In a welcoming step for the aviation sector, the government has rolled back 11 per cent excise duty on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) used for international operations. The Finance Ministry has said ATF supplied as fuel to domestic carriers on international routes would continue to be exempted from basic excise duty from July 1.

The rollback comes after confusion arose regarding the excise duty on domestic airlines for their foreign flights after the government on July 1 slapped a `6 per litre special additional excise duty (SAED) or duty on the export of ATF or jet fuel.  Oil companies were of the view that with the levy of export duty, domestic carriers would be liable to pay 11 per cent basic excise duty for the  ATF they purchase for running overseas flights.

This issue was raised in a meeting chaired by India’s aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia as the levy would favour international carriers who are exempt from such duties as per the Chicago convention. The rollout also comes at a time when airlines’ operating cost has surged due to a record rise in ATF prices. ATF accounts for nearly 40 per cent of an airline’s operating expenses and this calendar year alone the fuel prices have gone up by a whopping 78 per cent . This has also made airfares at the movement much more expensive than in pre-covid times. 

Elena Rybakina is the newest name on the Venus Rosewater Dish after she came from a set down to beat world No.2 Ons Jabeur to win Wimbledon and her first Grand Slam title.

The Russian-born world No.23, who has represented Kazakhstan since 2018, put on a serving masterclass and used her big-hitting power to down her Tunisian opponent 3-6 6-2 6-2

This was a first Grand Slam final for both players but Rybakina, who looked nervous in the opening set, found her rhythm in the latter stages to go on and become her country's first player to win a major singles trophy.

Rybakina's historic victory for Kazakhstan comes after the All England Club's decision to ban Russian players from the tournament amid the invasion of Ukraine. The new champion was born in Moscow and her parents still live there.

Politics and her decision to switch allegiances will matter little to the 6ft ace queen right now though after she became the first woman to come back from a set down in the Wimbledon final since Amelie Mauresmo in 2006.

Q1. Yala is the season of paddy cultivation in

1. Myanmar
2. Sri Lanka
3. Bhutan
4. Maldives
5. None of These

Q2. Who has won the women's single title of Wimbledon 2022 ?

1. Elena Rybakina
2. Ons Jabeur
3. Iga Swiatek
4. Sakkari Maria
5. None of These

Q3.The government has rolled back 11 per cent excise duty on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) used for

Humanitarian operations

Domestic operations

International operations

Rescue operations

None of These

Q4.  Name tribal people who  have been living in relief camps in Tripura since 1997 ?

1. Chakma
2. Mizo
3. Khasi
4. Bru
5. None of These

Q5. Name the Indian-American diplomat who has been appointed by the President Biden as his envoy to Mali ?

1. Rachna Sachdeva Korhonen
   
2. Puneet Talwar
3. Shefali Razdan Duggal
4. Priti Patel
5. None of These

Answers

1--------------2   Sri Lanka

2--------------1    Elena Rybakina

3--------------3   International operations

4--------------4     Bru

5--------------1    Rachna Sachdeva Korhonen

Condoling the demise of former Japanese premier Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister Narendra Modi  has said  that he dedicated his life to making the world a better place and as a mark of India's deepest respect, one-day national mourning shall be observed on July 9.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe, one of his nation's most powerful and influential figures, died after being shot during a campaign speech in western Japan.

Prime Minister Modi said he was shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of his "dearest friends".

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has questioned the top managers of Bennett Coleman and Company Limited (BCCL), a media giant, which has a number of publications, such as Times of India.

Sources have said that the top managers of the firm were questioned by the ED on several occasions in connection with alleged violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

A few firms based in the British Virgin Islands were dealing with BCCL.

The ED has found transactions of about Rs 900 crore, which are now under the lens of the anti-money laundering agency.

MX Media Co Ltd was incorporated in the British Virgin Island and it was initially shown as a subsidiary firm. The parent company had 52.35 per cent equity. Later on the equity of the parent firm diluted to 40.36 per cent and the MX Media Co Ltd was made an associate firm.

A few other companies of the BCCL were incorporated in South Korea, China and Singapore. BCCL revenue also fell down during the Covid pandemic to 44 per cent.

In an important revelation, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch said Malaysian and Indonesian hacktivists are now targeting India, and urged the Muslim hackers all around the world to start a cyber-war against India.

