World Zoonosis Day 2023

World Zoonoses Day is observed annually on July 6th to honor the achievements of Louis Pasteur, a renowned French biologist. On this day in 1885, Pasteur administered the inaugural rabies vaccine, marking a significant milestone in zoonotic disease prevention. The observance of World Zoonoses Day serves as a platform to raise awareness about different zoonotic diseases and educate people about preventive measures.

What is a Zoonotic Disease?

Zoonotic diseases are illnesses that can be transmitted from animals or insects to humans. While some infections may not harm the animals, they can cause sickness in humans. These diseases can range from minor, short-term ailments to severe, life-altering conditions. It has been reported that approximately 60% of human infections originate from animals or insects.

SAFF Championship 2023 Final

The Indian men’s football team emerged victorious in a thrilling penalty shootout against Kuwait 5-4 in a thrilling penalty shootout, securing the SAFF Championship 2023 title at Bengaluru’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Ranked 100th in the latest FIFA rankings, India triumphed in their ninth SAFF Championship out of 14 editions. This victory marked their second consecutive triumph after winning the Intercontinental Cup the previous month. India, serving as the hosts, remained undefeated throughout the SAFF Championship 2023. They defeated Pakistan and Nepal while drawing against Kuwait in the group stage. In the semifinals, they overcame Lebanon in a penalty shootout and replicated the same feat against Kuwait in a nail-biting final. In addition to the medals, the team was awarded a cash prize of USD 50,000, equivalent to INR 41 lakh. Kuwait football team received the award for finishing runners-up in the SAFF Championship 2023. While all the players received medals, the team also got a cheque of US Dollar 25,000 which is around 20 lakh and about 50 thousands in Indian currency.

Cricketer Ajit Agarkar appointed chairman of Senior Men’s Selection Committee

The Board of Control of Cricket (BCCI) has appointed Ajit Agarkar as the chairman of the Senior Men’s Cricket Selection Committee. The decision was made by the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), consisting of Sulakshana Naik, Ashok Malhotra, and Jatin Paranjape. After interviewing several applicants for the position the CAC unanimously decided to appoint Ajit Agarkar as the chairman.

Shreyanka Patil becomes first Indian cricketer to be part of Caribbean Premier League

Young spin bowler Shreyanka Patil has made history by becoming the first Indian cricketer to be signed for the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL). Interestingly, Patil is also the first Indian player to be offered a contract in an overseas league before making her international debut. Shreyanka Patil made a name for herself when she was selected for Royal Challenger’s Bangalore (RCB) in the inaugural edition of the WPL. In the 7 matches she played for RCB, the all-rounder took 6 wickets and scored 62 runs. Patil has been selected for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the WCPL, which will be held from 31 August to 10 September.

Lallianzuala Chhangte wins AIFF Men’s Footballer of the Year award for 2022-23

Indian football team midfielder Lallianzuala Chhangte was named the AIFF Men’s Footballer of the Year for 2022-23 while Manisha Kalyan won her second consecutive Women’s Footballer of the Year award. The 26-year-old Lallianzuala Chhangte beat Nandhakumar Sekar and Naorem Mahesh Singh of East Bengal to win the award.

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Schedule

The United States, the current world champions, has been placed in Group E for the tournament. Their group includes the Netherlands, Portugal, and Vietnam. This group is expected to be highly competitive, as the Netherlands has consistently performed well in women’s football, and Portugal has been making significant strides in recent years. Vietnam will also bring their own unique style to the competition. England, the reigning European champions, has been drawn into Group D. Their group comprises China, Denmark, and Haiti. England will be aiming to showcase their talent and continue their strong form in international tournaments. China and Denmark have traditionally been strong teams in women’s football, while Haiti will be looking to make an impact in their World Cup debut.

132nd Durand Cup tournament to be organized in Kolkata

The 132nd edition of the Durand Cup, India’s oldest football tournament is scheduled to commence at Kolkata from 03 August to 03 September 2023. The tournament’s Trophy Tour, which was flagged off on June 30, 2023, marks a significant milestone in the history of the Durand Cup. With the participation of foreign teams after a hiatus of 27 years, the upcoming edition is poised to be an extraordinary spectacle for football enthusiasts.

India’s first ‘Police Drone Unit’ launched in Chennai

The Greater Chennai City Police (GCP) has launched ‘Police Drone Unit’ for aerial surveillance over vast areas and quick detection of criminal activities. The project, which costs approximately Rs 3.6 crore according a press release by the GCP, was inaugurated by outgoing Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) C Sylendra Babu, in the presence of Chennai Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal at Besant Avenue, Adyar.

SBI appoints Kameswar Rao Kodavanti as CFO

State Bank of India, the largest lender in the country, has recently announced the appointment of Kameshwar Rao Kodavanti as its Chief Financial Officer as Charanjit Surinder Singh Attra, the former CFO, resigned from the post. Kodavanti, who has been associated with SBI since 1991, brings a wealth of experience in banking, forex, finance, and accounting to his new role.

India launches Bharat 6G Alliance

India has taken a significant stride forward in the field of telecommunications, with the acquisition of over 200 patents for 6G technology. The announcement was made by the Communications and IT Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, during the launch of the Bharat 6G Alliance in New Delhi. The alliance, consisting of industry, academia, and the central government, aims to spearhead all 6G-related initiatives in a systematic and methodical manner.

Lt Gen M U Nair appointed as new National Cybersecurity Coordinator

The government has named Lt Gen M U Nair as the newly appointed National Cybersecurity Coordinator (NCSC). Lt Gen Nair, who took on the role of the 28th Signal Officer-in-Chief in July 2022, brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the areas of cyber warfare, signal intelligence, and communication and information technology. Before assuming the position of NCSC, Lt Gen Nair held the position of commandant at the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering. His appointment follows the footsteps of his predecessor, Lt Gen Rajesh Pant, a seasoned veteran from the Corps of Signals of the Indian Army, who previously served as the NCSC chief. Lt Gen Nair now becomes the third individual to hold the position of cyber security chief, succeeding Lt Gen Pant and the inaugural chief, Gulshan Rai.

NMDC wins ASSOCHAM Awards for Mineral Development and Employer Brand

India’s mining major, NMDC (National Mineral Development Corporation), was honored with two prestigious awards at the ASSOCHAM Business Excellence Awards 2023 held in Kolkata. The company received the ‘Mineral Development Award’ and the ‘Employer Brand of the Year Award’ in recognition of its significant contributions to the mining sector and its exemplary human resources practices. The awards were presented by Anurag Srivastava, IAS, Secretary of the Industry, Commerce, and Enterprise Department, Government of West Bengal, during the Indian Mining and Minerals Conclave 2023.

Iran Becomes Full Member of SCO

Iran has officially become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) during an India-hosted virtual summit of the influential grouping. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the people of Iran on this significant occasion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the people of Iran on Iran’s full membership in the SCO. He also welcomed Belarus’ SCO membership, as indicated by the signing of the Memorandum of Obligations.

China’s Qu-Dongyu re-elected unopposed as head of FAO

The 43rd session of conference of United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) held at FAO’s headquarter, Rome began on Saturday i.e. 1st July, 2023. In this conference of FAO Qu-Dongyu was re-elected as a Director General of United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In 2019, Qu-Dongyu was elected as the head of the UN agency and he is the first Chinese national to serve in the position.