Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC - 12th September 2023

 

National News

1. The 14th edition of the World Spice Congress will be held in Mumbai

• The 14th edition of the World Spice Congress will be held from 15-17 September 2023 at the CIDCO International Convention Center in Satellite Township, Mumbai, the 'Financial Capital of India'. 
• The theme of WSC 2023 is 'Vision 2030: S-P-I-C-E-S' (Sustainability, Productivity, Innovation, Collaboration, Excellence and Security). India is considered the 'spice bowl' of the world. 
• Organized by the Spice Board with the active participation of spice trade associations in India, the event will be attended by key policymakers, regulatory authorities, spice trade associations, government officials, and technical experts from key G20 countries. 
• World Spice Congress 2016 took place from 27–29 February 2016 at Gujarat University Convention and Exhibition Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Organization of the first World Spice Congress-1990 
• It was jointly sponsored by the Spices Board and the All India Spices Exporters Forum in Kochi. 
• Since its establishment in 1990, the WSC has been able to successfully bring together a global perspective in the spice sector ranging from traditional food and beverages to the most advanced examinations for nutraceuticals and nootropics. 
• This was a much anticipated and well-attended event. Spices have made great strides from traditional culinary aspects to amazing utilities in food preservation, food safety, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, cosmetics, natural colors, and much more.

2. BRO to construct world’s highest fighter airfield in Ladakh’s Nyoma 

• The Border Roads Organization (BRO) will construct the world’s highest fighter airfield in the Nyoma region of Ladakh. 
• The foundation stone of the project will be laid by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Devak Bridge. 
• India is proactively working towards developing infrastructure along the 3,488 Km stretch of the Line of Actual Control.
• 295 projects have been completed worth Rs 11,000 crore in the last 2-3 years. 
• In 2008, the budget used to be approximately Rs 3,000 crore. In 2017 it increased to Rs 5,000- 6,000 crore. In 2019, it went up to Rs 8,000 crore and increased thereafter. And in the last year around Rs 12,340 crore were spent.

3. Anti-Sikh riots: Case against Tytler sent to district judge 

• A court here on Monday sent a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, in which Congress leader Jagdish Tytler is accused, to a district judge for further proceedings. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vidhi Gupta Anand noted that Mr. Tytler was accused of murder, an offense "exclusively triable" by "courts of sessions." The charge sheet in the case, about the murder of three Sikhs in Pulbangash, was filed in May of this year, almost 39 years after the incident 

4. Kashmir Valley's growers are anxious as import duty is relaxed on American apples 

• The Union government's decision to relax 20% customs duty on apples imported from the U.S. at the recently concluded G-20 summit left orchardists in the Kashmir Valley jittery. 
• The announcement came in the wake of a dip in apple prices this year. Kashmir's The Apple industry is battling a number of issues. 
• Farmers in Kashmir have always sought 100% duty on apple imports to ensure better returns for locals. We will continue to demand an increase in import duties," Majid Aslam Wafai, chairperson of All Kashmir Fruit Growers Dealers, told The Hindu. "Apple growers are in distress. 
• They faced huge losses as their input costs increased and the crop was sold at low rates. Two-thirds of the crop, such as C-grade [fruit], is unworthy of the market and could be diverted for juices. However, the J&K Horti- culture Producing and 
• Marketing Corporation in Sopore remains defunct," Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Leader, M.Y. Tarigami said. 
• National Conference (NC), People's Democratic Party (PDP), and Congress have demanded a roll-back of the Centre's decision. "To please the Americans and other countries, the Centre is putting its own people in a tight spot. If not Kashmir, the Centre should have thought of Himachal and Uttarakhand. We don't need apples from outside. We don't need walnuts and almonds from outside for some cheers. The Centre should rethink about it. Local producers should get the relief, not outsiders," NC vice-president Omar Abdullah said. 
• PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the move "will have a devastating effect on local growers in J&K already grappling with huge losses post 2019". "Hope the Prime Minister's Office reconsiders," Ms. Mufti said. 
• "This decision will severely impact the fruit industry in J&K and Himachal, while J&K growers have already undergone tremendous losses, be it the unfavorable situation or the severe climatic conditions," Senior Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir said. He urged the Centre to revisit the decision. 
• The Congress demanded a special bailout package for apple growers to overcome the economic crisis "instead of the decision regarding lifting import duties on American products". 
• J&K produces over 73% of the total apples grown in the country. Official data show apple production in Kashmir crossed 20 lakh tonnes in 2022, and is likely to touch 22 lakh tonnes in 2023.

