NATIONAL NEWS

India’s First Brain Health Clinic

• Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar inaugurated India’s first brain health clinic in Bengaluru.

• It has been launched to diagnose, treat and follow up patient with common neurological disorders.

• It was launched under the Karnataka Brain Health Initiative at Jayanagar General Hospital.
• It aims to train doctors to diagnose brain health issues.

Tripura Signs MoU with North-East Space Application Centre

• Tripura’s Department of Science, Technology and Environment (DSTE) and North Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

• The main objective of the MoU is for extensive utilization of Space Technology along development planning in various sectors across the state.

• The MoU was also signed for satellite mapping for resources mobilisation and utilisation including for early-warning systems for natural disasters.
• 21 projects were proposed by DSTE to the NESAC while 20 innovative projects worth Rs 4.23 crore have been approved under various departments of Tripura.
• These 20 projects will be completed within three years next.

SAP Labs India Partners with NeGD

• SAP Labs India has partnered National e-Governance Division (NeGD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

• The aim is to launch SAP Centre for Digital Government (SCDG) in Bengaluru for improving digital government capabilities in the country.

• It will focus on capacity building, programme management and implementation of Digital India’s projects and initiatives undertaken by the ministries and their departments both at central and state levels.
• The collective initiative of National e-Governance Division and SAP will support innovation and capacity building to enable the next wave of Digital India’s inclusive and transformational initiatives.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Panattoni to Invest USD 200mn Logistics Parks in India

• The US-based Panattoni will invest USD 200 million (Rs 1,597 crore) in India to develop four industrial and logistics parks across major cities as it sees huge growth potential amid rising demand for warehouses.
• The demand for quality spaces to set up industries and warehousing in an integrated park, with provision of all basic infrastructure, has been rising in India from third-party logistics, e-commerce and manufacturing sectors.
• The Indian venture, Panattoni India Development Pvt Ltd is headquartered in Bengaluru.
• The company is holding discussions with land owners to purchase around 250 acres of land in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Pune to develop four projects in the first phase of the India venture.

First Bangladeshi to Scale Peak K2

• Mountaineer Wasifa Nazreen became the first Bangladeshi to scale the second highest mountain peak K2 in Pakistan.
• She climbed the 8611 metres or 28,251 feet high K2 -mountain peak and returned to the base camp as a summit is technically complete when the climber returns back to the base camp from the peak.
• Wasifa Nazreen climbed Mount Everest in 2012. She is the second woman from Bangladesh to do so.

BANKING

ADB Approves USD96 mn Loan for Himachal Pradesh

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 96.3 million (Rs 770 crore) loan to fund safe drinking water and sanitation project in Himachal Pradesh.
• The loan has been provided under the Himachal Pradesh Rural Drinking Water Improvement and Livelihood Project.
• The ADB project will connect 75,800 households to the service, providing uninterrupted water supply to about 370,000 residents across 10 districts.
• The project meets the objectives of the Jal Jeevan Mission, a national flagship programme of Government of India, which aims to provide piped water to all rural households by 2024.
• The project will upgrade water supply infrastructure and strengthen institutional capacity to ensure safe, sustainable and inclusive rural water supply and sanitation services.

Canara Bank Launches New Mobile Banking App

• State-owned Canara Bank launched its mobile banking super app, ‘Canara ai1’ which is a one-stop solution having over 250 features fulfilling all the banking needs of customers.

• The app eliminates the need of having multiple mobile apps for availing different specific services.

• The app, which is available in 11 languages will provide solution to all banking and lifestyle needs such as compare and shop, utility bill payments, cab booking, payments, loan repayment and investment services like mutual fund, insurance and demat services.

• It also supports various social security schemes such as PPF account, Sukanya Samruddhi Accounts, Senior Citizens Savings account and Kisan Vikas Patra, PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY along with nominee management.

WhatsApp Banking Services

• India’s largest public sector lender, State Bank of India has launched its WhatsApp Banking services to make banking easier for its customers.

