1. India and UN launch “India-UN Capacity Building Initiative”
Tags: International News
India and the United Nations jointly launched the "India-United Nations Capacity Building Initiative".
An Overview of the News
The India-UN Capacity Building Initiative aims to share India's development expertise with countries in the Global South.
The initiative was officially announced during the “India-UN for the Global South – Delivering for Development” event held in New York on September 23, 2023.
India's Foreign Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, and eminent personalities Dennis Francis, President of the 78th General Assembly, attended the event.
This initiative builds on India's established bilateral cooperation in development and capacity building with partner countries.
India's United Nations Development Partnership Fund has launched 75 development projects in 61 countries in the last six years, highlighting India's commitment to international development.
Strategic Partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:
Under this initiative, a strategic partnership has been formed between the UN India team and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The partnership aims to utilize India's technical and economic cooperation platform to share India's development experiences and best practices with a global audience.
A Joint Declaration of Intent has been exchanged to formalize this cooperation.
India's G20 Presidency aligns with goals:
The “India-UN Capacity Building Initiative” aligns with the goals of India's G20 Presidency, including the G20 Action Plan.
These objectives include accelerating progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting technological transformation, and establishing digital public infrastructure, among other key priorities.
2. Taiwan unveils first domestic submarine 'Haikun'
Tags: International News
Taiwan recently unveiled its first domestically built submarine "Haikun".
An Overview of the News
It aims to enhance its defense capabilities amid the constant threat of a possible Chinese attack.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen presided over the launch ceremony in Kaohsiung.
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, is a democratic island nation that China considers a rebel province.
The enduring dispute over Taiwan's status has been a long-term source of regional tension, with China stressing its intention to reunify Taiwan with the mainland, even by force if necessary.
Importance of Taiwan's domestically built submarine
The $1.54 billion Haikun submarine is a diesel-electric powered ship that marks a substantial advance in Taiwan's defense capabilities.
Taiwan aims to establish a fleet of 10 submarines, including two older Dutch-built submarines, all equipped with missiles.
The purpose of this fleet expansion is to deter possible Chinese encirclement, invasion attempts, or naval blockade and act as a buffer until support from American and Japanese forces could be received.
3. The world's largest Hindu temple will be inaugurated on October 8 in New Jersey, America.
Tags: International News
The world's largest Hindu temple, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, will be inaugurated on October 8 in New Jersey, USA.
An Overview of the News
The temple will be the largest in the United States and the second largest globally after Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey was built with the help of more than 12,500 volunteers from different parts of the US.
Construction lasted for 12 years from 2011 to 2023.
Temple Dimensions and Design:
The New Jersey branch of Akshardham is spread over 183 acres and measures 255 feet x 345 feet x 191 feet.
It was designed according to ancient Hindu scriptures and incorporates elements of Indian culture, including 10,000 statues, sculptures and carvings of Indian musical instruments and dance forms.
Unique Temple Features:
The temple design consists of a main temple, 12 sub-temples, nine shikharas (spire-like structures), and nine pyramidal pinnacles.
Akshardham boasts the largest elliptical dome in traditional stone architecture, designed to last for a millennium.
Four types of stone - limestone, pink sandstone, marble, and granite - were chosen for their ability to withstand extreme temperatures.
Approximately two million cubic feet of stone was used, which was obtained from various locations around the world, including Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, India, and China.
Brahma Kund:
The temple's Brahma Kund, a traditional Indian stepwell, contains water from over 300 reservoirs around the world, including sacred rivers of India and all 50 states of the US.
BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham incorporates sustainable practices such as solar panel farms, use of fly ash concrete mix and the planting of over two million trees globally in recent decades.
4. 1,000-year-old alien corpse unveiled in Mexican Congress
Tags: Science and Technology International News
Jaime Maussan, a leading UFO expert, recently revealed in the Mexican Congress two alleged "non-human" bodies believed to be 1,000 years old.
An Overview of the News
These bodies were reportedly found in a mine in Cuzco, Peru.
Researchers claim that the genetic structure of these dead bodies is 30 percent different from that of humans.
Carbon dating by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) confirmed their age to be over 1,000 years.
Unusual Features:
The bodies were human-like in shape but displayed distinctive features such as three-fingered hands and feet.
