NATIONAL NEWS

Department Of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare and IRRI

• A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between the Department of Agriculture & Farmer Welfare (DA&FW) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) today on commencement of Phase -2 activities of IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC).

• It is to scale up the existing partnership for food and nutrition security in the South Asian region.

• ISARC also set up a Centre of Excellence in Rice Value Addition (CERVA) that includes a modern and sophisticated laboratory with capacity to determine quality and status of heavy metals in grain and straw.
• This plays a crucial role in transferring important traits to popular Indian rice varieties in a shorter time.

The Longest Double-Decker Bridge in Nagpur

• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Maharashtra Metro built the longest double-decker viaduct in the world, measuring 3.14 km in Nagpur.

• The longest viaduct with a flyover for a roadway and piers supporting a single column for a metro line.

• The Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records both list the number of metro stations that have been built on double-decker viaducts.

Adani Group Gets LoI for 5G Services

• The Adani group has secured a letter of intent (LoI) from the department of communications (DoT) to provide telecom services in the Gujarat circle.

• The Unified license will allow the group to provide long-distance call and internet facilities in Gujarat circle.

• In July, Adani Sportsline, the sports arm of the Adani group inked a long-term sponsorship deal with Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

• The company has already stated to participate in the 5G spectrum auctions on July 26 to build a private network for its data usage.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Interpol’s Database on Child Sex Abuse

• India is the 68th nation to sign up for Interpol’s database on child sex abuse.

• India has signed up for Interpol’s international child sexual exploitation (ICSE) database, which would enable it to use audio-visual evidence to connect victims, abusers and crime locations.
• The database helps investigators avoid wasting time and effort by informing them whether a group of photographs has previously been found or recognized in another nation or if it has characteristics with other images.
• The database, which serves as both an intelligence and investigation tool, enables expert detectives to exchange data on incidents of child sexual abuse.

BANKING

IMGC Partners with RBL Bank

• India Mortgage Guarantee Corp. (IMGC) has partnered with RBL Bank to offer mortgage guarantee-backed home loan products for salaried and non-salaried customers.

• This partnership with IMGC will help RBL Bank extend ortgage guarantee-backed home loans to new borrower segments through its network of over 500 branches across the country.

• This collaboration enables Bank to extend its products to a broader customer base while ensuring enhanced risk management.
• It will also allow Bank to increase the tenor of home loans and ensure affordability.
• IMGC has built a significant competitive position by guaranteeing over 85,200 home loans amounting to more than Rs 15,400 crore, through its partnership with 23 lenders including leading banks and housing finance companies.

TATA AIA Life Insurance and City Union Bank

• One of India’s leading life insurance companies, Tata AIA Life Insurance Co. Ltd, announced a strategic alliance with City Union Bank (CUB) to offer life and health insurance solutions to the Bank’s consumers.
• The partnership will help City Union Bank consumers (existing and new) to benefit from Tata AIA Life’s diverse and innovative products and services spanning term insurance, savings and investment, etc.
• Through this association, both partners will be able to promote insurance awareness and financial planning amongst consumers with ease, across physical and digital consumer-facing platforms

SPORTS

Fastest Indian to Take 150 ODI Wickets

• Indian bowler Mohammed Shami created a new record by becoming the fastest Indian bowler to take 150 ODI wickets.
• He surpassed Indian pacers Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar.
• He achieved the feat during the first ODI of India's three-match series against England at Kennington Oval on July 12, 2022 where he took three wickets for just 31 runs.
• Mohammed Shami took a total of 80 matches to reach the landmark of 150 wickets, surpassing Ajit Agarkar who took 97 matches to achieve the feat and Zaheer Khan who took 103 matches.
• Shami also equaled the record of Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan.

ISSF World Cup in South Korea

• In shooting, Mehuli Ghosh and Shahu Tushar Mane bagged India’s second gold medal in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team final at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup stage at Changwon in South Korea.
• They defeated Hungarian pair of Eszter Meszaros and Istvan Pen 17-13.
• The Indian pair of Palak and Shiva Narwal bagged bronze in the category of 10m Air Pistol mixed event.

Gijon Chess Masters Title

• Indian Grand Master D. Gukesh has won the Gijon Chess Masters by defeating GM Alexandr Fier of Brazil.

• It is his fourth title of this year. He scored 8 points to win the 14 th Gijon City Closed tournament in Spain.

• Master Pedro Antonio Gines of Spain came third with six points.
• With this win, GM D. Gukesh has reached to FIDE rating of 2693.

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

Rurban Mission’s Delta Rating

• The Union Ministry of Rural Development has released the delta rating for June.

• Jharkhand came in first nationally in the delta ranking and ninth overall.
• With a composite score of 76.19, Jharkhand topped the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Rurban Mission’s delta rating for June.
• The state saw the largest gain among the 34 states and union territories in its delta ranking score, rising 1.93 points from the previous month.

AWARDS & PRIZES

‘Order of the Rising Sun’ Award by Japan

• Vice Chairman of the Chennai based Sanmar Group Narayanan Kumar has been conferred with the ‘Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star Award.

• The Order of the Rising Sun award is presented by the Emperor of Japan. It was created in 1875.

• It was given in recognition of his contribution towards strengthening economic relations between Japan and India.
• Kumar was honoured by the Consul General of Japan in Chennai, Taga Masayuki.
• Kumar is also the chairman of the Indo-Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He had served the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as its president and was among the ‘Spring 2022 Imperial Decorations recipients’.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Acting President of Sri Lanka

• Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed as acting President after Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives.

• He is also presently serving as the Minister of Finance.

• Earlier he served as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 1993 to 1994, 2001 to 2004, 2015 to 2018 and 2018 to 2019.

OBITUTARY

British Composer Monty Norman

• British composer Monty Norman, who was the man behind the iconic James Bond theme has passed away. He was at the age of 94.
• Norman was hired by producer Albert Cubby Brocccoli to compose a theme for the first James Bond film, ‘Dr. No’ released in 1962.
• His theme for James Bond, as arranged by John Barry, became the theme for the entire franchise.

Noted Social Worker and Padma Shri Awardee Avdhash Kaushal

• Noted social worker and Padma Shri awardee Avdhash Kaushal died following a prolonged illness. He was at the age of87.

• Kaushal founded an NGO named Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra fought for human rights and the conservation of the environment.

• Kaushal is credited with bringing mining activities to an end in Mussoorie in the 1980s.

Renowned Archaeologist Padmashree Enamul Haque

• Eminent archaeologist and historian Dr. Enamul Haque passed away in Dhak, Bangladesh. He was at the age of 85.

• He was a scholar, museologist, cultural activist, freedom fighter, songwriter, and TV personality.

• He served as the professor of national culture and heritage at the Independent University, Bangladesh, and the president, chairman and academic director of the International Centre for Study of Bengal Art.
• He was awarded the Ekushey Padak (the Second highest civilian award in Bangladesh) in 2016.
• In 2020, Haque was also awarded the Padma Shri award (India’s 4th Highest civilian award) for his tremendous contribution to the field of archeology and museology by the Government of India.