Daily Current Affairs- 1 July

Today's Current Affairs 1st July 2023

INTERNATIONAL

New Zealand becomes first country to ban thin plastic bans for fresh produce from supermarkets

• Beginning Saturday, New Zealand will become the first country to ban the thin plastic bags that supermarket customers use to collect their fruit and vegetables.
• The new ban will also extend to plastic straws and silverware, as the government expands a campaign against single-use plastics it started in 2019 when it banned the thicker plastic shopping bags that customers used to carry home their grocery items. These days, most customers bring their own reusable tote bags to stores.
• Officials estimate that on average, each New Zealander sends more than three-quarters of a ton of waste to landfills every year.
• CALIFORNIA SENATE APPROVES MEASURE THAT COULD MANDATE SCHOOLS TO PLANT TREES TO COOL DOWN OUTSIDE AREAS
• "New Zealand produces too much waste, too much plastic waste," said Associate Environment Minister Rachel Brooking.
• Brooking said the 2019 bag ban had already prevented more than 1 billion plastic bags from being used in New Zealand, and the new ban on thin bags would add a further reduction of 150 million bags per year.

SPORTS

BCCI announces Dream11 as new lead sponsor for Team India; replaces Byju's

• As Team India gears up for the first Test series against West Indies, the Board of Control of Cricket (BCCI) announced the change in the Indian cricket team's lead sponsor. The fantasy gaming platform Dream11 has replaced the ed-tech platform Byju as the next lead sponsor for Team India. The change in lead sponsor comes ahead of crucial Test series against West Indies which will be the first task for Team India in the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle.
• About: Dream11 - Dream11 is an Indian fantasy sports platform that allows users to play fantasy cricket, hockey, football, kabaddi, handball, basketball, volleyball, rugby, futsal, American football and baseball. In April 2019, Dream11 became the first Indian fantasy sport company to become a unicorn.

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Gernot Dollner succeeds Markus Duesmann as Chairman and CEO of Audi

• German luxury car brand Audi has announced that Gernot Dollner will take over from Markus Duesmann as Chairman of the Board of Management, effective September 1, 2023.
• Manfred Doss, Chairman of Audi’s Supervisory Board said, “I would like to thank Markus Duesmann for all the important work he has done during his tenure at Audi. He has brought great foresight and vision to planning and driving forward key strategic decisions, including, first and foremost, the electrification strategy. Audi will be able to build further on these cornerstones in the future
• Dollner holds a degree in mechanical engineering. He joined Volkswagen as a Ph.D. candidate in 1993 and subsequently served in a number of management roles at Porsche, including as head of Concept Development and head of the Panamera Series. Since 2021, he has overseen the Volkswagen Group’s Product and Group Strategy and the General Secretariat.

TS Singh Deo appointed as Chhattisgarh’s deputy chief minister 

• Chhattisgarh minister TS Singh Deo will be the deputy chief minister with the ruling Congress on Wednesday clearing his appointment months ahead of the assembly elections
• According to a party statement issued here, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has approved the proposal for the appointment of Singh Deo as the deputy chief minister in Chhattisgarh.
• About: TS Singh Deo - Tribhuvaneshwar Saran Singh Deo or T. S. Singh Deo is an Indian politician from Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, India. He is current and 1st Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. He is also the current titular Maharaja of Surguja, with headquarters at Ambikapur. He was the last mentor to sit on the throne of Surguja

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Doctor's Day: India 

• India celebrates National Doctors Day every year on 1 July in recognition of the valuable contribution of doctors and other medical professionals towards our nation-building. The day aims to recognize and honor the contributions of physicians to the well-being of society and to create awareness about the important role they play in saving lives and promoting public health.
• History - National Doctors Day is observed to commemorate the birth and death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, one of India's most renowned physicians and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal. He was a highly respected doctor, a visionary statesman, and a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
• Theme - This year, National Doctors Day will be celebrated on the theme “Celebrating Resilience and Healing Hands." The theme aims to recognize the valuable efforts our medical professionals contributed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Canada Day

• Canada is set to celebrate Canada Day 2023 with celebrations planned across the country. The day marks the country's confederation, which brought together the three provinces into a single Dominion within the British Empire in 1867. The day is celebrated with excitement and joy on 1 July as on this date Canada became a self-governing nation and a Constitution was enacted.
• Why Canada Day is celebrated? - Canada Day commemorates the anniversary of the enactment of the Constitution Act, of 1867. It is a significant occasion for Canadians as it marks the country's confederation, which brought together the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Province of Canada (which was divided into Ontario and Quebec) into a single Dominion within the British Empire.
• Canada Day is an occasion to celebrate Canadian heritage, culture, and achievements. The day typically includes a variety of festivities, events, and traditions that highlight the diversity and unity of Canada. In many cities and towns, Canada Day celebrations feature parades, concerts, fireworks, cultural performances, and outdoor activities.