5. Lawyer's encounter with strays triggers debate in SC on dangers of dog attacks 

• Canine attacks in crowded urban spaces became an impromptu topic of discussion in the Supreme Court on Monday with Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta drawing the attention of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud to the recent tragic death of a 14- year-old boy with symptoms similar to rabies after being bitten by a dog in Uttar Pradesh. 
• Chief Justice Chandrachud, in turn, related how a clerk working in his office was attacked by stray dogs some time ago. 
• The exchange came after the Chief Justice notified a lawyer with freshly bandaged arms in the courtroom. 
• The advocate said he had been set upon by a gang of stray dogs. 
• The Chief Justice offered to immediately inform the in-house medical care facility to provide him with treatment even as the incident provoked a lively discussion on the increasing danger of dog attacks, especially on children. In July, a Bench of Justice 
• J.K. Maheshwari and K.V. Viswanathan have agreed to hear different views on pleas to euthanize "suspected rabid" and "extremely dangerous" stray dogs. 
• Animal rights activists have said the issue is delicate and required to be examined legally. 
• They said animal birth control rules were not strictly implemented by the local authorities and people should not be allowed to treat stray dogs cruelly by branding them "rabid." or "dangerous".
• They said there had been instances of stray dogs being changed poisoned or thrown into rivers. 

6. Presentation made on 3 criminal Bills by ex-official 

• Former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Director Praveen Sinha on Monday made a detailed presentation to a parliamentary panel on the three Bills introduced in Lok Sabha to overhaul the country's colonial-era criminal laws. 
• Mr. Sinha made the presentation to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs comparing colonial-era laws with the changes proposed in the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita Bill, 2023; the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, 2023; and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023, that were introduced by the government on the last day of the Monsoon Session. The presentation lasted over 90 minutes with members of the panel Seeking clarification from Mr. Sinha on various aspects of the three Bills.
• Padmini Singh, Joint Secretary of the Department C of Legal Affairs, and Anupama Nilekar Chandra, Additional Director-General of the Bureau of Police Research and Development, also made presentations on the three Bills before the parliamentary panel.

7. Special House session is to make Mumbai a U.T.: Patole 

• Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Monday alleged that the up- coming special session of Parliament was designed to split Maharashtra and separate Mumbai from the State and declare it a Union Territory. "The agenda of the upcoming special ses- sion of Parliament is planned to split Maharashtra and take industries from Mumbai to Gujarat," claimed Mr. Patole. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi never called for a special session of Parliament on any major crisis till now. I say that the ruling BJP will declare Mumbai as a union territory," alleged Mr. Patole, speaking mediapersons. to 
• The Centre has not spelt out the agenda of the special session to be held from September 18 to 22.

 

8. Ban on firecrackers being returned; allow green crackers, says BJP 

• The Delhi government on Monday announced its decision to impose a complete ban on the sale, storage, production, and bursting of firecrackers for the third consecutive year ahead of the winter months as it looks to formulate an action plan to combat air pollution in the city. 
• The government has also prohibited the sale of firecrackers through online marketing platform. 
• An order specifying the commencement date of the ban and its duration will be issued soon, an official said.
• The Delhi Pollution Control Committee has placed similar restrictions in the past two years ahead of winter after a National Green Tribunal order in December 2020 directed the imposition of a complete ban on all types of firecrackers when AQI levels deteriorate into the "poor" and worse categories.
• Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday told reporters that the decision on Firecrackers were taken as air quality deteriorated sharply in winter and turned "lethal." for children and the elderly.
• The minister demanded that a similar ban be imposed by all three National Capital Region States. - NCR 
• Mr. Rai said his government will organize an 'Environmental Experts Meet' on Tuesday. The suggestions collected from the meeting, he added, will be included in the Government's Winter Action plan 
• A review meeting of the departments concerned will be held on Wednesday, the Minister said.
• Meanwhile, the BJP slammed the government's decision while demanding that people be allowed to burst crackers on Deepavali for a specified period. 
• Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said green crackers should be exempted from the ban. 
• "There has been no scientific study proving that pollution increases due to crackers. While it may be justified to ban crackers that exacerbate pollution, green crackers should not face any restrictions," he said. 
• Mr. Bidhuri said the Delhi government had failed to curb pollution in the winter, for which the poor condition of public transport was to blame. 

