29, Jun 2026
Groundwater depletion threatens Kuruvai cultivation in Cauvery delta
June 29: Groundwater depletion has emerged as a major concern for farmers in the Cauvery delta, casting uncertainty over the upcoming Kuruvai cultivation season. Declining water tables, combined with uneven rainfall and irrigation constraints, are raising worries about agricultural productivity in the region.
Farmers in several parts of the delta are reporting increased dependence on borewells as surface water availability remains inconsistent. The situation has intensified pressure on groundwater resources, with many areas witnessing a steady drop in water levels.
Agricultural experts note that the Kuruvai season, which relies heavily on timely water availability, is particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in both monsoon patterns and reservoir storage. Any delay or shortage in irrigation support could directly impact paddy sowing and yield expectations.
Officials are monitoring the situation closely and are expected to assess water release plans from reservoirs to support cultivation. Discussions around improving water management practices and promoting efficient irrigation methods are also gaining importance among stakeholders.
Experts have stressed the need for sustainable water use practices, including crop diversification and micro-irrigation techniques, to reduce pressure on groundwater reserves and ensure long-term agricultural stability in the Cauvery delta region.
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- By Neel Achary
29, Jun 2026
El Niño could pressure agri loans, credit growth seen steady: Report
June 29: Agricultural loan demand could face short-term pressure due to the impact of El Niño conditions, although overall credit growth is expected to remain healthy, according to a recent report.
The report noted that climatic variability linked to El Niño may affect crop output in certain regions, potentially influencing farmers’ borrowing requirements and repayment cycles. However, strong rural demand, government support measures, and diversified lending portfolios are expected to help cushion the impact on the broader banking sector.
Despite potential stress in the agriculture segment, the report highlighted that credit growth across sectors is likely to remain steady, supported by improving economic activity, rising consumption, and sustained corporate borrowing demand.
Banks are expected to maintain a balanced lending approach, with continued focus on retail, housing, and MSME segments, which are likely to support overall credit expansion. Financial institutions are also strengthening risk management practices to navigate possible sectoral fluctuations.
Analysts said that while weather-related risks remain a key variable for agriculture, the banking sector’s diversified exposure and structural growth drivers are expected to ensure stability in credit performance in the coming months.
29, Jun 2026
Gujarat boosts water storage under Sujalam Sufalam
June 29: Gujarat’s flagship water conservation programme, the Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan, has significantly boosted the state’s water storage capacity this year, adding 20,789 lakh cubic feet through large-scale desilting, deepening of lakes and ponds, and restoration of traditional water bodies.
The initiative focuses on improving water availability and groundwater recharge ahead of the monsoon season, with works carried out across multiple districts. Officials said coordinated efforts by government agencies, local bodies, and communities have helped enhance the efficiency and capacity of key water resources.
Under the programme, extensive cleaning and restoration of water bodies have improved rainwater harvesting potential, particularly in drought-prone and semi-arid regions. This is expected to provide stronger water security for agriculture, drinking water supply, and rural livelihoods.
Authorities highlighted that the campaign is part of a long-term strategy to build climate resilience through sustainable water management and revival of natural ecosystems. Community participation has also played a key role in ensuring the success of the initiative.
Experts noted that the increased storage capacity will help improve groundwater levels and reduce seasonal water stress, reinforcing Gujarat’s preparedness for water security challenges in the coming years.
29, Jun 2026
Organ India return as Team India Managers for third consecutive World Transplant Games
New Delhi,June 29 : ORGAN India, an initiative of the Parashar Foundation, have been appointed Team Managers and Country Representatives for India by the World Transplant Games Federation for the Indian contingent participating in the World Transplant Games 2027, scheduled to be held in Leuven, Belgium.
This marks the third consecutive time that ORGAN India has been entrusted with the responsibility of managing and supporting Team India at the prestigious international sporting event for transplant recipients.
The World Transplant Games bring together transplant recipients from across the globe, celebrating the gift of life through sport while demonstrating the success of organ transplantation and the importance of organ donation. The Games provide a powerful platform for transplant recipients to showcase their fitness, determination and ability to lead active and fulfilling lives after transplantation.
