The US Treasury Department added Japan to its 'monitoring list' for foreign-exchange practices, but stopped short of labelling it or any other trade partner as a 'currency manipulator'.
According to the Treasury, Japan met two of the three criteria for 'nhanced analysis'. These included 'having a material current account surplus and a significant bilateral trade surplus with the United States'.
However, Japan did not meet the third criterion: being 'engaged in persistent one-sided intervention in the foreign exchange market'.
Alongside Japan, the monitoring list includes China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Germany. Previously, India was also a part of this list.
Cabinet Approves Vadhavan Port Project in Maharashtra
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet approved the development of greenfield deep draft port at Vadhavan in Maharashtra for Rs. 76,200 crore. The port will have nine container terminals, each 1000 meters long, four multipurpose berths, including the coastal berth, four liquid cargo berths, a Ro-Ro berth, and a Coast Guard berth.
Minister Ashiwini Vaishnaw informed that the port will further aid export and import through the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor and International North South Transportation Corridor. Once completed, will be among the top 10 ports of the world, said the Minister.
India Post Payments Bank Partners with Ria Money Transfer to Revolutionize Rural Remittance Services
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) teamed up with Ria Money Transfer, a global leader in cross-border money transfers and a business segment of Euronet Worldwide, Inc., to offer innovative remittance services in rural India. This collaboration aims to provide convenient and affordable financial services directly to the doorsteps of customers in remote areas.
The partnership will immediately make international inward money transfer services available at over 25,000 Post Office locations, with plans to expand to more than 100,000 locations. Combining IPPB's extensive postal network with Ria's global reach, customers across India will benefit from fast, convenient, and safe doorstep services.
Nine Major Ports of India Makes It to Global Top 100 by World Bank, First for the Country
In a significant boost to the India's port development programme, as many as 9 ports of India made it to the Global Top 100 in the latest edition of Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), 2023 - a report prepared by the World Bank and S&P Global Marketing Intelligence.
The nine ports are: Govt-owned Visakhapatnam Port, made it to the top 20 ports of the World and secured the 19th spot, Gautam Adani's Mundra Port also climbed up the index and secured 27th place, Port Pipavav was ranked 41st Chennai's Kamarajar Port was placed on the 47th place, Cochin Port was positioned 63rd, Hazira, one of the major ports of India, stood 68th, Krishnapatnam Port was ranked 71st, Chennai Port stood 80th and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) also known as Nhava Sheva, was ranked 96th in the index.
IIIT-Delhi Wins Prize for Antimicrobial Resistance Project
A project by the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT-Delhi), won the joint second prize in Trinity Challenge's second competition, on tackling the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The Trinity Challenge is a charity supporting the creation of data-driven solutions to help protect against global health threats.
The project, 'AMRSense: Empowering Communities with a Proactive One Health Ecosystem,' was led by Tavpritesh Sethi of IIIT-Delhi in collaboration with CHRI-PATH, 1mg.com, and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The IIIT-Delhi project shared the second prize with another project, also from India, titled 'OASIS: OneHealth Antimicrobial Stewardship for Informal Health Systems.'
The Odisha government announced the extension of its sponsorship for Hockey India until 2036 – a year that marks the centenary of the state's formation in 1936.
The decision was taken after a Hockey India delegation met new Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in Bhubaneswar.
Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh said that the state government has consistently been a pillar of strength for the sport. "The decision to consider extending our partnership until 2036 underscores their dedication to sports and youth development," he said.
NHAI Signs MoU with IIIT Delhi to Enhance Road Safety Using Artificial Intelligence
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Delhi, a technical university established by the Government of National Capital Territory (NCT). This collaboration aims to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve the availability and condition of road signs on National Highways, covering approximately 25,000 kilometres.
IIIT Delhi will conduct extensive surveys to collect imagery and other relevant data related to road signages along selected stretches of National Highways. The primary objective is to gather comprehensive information on the availability and condition of road signs.
The collected data will be processed using AI for accurate identification and classification of road signs. This process will result in a geo-stamped inventory of existing road signs, including their categorization and structural condition.
By harnessing AI and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), NHAI aims to significantly improve road safety for all National Highway users. This initiative reflects NHAI's commitment to embracing innovation and adopting advanced technologies for better road management and safety.
Cabinet Approves Development of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal of Airports Authority of India (AAI) for development of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi with an outlay of Rs. 2,870 crore. It includes construction of new terminal building, apron extension, runway extension, parallel taxi track & allied works.
"Varanasi airport will be developed as a green airport with the primary objective of ensuring environmental sustainability through energy optimisation, waste recycling, carbon footprint reduction, solar energy utilisation, and incorporation of natural daylighting, alongside other sustainable measures throughout the planning, development, and operational stages.
Ministry of Women and Child Development Launches 100-Days Special Awareness Campaign on Women Empowerment
The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched a 100-day nationwide awareness campaign to amplify awareness and outreach on women-centric issues.
The campaign, launched during the "National Workshop on SANKALP: Hub for Empowerment of Women," will run from June 21 to October 4.
The event was chaired by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur and attended by Secretary Anil Malik, along with various stakeholders and representatives from across India.
