1.
Military Leaders of 3 West African Countries Sign a Security Pact
Sahel security pact has been signed by military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
The Liptako-Gourma Charter established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Its main objective is to establish an architecture of collective defence and mutual assistance.
The Liptako-Gourma region is a region where the borders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger meet.
2.
India is facing a critical shortage of phosphorus, which is essential for fertilizers but also a major environmental pollutant.
The phosphorus shortage is due to its limited availability in geological formations and its contamination of water bodies when not properly managed.
Currently, only a few countries, such as Morocco and the Western Sahara region, control most of the world’s phosphorus reserves, raising geopolitical concerns.
India is the world’s largest importer of phosphorus, primarily from cadmium-laden deposits in West Africa.
3.
Paryushan Parva festival of Jains
Paryushan Parva, is one of the most important religious festivals celebrated by Jains. It is a significant period of spiritual reflection, fasting, and self-discipline for followers of Jainism. The festival typically lasts for eight to ten days, depending on the Jain sect and tradition
The purpose of Paryushan is to cleanse oneself of all impurities, both physical and mental. It is a time to reflect on one’s actions and to strive to live a more ethical and compassionate life
4.
A group of prominent U.S. authors, including Jonathan Franzen, John Grisham, George R.R. Martin and Jodi Picoult, has sued OpenAI over alleged copyright infringement in using their work to train ChatGPT.
The proposed class-action lawsuit is one of a handful of recent legal actions against companies behind popular generative artificial intelligence tools, including large language models and image-generation models. In July, two authors filed a similar lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that their books were used to train the company’s chatbot without their consent.
5.
A study in China found that changing the default option for no single-use cutlery in online food orders, along with rewarding customers with “green points,” led to a 648% increase in no-cutlery orders.
What is Green Nudge?
A Green Nudge is a subtle intervention or persuasion technique designed to influence individuals to make environmentally friendly choices without limiting their options. These nudges encourage eco-conscious behaviour and have been effective in addressing environmental issues by guiding people toward sustainable decisions.
6.
A school of peace and happiness will be established in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) in Assam with an objective to promote community happiness
It is part of the Bodoland Knowledge Declaration 2023 which was adopted in the first Bodoland International Knowledge Festival held in Kokrajhar in March 2023
7.
Biswanath Ghat selected as the best tourism village of India by Tourism Ministry
Selected amongst 791 applications from 31 states and union territories, Biswanath Ghat’s selection reflects the huge efforts in promoting rural tourism in Assam by the state government.
Located on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra, Biswanath Ghat is named after the ancient Biswanath temple, is also called Gupta Kashi, in comparison with Kashi during the golden rule of the Guptas.
8.
A female orphaned one-horned rhinoceros calf aged between two and three months which was rescued by the Assam Forest Department is showing signs of recovery. It was found in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and today on the occasion of World Rhino Day celebrations, is all set to be released into a dedicated rhino paddock, giving a ray of hope to the Forest Department officials.
It was admitted to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation in Kaziranga, Assam on September 15.
CWRC is a joint venture between Wildlife Trust of India, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Assam Forest Department. Its dedicated team of vets and keepers have successfully hand-raised young animals and prepared them to be released back into the wild.
Meaning of Paddock:
A small enclosure or field of grassland, especially one used to exercise or graze animals.
9.
4th edition of ‘Nadi Utsav’ focusses on India’s riverine cultural heritage
Location: on the banks of the Yamuna river.
This noble initiative was conceived by Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi to create awareness and sensitize people about their ecology and environment. The ‘Nadi Utsav’ commenced in 2018, with its inaugural event held in Nashik (Maharashtra) city situated on the banks of River Godavri. The second ‘Nadi Utsav’ took place in Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) city situated on the banks of river Krishna, and the third in Munger (Bihar) city situated on the banks of river Ganga
‘Nadi Utsav’ will have three types of exhibitions. The ‘Sanjhi’ exhibition will be based on 16 Ghats of the country.
