India-Brazil-SA-US Commit to Address Global Challenges
Leaders of India, Brazil, South Africa, and the United States met on the margins of the G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi and reaffirmed their shared commitment to the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation to deliver solutions for shared world. In a joint statement, the leaders said that as the G20's current and next three Presidencies, they will build on the historic progress of India's G20 Presidency to address global challenges. In this spirit, together with the World Bank President, they welcomed the G20's commitment to build better, bigger, and more effective multilateral development banks. This commitment underscores what they can do, by working together through the G20, to support our people toward a better future.
Ethiopia Announces Completion of Filling of Disputed Nile Dam
Ethiopia filled the Grand Renaissance Dam on the Nile. The dam has been a topic of dispute between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan.
The announcement from Ethiopia came just a fortnight after the countries restarted negotiations after a long break. The negotiations are on an agreement over the Nile water that takes into account water needs of all three countries.
Sudan and Egypt fear that the huge USD 4.2 billion dam will drastically reduce their share of water. Both countries have repeatedly asked Ethiopia to stop filling the dam until the three countries reach agreement.
WTO to Have a Fully Functional Dispute Settlement System by 2024
The G20 leaders expressed their commitment to conduct discussions for having a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by 2024.
Besides formulating norms for global exports and imports, the Geneva-based 164-member multi-lateral body adjudicates trade disputes among the member countries.
The dispute settlement mechanism of the WTO has been derailed due to a non-functional appellate body since December 2019.
UN Climate Report Warns of Closing Window to Limit Global Warming
A new report from UN Climate emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate change, stating that the window of opportunity to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is rapidly closing. The report, part of the Global Stocktake (GST) mandated by the Paris Agreement, highlights that while some progress has been made; countries are far from achieving the necessary targets to meet this goal.
The report estimates that, even with current climate actions, global greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 will be approximately 24 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent higher than needed to keep the 1.5-degree target viable. The report underscores deficits in mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, and capacity building efforts. The findings will inform the upcoming annual climate change meeting in Dubai.
SBI Unveils Nation First Transit Card for Digital Fare Payments
State Bank of India (SBI), the country's largest lender, took a significant step in enhancing the commuting experience and promoting digital payment adoption with the launch of the 'Nation First Transit Card.' This innovative card is designed to facilitate seamless and convenient customer commuting experiences, offering easy digital ticketing fare payments across various modes of transportation, such as metro, buses, water ferries, parking, and more, all through a single card. Additionally, the card can also be used for making retail and e-commerce payments.
Dinesh Kumar Khara, Chairman of SBI, emphasized that the Nation First Transit Card, powered by RuPay and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) technology, has the potential to revolutionise the commuting experience for millions of Indians. The card is not just a financial tool but also a symbol of SBI's commitment to the growth and development of the nation.
Coco Gauff Wins US Open Women's Singles Final 2023
Coco Gauff joined the list of women's singles champions at US Open in the Open era with her come-from-behind victory over Aryna Sabalenka.
Since the beginning of the Open era (1968), Gauff is the 28th different women to have won the singles title at Flushing Meadows. She is the youngest American champion since Serena Williams in 1999.
USA's Chris Evert and Serena hold the record for most US Open titles (6) won by a woman followed by Steffi Graf (5).
Britain's Salisbury and Partner Ram Win Third Straight US Open Double Title
Britain's Joe Salisbury made US Open history alongside American partner Rajeev Ram with victory in the men's doubles final.
Salisbury and Ram became the first team to win the Flushing Meadows title three years in a row in the Open era by beating India's Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden of Australia 2-6 6-3 6-4.
It was a fourth grand slam crown for the duo and denied Bopanna a first major title at the age of 43.
Goa Governor Launches 'Mashaal' For 37th National Games
Governor of Goa, P. S. Sreedharan Pillai, officially introduced the Mashaal (torch) to mark the commencement of the 37th National Games. This splendid event was organised by the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Goa, at the Durbar Hall in Raj Bhavan, Donapaula. The ceremony was graced by the esteemed presence of Pramod Sawant, the Chief Minister, Govind Gaude, the Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs, Shripad Naik, the Minister of State for Tourism, and several other distinguished guests.
Governor Pillai also revealed the National Games' Anthem (theme song), which featured the iconic voice of the legendary actor, Amitabh Bachchan. His participation added an element of grandeur and distinction to the occasion. What sets this Anthem apart is its incorporation of the traditional Goan instrument, the Ghumat, and the collaboration of Goan vocalists alongside other gifted artists.
Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya Vadodara and Airbus Sign MoU
Indian Railways' Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara and Airbus, a global aviation giant, embarked on a strategic collaboration aimed at fortifying the Indian aviation sector. This partnership, sealed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at Rail Bhawan, New Delhi, signifies a significant milestone in fostering industry-academia alliances to propel India's aviation industry to new heights.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics, and IT, who also serves as the First Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya.
Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) Vadodara, established through an Act of Parliament in 2022, is dedicated to nurturing top-tier manpower and talent for the transportation and logistics sectors. GSV aims to fulfill the mandates of key national development plans, including the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan 2021 and the National Logistics Policy 2022.
The collaboration between Airbus and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya encompasses several key aspects:
Co-development of Skilling Courses: The partnership will result in sector-relevant skilling courses and programs tailored for both regular students and working professionals.
Joint Research and Industry Experiences: Faculty members from both institutions will engage in joint research endeavors and gain valuable industry experience.
Internships and Placements: GSV students will have the opportunity to undertake internships and secure placements within Airbus and related industries, ensuring they are well-prepared for careers in the aviation sector.
Scholarship Programs: The collaboration includes initiatives to provide scholarships to deserving students, fostering equal access to quality education.
PM Modi Launches Global Biofuels Alliance at G20 Summit in New Delhi
The Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) was formally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of leaders of a number of partner countries on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. The GBA has been in the works for some time now and is a key initiative and priority under India's G20 presidency. The alliance is aimed at facilitating international cooperation and intensifying the use of sustainable biofuels, along with facilitating global biofuels trade and technical support for national biofuel programmes.
The GBA, the effort for which was spearheaded by India, the United States, and Brazil, was launched with nine initiating members–India, the US, Brazil, Argentina, Bangladesh, Italy, Mauritius, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates–while Canada and Singapore are observer countries. In all, 19 countries and 12 international organisations have already agreed to join the GBA.
Seven of the 19 countries are from the G20, four are among the G20 invitee countries, while eight are neither G20 members nor invitees. The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, World Economic Forum, International Energy Agency, International Energy Forum, International Renewable Energy Agency, and International Civil Aviation Organization are among the organisations that have agreed to join the alliance.
PM Modi Chairs a Session on the Theme - One Future in G20 Summit
In a significant victory for India's G-20 presidency, the member nations unanimously adopted the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration. On the first day of 18th G-20 Summit in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the adoption of the declaration by the bloc of world-leading economies during the second session of the G20 summit, titled One Family.
Inclusive growth, accelerating actions to deal with climate change and increasing medical supplies to be future ready for health emergencies among others are the focus areas of the G-20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration. The member countries expressed their commitment to accelerate sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth with effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They also expressed commitment to accelerate action to address the issue of climate challenges by pursuing low carbon emissions, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable development pathways.
The Declaration while referring to the Ukraine war, underscored that all states must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety. It added that in line with the UN Charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state. It also added that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that history has been created with the adoption of the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration. He added that united in consensus and spirit, we pledge to work collaboratively for a better, more prosperous and harmonious future. He expressed his gratitude to all fellow G20 members for their support and cooperation.
On the second and final day of the G20 Leaders' Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the session based on the theme- One Future. The Prime Minister held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and also do a pull-aside meeting with Canadian leaders, and bilateral meetings with leaders of Comoros, Türkiye, UAE, South Korea, European Union, European Commission, Brazil and Nigeria.
IAF Chief in Spain Receives First C-295 Transport Plane for India
Air Chief Marshal V. R. Chaudhari- the chief of the Indian Air Force, was in Spain where he received the first C-295 transport plane made for India by global aircraft manufacturer Airbus for India at a facility in Seville.
The Indian Air Force signed a contract for 56 of these planes of which 16 would be made in Spain while the remaining 40 would be produced by the joint venture of Tata and Airbus in their facility in Vadodara, Gujarat.
The IAF chief would receive the first aircraft from Airbus at their facility in Seville, Spain.
Myanmar Receives First Shipment of Russia's Su-30 fighter Jets
Myanmar received the first shipment of two Russian Su-30 fighter jets, Charlie Than, Myanmar's Trade Minister said.
Russia and Myanmar signed a contract in September 2022 for the delivery of six Su-30SME fighter jets.
The Sukhoi Su-30SME multi-role fighter jet is designed for enemy's aerial targets engagement, aerial reconnaissance, combat employment and pilot training, according to Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-controlled arms exporter.
National Forest Martyrs Day is commemorated every year on September 11. A series of events and activities are organised by many major organisations along with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate National Forest Martyrs Day 2023 is an epitomic date which amplifies the awareness regarding the importance of wildlife and nature. It is necessary for everyone to understand the vitality of protecting forests, trees and our environment. This day also highlights the commitments and sacrifices that our forest rangers, guards and officers have been going through tremendously.
However, the day's history can be traced back to the Khejarli Massacre in 1730.