Minister of State Savitri Thakur emphasised the crucial role of women empowerment in national development.
Secretary Anil Malik said that this campaign is pivotal in ensuring that women across the country are aware of and can access the resources and support available to them.
Indian Armed Forces Unveil Unified Cyberspace Doctrine
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan released the Joint Doctrine for Cyberspace Operations during the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) meeting, in New Delhi. The Joint Doctrine is a keystone publication that will guide Commanders in conducting Cyberspace Operations in today's complex military operating environment.
Development of Joint Doctrines is an important aspect of Jointness and Integration, a step which is being actively pursued by the Indian Armed Forces. The Joint Doctrine for Cyberspace Operations is a significant step to give impetus to the ongoing process. In addition to the traditional domains of warfare including Land, Sea, and Air, Cyberspace has emerged as a crucial and challenging domain in modern warfare. Unlike territorial limits in the domains of land, sea, and air, cyberspace is a global common and hence has shared sovereignty.
This doctrine lays emphasis on understanding military aspects of cyberspace operations and provides conceptual guidance to commanders, staff and practitioners in the planning, and conduct of operations in cyberspace, as also to raise awareness in our warfighters at all levels.
Donald Sutherland, one of Canada's most versatile and gifted actors, who charmed and enthralled audiences in films such as "M*A*S*H," "Klute," "Ordinary People" and the "Hunger Games" died at the age of 88.
His career spanned from the 1960s into the 2020s.
One of the biggest stars in Hollywood in the 1970s, he remained in demand for film and TV projects into his 80s. Known for his unconventional looks and his versatility as an actor, Sutherland played a wide range of memorable characters.
Seasoned Diplomat and India's Envoy to Turkey Virander Paul Dies
India's ambassador to Turkey Virander Paul, known for his impactful professional contribution, died in Delhi.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described Paul's demise as a "great loss" to the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).
Paul was a 1991-batch IFS officer.
Before arriving in Ankara as ambassador of India to Turkey in the second half of 2022, he was India's High Commissioner to Kenya and Ambassador to Somalia.
Prior to that, he served as additional secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, dealing with multilateral engagement in India's neighbourhood.
In his illustrious career, Paul also served as deputy high commissioner of India in London (2013-2016), Minister (Press) at the Indian Embassy in Washington (2010-2013), Director in the Prime Minister's Office during 2007-2010, and Counsellor (Political) at the Indian Embassy in Moscow from 2003-2007.
Observed annually on June 22, World Rainforest Day (WRD) is a global observance dedicated to raising awareness about the significance of rainforests and promoting efforts for their protection and conservation.
The origins of World Rainforest Day can be traced back to 2017 when Rainforest Partnership, a non-profit organization committed to preserving rainforests and empowering local communities, founded the day. The inaugural celebration focused on the theme emphasizing the need for collective action to protect rainforests and restore damaged ecosystems. Since then, World Rainforest Day has gained momentum, with individuals, organizations, and communities worldwide joining forces to raise awareness and advocate for rainforest conservation.
The theme of World Rainforest Day 2024 is 'Empowering the World in Defense of Our Rainforests.'
Anti-paper Leak Law Comes into Force amid NEET, UGC-NET Row
The Central Government notified the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which aims to prevent unfair means in public examinations and common entrance tests held across the country. The move came amid the massive row over the alleged malpractices in conducting the NEET and UGC NET examinations.
The law, which was passed by the Parliament in February 2024, proposes a punishment of a minimum of three to five years of imprisonment to curb cheating and for those involved in organised crimes of cheating will face five to 10 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs. 1 crore.
If a person or a group of persons commits an organised crime, including the examination authority, service provider, or any other institution, they will be punished with imprisonment for a term not less than five years but which may extend to ten years, and a fine not less than Rs. 1 crore, the law states.
The law also has provisions to attach and forfeit the property of an institution if they are found involved in an organised paper leak crime, and the proportionate cost of the examination shall also be recovered from it.
Hemis Festival 2024: Celebrating Buddhist Culture in Ladakh
The Hemis Festival, a vibrant celebration of Tibetan Buddhism, takes place annually in Ladakh, India. In 2024, this important cultural event was held in June 2024.
The Hemis Festival, also known as Hemis Tsechu, commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava, a revered figure in Tibetan Buddhism. This two-day celebration brought the Hemis Monastery, Ladakh's largest Buddhist monastery, to life with colour, music, and spiritual energy.
The festival's highlight was the Chaam dance, performed by monks wearing colorful masks representing Guru Padmasambhava's eight avatars. This sacred dance symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
Former Kerala High Court Chief Justice S. Manikumar appointed Chairperson of TN Human Rights Commission
Former Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, Justice S. Manikumar, was appointed the Chairperson of the Tamil Nadu State Human Rights Commission (TNSHRC).
Justice Manikumar would serve a three-year term or until he reaches the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier, starting from the date he assumes office.
The retired judge was appointed as Chairperson as per the provisions of Section 22 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1961(Appointment of Chairperson and other Members of State Commission).
Justice S. Manikumar earlier served as a judge of the Madras High Court before he took over as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court in October 2019.
He retired from the Kerala High Court on April 24, 2023.
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