Ronald L. Rowe Jr. Named Acting Chief of US Secret Service
Ronald L. Rowe Jr. was appointed as the acting chief of the US Secret Service following the resignation of Kimberly Cheatle. Cheatle stepped down after the Secret Service faced criticism for a significant security lapse during an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that Ronald L. Rowe Jr., previously the Deputy Director of the Secret Service, will serve as the acting director following Cheatle's resignation.
Israeli Parliament Approves Bill to Label UNRWA as a Terror Organization
The Israeli Knesset approved a bill to designate the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) as a terrorist organisation.
The vote against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) is the latest step in a Israeli push against the agency, which Israeli leaders have accused of collaborating with the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza.
UNRWA provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. It has long had tense relations with Israel but relations have deteriorated sharply since the start of the war in Gaza and Israel has called repeatedly for UNRWA to be disbanded.
World Bank Group Ramps up Fight against Global Hunger
The World Bank Group unveiled a comprehensive package of initiatives to address urgent poverty and hunger, and enable vulnerable people to increase earnings, enhance resilience against climate shocks, and promote empowerment for women and girls.
An ambitious plan to scale up social protection programs, working alongside partners to support at least 500 million people in developing countries by 2030—aiming for half of those to be women and girls. To reach this goal, we are utilizing innovative cash transfer systems that ensure those in need receive resources directly, while combatting corruption and waste.
The Bank Group will be the lead knowledge partner for the G20 Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, established by Brazil. This will generate hunger solutions and coordinate knowledge exchange alongside Brazil for the benefit of all countries.
The population of elephants declined by 2.43% since 2012, according to the data presented by the Union Environment Ministry before the Parliament.
While the population of elephants was projected at 30,711 in 2012, it came down to 29,964 in 2017. The statistics were presented by Kirti Vardhan Singh, the Minister of State in the Environment Ministry.
Shrinking elephant habitats caused by mining, quarrying and developmental activities along elephant corridors have heightened man-animal conflicts.
Reliance Gets U.S. Nod to Resume Oil Imports from Venezuela
India's Reliance Industries received approval from the United States to resume importing oil from Venezuela despite Washington's sanctions.
The United States in April had re-imposed sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector in response to President Nicolas Maduro's failure to meet his election commitments, but said some firms would be authorised to trade and operate in Venezuela.
Ministry of Steel Launches 'Steel Import Monitoring System' 2.0 Portal
H. D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries, launched SIMS 2.0, the upgraded Steel Import Monitoring System. Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Steel, and other senior officials from the Government of India were present at the moment.
SIMS, introduced in 2019, has played a crucial role in providing detailed steel import data to the domestic industry. Based on industry feedback, the Ministry has revamped the portal to develop a more effective SIMS 2.0, a significant step forward in monitoring steel imports and promoting the growth of the domestic steel industry. Availability of such detailed data not only provides input for policy making but also signals areas for production and growth to the domestic steel industry.
SIMS 2.0 features API integration with multiple government portals, enhancing quality control and streamlining processes for improved efficiency and effectiveness. The portal boasts a robust data entry system, ensuring consistent and authentic data, which promotes transparency and accountability. Integration of various databases enable stakeholders to locate areas of risk and, thereby, permit better risk management, e.g., if an import consignment declares a particular source of import, which is not licensed by BIS, then Ministry will be enabled to not recommend its import.
India, UK Launch New 'Technology Security Initiative'
India and the UK announced a new 'Technology Security Initiative' (TSI) to focus on collaboration in critical and emerging technologies (CET) across multiple priority sectors.
India has similar critical technology partnership with the US. Like the India-US partnership, this too will be steered by the National Security Advisers (NSAs) of both countries.
The NSAs will set the priority areas and identify interdependencies for cooperation on critical and emerging technologies that will, in turn, help build meaningful technology value chain partnerships between the two countries. The announcement came after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met his UK counterpart David Lammy in New Delhi.
France Set To Host 2030 Winter Olympics, Subject To Conditions
The International Olympic Committee named the French Alps as the host for the 2030 Winter Games. While presenting the bid to IOC members in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron assured the committee that the government formed after the 2024 Summer Games in Paris would handle all outstanding organisational and financial guarantees.
