World Kiswahili Language Day, celebrated on 7 July each year, honours Kiswahili as one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa and the world, with over 200 million speakers. It is a vital tool of communication and integration across East, Central, and Southern Africa, and serves as an official language of the African Union (AU), SADC, and the EAC.
Kiswahili is more than a language—it is a vessel of African identity, unity, and culture. From its role in liberation movements, including those led by Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, to its modern use in education, diplomacy, and media, Kiswahili continues to foster regional cohesion and global cultural understanding.
Recognized by UNESCO as the first African language to be honored with its own international day, Kiswahili embodies the power of multilingualism to promote diversity, tolerance, and sustainable development
In 2025, UNESCO further elevated its global status by recognizing Kiswahili as the seventh official language of the UNESCO General Conference, making it the first African-origin language to receive this distinction. As a bridge between communities and civilizations, it plays a critical role in quality education, cultural preservation, and socio-economic progress.
The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) has taken adequate initiatives for the welfare of senior citizens. T
The welfare activities for the senior citizens are carried through Atal Vayo Abhyudaya Yojana (AVYAY) aimed at fostering an inclusive society for senior citizens reflecting the Central Government's strong commitment towards "Ageing with Dignity" and "Ageing at Place".
At 15 years old, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest to play international cricket for the India. The teenage sensation was handed his maiden cap ahead of India’s second T20I against England at Old Trafford by Tilak Varma, who had captained him in the tri-series that India A had played in Sri Lanka before the senior team’s ongoing tour of Ireland and England.
Sooryavanshi has thus broken Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record for the youngest Indian debutant in men’s international cricket.
He has also broken the record for being the youngest Indian in international cricket overall, previously held by Shafali Verma who was a few days older than Sooryavanshi is when she made her debut in September 2019.
Tendulkar had famously made his debut aged 16 years 205 days old in a Test match against Pakistan in Karachi in November 1989. Shafali was 15 years and 239 days old when she made her debut in a T20I against South Africa in Surat. Sooryavanshi is 15 years and 99 days old.
State Bank of India (SBI) is buying a 10% stake in RDCL from the National Housing Bank (NHB). Learn how this strategic partnership aims to boost residential mortgage-backed securitisation and help lenders manage liquidity as loan demands outpace deposits.
State Bank of India (SBI) is set to acquire National Housing Bank’s (NHB’s) 10% stake in RMBS Development Company (RDCL), a middle-layer non-banking financial company (NBFC) focused on residential mortgage-backed securitisation. Following the transaction, NHB’s holding in RDCL will decline to 29% from 39%.
RDCL was set up in 2024 with a paid-up capital of ₹500 crore to help deepen India’s residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) market. Its shareholders include leading banks, housing finance companies, NBFCs and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).
LIC holds a 10 % stake in RDCL, while HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Bajaj Finance own 7 % each. Aditya Birla Housing Finance, Tata Capital Housing Finance, Truhome Finance (formerly Shriram Housing Finance), Grihum Housing Finance, Hero Housing Finance and IIFL Home Finance each hold 5 %.
Lenders are increasingly looking to monetise their home loan portfolios so that capital locked in long-term assets can be redeployed more productively. According to CRIF High Mark, the outstanding retail home loan portfolio stood at ₹44.4 lakh crore as of March 2026.
SBI has the country’s largest home loan book at ₹9.44 lakh crore as of March 31, 2026. Among private sector lenders, HDFC Bank’s mortgage portfolio stood at ₹8.89 lakh crore, while ICICI Bank’s was ₹4.98 lakh crore.
NITI Aayog released a report titled “Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global”, laying out a long-term strategy to transform Ayurveda into a globally recognised, evidence-based healthcare system by 2047.
The report, prepared by NITI Aayog’s Health Division in collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), assesses Ayurveda’s global footprint and identifies key opportunities and challenges in expanding its international presence.
The report was launched by Dr. Ashok Kumar Lahiri, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, in the presence of Prof. (Dr.) M. Srinivas, Member, NITI Aayog, and Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush.
Senior officials from the Ministries of Ayush and External Affairs, along with representatives from government agencies, research institutions, industry associations and other stakeholders, also attended the event.