Having successfully led the Indian contingent at the previous two editions, ORGAN India will once again oversee the selection, preparation, training support, logistics, fundraising and participation of Indian athletes representing the country in Leuven in 2027.
The organisation will work closely with transplant recipients, donor families, transplant professionals, hospitals and supporters across the country to identify and prepare athletes from diverse backgrounds who embody the spirit of the Games.
Under ORGAN India’s stewardship, India’s participation at the World Transplant Games has witnessed significant growth. In 2023, Team India travelled to Perth, Australia, with a contingent of 32 athletes and returned with 35 medals. Building on this momentum, the 2025 contingent grew to 57 athletes, who brought home 63 medals from Dresden, Germany, marking India’s strongest-ever performance at the Games.
Encouraged by the growing interest among transplant recipients across the country, ORGAN India is now preparing to take a contingent of close to 80 members to Leuven in 2027, which is expected to be India’s largest representation at the Games so far.
“Being appointed as the Team Managers for the third consecutive World Transplant Games is both an honour and a responsibility. Every edition gives us an opportunity to show the country what organ donation and transplantation can make possible. Through Team India, we hope to celebrate the achievements of transplant recipients, inspire more conversations around organ donation and demonstrate that life after transplant can be active, competitive and full of possibility,” said Anika Parashar, Chairperson, Parashar Foundation and Founder, ORGAN India.
India’s transplant athletes have continued to demonstrate remarkable dedication and sporting excellence while serving as ambassadors for organ donation. Their journeys reinforce the message that transplantation does not simply offer recipients a second chance at life, but also enables them to return to sport, pursue new ambitions and represent the country on a global platform.
“We have seen Team India grow stronger, more competitive and more confident with every edition. As preparations for Leuven begin, our focus will be on identifying athletes from across India, giving them the right training and support, and building a team that is prepared to compete at the highest level. We are already seeing considerable interest from transplant recipients and expect 2027 to be our largest contingent yet,” said Sunayana Singh, CEO, ORGAN India and India’s Member Representative at the World Transplant Games Federation.
As preparations begin for the 2027 Games, ORGAN India will invite transplant recipients interested in representing India, along with supporters, donors, corporate partners and institutions, to join Team India’s journey to Leuven.
The organisation remains committed to strengthening awareness around organ donation and showcasing the life-changing impact of transplantation through the achievements of India’s transplant athletes on the global stage.
29, Jun 2026
Gujarat integrates health, education, nutrition data through unified digital tracker
June 29: Gujarat has developed a unified digital tracker that integrates health, education, and nutrition data on a single platform, aiming to improve real-time monitoring, service delivery, and policy planning across key social sectors.
The digital system brings together data from multiple departments to create a consolidated view of beneficiary welfare, enabling authorities to track progress more efficiently and identify gaps in service delivery. Officials said the platform is designed to support evidence-based decision-making and strengthen last-mile governance.
By linking indicators such as child health, school attendance, immunisation, and nutrition status, the tracker allows for better coordination between departments and more targeted interventions at the ground level. It also helps reduce duplication of records and improves accuracy in beneficiary identification.
The system is expected to enhance transparency and accountability by providing timely insights into programme implementation. Administrators can use the platform to monitor outcomes, allocate resources more effectively, and respond quickly to emerging issues in vulnerable communities.
Experts say the initiative reflects a broader shift towards data-driven governance, where integrated digital tools are increasingly being used to improve efficiency and service delivery. The model is also seen as a step toward strengthening human development outcomes through better coordination between health, education, and nutrition services.
29, Jun 2026
Haeran Ryu claims first major title with Women’s PGA Championship victory
June 29: South Korean golfer Haeran Ryu secured her maiden major championship title with a composed and consistent performance at the Women’s PGA Championship, marking a major breakthrough in her professional career.
Ryu displayed strong control and precision throughout the tournament, maintaining steady form across all four rounds to outperform a competitive international field. Her ability to handle pressure in key moments proved decisive in clinching the title.
The victory represents a significant milestone for Ryu, who has steadily risen through the ranks on the women’s professional golf circuit with a series of strong performances in recent seasons. This win now establishes her as a major contender on the global stage.
After her triumph, Ryu expressed satisfaction with her performance, highlighting her focus, preparation, and mental discipline as key factors behind her success. She also credited her support team for their role in her development and victory.