• SBI customers can avail certain banking services using WhatsApp, which may come in handy for many as they do not have to download the app or go to the ATM anymore.

• SBI customers can get their Account Balance and view Mini Statement on WhatsApp.

• State Bank of India will also offer WhatsApp-based services to its credit card holders through the platform under the name of SBI Card WhatsApp connect.
• Through this, SBI credit card customers can check their account summary, reward points, outstanding balance and make card payments.
• SBI WhatsApp Banking services will be available to customers when they send a message saying ‘Hi’ on the number 919022690226.

SPORTS

Swiss Open 2022

• Norway’s Casper Ruud won 2022 Swiss open held in Gstaad, Switzerland.

• He defeated Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the final by 4-6, 7-6 and 6-2.

• It was his 9th Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Title.

• The Swiss Open is Ruud’s 3rd title in 2022, the other two titles are Buenos Aires and Geneva Open.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Ex US Defence Secretary Honoured for Strengthening Indo-US Ties

• Former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has been honoured by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) for his role in strengthening ties between India and US.

• The USISPF presented global leadership and public service awards to those persons who have been instrumental in strengthening ties between the US and India.

• Along with Naravane, former US Defence Secretary General Jim Mattis has also been awarded the public service award.

• As Chief of Staff of the Indian Army, Gen Naravane helped to modernize the Indian army, along with improving defence partnerships and growing interoperability between the US and India.

• As Defence Secretary, General Mattis worked to get India as a strategic partner with the US.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Three Books By DPD

• Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Anurag Thakur released three books which was published by Directorate of Publications Division.

• Minister presented the first copy of the books to President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind in presence of Vice President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, President-elect Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

• The three books are Moods, Moments and Memories - Former Presidents of India (1950-2017) A Visual History, First Citizen - Pictorial Record of President Ram Nath Kovind's Term and Interpreting Geometries - Flooring of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Drowning Prevention Day

• World Drowning Prevention Day is celebrated every year on 25 July.
• The main purpose of the day is to encourage individuals, governments, UN agencies and civil society organisations to collaborate and provide critical measures to prevent drowning deaths.
• The first-ever World Drowning Prevention Day was commemorated in 2021.
• The United Nations General Assembly recognized and passed a resolution for “Global drowning prevention” in April 2021.

Kargil Vijay Diwas

• Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on 26 July.
• Kargil Vijay Diwas or Kargil Victory Day is the celebration of India’s historic win against Pakistan on July 26, 1999.
• During this war, the Indian Army evicted Pakistani intruders and recaptured Tiger Hill and other posts as a part of ‘Operation Vijay’.

OBITUTARY

Oscar Nominated Director Bob Rafelson

• Bob Rafelson, the Oscar-nominated director best known for producing classics like Easy Rider and The Last Picture Show and creator of The Monkees has passed away. He died at the age of 89.
• Born in New York in 1933, Rafelson began his career in the entertainment industry as a story editor in 1959.
• After moving to Hollywood in 1962, he took a job as an associate producer on TV shows and films.
• In 1971, Rafelson received Oscar nominations for Five Easy Pieces for Best Picture and Screenplay.

Renowned Marathi writer Anant Yashwant Khare

• Renowned Marathi writer Anant Yashwant Khare, better known as Nanda Khare, passed away in Pune. He was at the age of 76.
• Mr Khare wrote 19 books on various topics like science, sociology and geography with some of his most noted works being ‘Antajichi Bakhar’, ‘Bakhar Antakalachi’ and ‘Udya’.
• Mr. Khare was offered the Sahitya Akademi award for his novel 'Udya' in 2020 but he refused.
• In 2010, he received the state government’s Bhai Madhavrao Bagal Award for his book ‘Kahani Manav Pranyachi’.
• He received numerous awards from foundations like Granthali, Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh, Lokmangal and Shabd: The Book Gallery.
• He was a member of the Marathi Science Council.