The report is based on extensive stakeholder consultations, international benchmarking and evidence-based analysis. It proposes a three-pillar framework centred on availability, acceptability and propagation.
The strategy focuses on expanding the global Ayurveda workforce, boosting exports and manufacturing, strengthening research and education, improving regulatory compliance, increasing insurance coverage, fostering international collaborations, enhancing brand visibility and promoting medical value travel.
Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, the roadmap is expected to guide policymakers, researchers, industry stakeholders, practitioners and international partners in strengthening global research, education, exports, regulatory alignment and collaboration.
The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the apex research body under the Ministry of Ayush, convened its 5th Executive Committee (EC) Meeting under the chairmanship of Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush.
The meeting marked a significant step towards further strengthening the country's evidence-based Ayurveda research ecosystem through the launch of three major initiatives aimed at promoting research, education, scientific writing and digital transformation.
In a significant step towards strengthening bilateral economic ties, India and Mali institutionalised their growing commercial partnership through the inaugural IndiaMali Forum for the Promotion of Exports, setting the stage for deeper trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.
India and Mali have witnessed robust growth in bilateral trade, which surpassed US$326.61 million in FY 202526, registering a 55 per cent increase over the previous financial year.
Mali's principal exports to India include raw cotton, finished leather, cashew, lead, gum arabic and sesame while India's major exports comprise pharmaceuticals, cotton fabrics, two- and three-wheelers and bicycles. India's Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme has been the primary catalyst in strengthening bilateral trade.
Against Mali's global exports of approximately US$4 billion, untapped export potential in the Indian market is estimated at nearly US$3.96 billion, signalling substantial room for growth.
Air India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SIA Engineering Company to explore collaboration in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), including the potential formation of a joint venture in India.
The agreement aims to strengthen domestic MRO capabilities and support the country's ambition to become a global aviation maintenance hub amid rapid fleet and aviation market growth.
Air India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SIA Engineering Company Limited (SIAEC) to explore collaboration in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), reinforcing efforts to develop India as a global aviation MRO hub.
The MoU was signed in Mumbai on 3 July 2026 by Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India, and Chin Yau Seng, Chief Executive Officer of SIAEC.
The agreement builds on an existing partnership between the two companies.
In February 2024, Air India signed a 12-year Inventory Technical Management (ITM) agreement with SIAEC to provide component support for its Airbus A320 family fleet. This was followed in May 2024 by the appointment of SIAEC as Air India's strategic partner for developing the airline's base maintenance facilities in Bengaluru.
Under the latest MoU, the companies will explore opportunities to leverage SIAEC's maintenance & technical expertise to support Air India's expanding operations & jointly develop a world-class MRO ecosystem in India.
The collaboration may also include the formation of an MRO joint venture to serve the growing maintenance requirements of the Indian & regional aviation market
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $230 million loan to modernize and expand Chennai’s water supply and sanitation infrastructure, benefiting 4.5 million residents in the Greater Chennai area.
Despite being India’s fourth-largest city and a major industrial hub, Chennai’s water supply infrastructure has not kept pace with growth.
ADB’s latest investment builds on earlier projects in the city to expand access to safe and equitable water and waste management services, in line with the Government of India’s flagship urban development interventions, such as the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 and the Urban Challenge Fund.
The project will construct over 170 kilometers of water supply pipes and sewer pipes, upgrade seven water pumping stations and 38 sewer pumping stations, and strengthen water utility assets and operations management through performance-based contracts.
Chennai will become the first Indian city to implement a comprehensive ring-main solution—a closed-loop system designed to maintain balanced water pressure and deliver water efficiently across service areas—improving reliability, equity, and resilience to natural hazards in its urban water supply system.
ADB will help digitally transform water and sanitation services through real-time monitoring, data-driven decision-making, and improved customer responsiveness.
The project will introduce advanced technologies to eliminate hazardous manual sewer inspections, make blockage detection faster and safer, enhance worker safety, and prepare distribution networks in at least two Greater Chennai zones for future investments.
Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region.
In Peru, conservative leader Keiko Fujimori has been declared the winner of the presidential runoff election. 51-year-old Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, was contesting for the post of President for the fourth time.
She is set to become Peru’s ninth president in the past 10 years when she assumes office later this month.