 

International News

9. Switzerland tops US News & World Report's annual 'Best Countries Ranking 2023' 

• Switzerland has emerged as the world's best country for the second consecutive time in US News & World Report's annual ranking of the best 87 countries. There is Canada (No. 2), Sweden (No. 3), Australia (No. 4) and the United States (No. 5).
• Germany, which was second in the 2022 rankings, slipped below Japan to 7th in 2023, while New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands took the top 10 spots. 
• The only country in the Middle East to make the top 25 was the United Arab Emirates, while Asia was represented by Japan, Singapore, China and South Korea. 
• The countries at the bottom of the list are Iran, Belarus, Lebanon, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. 
• Cyprus, Honduras and Zimbabwe were included in the ranking for the first time in the project's history after meeting the benchmark criteria. El Salvador rejoins the list after dropping out in 2022. 

India 

• With an overall score of 40.8, India, which was ranked 31st in the 2022 rankings, improved by one placed to 30th rank in 2023. India's best performance came at 5th in the 'Movers' category, which rank countries based on their future growth potential. India was ranked 8th in terms of culture and heritage. India was ranked 12th among the most powerful countries. 

Ranking of Best Countries 2023 

• US News Best Countries rankings and analysis are created in partnership with global marketing communications company WPP and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The project is based on a global survey in which more than 17,000 people from 36 countries are associated with different countries with specific characteristics. 
• The US News & World Report's annual ranking divides countries into 10 thematic sub-rankings, including adventure, agility, cultural impact, entrepreneurship, heritage, movers, open for business, power, quality of life, and social purpose. Let's come. 

10. Brazil will focus on inequality during the G-20 presidency 

• Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that addressing inequality in the world will be at the center of Brazil's G-20 presidency. He was "symbolically" handed the ceremonial gavel by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday. Brazil will formally take over the Presidency in November after Mr. Modi holds a virtual summit of G-20 leaders to follow up on decisions taken at the Delhi Summit. 
• Mr. Lula said that among the priorities for his government are the energy transition, especially the development of ethanol-based fuel that Brazil has championed, the reform of multilateral banks and the expansion of the UN Security Council. As during the Indian Presidency, Mr. Lula said, Brazil will take G-20 meetings to "many Brazilian cities", "democratize" the G-20 and make it popular among civil society 
• "It is a lot of responsibility for Brazil to host the G-20 Summit next year. We will put the inequality issue as the core issue for the next G-20 process... inequalities of gender, race, and education. We have to build an understanding that the world needs more balance in terms of the wealth distribution that is being produced," he said. Asked by The Hindu about. 
• Mr. Lula said that it did not matter how much money was "spent", but whether it was "invested" for the betterment of the country. He praised India's initiative at the G-20 for the international Biofuel Alliance, as an investment for the future that he would take forward 
• Mr. Lula added that he hoped that the Ukraine war would be over by the time Brazil hosted its G-20 Summit in November 2024 and that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who skipped coming to Delhi, would attend the next summit

 

11. Mayor of American city Louisville declares 3 September as 'Sanatan Dharma Day' 

• The Mayor of Louisville in the United States has declared September 3 as Sanatan Dharma Day in the city. The official proclamation was read by Deputy Mayor Barbara Sexton Smith during the Mahakumbh Abhishekam festival in Louisville. 
• Amid controversy in India over Dravida Munnetra, Kazhagam (DMK) leader Udhayanidhi Stalin and Congress's Priyank Kharge Sanatan Dharma comments, a city in the United States has declared September 3 as Sanatan Dharma Day. 
• The event was attended by spiritual leader Chidananda Saraswati, President of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Bhagwati Saraswati, as well as Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman, Deputy Chief of Staff Keisha Dorsey and many other spiritual leaders and dignitaries. 
• Earlier, Governor of the US state of Georgia Brian Kemp had officially announced to celebrate the month of October as 'Hindu Heritage Month' within the state. Georgia has made this announcement to recognize and appreciate the valuable contributions made by the Hindu-American community living in the state. In April 2023, Georgia became the first US state to pass a resolution condemning Hinduphobia.