IOC members accepted his guarantees and voted their approval. The French bid, the IOC's sole candidate with exclusive negotiating rights since November, centred on ski resorts in the French Alps and ice sports venues in the coastal city of Nice. National governments in Olympic host countries need to formally underwrite financial and security promises that are essential to organise and run the Games.
Wasim Jaffer Set to Become Punjab Kings New Head Coach
Wasim Jaffer will be Punjab Kings' next head coach, succeeding Trevor Bayliss, whose two-year contract ended.
This will be Jaffer's third stint with the Punjab Kings. Ahead of the IPL 2024, Jaffer was released from the role of batting consultant.
Jaffer was the batting coach of Punjab Kings between 2019-2021 but stepped down from his role before the IPL 2022 auction. However, he will again be back in the Punjab dugout for the upcoming season.
Jaffer, who has played 31 Tests for India will be an uphill task for Jaffer as Punjab Kings, one of the eight founding member of the IPL have failed to make it to the playoffs for ten straight season, since the 2014 edition, where they made their only appearance in the IPL final.
Paris Olympics 2024: Elena Rybakina Withdraws from Both Singles and Mixed Events
The Olympic tennis competition suffered another blow as women's third seed Elena Rybakina joined a lengthy list of non-starters hours after the draw took place at Roland Garros. The big-serving 25-year-old Kazakh was down to face Romania's Jaqueline Cristian in the first round of the singles. Organisers confirmed she had pulled out and would also not compete in the mixed doubles alongside compatriot Alexander Bublik. No reason was stated for her decision.
Rybakina's withdrawal means that France's Caroline Garcia moves into her spot in the draw as the 17th seed while Australia's Daria Saville enters the draw as an alternate. With the action to begin on Saturday, the flurry of high-profile withdrawals has cast something of a cloud over the tournament being staged on the famous Parisian clay.
'Removing Traces of Anglicisation', Rashtrapati Bhavan Renames Durbar, Ashok Halls as Ganatantra, Ashok Mandap
President Droupadi Murmu announced the renaming of two halls of Rashtrapati Bhavan – Durbar Hall and Ashok Hall – as Ganatantra Mandap and Ashok Mandap, respectively. The Durbar Hall is the venue of important ceremonies and celebrations such as the presentation of National Awards. The Ashok Hall, originally a ballroom, is now used for special events.
Garg Replaces Rupani as BJP's Chandigarh Affairs In-charge
Atul Garg replaced former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani as the Bharatiya Janata Party in-charge of Chandigarh affairs.
The decision to appoint the new in-charge was announced in a late night organisational reshuffle by the BJP.
BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda, who is also the Union Minister for Health, replaced Chittorgarh Lok Sabha MP CP Joshi with MP Madan Rathore as the Rajasthan BJP president.
In Bihar, the BJP named MLC Dilip Jaiswal the new state president. New in-charges were also named for other states, including Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Assam and Lakshadweep.
Ashwini Vaishnaw Inaugurates India's 500th Community Radio Station in Aizawl
In a significant milestone for India's community radio landscape, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the country's 500th community radio station, Apna Radio 90.0 FM, at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) in Aizawl, Mizoram. This event underscores the government's commitment to the Act East policy and marks a key development in enhancing local communication and information dissemination.
H. S. Dhaliwal New DGP of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) appointed senior IPS officer H. S. Dhaliwal as the new Director General of Police of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Prior to his new role, Dhaliwal, a 1997-batch IPS officer, served as the special commissioner of police in New Delhi, overseeing traffic zone-II.
Throughout his career, Dhaliwal has achieved significant milestones, including solving high-profile cases such as the Dhaula Kuan gangrape, journalist Saumya Vishwanathan's murder, and the Jigisha Ghosh murder case. He also played a crucial role in investigating the murder case involving Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala.
Meanwhile, incumbent DGP Devesh Chandra Srivastva has been transferred to New Delhi.
Veteran Marathi Writer Father Francis D'Britto Dies At 81
Vasai-based Catholic priest Father Francis D'Britto, writer and environmentalist, who translated the Bible into Marathi, passed away at the age of 81.
