of Bihar
BIHAR:
1. Investors Summit
Why in news: Bihar to hold investors' meet in Kolkata on 1st july.
Key points:
• Bihar will host the two-day Bihar Business Connect event on December 11 and 12 in Patna.
• And before that, it will hold roadshows in different cities, beginning with Kolkata on July 1.
• Bihar looks to lure investments in sectors such as textiles, food processing and EVs that will create jobs and boost business in the State.
• The last edition of the investor meeting in 2023 saw memorandums of understanding (MoUs) being signed for proposed investment of ₹50,500 crore by as many as 278 companies.
2. Sanjay Jha
Why in news: Sanjay Jha elected as the working president of JDU.
Key points:
• JDU has made senior leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Jha the working president.
• Nitish Kumar will continue to be the JDU’s national president
• The decision was taken at the party's national executive meeting that took place in Delhi
• The meet aims review the current political scenario and preparations for the upcoming Bihar assembly polls due in 2025.
3. Digital Records Of Patients
Why in news: Bihar ranks sixth in the country in preparing digital records of patients.
Key points:
• According to the report of the Union Health Ministry, digital records of 14.60 lakh patients coming to government hospitals in Bihar till June 25 2024.
• Uttar Pradesh ranks first in the country in preparing digital records of patients.
• Patna is at the first position in the state in preparing digital records and Sheikhpura is at the last position.
3. Indian Institutional Ranking Framework
Why in news: Bihar's Rajendra Agricultural University at seventh place in the rankings of the top central universities,JNU tops.
Key points:
• The Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) has released the rankings of the top central universities of the country.
• In this, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has got the first position, while Delhi University is at the second position and Banaras Hindu University is at number 3.
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