1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. BEL and Israel Aerospace Industries signed MoU
Tags: International Relations
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
An Overview of the News
The signing ceremony was held in Bengaluru.
The MoU focuses on the area of Short Range Air Defense Systems.
BEL and IAI have previously worked together on joint development, production and product support programs for the Indian Defense Forces.
The MoU is in line with India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) and 'Make in India' policies.
These policies emphasize self-reliance in domestic manufacturing and defense capabilities.
BEL and IAI aim to contribute to these national objectives through their collaboration.
IAI's expertise in aerospace and defense:
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is a leading aerospace and defense company in Israel.
They are known for their capabilities in aerospace and defense technologies.
IAI offers a wide range of solutions, including space technology, UAVs, missiles, intelligence solutions, air defense systems, radars and more.
President and CEO of IAI - Boaz Levy
Establishment of IAI - 1953
Role of BEL in Self-Reliance in Defense Electronics:
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) was established to enhance India's self-reliance in defense electronics.
BEL operates across diverse sectors, producing state-of-the-art products and systems.
His areas of expertise include radar, missile systems, military communications and naval systems.
The company also expands its efforts into non-defense areas including electronic voting machines, homeland security, smart cities, satellite integration, space electronics and cyber security.
BEL was established in 1954.
BEL Chairman and Managing Director - Bhanu Prakash Srivastava
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. Ministry to celebrate 6th Rashtriya Poshan Maah in September 2023
Tags: National News
The sixth Rashtriya Poshan Maah will be celebrated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development throughout September 2023.
An Overview of the News
The focus of the Rashtriya Poshan Maah initiative is to comprehensively address malnutrition using a life-cycle approach in sync with Mission Nutrition 2.0.
POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) campaign, the flagship initiative of the Government of India, was launched to tackle malnutrition.
It targets pregnant women, lactating mothers, teenage girls and children below 6 years of age.
During the period of the 15th Finance Commission, it was combined with other schemes to strengthen nutrition assistance.
The theme of Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2023:
The theme of Poshan Maah 2023 is “Suposhit Bharat, Sakshar Bharat, Sashakt Bharat” (Nutrition-rich India, Educated India, Empowered India).
Activities and Initiatives:
Various activities and initiatives have been planned during Poshan Maah, including special breastfeeding and complementary feeding campaigns.
Healthy Child Competition aims to promote healthy competition for nutrition and overall well-being.
Other initiatives include combining nutrition and education (Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi), promoting lifestyle changes for better nutrition (Mission Life), tribal-centric sensitization, and addressing anemia through testing and treatment.
Jan Andolan movement:
The Jan Andolan movement under Poshan Maah serves as a platform for a united celebration, emphasizing the country's journey to independence and progress.
This also includes the 'Meri Maati Mera Desh' campaign.
Role of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0:
The objective of encouraging nutrition-seeking behavior is continued through Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
A vision of a well-nourished India:
Poshan Maah 2023 aims to engage communities at large, including Gram Panchayats and urban local bodies, to fulfill the vision of a well-nourished India envisioned by the Honorable Prime Minister during the Amrit Kaal.
7. NCERT gets Deemed University Status
Tags: National News
On September 1, 2023, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan made this announcement during the 63rd Foundation Day celebrations of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in Delhi.
An Overview of the News
Bal Bhavan will be merged with NCERT.
An Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) laboratory was inaugurated to integrate technology in education.
NCERT will include a chapter on the success story and findings of Chandrayaan-3 in 22 recognized languages.
A Vidhya Samiksha Kendra was also inaugurated as part of the celebrations.
About NCERT
It is an autonomous organization of the Government of India.
NCERT was established in 1961 and functions as a literary, scientific, and charitable society under the Societies Registration Act.
The headquarters of the organization is located at Sri Aurobindo Marg in New Delhi.
Dr. Dinesh Prasad Saklani has been the director of NCERT since 2022.
In 2023, NCERT constituted a 19-member committee.
The objective of the committee is to finalize the syllabus, textbooks, and learning material for the students of classes 3 to 12.
Prominent personalities including author and Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murthy and singer Shankar Mahadevan are part of the committee.
8. Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav started chemotherapy services in 30 ESIC hospitals
Tags: National News
Union Minister for Labor and Employment and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav inaugurated chemotherapy services in 30 Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) hospitals across India.
An Overview of the News
The inauguration took place during the 191st ESI Corporation meeting at ESIC Headquarters in New Delhi.
This initiative is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the overall welfare of Indian workers (Shram Yogis) in the Amrit Kaal of India.
In-house chemotherapy services will provide better cancer treatment for the insured workers and their dependents.
Control Panel with Dashboard: Streamlining Hospital Operations
Minister Bhupendra Yadav also inaugurated a control room having ESIC dashboard.
These dashboards will enhance monitoring of hospital resources, bed availability, and ongoing construction projects.
Focus on Medical Education: Strengthening Health Care Professionals
The plans include setting up new ESIC Medical Colleges and Hospitals based on the assessed needs.
Presently, ESIC operates 8 Medical Colleges, 2 Dental Colleges, 2 Nursing Colleges and 1 Para-Medical College.
Agenda deliberations: promotion and approval
In-principle approval given for setting up of 15 new ESI hospitals and 78 ESI dispensaries.
ESIC Hospital, Beltola, Assam, ESIC Medical College and Hospital, K.K. Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu and ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Faridabad, Haryana approved bed capacity enhancement.
Unveiling Important Documents: Promoting Transparency
Minister Bhupendra Yadav unveiled key documents during the event, which include Citizen's Charter, Audit and Accounts Manual of ESIC, Referral Policy and Equipment Policy.
Identifying iGOT Learners: Capacity Development
Minister Bhupendra Yadav felicitated 5 top performing IGOT learners of ESIC on IGOT (Karmayogi Bharat) learning platform.
These learners excelled in ESIC offices located in Rajasthan, Kerala and Bengaluru.
The iGOT platform aims to enhance capacity development among the civil services.
About ESIC
It is one of the two social security bodies in India, supervised by the Ministry of Labor and Employment of the Government of India.
Its counterpart is the Employees Provident Fund Organisation.
ESIC operates under government ownership and comes under the Ministry of Labor and Employment.
The management of the Employees' State Insurance Fund is under the purview of ESIC.
The guidelines and provisions for the operation of ESIC are outlined in the Employees' State Insurance Act 1948.
Formation - 24 February 1952
Headquarter - New Delhi
9. Goa Shipyard and Kenya Shipyard sign MoU for ship design and building cooperatio
Tags: International Relations
Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and Kenya Shipyard Limited (KSL) signed an MoU for cooperation in ship design and construction.
An Overview of the News
The MoU was formalized during a meeting between India's Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Kenya's Cabinet Secretary Defense Aden Bare Duale on August 29, 2023.
The signing event took place in New Delhi, Delhi.
Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan and Defense Secretary Giridhar Aramane attended the bilateral meeting.
Aden Bare Duale, serving as the Defense Cabinet Secretary of Kenya, is on a 3-day visit to India.
Kenya Shipyard Limited is a state-owned company under the Ministry of Defense of Kenya, established in 2020 to meet the operational needs of the Kenya Navy through shipbuilding, repair, maintenance, and marine services.
Highlights of the bilateral meeting between India and Kenya:
Defense Cooperation and Regional Security:
Discussion Strengthening defense industry ties and cooperation in equipment development.
Both countries are engaged in dialogue on mutual regional security concerns.
Symbolic gifts and technical assistance:
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh presented 15 pairs of Glider India Limited parachutes to Aden Beyer Duelle for the Kenyan forces.
India offered assistance in setting up an advanced CT scan facility in Kenya.
Expanded participation in various fields:
Cooperation commitment for maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) was expanded.
It was agreed upon for intensive cooperation in counter-insurgency training.
Reciprocated commitment to an expanded partnership in UN peacekeeping efforts.
About Goa Shipyard Limited:
GSL is a Miniratna Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) operating under the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of India.
Chairman & Managing Director - Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay
Establishment - 1957
Headquarters - Vasco da Gama, Goa
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.