Father Francis D'Britto was born to Marathi-speaking parents, D'Britto's translation of the Bible, named 'Subodh Bible', was re-printed many times. The 'Subodh Bible' has an 80-page section that introduces readers to the Bible.
He was unanimously elected as the president of the 93rd Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, held at Dharadhiv in 2020, showcasing his profound influence in the literary community.
His literary prowess was further recognised when he received Maharashtra Government's literary award for best translation in 2013, followed by the Sahitya Akademi award in April 2014.
Former Indonesia Vice President Hamzah Haz Passes Away
Hamzah Haz, the Vice President of Indonesia from 2001 to 2004, passed away. He was aged 84. Hamzah served under President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
He also served as minister for investment, as well as coordinating minister for people's welfare under previous administrations. He was one of the contenders in the 2004 presidential elections. Hamzah Haz was a key figure in the PPP, one of Indonesia's major Islamic political parties, with his leadership instrumental in shaping the party's policies and direction over the years.
Kargil Vijay Diwas, celebrated every year in July 26, is a significant day in the history of India. It is observed to pay tribute to the bravery of Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country during the Kargil War of 1999.
It commemorates the country's victory over Pakistan in the Kargil War of 1999 and marks the successful culmination of Operation Vijay. In this operation, the Indian Armed Forces reclaimed the territories in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir that had been infiltrated by Pakistani soldiers and militants.
The Town Official Language Implementation Committee (TOLIC) honoured Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh with the 'Rajbhasha Gaurav Samman' for the year 2023-24. The event was hosted by NTPC and was presided over by Atul Bhatt, Chairman of TOLIC and CMD of RINL.
Atul Bhatt commended TOLIC's efforts and the progressive use of Hindi in Visakhapatnam. He also congratulated the local PSUs and TOLIC for winning the Regional Official Language Award for 2022-23.
Govt. Launches Revamped Scheme to Facilitate Skill Loans of up to Rs. 7.5 Lakh
A revamped 'model skill loan scheme' for skill development courses was launched by the government, with a fresh maximum loan limit of Rs 7.5 lakh — up from the previous amount of Rs 1.5 lakh.
In her budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced that the model skill loan scheme will be revised to facilitate loans up to Rs. 7.5 lakh, with a guarantee from a government-promoted fund. This is expected to help 25,000 students every year.
Launched in 2015, the reversion of the old scheme had been recording a low uptake.
The revised scheme will now allow access to more skill courses, against only national skill qualification framework (NSQF)-aligned courses under the old scheme. Also, non-NSQF courses that are onboarded on the Skill India Digital Hub platform will come under the scheme.
IIT Delhi Launches Certificate Programme in Hybrid Electric Vehicles Design
The Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Delhi introduced a new six-month certificate programme focused on the design of Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs). This program is tailored for engineers specialising in mechanical, electrical, automotive, and related disciplines.
This high-impact 6-month programme is specifically designed for engineers from mechanical, electrical, automotive, and allied areas seeking to establish a strong foundation in EV/HEV technology. It is also tailored for professionals transitioning from traditional internal combustion engine technology to EVs and HEVs. Additionally, it also caters to professionals aiming to fortify their existing expertise in the EV/HEV sector, providing them with the advanced knowledge and skills required to design and develop innovative, sustainable, and efficient hybrid electric vehicles that meet the industry's evolving needs.
MICA Launches New Course on Consumer Technology, Retention Marketing and Campaign Management
With brands shifting their focus to retaining existing customers instead of acquiring new ones, retention marketing and consumer tech has climbed up the priority list for marketers and media managers. Taking the digital leap, MICA Ahmedabad has introduced a course titled 'Tech Tonic – Consumer Tech and Campaign Management' that will equip students with key Consumer Technology, Retention Marketing, and Campaign Management principles.
To design and deliver this course, MICA's Media Entertainment and Sports Management Specialisation (MESM) Area partnered with WebEngage, a leading MarTech platform and Retention Consultancy suite that simplifies user engagement at scale. Industry veterans will lead the eight-session intensive programme which will bridge the gap between traditional marketing theory and the practical application of data analytics in today's competitive consumer tech landscape.
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