North Korea Changes Constitution and Declares Itself a Nuclear State
North Korea adopted a constitutional amendment to enshrine its policy on nuclear force, as the country's leader pledged to accelerate production of nuclear weapons to deter what he called U.S. provocations.
The Supreme People's Assembly unanimously adopted the revision that states North Korea develops highly nuclear weapons to ensure its rights to existence and to deter war, after the conclusion of a two day-meeting of the North's rubber-stamp parliament.
"The DPRK's nuclear force-building policy has been made permanent as the basic law of the state, which no one is allowed to flout with anything," North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said, addressing the parliament. DPRK are the initials of the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Antarctica Witnessed Most Intense Heatwave Ever Recorded on Earth in 2022
A new study found that the most intense heat wave ever recorded on Earth was in Antarctica in March 2022, when the temperatures near the eastern coast reached 39 degrees Celsius above average.
Generally, the temperatures in March on the east coast of Antarctica near Dome C are around minus 54 degrees Celsius, marking a transition into autumn on the continent. However, on March 18, 2022, temperatures reached minus 10 degrees Celsius, warmer than the hottest temperature recorded during the summer months in that region.
Tamil Nadu, Kerala May Join Hands to Count Endangered Nilgiri tahr
India, known for its diverse wildlife, is also home to Nilgiri Tahr, a precious creature found in the highest mountain ranges of the southern India. A species of the wild goat, the Nilgiri Tahr is native to the Nilgiri Hills and the Western Ghats mountain ranges in India. It is also the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
In a quest to conserve the animal, the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala decided to join hands to conserve the animal species. Tamil Nadu is now working on a standardised protocol to count the endangered population of southern India's only mountain ungulate. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is also set to propose the Kerala government to conduct a synchronised census, as the animal is only found in select habitats in the two states.
RBI Approves Poonawalla Fincorp to Issue Credit Cards with IndusInd Bank
Cyrus Poonawalla-owned Poonawalla Fincorp received Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) permission to issue co-branded credit cards with IndusInd Bank.
The company envisages to launch this credit card within three months. According to the company, this partnership will enable Poonawalla Fincorp to usher in a new age of flexible and versatile retail credit.
RBI Deputy Governor M. Rajeshwar Rao Gets Term Extension
The Central government granted a one-year extension to M. Rajeshwar Rao's term as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
M. Rajeshwar Rao was originally appointed as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank in October 2020, with a term of three years. His initial assignment was to oversee financial regulation within the central bank. However, this new extension will allow him to continue his vital role for an additional year, starting from October 9, 2023, or until further orders are issued, whichever comes first.
Intel Appoints Gokul Subramaniam as New President of Intel India
Intel Corporation appointed Gokul Subramaniam as the new President of Intel India, responsible for overseeing the company's comprehensive engineering and design operations. This includes innovation, cross-group efficiencies, and execution of Intel's products in India.
The appointment follows the departure of Nivruti Rai, Intel's former country head, who joined Invest India, the government's investment promotion agency, as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
Santhosh Viswanathan, Vice President and Managing Director of Sales, Marketing and Communications Group (SMG) for Intel India, will continue overseeing Intel's overall business in the country, focusing on new revenue and growth opportunities.
Infosys Ties with Microsoft for Industry-wide Adoption of Generative AI
Infosys, country's second largest IT player, announced its collaboration with Microsoft to jointly develop solutions that leverage Infosys Topaz, Azure OpenAI Service and Azure Cognitive Services.
Both organizations are bringing together their respective artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to enhance enterprise functions with AI-enabled solutions across multiple industries.
Through the partnership, Infosys Topaz is using Azure OpenAI Service and Azure Cognitive Services to augment its capabilities, to help enterprise customers transition from digital to AI solutions.
NASA'S James Webb Telescope Detects First Evidence of Carbon on Jupiter's Moon
In a groundbreaking discovery, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) detected the presence of carbon dioxide on Europa, one of Jupiter's icy moons. Astronomers used the data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and identified carbon dioxide in a specific region on the icy surface of Europa, as per a NASA release.
