1.

Animation Characters Krish, Trish And Batliboy To Recount Tales Of Unsung Heroes Of India’s Freedom Struggle

The animation series, which will premiere simultaneously on Prime Video, Netflix and Doordarshan on October 15 will see Krish the monkey, Trish the cat, and Baltiboy the donkey, recount stories of unsung heroes of India’s freedom struggle — from Rani Abbakka and Tilka Manjhi to Tirot Singh, Peer Ali, Tatya Tope, Kotwal Dhan Singh, Kunwar Singh, Rani Chennamma and Tikendra Jeet Singh.
The new batch of KTB series will comprise 26 episodes in Season 1, each featuring a 11-minute animated narrative and will be telecast across DD and the OTT platforms in 12 Indian and 7 international languages.

2.

APJ Abdul Kalam birth anniversary

World Students’ Day on October 15 commemorates Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s contributions to academia and research. Despite some claims of United Nations involvement, it’s primarily celebrated in India.

Trivia:

He was the first scientist and the third person to become the President without any prior political experience, after Rajendra Prasad and Zakir Husain. He was also the first bachelor and the first vegetarian to occupy the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

3.

Over 100 people from diverse backgrounds took part in a “Pride Walk” in Assam’s Dibrugarh on Saturday in support of the demand for gender-neutral toilets. The participants included students and community members who collectively emphasized that access to safe and inclusive washrooms is a fundamental right.

In April this year, the Supreme Court had announced plans to construct nine gender-neutral washrooms within its premises and implement measures to promote gender inclusivity and “sexuality sensitization.”

While the apex court’s acknowledgement of the necessity for queer-friendly spaces is being viewed as a huge step forward, it is also felt that a similar sensitivity is also needed in the educational institutions.

Note:

J N College at Boko, Assam has already launched a gender-neutral toilet

4.

Short film Dammy recently premiered as part of JioCinema Film Fest 2023

About the word Dammy:

It’s a portmanteau word ( daddy+ mummy) meaning a father who wishes to become a mother

Directed by Rukshana Tabassum, the story pivots on gender identity. It is about a person who wants to change their assigned gender: a father wanting to become a mother. The film raises some difficult questions around gender and identity.

Rukshana is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). Her film Apples and Oranges won the National Award for the Best Educational Film (2019)

5.

Assam-Japan Gateway 2023 event in Guwahati

As a maiden initiative to connect Japan with India’s north-Eastern state Assam socioeconomically, an annual mega event ‘Assam-Japan Gateway 2023’ is being organized in the state capital Guwahati on November 4-5. Apart from bringing Japan and Assam together culturally, the 2-day event also aims at fostering growth and progress for both regions by exploring business opportunities by facilitating collaborations in economic and technical spheres, promoting inbound and outbound tourism, and generating educational and employment opportunities for local youths.

Japan has already marked its presence in Assam where it has financially supported many key infrastructure projects i.e. Dhubri-Phulbari bridge on the Brahmaputra river, the Guwahati water supply system, and the Guwahati sewerage project

6.

Kaziranga reopens with tribute to British-era officer

a nature and wildlife-specific library at the Centenary Convention Centre in the Kohora area of Kaziranga was opened. Named after Patrick D. Stracey, it was inaugurated on Sunday along with the reopening of the park to put “nature reading” on a par with “nature watching”.

Patrick D. Stracey, an Indian Forest Service officer who served in Assam, played a key role in renaming the Kaziranga Game Sanctuary as a wildlife sanctuary in 1950.

He introduced a course in wildlife preservation, and wrote books such as Elephant Gold, Nagaland Nightmare, and The Authoritative Tigers.

He also established the Assam Forest School, a training institute catering to the northeastern region. It completed 75 years in 2023.

7.

Greater Kaziranga concept

Forest officials in Assam had been planning to ease the tourist pressure on Kohora and Bagori, the two central ranges of the national park. It led to the Greater Kaziranga concept being introduced this year.

The park authorities have advised visitors to stay for at least three nights to experience the park beyond the two popular ranges.

The initiative includes a nature walk trail in Burhachapori-Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (west of Kaziranga) for exploring a bee-eater colony and freshwater mangroves, a boat ride for dolphin watching (in the Brahmaputra) at Bhomoraguri, a visit to tourist village Biswanath Ghat, and opportunities for trekking and birdwatching

In keeping with the March 1 guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the park authorities have decided to close the Kohora and Bagori ranges for half a day every Wednesday to distribute the tourists to other ranges.