Her win at the Women’s PGA Championship is expected to enhance her world ranking and strengthen her position on the international tour, with analysts viewing her as one of the emerging stars in women’s golf.
29, Jun 2026
EBC Financial Group and the University of Oxford’s Department of Economics Renew Partnership on Public Economic Education
Three-year collaboration to broaden access to economic research through the What Economists Really Do webinar series
LONDON, 29 JUNE 2026 – EBC Financial Group (EBC) has renewed its strategic partnership with the Department of Economics at the University of Oxford for a further three years, extending a collaboration that helps bring economic research to wider public audiences around the world.
As part of the renewed partnership, EBC will sponsor one annual edition of the Department’s What Economists Really Do webinar series, helping to share economic research and insights with students, researchers, alumni and wider public audiences. To help extend the reach of the webinar, selected insights and discussion points will also be adapted into short social media videos, offering accessible summaries of key ideas for wider online audiences.
Since the partnership began, EBC-sponsored editions of What Economists Really Do have explored a range of pressing global issues, including tax evasion, climate change, and financial literacy. Each webinar typically attracts around 200 live attendees. Together, the recorded sessions have generated more than 3,600 views, demonstrating sustained audience engagement beyond the live events themselves.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to widening access to economic knowledge and supporting informed public engagement with economic issues, while fostering informed discussion on topics ranging from macroeconomic policy and financial markets to regulation and global economic development.
It also supports the Department’s wider commitment to public engagement by helping make academic research accessible beyond the university community.
This initiative forms part of EBC’s broader commitment to corporate social responsibility, focused on removing barriers to education and fostering long-term societal impact. By connecting academic excellence with real-world application, EBC continues to support wider access to economic education and public engagement.
“In today’s rapidly evolving global economy, access to reliable financial knowledge is more important than ever. Our continued partnership with the Department of Economics at the University of Oxford reflects EBC’s commitment to empowering individuals with the insights and tools needed to make informed decisions, while supporting the development of future talent that will shape the financial systems of tomorrow”, said Christopher Stiegeler, Executive Director, EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited.
Stiegeler added, “Beyond our partnership with the Department of Economics at Oxford, EBC continues to champion financial education among the next generation through on-campus initiatives, academic collaborations, and memorandums of understanding with institutions worldwide. These collaborations include the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the International University of Ulaanbaatar (IUU), Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (Tecnológico de Monterrey), Escuela Bancaria y Comercial in Mexico, and the Autonomous University of Bucaramanga (UNAB). Our teams are also actively exploring similar partnerships with additional institutions of higher learning globally.”
Professor Johannes Abeler, Head of the Department of Economics at the University of Oxford, commented: “Public engagement and education are central to the Department’s mission. Through initiatives such as What Economists Really Do, we seek to show how economics can contribute to better policy and a deeper understanding of the issues shaping our world. We are pleased to continue our partnership with EBC Financial Group, whose support helps us broaden access to economic knowledge and extend the reach of our educational activities to new audiences around the world.”
Over the next three years, the partnership will continue to connect academic research with wider public audiences, helping ensure that economic insights remain accessible, relevant and impactful in an increasingly complex global environment.
29, Jun 2026
Government introduces ‘Improvement Notice’ system to simplify business compliance
June 29: The government has introduced a new ‘Improvement Notice’ mechanism aimed at strengthening the ease of doing business framework and making regulatory compliance more transparent, efficient, and supportive for enterprises.
Under the new system, businesses will be given an opportunity to correct minor compliance issues within a specified timeframe before any punitive action is initiated. The move is designed to encourage voluntary compliance and reduce unnecessary regulatory burden on companies, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises.
Officials said the initiative reflects a shift towards a more facilitative governance approach, where the focus is on guiding businesses toward compliance rather than imposing immediate penalties. The mechanism is expected to improve trust between regulators and industry stakeholders while ensuring adherence to rules and standards.
The ‘Improvement Notice’ framework will also help streamline inspection processes by clearly distinguishing between procedural lapses and serious violations. This is expected to reduce ambiguity in enforcement and create a more predictable regulatory environment for investors and entrepreneurs.