The country’s top election authority formally certified her victory yesterday. Fujimori defeated Sanchez in the 7th of June runoff after both candidates emerged ahead of 33 other candidates in the first round of voting held in April.
Crime was a key issue in the election, with voters expressing concern over rising extortion and violence by organised criminal gangs. During her campaign, Fujimori pledged to tackle crime with an iron fist.
Teejan Bai, an artiste who took the ancient Chhattisgarhi folk tradition of Pandavani, the musical narration of the Mahabharata, to the world, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Raipur on Sunday (July 5, 2026) after a prolonged illness. She was 70.
Teejan Bai shattered stereotypes by taking up an art form traditionally performed by men, and performed with her lively voice throughout India and across the globe for decades. She was conferred the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour.
She has brought Chhattisgarh’s folk culture to the world by performing Pandavani in more than 17 countries, including England, France, Germany, Turkiye, Mauritius, and Japan. Her powerful voice, acting, and storytelling style introduced Indian folk traditions to foreign audiences.
Australia have crushed England by seven wickets in a one-sided final to land their seventh Women’s T20 World Cup at a sold-out Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
A sparkling second-wicket century partnership between Beth Mooney (64 runs) and Phoebe Litchfield (48 runs) helped Australia chase down a victory target of 151 with 17 balls to spare.
Having beaten England 16-0 in the multi-format Ashes 18 months ago, Australia comprehensively outplayed their rivals again to claim the trophy.
Mooney was named player of the tournament after her 64 from 49 balls for an Australia side who went through the tournament unbeaten.
England’s under-par total of 150-4 was built around an unbroken partnership of 80 between captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Freya Kemp.
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on July 3, 2026 accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for defence acquisition proposals worth nearly ₹52,000 crore aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
For the Indian Army, the DAC approved the procurement of the Anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Electronic Warfare System Akash Tarang, Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) systems, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) weapon systems, Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (V-SHORADS), Active Protection Systems for tanks and jet-based Kamikaze drone systems.
Akash Tarang is designed to provide effective protection against hostile drones, while the MPATGM will strengthen the infantry’s capability to counter enemy armoured formations. The MRSAM system will enhance medium-range air defence against a range of aerial threats.
The V-SHORADS, equipped with multi-spectral sensing, is expected to improve resilience against countermeasures, while Active Protection Systems will boost tank survivability. The Kamikaze drone system will provide enhanced electronic warfare capability with greater lethality and cost-effectiveness.
For the Indian Navy, the Council approved the acquisition of Multi Influence Ground Mines (MIGM), Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial Systems (NSUAS) and the establishment of a Land Based Testing Facility (LBTF) for Electric Propulsion Systems.
The DAC also approved the procurement of Fixed-Wing High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (FW-HAPS) and other proposals for the Indian Air Force. The FW-HAPS platform will provide persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), telecommunications and remote sensing capabilities, enhancing the Air Force’s long-endurance operational reach.
Researchers at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have discovered a new deep-sea fish in the Arabian Sea off southern Kerala. Named Cyttopsis indica (Indian dory), it was found at a depth of 350-500m along the continental slope of the eastern Lakshadweep Sea.
The newly identified fish belongs to the genus Cyttopsis, a primitive group of marine fishes commonly known as “dories.”
The discovery is based on six specimens collected from deep-sea trawl landings at Sakthikulangara fishing harbour in Kollam.
Researchers, led by CMFRI scientist Ratheesh Kumar R, confirmed the fish as a new species after carrying out traditional taxonomic analysis combined with advanced molecular tools.
Until now, the fish seen in the Indian Ocean was believed to be Cyttopsis rosea, a species with distribution now confined to the Atlantic Ocean.
The DNA analysis revealed a stark genetic divergence from all other known species in its genus, correcting a long-standing taxonomic error.
Rear Admiral C. Raghuram (Retd) took over as Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Shipyard on 2 July 2026, following a PESB recommendation and Cabinet approval, succeeding Captain Ganti Venkateswarlu (Retd.)