The Kaziranga National Park, home to 2,613 rhinos, has two more ranges – Agoratoli and Burapahar – on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra. The park’s Biswanath Division on the northern bank also has four less touristy ranges.

8.

New cycling route in Kaziranga

The park authorities have also introduced a 7.6-km cycling route in collaboration with a tribal eco-development committee as well as a couple of outlets showcasing the produce of self-help groups of women living in the forest fringes.

Additional info:

Kindulangso, a self-help group (SHG) founded by Aaranyak, was presented with an award for their exceptional commitment to biodiversity conservation and tourism at the 13th Foundation Day of the Tour Operator Association of Assam (TOAA), held at IORA, Kaziranga

9.

Doiheng village of Dima Hasao becomes the second Jatinga of Assam due to its mysterious bird phenomenon as we all know.

Doiheng village is the oldest village in the district among the Hmar tribe

Of late Doiheng has become a much-sought-after place for birds and nature lovers since birds’ phenomenon like at Jatinga are being witnessed. For this reason, the government tourism department has constructed a guest house.

Note: Barail Mountain Festival is being held here

10.

Two youths from Pub-Salmara village under the Raha revenue circle rescued an Indian Peacock Softshell Turtle on Saturday evening.

About Peacock Turtle:

The species is heavily exploited for its meat and calipee (the outer cartilaginous rim of the shell).

IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

11.

75 Endemic Birds of India by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). Authored by Dhriti Banerjee, Amitava Majumder and Anindya Naskar, the book commemorates 75 years of Indian independence.

India is home to 12.40% of the global bird diversity; 1,353 bird species out of 10,906 documented globally are from India. The country has 78 endemic bird species. Of the bird species existing in the country, 28 are found only in the Western Ghats, 25 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, four in the Eastern Himalayas, and one each in the Southern Deccan Plateau and Central Indian Forest

12.

Chinese researchers from the Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) have developed a ‘flapping wing’ bird drone, celebrated in the country as a significant scientific achievement

Called ‘Xinge’ and also known as a ‘bionic drone,’ the UAVs are based on mechanics that replicate the intricate flying mechanism of real birds

Note:

in Arunachal Pradesh, China has been suspected of using actual pigeons with Mandarin-scripted messages wound around their feet, suggesting a non-electronic communication link between its spies and handlers. Villagers in the Lohit Valley of Arunachal’s Anjaw district had caught some birds with Chinese tags in May 2017.

13.

NCLAT postpones the hearing on the Zee-Sony merger until October 31

Zed Entertainment and Sony Pictures agreed to integrate their businesses in December 2021. After receiving the required approvals from the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), and other regulatory bodies like the Competition Commission of India (CCI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), both companies then approached the tribunal to request permission for the merger.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on October 13 refused to issue a notice in the appeals filed by Axis Finance and IDBI Bank challenging the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) order approving the Zee-Sony merger.

14.

Vande Sadharan: Indian Railways’ ‘affordable’ alternative to Vande Bharat trains

Unlike most trains in India, the Vande Sadharan trains will feature locomotives on both ends, allowing for faster acceleration and reduced turnaround time.

To enhance passenger safety, the coaches will be equipped with CCTV cameras.
Additionally, similar to the Vande Bharat Express, the Vande Sadharan trains will feature an automatic door system instead of traditional doors.

15.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced plans to install an advanced smart fence system along a 100-kilometer section of the India-Myanmar border to strengthen the existing surveillance system

What are Smart Fences?
Smart fence is a part of the government’s comprehensive integrated border management system (CIBMS) and works both as a surveillance tool and a warning system through sophisticated devices, including cameras, sensors, lasers and radar systems. The state-of-the-art sensors and CCTV cameras can pick up even the slightest movement and send alerts to the control centre.

The smart-technology-aided fence involves a number of devices including sensors, networks, intelligence, data storage and command and control solutions to improve situational awareness. It also includes a laser-based intruder alarm system is deployed along with surveillance tech to plug vulnerable gaps along borders.