12. WTO to have a fully functional dispute settlement system by 2024 

• The G20 leadership summit has declared it will work towards having in place a fully functional dispute settlement system at WTO by 2024. 
• It has been almost four years since the World Trade Organization’s Appellate Body, which is the dispute-settlement arm of the WTO, became defunct, thus affecting developing countries adversely. 
• There are two main ways to settle a dispute once a complaint has been filed in the WTO 
• First – The countries find a mutually agreed solution, particularly during the phase of bilateral consultations 
• Second -Through adjudication which includes ruling by a panel and if not satisfied, challenging that ruling at the appellate body. 
• The body was established at the WTO in 1995 when it appointed its first seven-member panel. Members are appointed, by consensus, for a four-year term. 
• Appellate Body members must be persons of recognized authority, with demonstrated expertise by law, international trade, and the subject matter of the agreements concerned, and they must not affiliated with any government. UK PM announces $2 bn aid for Green Climate Fund 
• UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged $2 billion to the UN’s Green Climate Fund (GFC) to support vulnerable countries in dealing with climate change. 
• The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the biggest single funding commitment the UK has made to help the world tackle climate change. 
• It was established by 194 countries following the Copenhagen Accord at COP15. 
• GCF is the largest global fund dedicated to supporting developing countries to reduce global emissions and support communities to adapt to the effects of climate change. 
• The most recent contribution has marketed a 12.7 percent increase on the UK’s previous contribution to GCF for the period of 2020-23. Previous funding was itself double the amount of Britain’s initial funding to establish the fund in 2014. 
• The UK has pledged to spend 11.6 billion pounds on international climate finance between 2021 and 2026. This announcement marks a “major contribution towards this commitment and follows the Prime Minister’s announcement at COP27 that the UK would triple our funding for climate adaptation. 

About the United Kingdom (UK) 

• Capital – London 
• Currency – Pound sterling 
• Prime Minister – Rishi Sunak 

State News

13. MP cabinet approves Mob Lynching Victim Compensation Scheme 2023 

• Madhya Pradesh government will provide Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the kin of any person killed in a mob lynching incident.
• There will be a provision of compensation of Rs 4 to Rs 6 lakh for the injured. 
• This will also include all those incidents of mob lynching that occur due to religion, caste, language or any other reason. Under the scheme, mob lynching will be considered in which five or more accused are involved. 
• Besides the MP Mob Lynching Victim Compensation Scheme 2023, the cabinet also approved a housing scheme for homeless families and doubled the honorarium being given to guest faculty. 
• The cabinet has also increased the honorarium of guest teachers for class one from Rs 9,000 to Rs 18,000, class two from Rs 7,000 to Rs 14,000 and class three to Rs 10,000 from Rs 5,000. 

About Madhya Pradesh 

• Capital – Bhopal 
• Chief Minister – Shivraj Singh Chauhan 
• Governor – Mangubhai C. Patel

14. Tamil Nadu Govt To Launch Scheme Granting Monthly Aid To Over 1 Crore Women 

• Tamil Nadu government is all set to launch Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam is the largest social welfare initiative aimed at providing monthly financial assistance. The scheme is set to benefit over 1.06 crore eligible women who are the heads of their families. 
• Under this scheme, eligible beneficiaries will receive a monthly sum of Rs 1,000. This financial aid will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. To facilitate easy access to funds, ATM cards will be issued to eligible women, allowing them to withdraw the allocated amount as needed. 
• To keep beneficiaries informed and updated about the scheme, the government will utilize SMS notifications, ensuring that eligible women receive timely information about the program and any relevant updates.