Notably, this discovery has important implications for the potential habitability of Europa's ocean.
Scientists were aware that a salty ocean of liquid water with a rocky seafloor lay beneath the icy shell of Europa. However, they had not confirmed if that ocean contained the chemicals needed for life, particularly carbon.
Sailor Neha Thakur Wins Silver at Asian Games 2023
Indian sailor Neha Thakur, just 17 year of age, won silver in the Girl's Dinghy ILCA4 event with a total of 27 points in 11 races. Thailand's Noppassorn Khunboonjan won gold with 16 while Singapore's Keira Marie Carlyle took bronze with 28 points.
Sift Kaur Samra and Ashi Chouksey won gold and bronze respectively in the women's 50m Rifle 3P final at the Asian Games 2023. It also happened to be the first gold medal that India won in the event in the history of the tournament.
Samra finished with 469.6 points and broke the world record of 467. Chouksey finished third with 451.9 points.
Nepal Batter Makes Fastest T20I Fifty in 9 Balls
Nepal took on Mongolia in the inaugural match of the Asian Games Men's T20I, with Nepal setting numerous new records.
Batting first, Nepal struck a mammoth 314/3 in 20 overs, becoming the first team to cross the 300 run mark in a T20I. Prior to this, Afghanistan's 278/3 against Ireland was the highest in this format.
Dipendra Singh Airee hit an unbeaten 52 off just 10 deliveries, breaking Yuvraj Singh's 16-year-old record of the fastest 50 in 12 deliveries in 2007 against England. Hitting eight sixes off the 10 balls he played, his strike rate stood at an unbelievable 520.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an address at the G20 University Connect Finale program held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, released four significant publications related to India's G20 Summit presidency. The G20 University Connect initiative aimed to foster an understanding of India's G20 presidency among the nation's youth and enhance their participation in various G20 events.
The publications launched by the Prime Minister include: The Grand Success of G20 Bharat Presidency, Visionary Leadership, Inclusive Approach, India's G20 Presidency, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Compendium of G20 University Connect Programme, and Showcasing Indian Culture at G20.
He credited the success of India's G20 Summit to the enthusiastic participation of the country's youth, emphasising that such large-scale events thrive when the youth actively engage with them.
CM Bhupesh Baghel Inaugurates State's First Sugarcane-based Ethanol Plant
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated Chhattisgarh's first sugarcane-based ethanol plant worth Rs. 141 crore in Kabirdham district.
Chief Minister Baghel established an 80-kilo litre per day (KLPD) ethanol plant in public-private partnership (PPP) mode through Bhoramdev Cooperative Sugar Producer Factory Limited, Kawardha, and M/s NKJ Bio Fuel.
The establishment of the ethanol plant will generate direct and indirect employment opportunities in the area and will strengthen the basis for economic prosperity in the area.
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Seeks Recognition of 'Sarna' Religious Code for Tribals
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking recognition of the 'Sarna' code for tribals in order to safeguard their religious existence and constitutional rights.
Soren claimed that the population of tribals in the state has declined to 26 per cent from 38 per cent in the last eight decades.
IAF Enhances Fleet with New Dornier Do-228 Aircraft from HAL
The Indian Air Force (IAF) welcomed the arrival of the first of six brand-new Dornier Do-228 aircraft, exclusively manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). This upgraded version of the aircraft boasts new engines, composite propellers, advanced avionics, and a modern glass cockpit.
The Ministry of Defence had inked the deal, securing the procurement of six Dornier-228 aircraft from HAL for the IAF, with a budget of Rs. 667 crore.
Originally employed by the IAF for Route Transport Role and communication tasks, these aircraft have also played a vital role in training transport pilots.
