NATIONAL NEWS

Centre Launches New Mobile Number Series for Service, Transactional Calls

The Centre has launched a new numbering series, 160xxxxxxx, specifically for service or transactional calls.

This initiative aims to help citizens easily identify legitimate calls and curb unsolicited voice calls from telemarketers using 10-digit mobile numbers.

Currently, the 140xxxxxxx series is allocated to telemarketers for promotional, service, and transactional calls.

However, its extensive use for promotional purposes often leads consumers to ignore such calls, resulting in missed important service and transactional communications.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced that the new 160xxxxxxx series will be exclusively used for service and transactional calls by Principal Entities.

This differentiation will help citizens manage their communication more effectively by distinguishing legitimate calls from promotional ones.

The introduction of the 160 series aims to prevent fraudsters from deceiving consumers using regular 10-digit numbers and ensure that important calls are not missed.

This move will enhance the efficiency of communication management for citizens, ensuring they do not miss critical service and transactional calls.

For instance, calls from financial entities such as RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, and IRDA will start from 1601.

 

BANKING

SBI Becomes 7th Company to Cross Rs 8 Lakh Crore Market Capitalisation

India’s largest commercial bank, State Bank of India (SBI), has become the seventh listed company in India to reach Rs eight lakh crore in market capitalisation.

The shares of the State Bank of India hit a new high of Rs 899.55 on the BSE on 3 June 2024.

SBI joins the ranks of Reliance Industries, Tata Consultancy Services, HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, Infosys, and ICICI Bank in achieving this milestone.

The government-owned SBI is India’s largest and most profitable bank. Among Indian banks, SBI has the largest number of branches and ATMs.

It also has the highest number of foreign branches and offices amongst the Indian banks.

Market capitalisation, or M-Cap, refers to the total number of a listed company's free-floating equity shares multiplied by the current average market price of each share.

Jio Financial Services Launches Beta Version of 'JioFinance' App

Jio Financial Services, a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), launched its application – “JioFinance” app (in beta mode), which will offer a range of financial services and will also offer loans against mutual funds among other services in the future.

Key features of the application include instant digital account opening and streamlined bank management with the "Jio Payments Bank Account" feature.

The application is being launched in beta version inviting user input, which can be used for the refinement of the app.

This app seamlessly integrates digital banking, UPI transactions, bill settlements, insurance advisory, and offers a consolidated view of accounts and savings, all in one user-friendly interface.

At present, Aditya Birla Capital offers an array of its financial services on its application – Aditya Birla Capital Digital (ABCD) which was launched in April 2024.

Similarly, Bajaj Finserv also has the Bajaj Finserv App, which offers customers services across lending and investing options.

 

SPORTS

All-Rounder Kedar Jadhav Retires From All Forms of Cricket

39-year-old former Indian all-rounder Kedar Jadhav announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

He is the second former Indian cricketer to announce his retirement from cricket.

Kedar Jadhav, who was part of the 2019 World Cup side, last played an ODI for India against New Zealand in Auckland on February 8, 2020.

Kedar Jadhav played for Maharatsra in domestic cricket and made his international debut against Sri Lanka in 2014 in a One Day International (ODI) played at Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Kedar Jadhav was a middle-order batsman and an off-spinner bowler. He represented India in the ODI and T20 formats of the game, but he never played a Test match.

Kedar scored 1389 runs and took 27 wickets in the 73 ODI matches he played for India. In T20 matches, he played nine matches and scored 122 runs, including one half-century.

In domestic cricket, he played for Maharashtra in 87 First-Class games and scored 6100 runs, 17 centuries, and 23 fifties.

Taiwan Athletics Open 2024

Indian athletes bagged seven medals -three golds, three silvers and one bronze to end their campaign at the Taiwan Athletics Open.

The 2024 Taiwan Athletics Open is a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event which was held at Taiwan's capital city Taipei.

D.P. Manu won the first gold medal at the event for India in the javelin throw. His throw of 81.58 meters earned him the gold medal.

Nayana James of Kerala won the gold medal in the women’s long jump. Nayana jumped a distance of 6.43 meters to finish ahead of the current Asian champion, Japan’s Sumire Hata.

Ankesh Chaudhary won the gold medal in men’s 800 meters while another Indian, Somnath Chauhan, won the silver medal.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

New President of Iceland

Halla Tomasdottir, a businesswoman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of B Team, has been elected as the 7th President of Iceland.

Tomasdottir will assume office on August 1, 2024, replacing the current President Gudni Johannesson, who did not seek re-election after two-four-year terms in office.

She will be the 2nd woman to hold the office after Vigdis Finnbogadottir, who was the first woman in the world to be democratically elected as president in 1980.

Halla Tomasdottir received 34.3% of the vote while Iceland's former Prime Minister Katrina Jakobsdottir won 25.2%.

Tomasdottir is also the founder of Audur Capital, an investment firm created in 2007 aimed at promoting feminine values in the financial sector.

Her campaign focused on issues such as the effects of social media on the mental health of youth, tourism development, and the role of artificial intelligence.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Pakistan Launches Multi-Mission Communication Satellite - PAKSAT MM1

Pakistan launched a multi-mission communication satellite named PAKSAT MM1 for faster internet connectivity with the help of its all-weather ally China, making it Islamabad’s second satellite to be sent into orbit within a month.

The Multi-Mission Communication Satellite,, was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China’s southwestern province of Sichuan.

The satellite would “provide the best internet facilities across Pakistan” and help improve television broadcasts, cellular phones and broadband services.

Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) stated that the satellite’s launch was a part of the National Space Programme 2047.

The PakSat-MM1 is a communications satellite, leased to the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, and by the Hong Kong based Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company (AsiaSat).

It is originally known as AsiaSat 4.

This high power multi-mission satellite will provide services in C, Ku and Ka Bands.

AsiaSat 4 was built by Hughes Space and Communications, for US$220 million, which by the time of its launch had become part of Boeing Satellite Systems.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

Every year on June 4th, the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression acknowledges the pain that children around the world suffer.

In 1982, the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression was established on August 19.

In 1997, U.N.O.D.C. was established.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the agency tasked with ending violence against children, was formed.

In 2018, the Unprecedented Refugee Crisis out broke and this year marks the first time the number of people including children fleeing war, persecution, and conflict exceeds 70 million, according to the U.N. refugee agency.

In 2019, The Case of Disappearing Human Rights Defenders appeared.

The United Nations tracked 357 killings and 30 enforced disappearances of human rights defenders, journalists, and trade unionists in 47 countries.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

Scripps National Spelling Bee

Bruhat Soma, a 12-year-old Indian-American seventh-grader from Florida, emerged victorious at the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Continuing the tradition of excellence within the small ethnic community, Bruhat demonstrated exceptional spelling prowess by correctly spelling 29 words in the tiebreaker round, earning him over $50,000 in cash and prizes.

The 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee witnessed a thrilling tiebreaker between Bruhat and Faizan Zaki.

In a lightning round, Bruhat showcased his remarkable abilities by spelling 29 words correctly in just 90 seconds, outshining Faizan, who managed 20 correct spellings.

Bruhat's victory comes after participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee for the third time.