France  has rejected "little remarks" by an EU commissioner on recent riots sparked by the police killing of a teenager at a traffic stop, saying the European Union had no business weighing in on questions of law enforcement.

EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders  has said the "very high level of violence" in recent years in France -- including yellow vest protests, demonstrations against pension reform and riots over the teenager's killing by a police officer -- was "striking".

He compared the French police approach to that in neighbouring Belgium which, he said, "perhaps relies more on prevention... rather than direct confrontation".

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman  has asked heads of public sector banks (PSBs) to make sure of fair and transparent recognition of bad loans and pursue robust risk management practices so as to maintain the momentum of growth and profitability.

PSBs earned a record aggregate net profit of about  Rs 1.05 lakh crore in FY23, nearly triple from net profits earned in 2013-14. In the review meeting with the top management of PSBs, discussions were held on the positive macro trends, improved business sentiments, ‘Twin balance sheet advantage’ and performance of the state-run banks.

All the major financial parameters viz., credit deployment, profitability, asset quality, capital adequacy etc. indicate that the performance of PSBs has significantly improved. They’re adequately capitalised, resilient, and have sound financial health.

The asset quality of PSBs has improved with gross NPAs at 4.97% and net NPAs at 1.24% in March 2023, the ministry said . Sitharaman emphasised banks’ adherence to the regulatory framework by focusing on risk management, and diversification of business base

Infosys Public Services (IPS), a North America-based company of Infosys,  announced the opening of its new subsidiary in Canada. Infosys Public Services, Canada (IPS Canada), is a 10,000 square feet digital centre, headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario with local offices in Mississauga ON, Calgary AB, and Burnaby BC.

IPS Canada accelerates digital transformation for public sector organisations across the country, including federal departments, provincial ministries, municipalities, and crown corporations, and provides access to top-tier IT  talent and innovative solutions to improve the delivery of government services to Canadians.

This IPS Canada announcement is the latest development in a series of investments made by Infosys, which has expanded its employee count to over 7,000 with a commitment to increase it to 8,000 employees by 2024. IPS Canada will also work with local universities and technical colleges to recruit talent. Its offices will enable it to tap into local talent across the country to support continued business growth in the region.

IPS Canada announcement is the latest development in a series of investments made by Infosys, which has expanded the employee count to over 7,000 with a commitment to increase to 8,000 employees by 2024. 

Two-time Olympic triple jumper Ana José Tima was banned for three years in a doping case, track and field's Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said.

José Tima also was disqualified from all results since January 2022 including her 10th place at the world championships held last year in Eugene, Oregon.

The 33-year-old Dominican Republic athlete is suspended until January 2025.

José Tima tested positive in her home country last November for ostarine, which aids muscle growth and has similar effects to anabolic steroids, and the substance GW501516, which failed medical trials more than a decade ago.

At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and Tokyo Olympics held in 2021 she did not advance from qualifying into the triple jump final.

Q1. Name the regiment  of the Indian Army  which will march past the Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris on July 14 ?

1. Punjab Regiment
2. Sikh Regiment
3. Jaat Regiment
4. Bihar Regiment
5. None of These

Q2. Name the former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union president  who has been appointed  by the Congress as the in-charge of its students’ wing, the National Students Union of India (NSUI) ?

1. Battilal Bairwa
2. Shakil Ahmad Khan
3. Kanhaiya Kumar
4. Tanvir Akhtar
5. None of These

Q3. The Japan's former Prime Minister  Yoshihide Suga  is  leading a 100-member trade delegation to India to look at ways to boost investments in the country to reach their target of 5 trillion yen by

1. 2025
2. 2027
3. 2029                                            
4. 2032                                            
5. None of These

Q4. Name the two-time Olympic triple jumper  who was banned for three years in a doping case by the  track and field's Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

1. Benjamin Compaoré
2. Christian Taylor                                                   
3. Jonathan Edwards
4. Ana José Tima
5. None of These

Q5. Which among the following  was not the colony of France ?

1. Saudi Arab
2. Senegal
3. Mauritania
4. Mali
5. None of These

Answers                                

1-------------------1   Punjab Regiment

2-------------------3   Kanhaiya Kumar

3-------------------2   2027

4---------------------4    Ana José Tima

5-------------------- 1   Saudi Arab

Q.1) Name the international financial institution which controls the exchange value of currencies of different countries

1. IMF (International Monetary Fund)
2. World Trade Organisation
3. Federal Reserve system of USA
4. International Bank for reconstruction and development
5. None of These

Q.2) World Trade Organisation was established in the year

1. 2000
2. 2005
3. 1986
4. 1995
5. None of These

Q.3) NABARD is associated with

1. Rural development
2. Development of railways
3. Industrial development
4. Urban development
5. None of These

Q.4) SEBI is the acronym of -

1. Securities and Exchange Board of India
2. Scheduled Castes and Educationally Backward classes of India
3. State Education Board of India
4. South Eastern Bank of India
5. None of These

Q.5) Center-State financial relations are looked after by

1. Ministry of Finance
2. Planning Commission
3. Finance Commission
4. Sarkaria Commission
5. None of These

Answers

1-------------------1   International Monetary Fund

2--------------------4   1995

3--------------------1   Rural development

4--------------1   Securities and Exchange Board of India

5-----------------------1   Ministry of Finance

Khalistani miscreants tried to vandalise India’s consulate in San Francisco by throwing a gasoline-soaked cloth ball that was set on fire. The arson attempt, the latest in the series of attacks against Indian missions in the US and Canada drew strong condemnation from the US government.

The radicals also targeted the Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Consular General in San Francisco, T V N Prasad, by releasing their photos on posters threatening to avenge the killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The protesters are planning a march on July 8 called ‘Khalistan Freedom Rally.’

Taking note of the rising instances of targeted attacks on Indian consulates, especially in the US and Canada, the Ministry of External Affairs on Jul 26 summoned the Canadian High Commissioner, Cameron MacKay.  The MEA expressed concerns about the protests outside the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, as well as the consulates in Toronto and Vancouver, scheduled on July 8.

Public sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have increased the prices of commercial LPG gas cylinders by Rs 7 a cylinder.

After the increase, the retail sales price of a 19kg commercial LPG cylinder in Delhi has increased from Rs 1,773 to Rs 1,780. However, there is no change made in the prices of domestic LPG cylinders.

After this hike, commercial LPG cylinder price in Mumbai will increase from Rs 1,733.50 to Rs 1,740.50, in Chennai, it will increase from Rs 1,945 to Rs 1,952, and in Kolkata, it will increase from Rs 1,895 to Rs 1,902.