They had retractable necks and long skulls that resembled bird-like features.
The bones of these creatures were strong, light, and lacked teeth.
Implantation and Embryo:
Eggs with embryos were found in one of these bodies.
Implants made of the metals cadmium and osmium were discovered.
Previous claims by Maussan:
In 2015, Jaime Maussan presented another alleged "alien" body, found near the Nazca Lines in Peru, famous for its giant and mysterious geoglyphs.
5. India Global Forum and World Governments Summit signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
Tags: International News
Manoj Ladwa, Founder and Chairman of India Global Forum and Mohammed Al Sharhan, Managing Director of the World Governments Summit signed the MoU to set up the Emerging Economies Programme.
An Overview of the News
The event will bring together government officials, business leaders, economists, and experts.
It will facilitate discussion on sustainable economic development, geo-economic perspective, and innovative solutions.
The objective of this partnership is to promote thought leadership in the region.
Emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities related to the Global South will be researched.
The program will also improve field data for the benefit of future governments.
Importance of Emerging Economies Programme:
This program is an important initiative that aims to promote sustainable economic development in the Global South.
It reflects the commitment of the India Global Forum and the World Government Summit to build a better future for all.
About India Global Forum:
India Global Forum serves as a gateway for businesses and nations wishing to engage with contemporary India.
It provides insight into India's political, economic, and cultural landscape for those entering the Indian market or looking for global opportunities.
About the World Governments Summit:
The World Government Summit Organization is a global, non-profit organization dedicated to shaping the future of governments.
It focuses on innovation and technology to address global challenges facing governments and humanity as a whole.
About the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Location: It is located in Western Asia.
Geographical boundaries: It shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Maritime Borders: It also has maritime borders with Qatar and Iran in the Persian Gulf.
Capital - Abu Dhabi
Official language - Arabic
President/Crown Prince - Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime Minister - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy and Vice President of the World Government Summit Organization - Omar Sultan Al Olama
6. Parliament of Vanuatu elects Sato Kilman as the new Prime Minister
Tags: Person in news International News
Vanuatu Parliament elects Sato Kilman as Prime Minister amid political change.
An Overview of the News
The decision came after a court upheld a no-confidence motion against Kilman's predecessor.
Former Prime Minister and People's Progressive Party leader Sato Kilman took the position with 27 votes in favor.
In the secret ballot, his rival Kalsakau got 23 votes.
Kilman, 65, held the post of deputy prime minister in Kalasakau's government before he was ousted in May.
About Vanuatu
It is an archipelago consisting of 83 islands, 16 of which are inhabited.
Its largest islands include Espiritu Santo, Malacula, Efate, Eromango, Ambrym, Tanna, Pentecost, Apé, Ambe (also known as Aoba), Gaua, Vanua Lava, Maevo, Malo, and Anitium (or Anatome).
Its capital is Port Vila, located on the island of Efate.
Its other important cities include Luganville on Espiritu Santo and Isangel on Tanna.
Vanuatu has three official languages: Bislama, English and French.
Bislama is a Creole language spoken by the majority of the population of Vanuatu.
The official currency used in Vanuatu is the vatu (VUV), which is pegged to the Australian dollar, resulting in a relatively stable exchange rate.
7. Kerala to host the inaugural Zayed Charity Marathon in 2024
Tags: International News
The inaugural Zayed Charity Marathon in India is scheduled for 2024 and will be organized by the Higher Organizing Committee.
An Overview of the News
With the cooperation of both the Kerala state authorities and the Indian community living in the UAE, Kerala has been selected as the host state for this important event.
The primary objective of the Zayed Charity Marathon is to raise funds for charitable causes, and the proceeds from the Kerala-based marathon will be directed to supporting healthcare initiatives within the state.
The event has sponsorship and support from various entities including the UAE Government, Government of Kerala, and the Indian community in the UAE.
The registration fee for the marathon will be contributed to charity.
Zayed Charity Marathon
The Zayed Charity Marathon is a prestigious event honoring the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, former President of the UAE.
It was launched in Abu Dhabi in 2001 to promote humanitarian and charitable messages in line with Sheikh Zayed's philanthropic legacy.
The event is expanding its reach to India in collaboration with the Kerala state authorities and the Indian community in the UAE.
