Headlines at a glance – 15th-July -2020

UNICEF, FICCI join hands for action plan to support vulnerable populations

UNICEF on Monday announced its partnership with FICCI to jointly develop a campaign to support the most vulnerable populations and children during the ongoing COVID-19 response and its aftermath in India. FICCI and UNICEF will work on an action plan based on the document that is being developed jointly by the International Chamber of Commerce and UNICEF for governments and businesses on the actions they can take to support the post-pandemic recovery. Ogilvy is offering pro bono support in developing the creative narrative for the campaign, according to a statement by UNICEF. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FICCI)-Socio Economic Development Foundation (SEDF) will reach out to its membership base to garner support for the campaign and leverage its resources like cash and core assets to mobilise funds that can be utilized to help generate support for the most vulnerable populations affected due to the COVID disruption.

SOURCE: Economic Times

Google CEO Sundar Pichai announces the launch of $10 billion India Digitization Fund

Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced a $10 billion investment in India on Monday at the Google for India virtual live-stream event. The event focused on contributing to accelerate India’s digital economy with this investment over the next five to seven years. Firstly, the Rs 75,000 crore investments will focus on help in enabling affordable access and information to every Indian irrespective of the language. Secondly, India’s unique needs to be met by products and services. The huge investment will also help local businesses to move towards digital transformation. Also, it will work towards using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in areas like health, education, etc. One of the examples for the Pichai cited was the AI flood forecasting system which will help warn and evacuate areas that may get affected by the natural disaster. Also, an AI-powered reading tutor app Bolo aka Read Along to help kids read and learn on their own.

SOURCE: The Indian Express

Pakistan to resume Afghanistan’s exports through the Wagah border with India from July 15

Pakistan on Monday said it has decided to resume Afghan exports through Wagah border crossing from July 15 under Pakistan-Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA). In May, Indian Embassy in Afghanistan tweeted informing that the second consignment of wheat out of the total 75,000 MT from India to Afghanistan has set sail from Kandla Port.

“435 containers carrying the second consignment of 10,024 MT of wheat out of the total gift of 75,000 MT from India to Afghanistan set sail from Kandla Port to Chabahar Port today,” Indian Embassy had said in a tweet.

SOURCE: The Hindu

NITI Aayog presents India’s second Voluntary National Review at UN’s High-Level Political Forum

NITI Aayog presented India’s second Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the United Nations High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, 2020. The HLPF is the foremost international platform for follow-up and review of progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, presented the VNR. The India VNR 2020 report titled Decade of Action: Taking SDGs from Global to Local was released by Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, Dr V.K Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, and Smt. Sanyukta Samaddar, Adviser (SDGs), NITI Aayog. At the HLPF this year, which is being hosted virtually in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, 47 Member States are set to present their VNRs between 10th-16th July 2020.

SOURCE: PIB

Retail inflation rises by 6.09% in June

Retail inflation increased to 6.09 per cent in June, mainly on account of higher prices of food items, the government data showed on Monday. Food inflation in June increased to7.87 per cent, according to Consumer Price Index (CPI) data. The inflation figures are based on data collected from limited markets in view of the restrictions imposed on account of coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) said in a release. The data collected, however, did not meet the adequacy criteria for generating robust estimates of CPIs at the state-level, it added. The retail inflation based on Consumer Price Index was 3.18 per cent in June 2019. The government had released truncated CPI data for April and May in the backdrop of the lockdown to contain Covid-19 pandemic.

SOURCE: Business Standard