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- In his 100th international match, Sunil Chhetri scored a brace to lead India to a 3-0 win over Kenya in the hosts' second match of the Intercontinental Cup at the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai on 4June.
- Skipper Chhetri's penalty strike in the 68th minute and a peach of a goal in added extra time alongwith Jeje Lalpekhlua's 71st minute strike enabled India to outmanoeuvre Kenya in a tough contest.
- The thunderous outpour of rain made life difficult for both the teams and both adjusted to playing on a wet surface in the opening minutes, with neither taking the risk of attacking.
- A freekick for India went directly into the gloves of the Kenyan custodian whilst on the other end, although Kenya pumped bodies into the Indian defending half, were unable to create a clear scoring opportunity in front of the goal. With Kenya, attacking from distance and accumulating corners to test India's pedigree in set pieces, the defensive line of Sandesh Jhingan and Anas thwarted the dangerous chances from the opposition.
- In the 22nd minute, Chhetri, making history by becoming the second Indian ever to bag 100 international caps, had an opportunity to put India ahead. But, Chhetri's shot from distance after Jeje had caused panic in the opposition defence, went inches over the bar.
- Three minutes later, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was called onto action and the lanky goalkeeper dived at full stretch to keep a rasping shot from distance out.
- Udanta Singh proved to be a threat down the flanks and his outburst of speed caught the Kenyan defence offguard often. In the 44th minute, Udanta danced past the Kenyan defences on the flanks but his final cross lacked the venom for the waiting Chhetri in the box as Kenya cleared their lines.
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- Scientists have discovered the peripheries of a 14th century Maori village in New Zealand, containing tools and food items that can shed more light on the lifestyle of the settlers.
- Among the findings in the 2.5 metre-deep excavation were moa bones and other food items, fish hooks manufactured of moa bone and stone tools made of obsidian and chert.
- The site was located on the edge of an old riverbed. The obsidian (volcanic glass) was used by early Maori settlers as simple cutting tools.
- The materials found are estimated to date back to the early 1300s. Uncovering the site is significant from a scientific and cultural perspective, said Richard Walter, a professor at University of Otago in New Zealand. "We don't know as much about the early occupation around this part of the coastline as we do in other parts of the country. There are not too many of these very, early sites and so this one is filling the gaps," said Walter.
- The area has a significant history as the first landing place of waka (canoes) which carried Maori to the district; and the first contact between Maori and explorer James Cook taking place on the river in 1769.
- Given the amount of material found at the site, the chances of finding a village within the vicinity are quite high.
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- Saudi Arabia on Monday began issuing its first driving licences to women in decades, state media reported.
- "The first group of women 4june received their Saudi driving licences," the official Saudi Press Agency said.
- "The general directorate of traffic started replacing international driving licences recognised in the kingdom with Saudi licences," it added.
- The move comes as Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world where women are not allowed drive, prepares to lift its decades-long ban on female drivers on June 24.
- SPA said authorities started swapping international licences for Saudi ones in multiple locations across the kingdom, with women applicants made to undergo a "practical test".It did not specify the number of licences issued.
- The move is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's far-reaching liberalisation drive as he seeks to modernise the conservative petro-state.
- The self-styled reformer, who recently undertook a global tour aimed at reshaping his kingdom's austere image, has sought to break with long-held restrictions on women and the mixing of the genders.But casting a shadow on the reforms, Saudi Arabia last week said it detained 17 people for "undermining" the kingdom's security, in what campaigners have dubbed a sweeping crackdown against activists.
- Rights groups have identified many of the detainees as women campaigners for the right to drive and to end the conservative Islamic country's male guardianship system.
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- Idea Cellular has received approval from the Department of Telecom (DoT) to increase foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in the company to 100 per cent from the current 67.5 per cent, the operator said in a notification to the exchanges on 4june.
- "The approval is for total foreign investment up to 100% in Idea Cellular, and total indirect FDI in its relevant subsidiaries Aditya Birla Telecom Ltd. and Idea Cellular Infrastructure Services Ltd," the telecom firm stated.
- "The FDI approval is a major milestone in the merger process of Vodafone India with Idea Cellular, and follows other statutory approvals already received from the SEBI, NSE, BSE, CCI and NCLT Mumbai and NCLT Ahmedabad," it added.
- Idea and Vodafone India are in process of merging their businesses. According to official sources, the approval for merger by the telecom department is in final stages.
- The merger, when it comes through, will create India's largest telecom firm worth over $23 billion and is expected to intensify the telecom battle dominated by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel
- Earlier, Idea had proposed a new name for the combined entity as "Vodafone Idea Ltd" post its merger with Vodafone India. The EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting) of the company will be held on June 26 to decide the change in the name of the company.
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- The government today announced the launch of 'Krishi Kalyan Abhiyaan' under which farmers in select villages will be given assistance and advice on ways to improve farming techniques and raise their income.
- The abhiyan, which is already underway from June 1, will be operational next month, aims to help farmers in 25 villages in each district identified in consultation with the Rural Development Ministry as per the direction of Niti Aayog.
- Farm science centres called Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) will coordinate and implement the programme, an official statement said.
- As many as 111 officers have also been made in-charge of one district each for overall coordination and field-level monitoring. These officers have been selected from subordinate/ attached/autonomous organisations/PSUs of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, it added.
- Among activities to be promoted under the programme include distribution of soil health cards to all farmers, 100 per cent coverage of bovine vaccination for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in each village, 100 per cent coverage of sheep and goat for eradication of Peste des Petits ruminants (PPR), distribution of mini kits of pulses and oilseeds, distribution of horticulture/agro forestry/bamboo plant at 5 per family.
- Besides, the programme will cover artificial insemination saturation, demonstration programmes on micro-irrigation, demonstrations of integrated cropping practice.
- In addition, demonstration programmes on micro-irrigation and integrated cropping practice will done so as to familiarise farmers with the latest techniques and how they can be incorporated at the grass root level.
- Training programmes are being conducted in each of the villages by ICAR/KVSs for bee-keeping, mushroom cultivation and kitchen garden. Women participants and farmers will be given preference for the training program, the statement added. LUX MKJ MKJ
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- After the news about black panther in Tadoba, Vidarbha region has recorded first-ever spot bellied eagle owl. The pair of birds was sighted in Saleghat range of Mansinghdeo Wildlife Sanctuary under Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra.
- Well-known bird expert Raju Kasambe from Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) confirmed there is no earlier record of the bird from Vidarbha. “It has been earlier recorded in Pench (MP), Kanha, Balaghat, Koyna and Bhimashankar sanctuaries in Western Maharashtra and Chorle Ghat (Maharashtra-Goa border),” said Kasambe.
- Kapish S Rai, city birder and wildlife photographer, sighted the bird pair on May 20, around 6pm during an evening safari at Saleghat. “I spent last 12 days to get confirmation from bird experts and watchers,” he told TOI.
- Veteran bird expert Gopal Thosar said, “I don’t recall of having record of this bird species here. Saleghat has beautiful ravines and much of the area is still unexplored. It is good indication and a formal study needs to be undertaken on bird species in the area.”
- Another bird expert Nitin Marathe said he has never heard about the spot bellied eagle owl sighting, though 15 days ago he sighted an Egyptian vulture in Saleghat.
- “It is a rare sighting as the owl species is mostly found in the south and parts of Northern India. The bird sighted is a juvenile, which indicates breeding of the species here,” says avid bird watcher Pushkar Kulkarni.
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