• National

India calls for expanding ART coverage

• India, an important player in the global fight against AIDS, has called for focusing on efforts to invigorate research for improving diagnosis and developing vaccine and new treatments to alleviate the need for lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART).
• First Secretary in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Paulomi Tripathi said India is building on lessons learnt of past decades to tackle last-mile challenges, with focus on reduction in new infection, elimination of mother to child transmission and elimination of stigma and discrimination by 2020.
• “Remarkable progress has been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS epidemic.

• Economy and Business

Ajit Doval to Be NSA for Another Five Years, Gets Cabinet Rank

• Ajit Doval, who served as the NSA to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the previous NDA government, will continue in his role for another five years.
• In addition to reappointing him, for five years, the prime minister has also given him cabinet rank.

• Economy and Business

Govt proposes changes in copyright rules

• The government is proposing a mechanism to ensure that songs and videos reach the maximum number of people at affordable rates, which in case of dispute may be fixed by a quasi-judicial body, the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB).
• These changes are proposed in the Copyright (Amendment) Rules, 2019, the draft of which has been made public by the commerce and industry ministry for stakeholders’ views and comments till June 29.
• Once the changes are approved, it would become easier for websites, portals and music streaming firms to buy content and upload them.

• Awards

Ex-President Pratibha Patil Awarded, Mexico's Highest Civilian Award

• The ambassador of Mexico to India, Melba Pria, presented ”Orden Mexicana del Aguila Azteca” (Order of the Aztec Eagle) to Ms Patil, who had served as the first woman president of the country during 2007-12, at a special ceremony held in MCCIA Bhavan.
• The Ambassador of Mexico to India, Melba Pria, conferred the award on Patil — who created history as this country’s first woman President (2007-2012), at a special ceremony held in the MCCIA Bhavan, Pune.
• Patil, 85, becomes only the second Indian head of state to get the award. Earlier, the late President S Radhakrishna had been conferred this honour.

• Appointments

RBI approves appointment of Rakesh Makhija as Chairman of Axis Bank

• RBI has approved appointment of Rakesh Makhija as chairman of Axis bank.
• The board of the bank in March had approved appointment of Makhija as chairman subject to RBI clearance.
• Previously, he was the CEO and MD of Tata Honeywell Ltd.
• Makhija has been an active participant and contributor to the industrial and technology sectors, both internationally and in India during his career spanning over four decades.

• Important Days

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression-June 4

• The main purpose of celebration of the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is to spread awareness on the sufferings and pain of children as they are the victims of abuse.
• On 19 August 1982, at its emergency special session on the question of Palestine, the General Assembly, “appalled at the great number of innocent Palestinian and Lebanese children victims of Israel’s acts of aggression”, decided to commemorate 4 June of each year as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.
• International days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.

• Science and Tech

Scientists turn plastic waste into jet fuel

• Scientists have found a novel way to turn daily plastic waste products like water bottles and plastic bags into jet fuel.
• Researchers at Washington State University (WSU) in the US melted plastic waste at high temperature with activated carbon – a processed carbon with increased surface area – to produce jet fuel.
• “Waste plastic is a huge problem worldwide.
• This is a very good, and relatively simple, way to recycle these plastics,” said Hanwu Lei, an associate professor at WSU.

• Defence

Search ops continue for missing IAF aircraft

• A massive search operation was underway on June 4 to locate a Russian-origin AN-32 transport aircraft of the IAF, a day after it went missing in Arunachal Pradesh.
• The aircraft, with 13 people on board, went missing on June 3 afternoon after taking off from Jorhat in Assam for Menchuka near the border with China.
• A fleet of fixed-wing aircraft and choppers have been deployed to locate the missing aircraft.
• Officials said ground troops have also been deployed to carry out search operation in the mountainous terrain.
• A total of eight crew members and five passengers were on board the aircraft and the IAF is coordinating with Indian Army as well as various government agencies to locate it. T

• Obituaries

Actor-Singer Ruma Guha Thakurta Passes Away at 84

• Actor-singer Ruma Guha Thakurta, who featured in films such as Jwar Bhata, Ganga and 36 Chowringhee Lane while straddling an equally successful playback career, died in her sleep early on Monday June 3 aged 84.
• Guha Thakurta is known for her roles in movies such as Ganga, Balika Badhu, and 36 Chowringhee Lane.

MP Cabinet passes resolution to increase reservation for OBCs to 27 %

• The Madhya Pradesh Cabinet passed a resolution to increase reservation quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) from existing 14 per cent to 27 per cent.
• The Cabinet has also increased by three per cent the dearness allowance for employees and pensioners.