Industry experts have welcomed the step, noting that it could significantly improve operational ease, reduce compliance stress, and encourage formalisation of businesses. They added that such reforms are crucial for boosting investment confidence and supporting long-term economic growth.
The government said the initiative aligns with its broader goal of improving the business ecosystem through simplified regulations, digital governance, and faster resolution mechanisms, ultimately contributing to a more competitive and investment-friendly economy.
29, Jun 2026
432 CCTV Cameras Deployed for Enhanced Security During Snana Yatra in Puri
Puri, June 29 (UDN): In a bid to ensure foolproof security and effective crowd management during the Deva Snana Purnima festivities, the administration has deployed a total of 432 CCTV cameras across Puri for round-the-clock surveillance.
Representational image
The extensive surveillance network has been installed at strategic locations, including the Jagannath Temple vicinity, Snana Mandap, Grand Road, major entry and exit points, parking areas, and other sensitive locations to monitor the movement of devotees and maintain law and order.
The live feed from these cameras is being closely monitored at an integrated control room by senior police and administrative officials. The surveillance system aims to facilitate real-time monitoring, swift response to emergencies, crowd regulation, and prevention of any untoward incidents during the festival.
In addition to the CCTV surveillance, adequate police personnel, quick response teams, and other security measures have been put in place to ensure the smooth and peaceful conduct of the annual Snana Yatra.
With lakhs of devotees expected to visit the holy city, the enhanced security arrangements are expected to significantly strengthen the overall safety and management of the religious congregation.
29, Jun 2026
New laboratory tool opens door to better treatments for rare and deadly melanomas
| Researchers have created a powerful new cellular model to study rare tumours that are resistant to immunotherapies. The tool could change how therapies are developed for aggressive melanomas that currently have almost no effective treatment options. |
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A research team at the University of Turku in Finland have developed a reliable laboratory model to study BAP1-deficient melanomas, which are a rare type of melanoma that evade the immune system once they have metastasized and are universally resistant to current state-of-the-art immunotherapies. Metastatic BAP1-deficient melanoma is the most common intraocular malignancy in adults, but it remains rare and extremely difficult to treat once it spreads. When the disease reaches the liver, as it does in roughly half of patients, median survival is measured in months. Unlike common melanomas, BAP1-deficient melanomas do not respond to the immune checkpoint therapies that have transformed cancer care over the past decade. The key driver behind the tumour’s immune evasion is the loss of a gene called BAP1 (BRCA1-associated protein 1). When BAP1 is lost, tumours become more aggressive, grow faster, and suppress the immune cells that would otherwise attack them. BAP1 loss is the most important molecular event in uveal melanoma progression, and it also plays a role in mesothelioma, renal cell carcinoma, and other cancers. However, scientists have been unable to study the consequences of BAP1 loss properly in the laboratory, because no suitable immune-competent model existed. Gene editing solved the missing puzzle pieceTo address the issue, the research team used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to delete BAP1 from normal melanocyte cells, creating a new pre-clinical tumour model that behaves like human BAP1-deficient melanoma in an animal with a fully functioning immune system. “BAP1 loss is associated with poor prognosis and resistance to immunotherapy in melanoma. Until now, there has been no preclinical model that faithfully reproduces the tumour–immune interactions seen in patients. Our model fills this gap, for the first time, by recapitulating the human tumour immune microenvironment in vivo. This provides a powerful platform to study how BAP1 loss drives immune evasion and to test novel immunotherapy combinations that may overcome treatment resistance,” explains lead researcher of the study, Dr Mona Wang Meng from the University of Turku. The absence of a proper laboratory model has been one of the biggest bottlenecks slowing down drug development for BAP1-deficient melanoma and related rare tumours. Previous models either lacked a functional immune system, making them useless for immunotherapy studies, or carry too many confounding mutations that obscure the specific role of BAP1. “The implications go well beyond melanoma. BAP1 loss is a shared vulnerability across several hard-to-treat cancers. This platform allows us, and research groups worldwide, to rationally design and test new immunotherapy combinations — something that simply was not possible before,” says Dr Carlos R. Figueiredo, the Principal Investigator of the study. The study was published in the journal Communications Biology. It is part of the broader research programme of MIORG within the InFLAMES Research Flagship at the University of Turku, which focuses on harnessing the immune system to fight cancer.
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