10.
World Rhino Day is observed every year on September 22 with the aim to raise awareness about different species of rhinoceros around the world and the impending dangers they face owning to widespread poaching.
World Rhino Day provides a road for different stakeholders like state government, individual animal conservationist, activists, NGOs, and people concerned to join together and look for better approaches to end poaching practices and protect specific very jeopardized rhinoceros species from eradication.
11.
The government of India issues an advisory for television channels to refrain from giving any platform to reports/references about and views/agenda of persons of such background including those against whom there are charges of serious crimes/terrorism and belonging to organizations which have been proscribed by law, having regard to the reasonable restrictions laid down under Article 19(2) of the Constitution and mentioned under sub-section (2) of Section 20 of the CTN Act.
This comes after it came to the notice of the Ministry that a person in a foreign country against whom there are serious cases of crime including terrorism, belonging to an organization which has been proscribed by law in India was invited for a discussion on a television channel wherein the said person made several comments/remarks which were detrimental to the sovereignty/integrity of the country, security of India, friendly relations of India with a foreign state and also had the potential of disturbing public order in the country.
12.
Agumbe Rainforest Complex (ARC) in Karnataka, famed for its high rainfall, has seen a decline in its monsoon rainfall over the past two years, resulting in it losing its crown to lesser-known towns in Udupi district.
What has been the historical significance of Agumbe Rainforest Complex (ARC)?
Agumbe Rainforest Complex, located in Karnataka, has been historically known for its exceptional rainfall and was often referred to as the ‘Cherrapunji of the South.’ It gained recognition for receiving over 8,000 mm of rainfall during the monsoon.
Why has Agumbe been losing its status as a high-rainfall area in recent years?
While ARC received its peak rainfall of around 6,000 mm during the monsoon months of June and August in the past, recent years have seen this peak rainfall drop to a range of 5,250 mm to 5,500 mm. Some towns, such as Nadpal and Mudradi, located 45-50 kilometers away from ARC, have recorded higher rainfall in 2022, pushing Agumbe to the third position in terms of rainfall in Karnataka. The installation of new rain gauges in various locations has contributed to more accurate rainfall measurements.
13.
The Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) has introduced geocoding functionality to identify and locate businesses accurately across all states and union territories. Geocoding allows for precise location data and enhances auditing and enforcement efforts. The implementation of geocoding will aid tax enforcement agencies in allocating resources more effectively to tackle tax irregularities. GSTN has geocoded 2.05 crore registered business addresses to date.
Geocoding is a process that assigns geographical coordinates to addresses or locations. In the context of India’s GST system, it helps tax authorities accurately locate businesses and taxpayers, making it easier to detect tax evaders and eliminate fake registrations.
How does geocoding help streamline GSTN records?
Geocoding ensures that the address details in GSTN records are accurate and aligned with the actual location of registered entities. This reduces the scope for fake GST addresses and registrations, enhancing the integrity of the tax system
14.
The Railway Board in India has significantly increased ex-gratia payments for victims of train accidents and untoward incidents. The ex-gratia relief amounts, last revised in 2012 and 2013, have been increased by tenfold. The circular, dated September 18, states that relatives of deceased passengers in train accidents and manned level crossing accidents will now receive Rs 5 lakh, while grievously injured passengers will be awarded Rs 2.5 lakh. Passengers with simple injuries will receive Rs 50,000. Previously, these amounts were much lower, at Rs 50,000, Rs 25,000, and Rs 5,000, respectively.
15.
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of deep-water marine fish in Digha Mohana, West Bengal. Named Pterygotrigla intermedica, it shares similarities with species like Pterygotrigla hemisticta. This discovery marks the fourth species of the Pterygotrigla genus reported in India and adds to the total of 178 species in the Triglidae family worldwide. The findings were published in the marine science journal Thalassas on September 20, 2023.
16.