Award News

15. 12 scientists selected for Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for the year 2022 

• The country's top annual science awards, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awards, have been announced on September 10, 2023, after a gap of two years. This year, 12 scientists will be given awards in seven categories. It was established in 1958. 
• CSIR Director General Dr. N. Kalaiselvi announced the awards for the year 2022 in the presence of Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh. Named after Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the first Director of CSIR, these awards are given in seven science disciplines – Physics, Biology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine, Chemistry and Earth Sciences. The award carries a cash contribution of Rs 5 lakh.
• It was held at the launch event of 'One Week One Lab' program of CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NISCPR). Traditionally, the Bhatnagar Awards are announced on 26 September, the foundation day of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). 

Major winners Biological Science 

• Dr. Ashwani Kumar - CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh 
• Dr. Madika Subba Reddy - DNA Fingerprinting Diagnostics Centre, Hyderabad 

Chemistry 

• Dr. Akkattu T Biju, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 
• Dr. Debabrata Maiti, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay 
• Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Science 
• Dr. Vimal Mishra, Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar 

Engineering 

• Dr. Deepti Ranjan Sahu - Indian Institute of Technology Delhi 
• Dr. Rajneesh Kumar - Indian Institute of Technology Madras 

Mathematical Science 

• Dr. Apoorva Khare, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 
• Dr. Neeraj Kayal - Microsoft Research Lab India, Bengaluru 

Medical Sciences 

• Dr. Dipyaman Ganguly - CSIR- Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata 

Physics 

• Dr. Anindya Das - Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 
• Dr. Basudeb Dasgupta - Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 

Dr. Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar

•  He was the founding director (and later the first Director General) of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), who is credited with setting up twelve national laboratories over as many years. He was the first chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC). 
• In 1936, Dr. Bhatnagar was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE). He was knighted in 1941 and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, London in 1943. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan by the President of India in 1954.

Banking and Financial News

16. Banking and Financial AU Small Finance launches Zenith Metal credit card 

• AU Small Finance Bank Ltd has introduced the Zenith + Super Premium Metal Credit Card, expanding its range of banking solutions. 
• This credit card includes features like premium lounge access, personalized concierge services, and a welcome with Premium Brand vouchers and Rewards Points worth Rs 5000. 
• One of the card’s highlights is the Forex markup of 0.99 percent for international travel, making it advantageous for global transactions. 

About AU Small Finance Bank Limited 

• Founded – 1996 
• Founder – Sanjay Agarwal 
• Headquarters – Jaipur, Rajasthan 
• MD & CEO – Sanjay Agarwal 
• Tagline – Chalo Aage Badhein

 

17. RBI, NPCI Introduce Credit Lines On UPI, Conversational Payments 

• In a significant move aimed at enhancing India’s digital payments ecosystem Governor Shaktikanta Das unveiled a slew of new UPI (Unified Payments Interface) features developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). These introduced features are set to revolutionize the way Indians transact and manage their finances. 
• These features include: 

1. Credit Line on UPI: Promoting Financial Inclusion and Innovation, 
2. UPI Lite X: Taking Offline Payments to the Next Level,
3. UPI Tap & Pay: Effortless Payments through QR Codes and NFC Technology, 
4. Conversational Payments: A New Era of Voice-Enabled Transactions and
5. BillPay Connect: Streamlining Bill Payments. 

Appointment and Resignation News 

18. Re-Appointment of Sandeep Bakshi as ICICI Bank MD & CEO Receives RBI Approval 

• ICICI Bank, the country’s second-largest private sector bank, has announced that it has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the re-appointment of Sandeep Bakhshi as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD and CEO) of the bank. 
• As per the exchange filing made on September 11, the RBI has approved Sandeep Bakhshi’s re-appointment as MD and CEO of ICICI Bank with effect from October 4, 2023, extending his term until October 3, 2026. This three-year extension reflects the confidence of both the board of directors and the RBI in Mr. Bakhshi’s leadership and vision.

Important day

19. United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation 2023 

• United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, on September 12 of every year, is celebrated by several countries around the world. United Nations’ Day for SouthSouth Cooperation celebrates the economic, social, and political developments made in recent years by regions and countries in the South and highlights United Nations efforts to work on technical cooperation among developing countries. 
• The theme for this year is “Solidarity, Equity, and Partnership: Unlocking South-South Cooperation to Achieve the SDGs”. 
• This year the ILO has partnered with the governments of Brazil, China and India to launch new programmes and reaffirm commitments. Funded by the government of Brazil, a program on South-South Cooperation for Social Justice in the Global South, and a program in Public Employment Services and Skills development in ASEAN, funded by the government of China has been launched.

