APPOINTMENTS

Keir Starmer is set to be the next prime minister of the United Kingdom.

• Sir Keir Starmer was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on July 5, 2024, at Buckingham Palace in London, following his appointment by King Charles III.

• He becomes the 58th Prime Minister in the history of the United Kingdom.

• Buckingham Palace serves as the official residence and workplace of the UK monarch.

• Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party achieved a decisive victory in the recent parliamentary elections.

• His appointment marks a significant shift from the leadership of Rishi Sunak, leader of the Conservative Party, whose party faced a significant defeat in the elections.

• There are 650 constituencies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland—the four countries in the UK.

Hemant Soren took oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand for the third time.

• Hemant Soren recently assumed office as Chief Minister of Jharkhand for the third occasion.

• Hemant Soren, the executive president of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), took the oath of office at Raj Bhavan.

• Governor CP Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Soren.

• This marks his third term as Chief Minister of the state.

• His oath ceremony followed his release on bail by the High Court in a money laundering case.

• Earlier in January 2024, he had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged land scam and money laundering charges.

SPORTS

Kolkata, Kokrajhar, Jamshedpur & Shillong to host 133rd Durand Cup

• The 133rd edition of the Durand Cup is scheduled to commence on July 27, 2024.

• This tournament holds the distinction of being Asia's and India's oldest club-based football competition.

• The final match will take place on August 31, 2024, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata, West Bengal.

• Matches for the 133rd Durand Cup will be hosted in Kolkata, Kokrajhar (Assam), Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), and Shillong (Meghalaya).

• Jamshedpur will make its debut as a host city for Durand Cup matches this year.

• Mohun Bagan Super Giant currently holds the title after defeating East Bengal in last year's final.

• The tournament continues to showcase top-level football talent and is a highlight of India's sporting calendar.

• The Durand Cup was started by the British Armed Forces stationed in India.

• The first Durand Cup was held in Shimla in 1888.

• At present, the Durand Cup is jointly organised by the Indian Army and the All India Football Federation.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCES

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit attended by EAM Jaishankar

• Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

• He conducted discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the concluding day of the summit.

• Over the two-day summit starting from July 3, Jaishankar also engaged in bilateral meetings with counterparts from Tajikistan and Russia, as well as Belarus, the newest member of the SCO, which has now increased its membership to 10 nations.

• Belarus, previously an observer along with Iran, formally joined the SCO last year.

• Established in 2001, the SCO is a political and security alliance comprising 10 countries spanning across Eurasia, including major players like China, India, and Russia.

• Initially founded by Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, it later expanded to include India and Pakistan.

• Afghanistan and Mongolia currently hold observer status within the organization.

• SCO’s dialogue partners encompass countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Egypt, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, and Turkey, enhancing regional cooperation.

• The official working languages of the SCO are Chinese and Russian, reflecting its diverse membership.

• The SCO's headquarters is located in Beijing, China, underlining its strategic significance in Eurasian geopolitics.

• India attained full membership status in the SCO on June 9, 2017, consolidating its role within the organization.

India participated in the 86th Session of the Executive Committee (CCExec) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).

• India, representing Asia, participated in the 86th Session of the Executive Committee (CCExec) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).

• The session took place from July 1 to 5, 2024, at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Headquarters in Rome.

• Shri G. Kamala Vardhan Rao, CEO of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), represented India in this important international gathering.

• The Codex Alimentarius Commission, jointly established by the FAO and WHO, aims to safeguard consumer health and ensure fair practices in global food trade.

• The CCExec reviews proposals for new standards and monitors the progress of standards development.

• During the session, India actively supported the development of standards for key spices like cardamom, turmeric, and vanilla, given India's significant role as a major producer and exporter of these spices.

• India also endorsed a crucial proposal to establish Codex guidelines on food safety considerations linked to the use of recycled materials in food packaging, addressing pressing global concerns such as climate change, environmental protection, and sustainability.

BANKING, ECONOMY AND FINANCE

According to the study, every year, 33,000 people dies by Air pollution.

• A recent study highlighted that annually, 33,000 deaths in India are attributed to air pollution.

• Published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal, the study uncovered alarming trends in urban air quality.

• Even cities previously considered to have relatively clean air, like Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai, reported significant air pollution-related fatalities.

• Researchers analyzed 3.6 million deaths from 2008 to 2019 across sampled cities.

• They correlated this data with PM 2.5 levels, tiny particles known for their harmful health effects.

• Exposure to elevated PM 2.5 levels over short periods was found to reduce life expectancy.

• Even in Shimla, known for its cleaner air compared to other cities, 3.7% of deaths were linked to air pollution, underscoring nationwide health risks.