APPOINTMENTS

Kapil Dev is appointed as President of the Professional Golf Tour of India.

• Kapil Dev, the renowned Indian cricketer, has been appointed as the President of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).

• Prior to this, he served as the Vice President of PGTI.

• He succeeds H R Srinivasan in this role.

• Golf has played a significant role in Kapil Dev's life for more than 30 years.

• He had ambitions to represent India in golf at the Asian Games.

• Kapil Dev has an impressive cricket career, having played 131 Test matches and 225 ODIs for India.

• He famously led the Indian cricket team to victory in the 1983 World Cup.

NATIONAL NEWS

First International Solar Festival

• The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is organizing the inaugural international solar festival in New Delhi, India.

• The festival will take place from September 5-6, 2024, in New Delhi.

• The event aims to create an enabling environment for significant international collaborations to accelerate the transition to solar-powered energy.

• The festival will bring together businesses, academia, young people, and community leaders to share knowledge, encourage innovation, and build global partnerships.

• Core Themes: The festival will focus on four main themes: the role of youth, communities, women, and the private sector in the solar energy transition.

• These themes are designed to attract and engage stakeholders from around the world, promoting a collaborative effort towards a solar-powered future.

• The festival is expected to foster international cooperation and innovation in the solar energy sector, contributing to a more sustainable global energy landscape.

Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi launched two new initiatives on World MSME Day.

• On World MSME Day, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi introduced two new initiatives aimed at boosting trade for micro and small businesses through e-commerce.

• The MSME Trade Enablement and Marketing (TEAM) initiative was launched to encourage small businesses to engage in online trade via the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform.

• The TEAM initiative aims to assist over 5 lakh micro and small businesses, with a focus on ensuring that at least half of the beneficiaries are women-led businesses.

• The 'Yashaswini' initiative is a comprehensive awareness campaign designed to support informal women-led businesses by providing them with necessary capital and more trade opportunities.

• The government’s focus through these initiatives includes improving access to credit, expanding market reach, enhancing digitization, and empowering women and artisans.

• A significant aspect of these initiatives is the empowerment of women entrepreneurs, ensuring they have better access to resources and opportunities to grow their businesses.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Turkiye being removed from the FATF money laundering gray list

• On June 28, Turkiye was removed from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) gray list, which includes countries requiring special scrutiny for money laundering and terrorism financing.

• This removal is expected to enhance Turkiye's economic recovery plan, improving the country's economic outlook and investor confidence.

• Gray List Since 2021: Turkiye had been on the gray list since 2021 due to inadequate measures to combat money laundering and terrorism financing involving groups like Daesh and al-Qaeda.

• The decision was made during the closing plenary session of the FATF held in Singapore, highlighting Turkiye's progress in addressing financial crimes.

• Being removed from the gray list is anticipated to positively impact Turkiye's currency (lira), assets, and overall economic confidence.

• Recently, Turkiye implemented new legislation to enhance oversight over cryptocurrencies, aligning with international standards to prevent financial crimes.

• In 2023, a significant crackdown on financial crimes in Turkiye resulted in the arrest of over 3,000 suspects and the seizure of assets worth $3.2 billion, demonstrating the country's commitment to combating financial crime.

AWARDS

PEN Pinter Prize 2024

• Arundhati Roy, the acclaimed author known for her bold and unwavering literary voice, has been honored with the PEN Pinter Prize 2024.

• Award Background: The PEN Pinter Prize, established in 2009 by English PEN in memory of the Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter, celebrates literature that upholds freedom of expression.

• This year’s panel of judges included notable figures such as writer and musician Roger Robinson, actor and activist Khalid Abdalla, and English PEN president Ruth Borthwick.

• Recognition Ceremony: Arundhati Roy will be formally presented with the award on October 10 at a ceremony held in collaboration with the British Library.

• The award is given annually to authors from the UK, Ireland, and the Commonwealth who demonstrate a fearless pursuit of truth in their literary work.

• Arundhati Roy previously won the Booker Prize for her debut novel, "The God of Small Things," which brought her international acclaim.

• The PEN Pinter Prize not only honors exceptional literary achievements but also highlights the importance of literature in addressing and reflecting on contemporary societal issues.

DEFENCE

Developmental trials successfully completed by High Speed Expendable Aerial Target ‘Abhyas’.

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully completed six consecutive developmental trials of the High Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) 'Abhyas'.

• Testing Location: The trials were conducted at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha.

• With these six trials, 'Abhyas' has completed a total of 10 developmental trials, demonstrating its system reliability.

• The trials involved advanced configurations such as radar cross section enhancement, visual and infrared enhancement systems.

• Key objectives during the tests included safe discharge of the booster, launcher clearance, and verifying endurance performance.

• 'Abhyas' was designed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment of DRDO in Bengaluru and developed in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro.

• The system is designed for autonomous flight, featuring an auto pilot, aircraft integration, pre-flight checks, and a laptop-based ground control system, providing a realistic risk combat scenario for testing weapon systems.

US emerging as India's top defense export partner

• The United States has emerged as India's leading defense export partner, accounting for more than 50% of India's total defense exports.

• Over the past five years, India's defense exports to the U.S. have surpassed $2.8 billion.

• Recent Growth: In the financial year 2022-23 alone, India's defense exports reached $1.6 billion, reflecting a ten-fold increase over the last five years.

• AMCHAM Report: This significant progress in the India-US defense alliance was reported by the American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM), highlighting the strategic importance of the partnership.

• Collaboration between American and Indian firms is promoting tech transfer, innovation, and skill development through joint ventures such as Lockheed Martin-Tata Advanced Systems, Boeing-HAL, BAE Systems-HAL, and GE-HAL.

• The U.S. defense industry’s presence in India has directly created over 28,000 jobs and provided gainful employment for an additional 20,000 individuals.