During smart fencing sensors like thermal images, underground sensors, fibre optical sensors, radar and sonar are mounted on towers, poles and aerostats for round-the-clock surveillance and under extreme weather conditions.

The ground surveillance radar of the smart fencing can scan 180 degrees of the border and detect vehicles at a range of 15 km and humans at a range of 5 km.

Earlier, over 2,000 kilometres length of the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh border had been identified as being vulnerable or as being without fences which led to illegal migration and cattle smuggling.

However, the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System project will improve the capability of BSF in detecting and checking cross-border crimes like illegal infiltration, smuggling of contraband, human trafficking and terrorism.
# India’s first ‘smart fence’ pilot project was launched by then Home Minister Rajnath Singh along the India-Pakistan border in 2018

16.

Animesh Kujur broke Amlan Borgohain’s meet record to win the gold medal in the men’s 200m sprint event at the National Open Athletics Championships 2023 in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Animesh Kujur’s run at the Sree Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium saw him create a new meet record, beating Amlan Borgohain’s previous mark of 20.75 from 2021. Amlan Borgohain’s personal best of 20.52 in the Indian national record in the men’s 200m.

17.

Recently a newborn baby, declared dead by the doctors at a private hospital in Assam’s Silchar, was found alive minutes before the cremation brings into the topic of Lazarus syndrome

What is Lazarus syndrome?

It is a rare, possibly under-reported condition that happens when someone who seems to be dead shows signs of life again, typically several minutes after health workers stop giving them CPR.

The condition gets its name from the Bible story in which Jesus resurrects Lazarus of Bethany.

18.

Assamese violinist Sunita Bhuyan wows Lakme Fashion Week with live performance

Sunita Khaund Bhuyan captivated the audience with a live performance of Assamese Bihu and the timeless melodies of Bhupen Hazarika, perfectly complementing the exquisite collection presented by designer Sanjukta Dutta.

This departure from the norm, which typically features live music with standard loud drum beats, left the fashion-savvy audience and culture enthusiasts of Delhi in sheer awe.

About her:

Her Album “Bihu Strings” by Times Music is the first album of folk on Violin in India

She also received an award from Pope Francis at the Vatican City for her work on music therapy with underprivileged children, cancer patients and people with disability

19.

Charaidew-II river cruise arrives in Dhubri from Dhaka

Charaidew-II luxury cruise reached Dhubri carrying eleven persons from Dhaka, Bangladesh. The passengers included five British citizens and the rest of the passengers were Indian nationals.

The Immigration process of all the 11 tourists were held at the Land Custom Station Steamer Port in Dhubri. Later, the tourists visited Rani Victoria Park and the famous Gurudwara

About Charaidew I

ABN Charaidew I is a heritage passenger vessel from the 1970s that’s been completely renovated to provide guests an experience of tasteful riverine living.

ABN Charaidew II is the latest ship to join the fleet. Her length is 44.50 m and breadth is 11.00 m and she is powered by 2 engines. Her extra-shallow draught and a lower profile than conventional designs allow her to cruise faster.

ABN stands for Assam Bengal Navigation

20.

Nobel Peace laureate Martti Ahtisaari, who served as Finland’s 10th president between 1994 and 2000, died on Monday

Ahtisaari was celebrated around the world for brokering peace in conflict zones in Kosovo, Indonesia and Northern Ireland.

One of his first major diplomatic achievements was helping Namibia gain independence after years of bloody conflict with South Africa.

21.

In addition to vying for the 2036 Olympics, India also expressed its aspiration to host the 2029 Youth Olympics

However, hosting the Olympics is a costly endeavor. To put this into perspective, the estimated cost of hosting the 2021 Tokyo Olympics was a staggering USD 15 billion, double the initial projections when Tokyo was awarded the Games in 2013.

In the event that India secures the bid, Ahmedabad is most likely to be the city that will host the Games. The IOC has shifted away from the traditional bidding process, opting instead for a more streamlined approach. Interested countries submit proposals, and the IOC’s Future Host Commission identifies and recommends a preferred candidate to the Executive Board. The Executive Board can then engage in discussions with the chosen candidate, subsequently deciding whether to present the proposal at an IOC session for a vote.

Trivia:

the 2024 Paris Olympics will represent the final Games held in the pre-artificial intelligence era, underscoring the growing impact of technology on the future of sports.