1. 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
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Sri Lanka hosts 'Karnataka Cultural Festival' for the first time
Tags: International News
Sri Lanka hosted the Karnataka Cultural Festival on August 27, 2023.
An Overview of the News
This program is organized by the International Cultural Council of India, Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center, and M.E. Organized in association with the Global Peace Foundation.
The festival featured a variety of performances from over 30 artists from Karnataka: traditional dances, folk music, multilingual poems, ballet, and puppet shows
The focus was on highlighting the cultural heritage and heritage of Karnataka.
The cast included lead artist Madhuri Bondre and her troupe.
About Karnataka
It is a state in southwest India and is bordered by Maharashtra to the north, Goa to the northwest, Andhra Pradesh to the east, Tamil Nadu to the southeast, and Kerala to the southwest.
Chief Minister - Siddaramaiah
Governor - Thawar Chand Gehlot
Official language - Kannada
Official Dance - Yakshagana
About Sri Lanka
Capital - Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
President - Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prime Minister - Dinesh Gunawardena
Official Language - Sinhala
8. Indian Navy participates in 5th 'AUSINDEX-23' held in Australia
Tags: Defence International News
From August 22 to 25, 2023, the 5th edition of the biennial AUSINDEX maritime exercise occurred in Sydney, Australia, conducted collaboratively by the Indian Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.
An Overview of the News
Indian Navy and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) jointly organized the exercise.
The participating ships included INS Sahyadri, INS Kolkata from the Indian Navy, and HMAS Choules and HMAS Brisbane from RAN
The exercise not only involved ships and their helicopters but also fighter aircraft and maritime patrol aircraft.
Over the course of 4 days, AUSINDEX involved a series of complex exercises covering all three maritime operational domains.
Indian Navy (IN):
It is the marine branch of the Indian Armed Forces.
The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy.
The Chief of Naval Staff, a four-star admiral, leads the Navy.
The Navy operates as a blue-water force in areas such as the Persian Gulf, the Horn of Africa, and the Malacca Straits.
Establishment - 26 January 1950
Headquarters - New Delhi
Motto - Sham no Varunah (Sanskrit) Translation - ‘May the Lord of the waters be auspicious unto us’
Navy Day - 4 December
About Australia
It is a sovereign country located in the Southern Hemisphere and is geographically isolated from the rest of the world.
Capital - Canberra
Emperor - Charles III
Governor-General - David Hurley
Prime Minister - Anthony Albanese
9. Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa re-elected for final term
Tags: Person in news International News
Emmerson Mnangagwa was re-elected as the President of Zimbabwe for a second and final five-year term.
An Overview of the News
The announcement of Mnangagwa's victory was immediately denied by the opposition party's spokesman, who criticized the quick announcement and lack of proper result verification.
The results of Mnangagwa's re-election ensure the continued dominance of the ZANU-PF party in governing the country.
The party has maintained control of Zimbabwe's leadership throughout the 43-year period since the country's renaming in 1980, which followed liberation from white minority rule.
About Zimbabwe
It is a landlocked country in Southern Africa.
The Zambezi River flows through Zimbabwe and is home to Victoria Falls.
Victoria Falls plunges 108 meters down the Batoka Gorge.
Downstream of the Zambezi River are the Matusadona and Mana Pools National Parks.
Capital - Harare
Currency - United States Dollar
Official languages - Shona, English, Tshwa language, Xhosa
10. Last survivors of the Amazon rainforest tribe Piripkura found in Brazil
Tags: International News
Three remaining survivors of the Amazon rainforest tribe - Piripkura found in Brazil
An Overview of the News
In the heart of the Amazon rainforest, the Piripkura tribe remains one of the last bastions of indigenous culture.
Despite having only three remaining members, they are engaged in the struggle against impending threats such as deforestation from logging and mining activities.
Piripkura Tribe:
The Piripkura tribe comes from the Mato Grosso region of Brazil and leads a nomadic lifestyle.
Renowned for their reclusiveness, they strive to preserve their traditional lifestyle.
This indigenous group has faced significant hardships due to the invasion of their lands by illegal logging, mining, and other exploitative activities.
Their territory faces threats from deforestation and resource exploitation.
Key facts about the Amazon rainforest:
The Amazon rainforest, an extensive tropical rainforest, covers the basin of the Amazon River and its tributaries in northern South America, covering a vast area of 2,300,000 square miles.
Covering about 40% of Brazil's total land area, it is bordered by the Guiana Highlands to the north, the Andes Mountains to the west, the Brazilian Central Plateau to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
Other tribes living in the Amazon rainforest:
Yanomami:
One of the largest indigenous groups in the Amazon.
Residence in Brazil and Venezuela.
Kayapo:
Found in Para and Mato Grosso, Brazil.
Known for vibrant traditions like body painting and beadwork.
Ashaninka:
Habitats of Peru and Brazil.
Supporters of strong cultural identity and rights.
The focus was on protecting the land from harvesting and illegal crops.
Tucano:
Located in the upper Amazon in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Known for spiritual practices and rainforest wisdom.
Awa:
One of the most endangered tribes of the Brazilian state of Maranhao.
Threatened by illegal logging and mining.
