NATIONAL NEWS

Rajasthan Launches Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Poverty-Free Village Scheme

Rajasthan government launched the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Poverty-Free Village Scheme, aiming to eliminate poverty in 5,000 villages.

The initiative focuses on financial aid and employment support to make rural families self-reliant and economically empowered.

Selected families living below the poverty line (BPL) will receive up to ₹1 lakh to start small businesses or income-generating work.

Women in self-help groups (SHGs) will get ₹15,000 per family to enhance their income activities.

Families that have moved above the poverty line through their own efforts will be awarded ₹21,000, directly transferred to their verified bank accounts. So far, 17,891 out of 22,400 accounts have been verified.

These cards will be provided to families that have become self-reliant, recognizing their economic progress.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

A New 'America Party’ Launched by World’s Richest Man Elon Musk

The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has announced the establishment of a new political party named ‘America Party’ on his social media X handle.

The announcement of Elon Musk came after American President Donald Trump signed into law his self-styled "big and beautiful" tax cut and spending bill.

The American political system has been dominated by two major parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Although other parties exist in the United States, they are not politically significant.

Many analysts in the United States believe that Elon Musk played a crucial role in Donald Trump's re-election in 2024 by spending millions of dollars on his campaign and utilising his social media platform, now known as X (formerly Twitter), in Trump's favour.

Elon Musk was appointed as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by Donald Trump. The Trump administration established DOGE to reduce government spending and shrink the substantial American government deficit.

President Donald Trump, who belongs to the Republican party, has called Elon Musk's formation of a new political party ridiculous and said that America has a two-party system, and third parties have never succeeded in the country.

 

BANKING

Colombia and Uzbekistan Become New Members of New Development Bank

Colombia and Uzbekistan have officially joined the New Development Bank (NDB), expanding the membership of the multilateral lender known as the BRICS Bank.

The announcement was made following the 10th meeting of the NDB's Board of Directors, ahead of the 17th BRICS Summit.

With the addition of Colombia and Uzbekistan, the NDB's total membership has increased to 11 countries.

The NDB was established in 2015 by the BRICS nations to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging market economies and developing countries.

The bank is headquartered in Shanghai, China.

The NDB has an initial authorised capital of USD 100 billion, divided into one million shares with a par value of USD 100,000 each.

Each founding BRICS country subscribed to 100,000 shares, totaling USD 10 billion each, which represents 18.98% of total subscribed capital per country.

Among non-BRICS members, Egypt holds 2.27%, Bangladesh 1.79%, and United Arab Emirates 1.06% of the subscribed capital.

All Indian Post Offices to Accept UPI Digital Payments

The Department of Posts will enable all Indian post offices to accept digital payments through UPI at their counters by August 2025.

This initiative is part of IT 2.0, a major overhaul of IT infrastructure incorporating dynamic QR code-based payment systems for faster, safer, and easier postal transactions.

The Department of Posts has played a key role in financial inclusion through products like India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) but previously lacked digital payment acceptance at counters, limiting convenience for over 500 million consumers.

A pilot rollout has started in the Karnataka postal circle, with successful QR-based bookings at Mysore Head Office, Bagalkot Head Office, and subordinate branches.

 

DEFENCE

India and Japan to Launch ‘Jaa Mata’ Coast Guard Drill Off Chennai Coast

The Indian Coast Guard and the Japanese Coast Guard will conduct a joint exercise, codenamed Jaa Mata (meaning "see you later" in Japanese), off the coast of Chennai.

The Japan Coast Guard will be represented by its ship, Itsukushima, which arrived at Chennai Port on 7th July 2025.

The Japanese Coast Guard ship Itsukushima is on a Global Ocean Voyage Training mission, during which it is making port calls in various friendly countries.

The visit of the Japanese Coast Guard Ship is a part of the Memorandum of Cooperation signed in 2006 between the Indian Coast Guard and the Japanese Coast Guard to strengthen the maritime partnership between India and Japan.

The Japanese Coast Guard Ship Itsukushima will be in Chennai from June 7 to 12, 2025.

The aim is to promote and strengthen the relationship between the personnel of the two Coast Guards, reciprocal visits will be made by the Indian and Japanese Coast Guards to each other's ships.

There will also be cultural and professional interactions between the two Coast Guards.

They will also conduct a training exercise code-named Jaa Mata.

First Woman Fighter Pilot in Indian Navy

Sub-Lieutenant Astha Poonia became the first woman to be inducted into the fighter stream of the Indian Navy, marking a major milestone in gender inclusivity in combat roles.