National Postal Worker Day

• National Postal Worker Day 2023: The special day dedicated to the hardships of the postal workers of the postal service department is celebrated every year. This is the day to respect their hard work and the extra mile that they go, literally, to ensure that we receive our letters on time. Before the age of telephones and the internet came in, the world heavily relied on letters for communication. Be it casual or formal communication, or reaching out to families from faraway lands, letters were the only way to communicate. The world depended heavily on the postal workers for the timely delivery of their letters to their loved ones, offices and families.
• History - In 1997, a postal carrier in the Seattle area started National Postal Worker Day to respect the efforts of his employees. Since then, National Postal Worker Day has been celebrated every year.
• Significance - The postal service is an outdoor job and brings with it its own set of challenges. From working in scorching heat to pouring rain, the postal workers ensure timely delivery of communication. This is the day to acknowledge their efforts and respect all that they do for us. Even though technology has made things easier over the last few years, it also brings the risk of malware and hacking. Postal service is a trusted form of sharing communication and ensures safe delivery of letters, without risks.

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

Tata AIA partners with WhatsApp, PayU to introduce industry's first premium payment feature

• Tata Group-backed life insurance arm, Tata AIA on Wednesday introduced digital payments via WhatsApp and Unified Payment Interfaces. This newly added payment option is first-of-its-kind in the insurance industry and offers an instant premium payment facility through WhatsApp and UPI-enabled payment option
• For easy use for both tech and non-tech-savvy consumers, it also offers a hassle-free premium payment experience.
• Through the new feature, policyholders can pay premiums digitally and receive a quick premium payment confirmation & acknowledgment.

Nasscom Signs MOU with MIDAS and MAG As Its First UK Launchpad to Help Indian Tech SMEs

• Nasscom has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with MIDAS (Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency) and MAG (Manchester Airports Groups) to promote innovation, investment, and technological exchange between Greater Manchester, the UK, and India.
• This MoU will lead to the establishment of the first Nasscom launchpad in the UK, following Canada. The arrangement will provide small Indian tech companies, interested in setting up their presence in Greater Manchester, to have access to 180 days of rent-free office space within offices based at Manchester Airport, where a number of tech-focused companies are already based.
• The companies will also be assisted with eco-system connects, introductions across stakeholders, and other hand-holding mechanisms to aid in “Faster Go-To-Market”. Nasscom will actively promote the proposition among its membership base.
• The MoU is an outcome of Nasscom’s visit to the UK in September 2022, supported by the Department of Business and Trade, Govt of UK, when several companies showed interest in setting up their businesses in Manchester. About seven Indian companies will be setting up their operations in the first phase of this pilot project.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Mary Kom Named Global Indian Icon at UK-India Awards 

• Boxing champion Mary Kom received the esteemed Global Indian Icon of the Year award at the prestigious UK-India Awards held in Windsor, located in south-eastern England.
• In a memorable gala ceremony on Thursday night, the 40-year-old legendary athlete, who also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, shared her remarkable 20-year journey filled with dedication and unwavering commitment to the sport of boxing.
• She graciously accepted the award from the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, expressing her gratitude and reflecting on the tremendous sacrifices she has made in pursuit of her boxing career.
• The awards, now in their fifth year, recognise outstanding contributions of leaders in business, professional services, government, culture and social impact, highlighting their remarkable achievements in strengthening bilateral ties.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

Kotak Bank partners with NPCI to offrer Rupay Credit Cards with UPI

• Kotak Mahindra Bank, in collaboration with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has introduced the facility of linking its RuPay Credit Card to UPI (Unified Payments Interface) apps. Customers are no longer needed to carry their physical credit card.
• Customers of Kotak Mahindra Bank can transact through UPI apps like Google Pay, PhonePay, and Paytm, following the linkage. They can choose from seven RuPay credit cards and scan QR codes or initiate transaction on POS (Point of Sale) through out the country.
• Kotak RuPay Credit Card-UPI linkage will also provide customers with rewards and an interest-free credit period of up to 50 days.