The General Administration Department (GAD), through G.O. RT No. 1034 issued on June 7 (Friday), appointed Neerabh Kumar Prasad as Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh in place of K.S. Jawahar Reddy, who had since been transferred.

S. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Political Wing of the GAD, issued the G.O. to this effect.

Mr. Reddy, who is scheduled to retire from service this month-end on attaining the age of superannuation, had proceeded on leave, sources in the Secretariat said.

World Oceans Day is an annual affair, observed on June 8. The day aims to create awareness about the importance of preserving and conserving oceanic resources. It also celebrates the many ways humanity and biodiversity depend on oceans. Like all other natural resources, oceans are also bearing the brunt of pollution and overexploitation. Acts like overfishing, oil spills, and dumping of waste in oceans have led to complex issues like ocean pollution, destruction of marine biodiversity, and ocean acidification.

The idea of World Ocean Day was initially proposed in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada at the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 2008, the UN General Assembly passed an official resolution to mark June 8 as World Oceans Day.

Brain tumors are referred to as abnormal growths of cells within or surrounding the brain. These growths can exert pressure on surrounding tissues, nerves, and blood vessels, potentially affecting brain function and overall health. Primary brain tumors have their origin within the brain, while secondary tumors metastasise from cancers elsewhere in the body.

India Today spoke with Dr Narendra Motarwar, Consultant - Neurosurgery, Jupiter Hospital, Pune, to get more insights.

Healthcare providers classify primary tumors based on their composition (glial or non-glial) and behaviour (benign or malignant). Malignant brain tumors, including gliomas and medulloblastomas, are aggressive and can grow rapidly.

The Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army celebrated World Environment Day with numerous “Go Green Initiatives” in North Bengal and Sikkim. A key highlight was the inauguration of a plastic waste management and recycling plant in Changgu, East Sikkim.

This project, part of the Army’s Sadbhavana initiative, aims to improve waste management, promote sustainability, and benefit the local economy.

The plant will transform plastic waste into materials for road construction and bricks, reducing pollution and landfill burden. The initiative also provides employment for local villagers, fostering economic resilience.

The Indian Army is committed to environmental sustainability through various efforts, including solid waste management and the “Apashisht Mukt Sainya Abhiyan” to eliminate army landfills by 2027.

Senior officials and locals praised the Army’s efforts for turning waste into wealth and enhancing community welfare.

South Korea, India, the United States, Japan, and the European Union (EU) have come together to launch an alliance to put joint efforts into building a resilient supply chain in the biopharmaceutical sector, the South Korean presidential office said in Seoul on June 6.

The inaugural meeting of the Biopharmaceutical Alliance, held in San Diego during the Bio International Convention 2024, had representatives from government officials and bio and pharmaceutical companies from the participating countries, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

The participants emphasised the importance of a reliable and sustainable supply chain and agreed to coordinate the respective countries' bio policies, regulations, and research and development support measures.

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' inaugurated the tunnel by blasting the final blast to mark the completion of excavation for the 11.8 kilometer long head race tunnel of the 900 MW Arun-3 Hydroelectric Project in Sankhuwasabha district of Nepal, the Power Ministry said in a press release. The Arun-3 Hydroelectric Project is being constructed by SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company Private Limited (SAPDC).

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister of Nepal said that this success has brought us closer to the goal of providing clean, renewable energy and contributing to the sustainable development of the region. He appreciated the ongoing efforts and reiterated the commitment of the Government of Nepal to complete the Arun-3 Hydroelectric Project on time.

In his address, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' had agreed on a long-term power trade agreement for import of electricity from Nepal last year. He said that the completion of the export-oriented 900 MW Arun 3 hydropower project would be a major achievement for this.

State-owned BHEL on Wednesday said it has secured an order worth over ₹3,500 crore from Adani Power Limited to set up a thermal power project at Raipur in Chhattisgarh.

It has "signed contract agreement signed June 5, supply of equipment (boiler, turbine, generator) and supervision of erection and commissioning for 2x800 MW power project based on Supercritical Technology", BHEL said in an exchange filing.

The order's total worth is more than ₹3,500 crore, excluding the GST, the company added.

The boiler and turbine generator will be manufactured at its Trichy and Haridwar plants, respectively, BHEL said.

Poet and playwright Siddhalinga Pattanashetti has been chosen for the prestigious Gudleppa Hallikeri Award for 2024 by the Gudleppa Hallikeri Memorial Foundation, Hosaritti (Haveri District).

Addressing presspersons in Haveri on Monday, trustee of Gudleppa Hallikeri Memorial Foundation Veeranna Chekki said that the award will be presented to the senior writer at a function to be held on June 6.

Mr. Chekki said that Prof. Pattanashetti will be the 19th recipient of the award. The award comprises a purse of ₹25,000 and a memento.

Two of Bihar’s wetlands have been added to the global list of wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, taking the total number of highly recognised waterlogged ecosystems in the country to 82, a top official said.

“The Nagi and Nakti bird sanctuaries, both located in Bihar’s Jamui district, are now recognised under the Ramsar Convention. These two new wetlands are man-made reservoirs situated in the Jhajha forest range of Jamui. Their catchments feature dry deciduous forests surrounded by hills,” the Secretary of the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (DEFCC) of Bihar, Bandana Preyashi, posted on X.

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCRP) have announced a landmark partnership to introduce a UPI-like real-time payments system in Peru. This collaboration makes Peru the first South American country to adopt the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) technology, showcasing India’s leadership in digital payments.

This strategic partnership will empower BCRP to build a robust and efficient real-time payments platform in Peru. The innovative system will facilitate instant payments between individuals and businesses, reducing reliance on cash transactions and promoting digital payments among Peru’s large unbanked population.