Charitable purpose
Proceeds from the marathon will be directed to innovative cancer research and treatments.
The monetary prize for the marathon winners will amount to AED1 million.
Inclusiveness
The marathon is open to runners of all skill levels, with several race distances offered including full marathon, half marathon and 10 km.
8. Japan's 'Moon Sniper' Lander SLIM Launched Successfully, Aims to Land on the Moon Next Year
Tags: International News
Japan has successfully launched its lunar exploration spacecraft, known as the "Moon Sniper", using the domestically developed H-IIA rocket.
An Overview of the News
The achievement puts Japan in contention to become the world's fifth country to land on the moon, with the landing planned for early next year.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said the rocket's launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan went as scheduled. It also successfully deployed the lunar lander, Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM).
Japan's ambitious goal is to land SLIM on the lunar surface within 100 meters of its intended target site. The $100 million mission is expected to reach the moon by February.
Notably, the launch follows India's recent achievement of becoming the fourth nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon through its Chandrayaan-3 mission, which specifically aimed to explore the uncharted lunar south pole.
This achievement by Japan comes after two previous lunar landing attempts by the country failed within the last year.
Japan's Lunar Landing Challenges: Loss of Contact, Lunar Lander Accident, and Collaborative Satellite Mission:
In November, JAXA suffered a setback when they lost contact with the OMOTENASHI lander, leading to the cancellation of their lunar landing attempt.
In April, the Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander, developed by a Japanese startup called iSpace, crashed while landing on the lunar surface.
Additionally, the H-IIA rocket was tasked with carrying the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) satellite. The satellite is part of a collaborative effort by JAXA, NASA, and the European Space Agency.
About JAXA
Founded -1 October 2003
President - Yamakawa Hiroshi;
Headquarters - Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan.
9. Georgia officially declares October as 'Hindu Heritage Month'
Tags: International News
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp officially declared October as 'Hindu Heritage Month'.
An Overview of the News
It aims to celebrate Hindu heritage while emphasizing the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of India.
It recognizes and appreciates the valuable contributions made by the Hindu-American community in the state of Georgia.
Hinduism is accepted as the third largest religion globally, with one billion followers worldwide and about three million followers in the United States.
Throughout October 2023, the Hindu community in Georgia will collectively celebrate its heritage by focusing on the culture and diverse spiritual traditions of India.
Georgia's historic resolution against Hinduphobia:
In April 2023, Georgia passed a historic resolution condemning Hinduphobia, making it the first US state to do so.
The resolution condemns Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu prejudice, emphasizing the widespread and ancient nature of Hinduism, with more than 1.2 billion adherents in more than 100 countries.
It outlines the diverse traditions and belief systems within Hinduism, all based on the principles of acceptance, mutual respect, and peace.
According to the Hindu American Foundation, Hindu Heritage Month (HHM) serves as a global effort to highlight the longstanding tradition of Hinduism and its significant contributions to humanity.
10. India and New Zealand signed MoU to enhance cooperation in the field of civil aviation
Tags: International News
India and New Zealand recently formalized a cooperative agreement through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their cooperation in the field of civil aviation.
An Overview of the News
The MoU covers a wide scope of cooperation, focusing on key aspects such as the facilitation of new flight routes, the establishment of codeshare services, the allocation of traffic rights, and the determination of capacity entitlements.
Eminent officials present: The signing ceremony took place in the capital of India, New Delhi with the presence of eminent officials from both countries. Civil Aviation Secretary Rajeev Bansal and New Zealand High Commissioner David Paine were the signatories to the MoU.
The event was attended by key ministers including India's Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and New Zealand's Trade and Export Development Minister Damian O'Connor.
Major Provisions for Airlines
The MoU outlines specific provisions to benefit New Zealand's airlines. New Zealand's designated airlines are permitted to operate an unrestricted number of services using any type of aircraft.
New Zealand airlines have also been granted third and fourth freedom traffic rights for connectivity to six major Indian cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.
Indian airlines designated by the agreement are similarly provided with enhanced operational freedom. They have the authority to operate unlimited services with any type of aircraft.
Additionally, Indian airlines have been granted third and fourth freedom traffic rights to travel to and from important New Zealand cities: Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. In addition, the Government of India will later designate three additional destinations in New Zealand for equal traffic rights.