In 1730, the historic Khejarli massacre occurred within the Marwar Kingdom when Maharaja Abhai Singh of Rajasthan ordered the cutting of trees in the Bishnoi village of Khejarli to obtain timber for a new palace. The Bishnoi community vehemently opposed this action and were willing to lay down their lives to protect the forest. Ultimately, in response to these events, the orders were revoked.
In remembrance of the sacrifices made by the Bishnoi community, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change selected September 11 to observe National Forest Martyrs Day in 2013.
ICAI Sets Guinness World Record for Conducting Largest Accounting Lesson
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) set the Guinness World Record for conducting the largest accounting lesson ever held in a single location.
Held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, the mega event titled 'Career in Accounting & Finance for Youth (CAFY) and Super Mega Career Counseling Programme- Bhavishya ki Raah' left an indelible mark on the enthusiastic young minds of India. With an overwhelming turnout of school students, the event served as a platform for ICAI to reaffirm its commitment to nurturing the future of accounting and finance professionals.
A total of 3933 students gathered under one roof to attend the largest accounting lesson.
The event was organised at over 300 different places, and nearly 200,000 students from all around the country got to experience it. This programme aimed to enlighten students about the prospects in commerce and Chartered Accountancy, demonstrating that becoming a Chartered Accountant is the beginning of a journey filled with endless possibilities.
IIT Bombay Forms New Science and Tech Partnership with University of Chicago
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay partnered the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) headquartered at the University of Chicago. The new partnership between the two institutes seeks to promote cooperation in fields of quantum information science, climate and energy, advanced microelectronics, artificial intelligence and data science.
The announcement was made by the governments of India and the US today and was highlighted during the meeting of the US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at the G20 summit in New Delhi. IIT Bombay joined CQE as one of only five worldwide academic partners. IIT Bombay anchors one of the leading centers for quantum research in India, the Quantum Information Computing Science and Technology (QuICST) Hub.
IIT Patna to Host 37th Edition of All IITs Placement Committee
The Indian Institute of Technology Patna will organise the 37th edition of the All IITs Placement Committee (AIPC) meeting on September 23. The meeting will be attended by top officials of placement cells and career development cells of the 23 IITs.
This will be the first time that IIT Patna will host the All IITs Placement Committee meeting. It will be attended by IITs including IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, and IIT Kharagpur, along with IIT Patna.
As per the information, this AIPC meeting will be held to discuss issues with respect to the placement and internship opportunities of the students pursuing their courses in the academic session 2023-24. The meeting will focus on suggesting new methods to provide better employability for the students.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot inaugurated the Chambal Riverfront, featuring a spectacular Chambal Mata statue and significant infrastructure improvements.
The centrepiece of the Chambal Riverfront is a colossal statue of Chambal Mata, a deity of reverence in the region. According to reports, this sculpture has been crafted from 1,500 pieces of marble imported from Vietnam. Moreover, five elephant statues were installed beneath the towering 242-foot-high Chambal Mata statue.
A unique feature of the Chambal Mata statue is the ceremonial urn placed atop it. To supply water to this urn, four high-capacity pumps with a power rating of 75 HP each have been installed.
'Fire on the Ganges Life among the Dead in Banaras' by Radhika Iyengar
Radhika Iyengar is the author of the book 'Fire on the Ganges: Life among the Dead in Banaras,' released by HarperCollins. The book explores the city of Banaras (also known as Varanasi) in India, particularly its relationship with death and the afterlife. Fire on the Ganges is the first attempt to chronicle the everyday realities of the Doms in Banaras. Through their tales of struggle and survival, betrayal and love, it tells the at-times-heartbreaking, at-times-exhilarating story of a community struggling to find a place beyond that accorded to it by ancient tradition.
Radhika Iyengar is an award-winning journalist with a Master's degree in journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, New York. She won the Red Ink award for Excellence in Indian Journalism (2018). In 2020, she was awarded the Charles Wallace India Trust fellowship at University of Kent, UK. She received the Bianca Pancoat Patton Fellowship in 2019 and was a recipient of the Sanskriti-Prabha Dutt Fellowship (2016–17).
2006 Mumbai Train Bombings: After Bombay High Court Rap, State Appoints Raja Thakare as Special Prosecutor
The Maharashtra government informed the Bombay High Court that Senior Advocate Raja Thakare was appointed as a special public prosecutor to represent the Maharashtra government in confirmation petitions and appeals arising from 2006 Mumbai train blast cases.
A division bench of Justices N. W. Sambre and Rajesh Patil had pulled up the government for its "lack of seriousness" on the issue.
Seven coordinated blasts ripped through local trains in Mumbai on July 11, 2006, killing more than 180 people and injuring several others.
Between 2006 and 2008, the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra Police arrested 13 members of the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen in the case.
In September 2015, the trial court convicted 12 of them, awarded the death penalty to five and sentenced seven others to life imprisonment. One accused was acquitted.
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