The GCES portal and app are significant as they leverage technology to enhance the accuracy and timeliness of crop yield data, enabling better-informed agricultural decisions and policies
What are the key challenges addressed by the GCES Web Portal and Mobile Application?
The GCES platform addresses two critical challenges:
Delay in Reporting: The manual data collection process caused delays in reporting, which will now be resolved through GPS-enabled mobile data collection.
Transparency: GPS coordinates ensure precise data collection, eliminating ambiguity and data manipulation.
How does the GCES platform ensure data accuracy?
The GCES platform ensures data accuracy through:
Geo-referencing: GPS technology for precise geographic data.
Comprehensive Information: Detailed data on yield estimation, including village-wise plans and crop weights.
17.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has released a report highlighting the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global tourism industry. The report is titled “International Tourism Highlights, 2023 Edition – The Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism (2020–2022)
What trends were observed in international tourist arrivals and export revenues in 2021 and 2022?
In 2021, international tourist arrivals increased by 12%, reaching 456 million. Export revenues also rebounded slightly but remained 59% below 2019 levels at $761 billion. In 2022, 963 million tourists traveled internationally, more than double the number in 2021. However, this was still 34% lower than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Export revenues reached $1.25 trillion, reflecting a 52% increase from 2021 but remained 34% below 2019 levels.
What is the overall economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism, as highlighted in the report?
The report states that the pandemic led to a loss of 2.6 billion international tourist arrivals in 2020, 2021, and 2022, nearly double the arrivals recorded in 2019. Additionally, tourism’s economic contribution, measured as tourism direct gross domestic product (TDGDP), was halved from 4% of global GDP in 2019 to 2% in 2020 and 2021. It increased to 2.5% in 2022 according to preliminary estimates. The total loss in TDGDP over the three years amounted to $4.2 trillion.
18.
United Nations agencies, including UNHCR and WHO, have reported that more than 1,200 children under the age of five have died from suspected measles and malnutrition in nine refugee camps in Sudan’s White Nile State between May 15 and September 14, 2023. Over 3,100 suspected cases of measles were also recorded during this period. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, has displaced over 2.9 million people within Sudan and to neighboring countries. The UN has called for urgent funding to address the crisis.
19.
A new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has shed light on the health and economic consequences of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Titled “Embracing a One Health Framework to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance,” the report, released on September 14, 2023, provides fresh evidence of the global impact of AMR and offers recommendations to combat it. The report emphasizes that without a robust One Health action plan, AMR levels will remain unacceptably high, leading to thousands of deaths annually and increased pressure on healthcare systems.
What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and why is it considered a global public health issue?
AMR refers to the ability of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes to resist the effects of antimicrobial drugs like antibiotics. It is a global public health issue because the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in various sectors have led to growing resistance, rendering these drugs less effective. This can result in prolonged illnesses, increased healthcare costs, and even deaths when infections become untreatable.
How has the consumption of antibiotics in humans evolved, according to the OECD report?
The report indicates that the total consumption of antibiotics in humans has been increasing modestly across OECD and EU/EEA countries and significantly across G20 countries over the last two decades. However, it is projected to remain steady in OECD countries from 2015 to 2035. Meanwhile, consumption in EU/EEA and G20 countries could decline by 3.3% and 6.2%, respectively, by 2035.
20.
Actor Akhil Mishra, best known for his role in 3 Idiots, died after a fall at his residence in Mumbai on Wednesday evening, said a publicist for his actor-wife Suzanne Bernert. He was 67. The publicist said Mishra, who had blood pressure issues, succumbed to injuries following the accident in the kitchen. “He was on a chair in the kitchen trying to do something when he fell down and hurt his head and back. He was later rushed to the hospital by the family and neighbours.
Akhil Mishra, who mostly played character roles in films and TV shows, is best remembered for his role of librarian Dubey in 3 Idiots, starring Aamir Khan, R Madhavan and Sharman Joshi.
He had also worked in films and serials such as Don, Gandhi, My Father, Uttaran, Udaan, and Shrimaan Shrimati, among others.
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