Reserve Bank of India(RBI) and Bank for International Settlements (BIS) have launched G20 TechSprint, a global technology competition. RBI and the BIS Innovation Hub have jointly announced the fourth edition of the G20 TechSprint. RBI said that the 2023 TechSprint will focus on developing innovative technology solutions for cross-border payments. The competition is open for developers around the world for submitting application from today to 4th June. The results will be announced at a final event in August or September this year.
 
Shortlisted teams will be invited to develop their solutions over a six-week period and each team will be eligible for a stipend of eight lakh rupees approximately 10,000 US dollar. An independent panel of experts will select the most promising solution to each problem statement from the shortlisted solutions. The winners for each problem statement will receive an award of forty lakh rupees approximately 50,000 US dollar.

In Boxing, Asian and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg) progressed to the pre-quarterfinals of the IBA Men’s World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan today. In the round of 32 bout, Hussamuddin was facing China’s Lyu Ping.  He will next take on Russia’s Savvin Eduard in the pre-quarterfinal on Sunday. Later tonight, Naveen (92 kg) will take on Jeong Jae-min of South Korea.

Tomorrow two Indian boxers will be in action in their round of 32 bout. Akash (67kg) will face China’s Fu Mingke whereas Nishant Dev (71kg) will take on Korea’s Lee Sangmin.

The ongoing tournament is witnessing the participation of 538 boxers, including several Olympic medallists, from 107 countries.

In a stunning display of skill and precision, the Indian archery men and women teams emerged victorious and won 5 Gold medals, 5 Silvers and 2 bronze at Asia Cup-World Ranking Tournament, Stage II in Tashkent.

In the compound women team event, Parneet Kaur, Raginee Markoo and Pragati Defeated Kazakhstan 232- 223 to win gold. In Compound Men team event, team of Amit, Kushal Dalal, and Abhishek Verma beat Hong Kong, 233-226 to lift the yellow metal. In the Compound Mixed Team event, Parneet Kaur and Abhishek Verma- beat Kazakhstan 157 -145 to finish at top of podium. In the Compound Women individual event, all three medals were claimed by Indians. Raginee Markoo won gold defeating compatriot Pragati, who won silver. Parneet Kaur won bronze in the category. In Compound Men individual event, all the three medals were won by Indians.

In Boxing, Asian and Commonwealth games bronze medallist Mohammad Hussamuddin and Naveen Kumar have advanced to the pre-quarter finals of the IBA Men’s World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Yesterday, in the round of 32 bout, Hussamuddin defeated China’s Lyu Ping 5-0 in 57 kg category while Naveen Kumar beat Lee Sangmin of South Korea 5-0 in 92 kg category. Hussamuddin will next take on Russia’s Savvin Eduard while Naveen to face 2021 World Championships bronze medallist Emmanuel Reyes of Spain in the pre-quarterfinals.

Today two Indian boxers will be in action in their round of 32 bout. Akash (67kg) will face China’s Fu Mingke whereas Nishant Dev (71kg) will take on Korea’s Lee Sangmin.     

Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra began his Diamond League title defence with a comfortable win in the season-opening leg in Doha last night. The 25-year-old Chopra, who had pocketed the 2022 Diamond League Final trophy in Switzerland last September, beat a star-studded field with a best throw of 88.67m to begin his season in style. Chopra hit his straps in his first attempt itself with a world-leading throw of 88.67m, which was his fourth career-best effort, to position himself on the top of the pile. He maintained the lead till the end to win the event in his second appearance at the Qatar Sports Club. Czech Republic’s Vadlejch stood second, with Grenada’s Peters finishing third. With this win, Neeraj has also bagged the world lead.

Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will be receiving the first Indian cargo ship at Sittwe Port in Myanmar on 9th of this month. Development of Sittwe Port is part of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project. Once operationalised, the Sittwe port will enable multi-modal transit connectivity with South East Asia. 

The Port has been developed under a framework agreement between India and Myanmar for the construction and operation of a Multimodal Transit Transport Facility on Kaladan River connecting the Sittwe port in Myanmar with Mizoram. The route is likely to unlock tremendous economic potential for the entire Bay of Bengal peninsula.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit France on 14th of July to attend this year’s Bastille Day Parade as Guest of Honour in Paris. Mr. Modi today said he is looking forward to celebrating July 14 and India- France strategic partnership with President of France, Emmanuel Macron and the people of France. Mr. Modi said this in reply to a tweet by the French President in which Mr. Macron said he is looking forward to Mr. Modi's upcoming visit to Paris.

External Affairs Ministry said that to mark this important milestone of 25th anniversary of India-France Strategic Partnership, an Indian armed forces contingent will participate in the Parade alongside their French counterparts. Prime Minister’s visit is expected to herald the next phase in the India-France Strategic Partnership by setting new and ambitious goals for strategic, cultural, scientific, academic, and economic cooperation.

Buddha Purnima is being celebrated today. It not only marks the day when Gautam Buddha was born but also the day when he attained Nirvana under the Mahabodhi tree at Bodh Gaya.  Lord Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama on the full moon day in 563 BC at Lumbini in Nepal. In Hinduism, Buddha is considered as the ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu. His birth anniversary is also known as Vaisakhi Buddha Purnima or Vesak. 

This day is commemorated by Buddhists and Hindus all over the world and is a major festival in countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

India will launch its own heat index next year to quantify the impact of heat on its population and generate impact-based heatwave alerts for specific locations.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) began issuing an experimental heat index for different parts of the country last week, taking into account air temperature and relative humidity to determine how hot it really feels.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on 3rd May 2023, Wednesday distributed the appointment letters on regularisation of 4,400 employees of NDMC at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi.

In February the Union Home Ministry had cleared the proposal of the regularisation of jobs of around 4,400 regular muster roll (RMR) employees of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

Around 12000 employees are currently working in NDMC, out of which around (RMR) 4,500 employees are working at contractual positions.