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By admin: Oct. 6, 2023

The Indian men's hockey team won the gold medal in the 19th Asian Games

Tags: Sports News

Under the leadership of Harmanpreet Singh, the Indian men's hockey team won the gold medal.

An Overview of the News

• The Indian men's hockey team achieved this victory by defeating Japan 5-1 in the final match of the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China on October 6, 2023.

• This is India's fourth gold medal in men's hockey at the Asian Games, having previously won it in 1966 (Bangkok), 1998 (Bangkok) and 2014 (Incheon).

Overall medal tally:

• India added 9 medals to its tally on the 13th day of the 19th Asian Games.

• These medals included 1 gold, 2 silver, and 6 bronze.

• As of October 6, 2023, India's total medal tally at the Asian Games 2023 was 95 medals, including 22 gold, 34 silver and 39 bronze.

Indian medal winners on Day 13:

• Gold Medal Winner: Indian Men's Hockey Team.

• Silver medalists: Indian men's bridge team and Indian men's archery team (recurve team event).

• Bronze medalists: Kiran Bishnoi (women's freestyle wrestling 76 kg), Aman Sehrawat (men's freestyle wrestling 57 kg), Sonam Malik (women's freestyle wrestling 63 kg), India women's Sepkatkara team, HS Prannoy (badminton singles), and India women's archery Team (recurve event).

Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi wins Nobel Peace Prize 2023

Tags: Awards

The Swedish Academy in Stockholm awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize to Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi.

An Overview of the News

• Nerges Mohammadi is known for her courageous fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her unwavering commitment to promoting human rights and freedom for all.

• Narges Mohammadi, a 51-year-old Iranian author and human rights activist, currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Defenders of Human Rights Center (DHRC).

• She is currently imprisoned in Tehran's Evin prison, and is facing multiple sentences totaling 12 years for "spreading anti-state propaganda".

• Her activism primarily focuses on abolishing the death penalty in Iran and advocating for women's rights.

Notable achievements and persecutions of Narges Mohammadi:

• Over the past decade, Narges Mohammadi has been in and out of jail due to her activism, which led to her being arrested 13 times, convicted five times and sentenced to 31 years in prison and 154 lashes.

• Her Nobel Peace Prize win makes her the second Iranian woman to receive the prestigious award, following Shirin Ebadi's recognition in 2003.

Nobel Prize and historical context:

• The Nobel Prize was established in honor of Alfred Nobel's testamentary wishes, with the aim of rewarding those who have made significant contributions to the betterment of humanity.

• The Nobel Foundation was established in 1900 and the first Nobel Prize was awarded in 1901.

• The Nobel Peace Prize, awarded 104 times between 1901 and 2023, has recognized 141 individuals and organizations.

• Notable recipients include the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which has received the Nobel Peace Prize three times, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, awarded twice.

• In 2022, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Ales Bilyatsky of Belarus, Memorial (a Russian human rights organization) and the Ukrainian human rights organization Center for Civil Liberties.

World Cerebral Palsy Day - 6 October

Tags: Important Days

World Cerebral Palsy Day is observed every year on 6 October.

An Overview of the News

• The day aims to promote greater inclusion and understanding of cerebral palsy.

• The theme of World Cerebral Palsy Day 2023 is "Stronger Together".

• Emphasizes unity, cooperation, and mutual support within the cerebral palsy community.

Festivals in India:

• It is celebrated by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPWD) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

• The focus has been on creating awareness about cerebral palsy through various programs nationwide.

What is Cerebral Palsy (CP):

• It is a condition that affects muscle control, body balance, and brain development.

• It is classified as a disability because of its impact on mental and physical abilities.

• More than 7 million people are affected globally each year.

India and UAE sign MoU for advanced technical cooperation

Tags: International Relations

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was officially signed between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

An Overview of the News

• The signatories include Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India and Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates.

• The signing took place in Abu Dhabi in the presence of Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

Focus areas of cooperation:

The MoU entails collaborative efforts in several key areas, including:

• Supply chain flexibility

• Clean energy technology

• Health care

• Space exploration

• Industry 4.0

• Advanced technologies

• Industrial standards

These sectors were chosen to facilitate industrial investment, technology transfer and implementation of innovations for mutual benefit.

Strategic Objective:

• The primary goal of this historic agreement is to promote industrial development and technological progress in both countries.

• The agreement seeks to enhance sustainable economic growth and competitiveness by promoting innovation and technological excellence.

• It aims to facilitate the transfer of advanced technologies and promote sustainable practices, including clean energy and climate neutrality.

Seven key areas of focus:

The MoU identifies seven specific areas of cooperation, including:

1. Increase supply chain flexibility

2. Progress in renewable energy and energy efficiency

3. Collaborative efforts in health care and life sciences

4. Strengthening space industries, including commercial development and space exploration

5. Deploying AI technologies in various sectors

6. Emphasis on Industry 4.0 technologies and automation

7. Standardization and metrology to harmonize industrial standards and certification processes.

Promoting Cooperation:

• The MoU encourages various forms of cooperation including industrial and academic partnerships.

• Collaborative research and development projects are promoted to advance technological advancements.

• Sharing of best practices in science and technology policies is encouraged to ensure the comprehensive nature of the partnership and its potential to benefit both countries.

Bangladesh receives the first batch of Russian Uranium for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant

Tags: International News

The Russian Embassy in Bangladesh officially delivered the first batch of uranium from Russia to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).

An Overview of the News

• After the commissioning of the Rooppur plant, Bangladesh is on its way to becoming the 33rd country globally to produce nuclear power.

• A formal "graduation ceremony" marked the handover of radioactive fuel from the Russian contractor, Rosatom, to RNPP officials.

• Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Russian President Vladimir Putin virtually attended the ceremony held at the Gana Bhavan and the Kremlin respectively.

• Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev presented the fuel, and the ceremony was presided over by Minister of Science and Technology Architect Yefesh Osman.

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi also participated via video conference.

Uranium Shipment and Transportation:

• The second batch of uranium-making nuclear fuel for the first unit of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant arrived in Dhaka via a special plane at Dhaka Shahjalal International Airport on October 5.

• The initial batch of uranium reached Bangladesh on 28 September and was safely transported by road to the nuclear power plant site the next day.

Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Overview and Expenses Fuel Management:

• Rosatom, the Russian contractor, is responsible for the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which has a total capacity of 2400 MW and consists of two units, each capable of producing 1200 MW of electricity.

• After nuclear fuel is loaded into the plant's reactors, it can generate electricity for up to a year before needing to reload the fuel.

• Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that Russia is committed to reclaiming the spent fuel from the Rooppur plant and an agreement has been signed with the Russian Federation for the management of the spent fuel.

Professor Dr. Joyeeta Gupta wins the Spinoza Prize for climate work

Tags: Awards

Indian-origin environmental scientist Professor Dr. Joyeeta Gupta has received the prestigious Spinoza Prize, the highest honor in Dutch science.

An Overview of the News

• The award ceremony took place in the Netherlands, where Dr. Gupta was honored for his significant contributions to the field of climate change.

• The Spinoza Prize was presented to him by Robert Dijkgraaf, Minister of Education, Science and Culture of the Netherlands, at a ceremony held in The Hague.

Award Utility

• The Spinoza Prize, awarded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), includes a generous monetary reward of 1.5 million euros.

• Dr. Gupta has announced his intention to allocate this substantial prize money to activities related to scientific research and the application of knowledge.

• Dr. Joyeeta Gupta holds the position of Professor of Environment and Development in the Global South at the University of Amsterdam.