She received the "Wings of Gold" from Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Air), on 3 July 2025 at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam.

Poonia completed the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course alongside Lieutenant Atul Kumar Dhull.

The Ministry of Defence highlighted this as a pivotal moment for naval aviation and women officers in the armed forces.

On the same day, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved 10 capital acquisition proposals worth approximately ₹1.05 trillion.

Key procurements include indigenously developed Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAMs), naval vessels, armoured recovery vehicles, electronic warfare systems, and an integrated common inventory management system for the tri-services.

 

RANKS, INDICES & REPORTS

NITI Aayog NER SDG Index Report 2023–24

The Hnahthial district of Mizoram has been ranked as the top district among the 121 districts of the eight northeastern states in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets.

The Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh was ranked 121st.

The NITI Aayog revealed the performance of the districts of the North Eastern states in its second edition of the North Eastern Region (NER) District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index Report (2023-24).

The NITI Aayog released its report in New Delhi on July 7, 2025.

The first edition of the NER District SDG Index Report 2021–22 was released on 26 August 2021.

The North Eastern Region (NER) District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index Report (2023-24) was prepared by the NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in India provided technical support in preparing the report.

The NER District SDG Index assesses the performance of selected districts in the eight northeastern states—Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Tripura, and Meghalaya—on the SDGs and their corresponding targets.

The index has a maximum score of 100 and a minimum score of zero.

The Index is based on NITI Aayog's SDG India Index.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations in 2015, setting 17 goals to eliminate poverty, ensure quality education, promote gender equality, and achieve other objectives by 2030.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Honoured with ‘Key to the City of Buenos Aires’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the ‘Key to the City of Buenos Aires’, marking a symbolic gesture of trust and friendship during his official two-day visit to Argentina the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 57 years.

The recognition highlights his efforts to strengthen India–Argentina relations.

The ‘Key to the City’ was presented by Jorge Macri, Chief of the City Government of Buenos Aires, acknowledging PM Modi’s role in boosting bilateral ties.

PM Modi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore by visiting their statues in Buenos Aires and honoured General Jose de San Martin, Argentina’s national hero, at Plaza San Martin.

Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

In a landmark moment for Indian cinema, Deepika Padukone has been selected to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, making her the first Indian actress to be honoured with this prestigious international recognition.

The announcement was made, in Hollywood.

Deepika Padukone becomes the first Indian actress to receive a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, showcasing the growing influence of Indian talent on the global stage.

She is among the 35 personalities chosen for the Walk of Fame Class of 2026, which includes Miley Cyrus, Timothee Chalamet, Emily Blunt, Rachel McAdams, Gordon Ramsay, and Marion Cotillard.

Peter Roth, Chairman of the selection committee, stated that the chosen individuals have made significant contributions to global entertainment.

Deepika entered Hollywood with the film ‘XXX: Return of Xander Cage’, opposite Vin Diesel, marking her debut in the international film industry.

She gained global attention with her presence at high-profile events such as the Met Gala and Cannes Film Festival, building her image as an international icon.

Deepika was included in TIME magazine’s list of 100 most influential people, further validating her global stature.

 

SPORTS

D Gukesh Wins Rapid Chess Title at SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz 2025

Indian Grandmaster and World Chess Champion D Gukesh clinched the rapid title at the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz 2025 tournament in Zagreb, Croatia, scoring 14 points out of 18, finishing ahead of elite players like Duda and Magnus Carlsen.

Gukesh showcased brilliant form across three days, with five consecutive wins.

On the final day, he drew with Anish Giri and Ivan Saric, before defeating Wesley So, securing the top spot in the rapid section.

R Praggnanandhaa scored 9 points, with a win over Saric and draws against Wesley So and Duda.

 

OBITUTARY

Ex-Nigeria Goalkeeper Peter Rufai

Peter Rufai, former Nigeria goalkeeper, passed away at the age of 61.

He was instrumental in Nigeria’s victory at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.

Rufai had a 20-year playing career, representing clubs in Portugal, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

He was part of Nigeria’s 1994 FIFA World Cup squad in the USA, which brought global recognition to Nigerian football.

Rufai also played in the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

He was the first Nigerian goalkeeper to score a goal in an international match during a 1993 AFCON qualifier against Ethiopia

Rufai was the first Nigerian player from a royal family and earned over 60 caps for the Super Eagles.