In a press conference, Amit Vasava, DCP, Cyber Crime, Ahmedabad said: “Post the Nupur Sharma incident, 2 hacker groups, 'Dragon force Malaysia' and 'Hacktivist Indonesia', initiated a cyber war against India, also appealed to Muslim hackers around the world for the same."

“Over 2,000 websites were hacked by hacker groups. Ahmedabad cybercrime has written to Malaysian and Indonesian governments along with writing to Interpol for lookout notice for both groups,” said DCP, Cyber Crime

Reveling the detail, the DCP said: “Dragon ForceIO of Malaysia and Hacktivists of Garuda of Indonesia have claimed to have hacked 2000+ Indian Websites which includes Government Department, Educational Institutes, Businesses, and Industries, etc. Confidential data has been leaked from such websites which include details like, Government Files and Data, Aadhaar cards of some persons, Pan card and Passport details of some citizens, Details of Policemen of Andhra Pradesh Police, DishTV data,”

He further said: “Assam-based news channel 'TIME8' said its YouTube account was hacked during a live stream by a Pakistan-based hacking group identified as 'Revolution PK'. Not only this, even ID cards and personal details of the Andhra Pradesh Police Officers were also leaked.’

‘Details of Nupur Sharma, with address, email id, contact number, etc were leaked from some government websites. Many internal government databases have been hacked and leaked to these hackers’ said DCP

The technical team of Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has sought and found vulnerabilities in 100 plus Indonesian government websites and 70 plus Malaysian websites. These vulnerabilities, or ‘bugs’, could have been exploited by any hacker and may have been used for destroying these websites or for stealing data. These bugs have been found after taking permission from the governments of these countries and have been reported to them along with ‘Proof of Concept’. Several of the bugs were of P1 category (the most critical and exploitative bugs).

The websites with bugs cover several critical ministries of their government, educational institute, industry, etc. The Bugs include Admin Panel Takeover, Sensitive Information Leak, SQL Injection, Source Code disclosure, etc. Such ethical disclosure of such network vulnerabilities has been a message of peace against the cyber-war declared by their hacker groups. The National Cyber Coordination & Command Centre (N4C) of Malaysia has shown its gratitude for such contributions.

The team has also used its technical capabilities to find the identities of hackers of both Dragon Force Malaysia and Hacktivists of Garuda Indonesia. The details like IP addresses are being shared with Interpol for further legal action against them.

Along with this, the Cyber team has also discovered several vulnerabilities in 80 plus Indian Government Websites and have reported them to National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC), under PMO.

The Department of Food and Public Distribution has directed leading edible oil associations to ensure a reduction in the maximum retail price (MRP) of edible oils by Rs 15 with immediate effect, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said.

The government has also advised that the price to distributors by the manufacturers and refiners also needs to be reduced immediately so that the price drop is not diluted in any way.

It was also impressed upon that whenever a reduction in price to distributors is made by the manufacturers/refiners, the benefit should be passed on to the consumers by the industry and the Department may be kept informed on a regular basis. Some companies which have not reduced their prices and their MRP is higher than other brands have also been advised to reduce their prices.

The Department of Food and Public Distribution gave the directions during a meeting held with edible oil associations.

In May 2022, the Department convened a meeting with the leading edible oil associations. Following the meeting prices of several popular edible oil brands were reduced.

MRP of Fortune Refined Sunflower Oil 1 litre pack was decreased to Rs 210 from Rs 220 and MRP of Soyabean (Fortune) and Kachi Ghani oil 1 litre pack from Rs 205 to Rs 195. The reduction in oil prices came in the wake of the Central Government reducing the import duty on edible oils making them cheaper. The industry was advised to ensure that the complete benefit of the reduced duty is passed on to the consumers invariably.

The edible oil prices in the international market are witnessing a dramatic fall, however, the situation in the domestic market is slightly different as the fall in the prices is gradual.

IAS officer Sayyed Riyaz Ahmed, who was posted as Sub-divisional Magistrate in Khunti and arrested for sexually harassing an IIT student pursuing her internship, has been suspended.

The IAS officer allegedly tried to kiss and molest the student at a party thrown by him at his residence.

As per the FIR lodged by the victim at Mahila Police Station in Khunti, Ahmed harassed her sexually after plying her with drinks during the party early in the morning on July 2.

An official communique from the Chief Minister's Office said CM Hemant Soren had directed that suspension orders be issued to the Khunti SDM.