Ten-year-old Malaysian Girl Breaks World Record for 'Blindfolded' Chessboard Arrangement
A 10-year-old chess enthusiast hailing from Malaysia made headlines for her astonishing abilities. The young girl elevated her passion for the game to an exceptional level by accomplishing an extraordinary feat. Punithamalar Rajashekar, with remarkable precision, arranged a chessboard in just 45.72 seconds, all while being blindfolded. This remarkable achievement garnered her the prestigious Guinness World Record for the 'fastest time to arrange a chess set blindfolded.'
The astounding record-setting event unfolded at the premises of Punithamalar's school, where witnesses included members of the Parents and Teachers Association, as well as the school management.
Nepalese Climber Kami Rita Sets New Record for 'Most Climbs of 8,000 Metres'
Nepal's veteran summiteer Kami Rita Sherpa made a new record for the 'Most Climbs of 8,000 metres', as he scaled 8,000 m 42 times.
He summited 42 mountains of more than 8,000 metres, breaking the record set by another famous climber, Nims Purja, who had set a record by scaling 8,000 m 41 times.
Kami Rita climbed the 8,163 metre Mt Manaslu, the world's eighth highest peak, as a part of his Seven Summit Treks 14 Peaks expedition.
Indian Navy Moves Mega Deal to Buy Second Indigenous Aircraft Carrier
In a bid to become self-reliant in Defence, Indian Navy moved a mega proposal to build 2nd aircraft carrier. Made in India second aircraft carrier will be constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kerala. The Defence Ministry will shortly discuss the proposal moved by the Indian Navy. The programme will create thousands of jobs through the Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kerala. Earlier, the first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was commissioned by PM Modi in September 2022. Indian Navy has been pressing for 3 aircraft carriers to maintain at least one carrier on each coast with one in refit. With 3 aircraft carriers, Indian Navy would also be keeping pace with all the navies deployed in Indo-Pacific region. Also, the Indian Navy is going to get 26 new Rafale fighter aircraft for the INS Vikrant. Indian Navy has given assurances to Centre that the sea-force will become self-reliant by 2047.
World Rabies Day is observed every September 28 to raise awareness about rabies and its prevention. Rabies is a deadly viral disease that can affect all mammals, including humans. It is most commonly transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, but it can also be transmitted through contact with the saliva of an infected animal.
World Rabies Day was established in 2007 by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) and recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is celebrated every year on September 28, the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur, who developed the first rabies vaccine.
The theme for World Rabies Day 2023 is 'Rabies: All for 1, One Health for All'. This theme highlights the importance of collaboration and equality in the fight against rabies. It also emphasizes the need to strengthen overall health systems to achieve the One Health goal of eliminating rabies by 2030.
World Maritime Day
World Maritime Day is observed every year on the last Thursday of September. In 2023, it was observed globally on September 28. The day, which is observed to recognise the contribution of people engaged in the maritime industry, also aims to draw public attention towards various issues related to the industry such as shipping, marine trade and environmental causes, among others.
In 1948, an international conference in Geneva passed a resolution that led to the foundation of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to look after the business and operations in the maritime industry. The organisation's role was aimed at looking after technological collaboration, environmental regulation, and legal issues, and to ensure safety for every member of the workforce. Decades after its establishment, the International Maritime Organization declared the last Thursday of every September as World Maritime Day. World Maritime Day was observed for the first time on March 17, 1978.
According to the International Maritime Organization, the World Maritime Day theme for 2023 is 'MARPOL at 50 – Our commitment goes on'.
International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI)
International Day for Universal Access to Information, proclaimed at the 74th UN General Assembly on October 15, 2019, shines a spotlight on the fundamental right to seek, receive, and impart information. Held annually on September 28, this day emphasizes the significance of an informed citizenry and highlights the theme of the online space's pivotal role in ensuring access to information.
On November 17, 2015, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared 28 September as International Day for Universal Access to Information. Considering that several civil society organizations and government bodies in the world have adopted and currently celebrate this observance, the UN General Assembly also adopted September 28, 2019 as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
Chhattisgarh Bags Three National Awards for Ayushman Bharat Scheme
Chhattisgarh received three national awards for the excellent implementation of Ayushman Bharat Scheme in the Arogya Manthan-2023 program organized in New Delhi.