Navy Veteran Retd Radm Raghuram Takes Charge at HSL – Experienced naval engineer to lead Hindustan Shipyard’s expansion in defence shipbuilding
Rear Admiral Chandrasekharan Raghuram, VSM (Retd.), has taken charge as Chairman & Managing Director of Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) on 2 July 2026.
A veteran naval engineer with over 36 years’ service, he succeeds Captain Ganti Venkateswarlu (Retd.), who held additional charge of the post. HSL is India’s second-largest government shipyard – has turned profitable in recent years and is poised to expand its strategic shipbuilding and submarine capabilities under his leadership.
Commissioned into the Navy in 1989 and awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal in 2017, he is an alumnus of the Naval College of Engineering, Cranfield University, the Naval War College, and the National Defence College.
His career spans afloat operations, warship design, combat system integration, and command of INS Valsura, along with senior postings at Eastern and Western Naval Command and Integrated Headquarters, MoD (Navy).
The Reserve Bank of India on Friday said it has imposed a penalty of Rs 63.6 lakh on Bank of Baroda for non-compliance with certain provisions of the 'Fair Practices Code for Lenders' and 'Know Your Customer (KYC)' norms.
A penalty of Rs 3.1 lakh has also been imposed on GIC Housing Finance Ltd for non-compliance with certain provisions of the KYC guidelines.
In a statement, the RBI said it had conducted a statutory inspection for supervisory evaluation of the Bank of Baroda with reference to the financial position as on March 31, 2025, and a notice was issued to the lender.
After considering the bank's reply to the notice, the RBI found that the public sector lender had collected interest higher than the contracted rate of interest in certain loan accounts.
Sikkim mountaineer Tshering Choden has added another remarkable achievement to her climbing career by successfully scaling Mount Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak at 5,642 metres, in Russia.
According to a statement from the Sikkim Mountaineering Association (SMA), she reached the summit at approximately 7:30 am local time, marking a proud moment for the state and the Indian mountaineering community.
This ascent represents her second successful climb in the prestigious Seven Summits challenge, which involves conquering the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents. Choden had earlier scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, in August 2025.
Her latest success Notes her determination, endurance, and commitment to high-altitude mountaineering. The SMA noted that her achievement is expected to inspire aspiring climbers and adventure enthusiasts across Sikkim and beyond, reinforcing the state’s growing reputation in the field of adventure sports.
Fintech firm One 97 Communications, which operates under the Paytm brand, on Friday said its step-down subsidiary Paytm Europe Payments has secured a payment institution licence from the Luxembourg financial regulator, effective July 2, 2026.
In a regulatory filing, the company said the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), Luxembourg, granted the licence to Paytm Europe Payments SA and registered it on the official list of payment institutions.
Paytm Europe Payments, incorporated in Luxembourg in January 2026, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paytm Cloud Technologies Limited (PCTL), which in turn is a wholly owned Indian subsidiary of One 97 Communications.
The regulatory approval follows Paytm's announcement in May that PCTL would invest an additional 9 million euros in the European entity to support the funding requirements for its business.
The transaction was aimed at increasing the paid-up capital of Paytm Europe to support the funding requirements for its business.
PCTL holds 100 per cent of the euro 1 million paid-up share capital of Paytm Europe.
Advancing a Partnership of Strategic Convergence and Trust for Shared Growth, Prosperity and Resilience
At the invitation of the Prime Minister of India H.E. Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of Japan H.E. Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae paid an Official Visit to India from 1-3 July 2026 for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit.
Prime Minister Takaichi was accompanied by a high-level delegation including senior officials, CEOs and industry leaders. This was Prime Minister Takaichi’s first official visit to India.
Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita M. Ambani was honoured with the AAPI Humanitarian Award at a ceremony in Tampa, Florida, hosted by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI).
The award recognises her contributions across healthcare, education, sports, culture & community development, while acknowledging her longstanding commitment to humanitarian service rooted in compassion & dignity.
Adding to the recognition, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor presented Nita Ambani with the Key to the City of Tampa, one of the highest civic honours in the United States.
The symbolic honour is bestowed upon individuals whose contributions have made a meaningful impact on society and signifies that the city welcomes them with distinction.
The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin is one of the largest medical organisations representing physicians of Indian origin in the United States and has, over the years, recognised individuals for their exceptional contributions to society and public service.