Defence News 

20. Indian Navy, Uber Team Up For Private Travel Of Naval Personnel, Families

• The Indian Navy has taken a significant step towards enhancing the travel experience of its personnel and their families by collaborating with Uber, a leading global cab aggregator service. 
• The core objective of this collaboration is to offer a comprehensive range of benefits to Indian Navy personnel, aligning with the Chief of Naval Staff’s vision of ensuring “happy personnel” under the "SHIPS FIRST" initiative. This partnership is also in line with the government of India’s ambitious. Digital India's vision, emphasizes the transformative potential of technology. 
• The collaboration between the Indian Navy and Uber marks a historic moment as it becomes the first-of-its-kind initiative of the Indian armed forces. This pioneering effort reflects the Navy’s commitment to ensuring the well-being and convenience of its personnel.

Science and Technology News

21. Google Cloud partners with MeitY to train government officials 

• Google Cloud has partnered with the government’s computer emergency response unit CERTIn to train 1,000 government officials and provide 1 lakh cybersecurity certificate scholarships to learners. 
• CERT-In is part of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which deals with cybersecurity threats, hacking, and other cyber-related issues. 
• The ‘cyber force’ of government officials will be trained in cyber defense best practices, including the use of generative AI and conducting cybersecurity AI hackathons led by Google Cloud and Mandiant experts. 
• Cybersecurity is the cornerstone of our digital future, harnessing the power of generative AI will help to stay ahead in this ever-evolving landscape. 
• The collaboration will ameliorate and crank up the generation of skilled manpower in the area of cybersecurity and generative AI in our country.” Google Cybersecurity Certificates are taught by experts at Google and equip people with the in-demand skills needed for jobs in cybersecurity. 

Recent MoU 

• India Post and Shiprocket partner to strengthen e-commerce exports 
• Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) and IIT-Guwahati signed a pact to develop green carbon from Bamboo dust 
• NITI Aayog and UNDP sign MoU on fast-tracking SDGs 
• AICTE partnered with Jio Institute for a faculty development program 
• BHEL signs MoU with Greenstat to explore opportunities in the Hydrogen value chain

22. Sports Novak Djokovic wins 24th Grand Slam title at US Open 2023 

• Novak Djokovic created history by winning the 24th Grand Slam title in the US Open 2023 Men’s Singles final 2023. 
• Serbian tennis star Djokovic defeated Russia’s Daniil Medvedev by 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in the men’s singles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
• With this win, 36-year-old Novak Djokovic is now tied with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam tennis titles in history, with 24 titles to her name. 
• He is already the oldest French Open singles champion and became the oldest US Open singles champion in the pro era. 
• In the women’s doubles event, the 16th-seeded pair of Erin Routliff of New Zealand and Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada won the title. 
• They defeated the 12th-seeded pair of Germany’s Laura Siegemund and Russia’s Vera Zvonareva. with a score of 7-6, 6-3. 

US Open 2023 

Men’s Singles

• Winner – Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 
• Runner Up - Daniil Medvedev (Russia) 

Women’s Singles 

• Winner – Coco Gauff (USA) 
• Runner Up - Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus) 

Women’s Doubles 

• Winner – Erin Routliff (New Zealand) & Gabriela Dabrowski (Canada) 
• Runner Up – Laura Siegemund (Germany) & Vera Zvonareva (Russia) 

Men’s Doubles 

• Winner – Joe Salisbury (UK) & Rajeev Ram (USA) 
• Runner Up - Rohan Bopanna (India) and Matthew Ebden (Australia) 

Mixed Doubles 

• Winner – Anna Danilina (Kazasthan) and Harri Heliovaara (Finland) 
• Runner Up- Jessica Pegula (USA) and Austin Krajicek (USA)