In the large states category, Chhattisgarh was awarded for gender equality, 100 per cent utilisation of the funds and more than 90 per cent of the families in the state having at least one Ayushman card.
Director, Health Services and CEO of State Nodal Agency, Jaiprakash Maurya received these awards on behalf of the state in the Arogya Manthan program organized in New Delhi.
It is noteworthy that under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, AIIMS Raipur was also honoured in the program for providing facilities to patients through digital cards and digital health records. Aabha ID is being used under the Digital Health Mission, which is facilitating the patients in providing health services in OPD.
Chandigarh Scientist Honoured at CSIR Foundation Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the journey of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research which marked its 82nd Foundation Day at Bharat Mandapam, in a ceremony that also saw the presentation of the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards for 2022.
Among recipients across seven segments of the award was Ashwani Kumar of the CSIR Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh.
Kumar was awarded in the category of biological sciences for original contributions in biofilm-induced infections involving cellulose revealing a novel mechanism in TB pathophysiology. Kumar's work has the potential to reduce the treatment time for TB patients from the current six months to one month.
Karnataka Government Forms New Textbooks Revision Committee
The Karnataka government established a committee established to comprehensively revise the curriculum based on the new National Curriculum Framework. In total, 37 experts were appointed to participate in this revision process, as per the order issued by the Under Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy.
The state government appointed Manjunath Hegde, a retired professor from the Rani Channamma University (RCU), as the chief coordinator. It also includes several subject-wise presidents from various universities across Karnataka.
The revisions will be made to first and second-language Kannada textbooks for classes I to X, third-language Kannada textbooks for classes IX and X, and social science textbooks for classes VI to X.
According to the order, the revision will be as per the UPA era's National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2005 even as the central government has brought out NCF 2023.
Shalini Bharat Steps Down from the Post of Director of Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Professor Shalini Bharat stepped down from the post of Director of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) after completing her term of five years.
The director of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Mumbai, Professor Manoj Tiwari was given additional charge of Director TISS until the new full-time director is appointed.
This new appointment will be the first one through the process following changes to the regulations of the University Grants Commission (UGC) which brings TISS under the central government's purview of appointments; along with other deemed-to-be-universities receiving over 50 per cent funding from the Centre.
THE World University Rankings 2024: IISc Bangalore Best among Indian Institutes
The Times Higher Education (THE) announced the World University Rankings 2024 in which as many as 91 Indian institutes secured a place. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore secured the top spot among Indian universities. It was placed between 201-250 rank overall.
IISc Bangalore was followed by Anna University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Mahatma Gandhi University, and Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences. These universities were ranked between 501-600. Meanwhile, several Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) continued its boycott of the rankings for the fourth consecutive year.
The top 10 Indian universities in the rankings are: IISc Bangalore (201-250 rank), Anna University (501-600 rank), Jamia Millia Islamia (501-600 rank), Mahatma Gandhi University (501-600 rank), Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences (501-600 rank), Alagappa University (601-800 rank), Aligarh Muslim University (601-800 rank), Banaras Hindu University (601-800 rank), Bharathiar University (601-800 rank) and Indian IIT Guwahati (601-800 rank).
Malayalam film '2018: Everyone is a Hero' is India's Official Entry to Oscars 2024
We finally have the name for our own official entry for Oscars 2024 and it's none other than Malayalam language film '2018: Everyone is a Hero'. After wooing audiences across the country with its incredible story and performances since its release in theatres and on OTT, 2018: Everyone is a Hero will represent India at the Academy Awards that are scheduled for March 2024. Oscars 2024 are slated for March 10, 2024, in Los Angeles.
2018: Everyone is a Hero is based on a story of the devastating 2018 Kerala floods that left a trail of destruction and loss across the state. Directed by the visionary Jude Anthany Joseph, the film showcases the resilience of people from all walks of life who find themselves thrust into the eye of calamity and how unity becomes their driving force.
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