23. India's Kiran George clinches Indonesia Badminton Masters title 

• Young Indian shuttler Kiran George won the Indonesia Masters Super 100 men’s singles title defeated Japan’s Koo Takahashi in two straight sets. 
• Ranked No. 50, the Indian shuttler defeated Takahashi, ranked 82, with a scoreline of 21-19, 22- 20. Earlier, Kiran also won the Odisha Open in 2022 for his maiden Super 100 title.
• In the semifinals, Kiran upset Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia, establishing himself as a big-stage performer on the BWF World Tour. 
• Earlier this year, Kiran defeated Chinese stars Shi Yuqi and Weng Hong Yang in the Thailand Open. Moeen Ali becomes third England spinner to take 100 ODI wickets 
• England all-rounder Moeen Ali has completed 100 wickets in ODI cricket, becoming the only third spinner from the country to do so. 
• Moeen reached this milestone during England’s second ODI against New Zealand at Southampton. During the match, the spinner bowled well, taking 2/30 in five overs at a decent economy rate of 6.00. 
• He joined Graeme Swann and Adil Rashid as the only England spinners with more than 100 ODI wickets. 

Agreements News

24. India And Saudi Arabia Sign Agreement on Cooperation in Energy Sector 

• India and Saudi Arabia, two major players in the global energy landscape, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), paving the way for a stronger partnership between these nations in various aspects of the energy sector. This historic agreement was signed by Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy and Power, R. K. Singh, on behalf of India and by Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, representing Saudi Arabia. 
• This landmark MoU not only aims at enhancing the energy partnership between India and Saudi Arabia but also aligns with global efforts to combat climate change. By fostering cooperation in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and carbon reduction technologies, the agreement supports India’s journey towards a sustainable energy future and contributes to the global energy system’s transformation. 

25. Thomas Cook India Partners With National Payments Corporation Of India 

• Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel forex services company, has entered into a groundbreaking partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to introduce a pioneering RuPay prepaid forex card tailored for Indian travelers visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This significant technological endeavor is being enabled by NPCI Certified Partner, CARD91. 
• This innovative RuPay prepaid forex card promises to simplify financial transactions for Indian travelers in the UAE and sets the stage for further expansion into global markets, enhancing the overall travel experience for customers. With a strong focus on convenience, security, and rewards, this card exemplifies the evolution of travel currency solutions in the modern age. 

Obituary News

26. Political Cartoonist Ajit Ninan Passes Away at 68 

• Renowned political cartoonist Ajit Ninan passed away at the age of 68. Ninan was the best known for the Centrestage series in India Today magazine and Ninan’s World in Times of India. A popular political cartoonist, Nina was equally well known for his work in children’s literature. 
• One of his beloved creations is Detective Moochwala and his dog Pooch, which appeared in the 1980s in Target, a youth magazine. His defiance in the form of political cartoons and satire on the ruling government as well as the opposition, cartoons on the environment, and caricatures, are fondly remembered by everyone of his time.

Sports News

27. Asia Cup 2023, Virat Kohli Becomes Fastest ODI Player To Reach 13,000 Runs 

• India’s Virat Kohli became the fastest batter to reach 13,000 ODI runs during the Asia Cup Super 4 against Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 
• The 34-year-old record of fellow Indian veteran Sachin Tendulkar (321 innings), by achieved in just 267 innings. He reached his 47th ton in ODIs. With this century, Kohli has have now scored four consecutive 100s at this stadium, the joint-highest century at a single venue alongside South African great Hashim Amla. The other three tons were against Sri Lanka— two of which came in 2017 and one in 2012. 
• Kohli completed 13,000 ODI runs, becoming the fifth player to reach the landmark in men’s ODIs. Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene are the others before him to reach the milestone. He became the quickest batter to reach this mileston, Ponting (341) and Sangakkara (363) took over 300 innings too while Jayasuriya reached the mark in 416 innings. 

28. Asia Cup 2023, Rohit Sharma Completes 10000 ODI Runs 

• India captain Rohit Sharma completed 10,000 ODI runs during the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four matches against Sri Lanka in Colombo. Rohit Sharma crossed the landmark after Reached 23 with a six during his 241st innings in the format. 
• 36-year-old Sharma became the sixth Indian batter to cross the landmark and the second quickest overall after Virat Kohli in terms of innings played. He is also the third Indian opener to reach the milestone after Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. Rohit has amassed 30 ODI centuries and 50 half-centuries, while averaging nearly 49 since making His debut was against Ireland in Belfast in 2007.