President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Awards for the empowerment of Divyangjan 2023 on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities in New Delhi on Sunday. Speaking on the occasion, President Murmu stressed on empowerment of Divyang people. She said, the immense struggle and achievements of Divyangjan serve as an inspiration for citizens.
 
A total of 30 awards were given away to individuals, institutions, organizations, state and district for their outstanding achievements and work towards the empowerment of Divyangjan.

At present, BSF is holding 192 battalions and seven BSF artillery regiments guarding the international border with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday paid tribute to the Border Security Force personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty on the 59th Raising Day of the BSF in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh district.

The BSF, which is the largest border guarding force in the world with a strength of nearly 2.5 lakh personnel, celebrates its Raising Day every year on December 1.

Synergy Marine Group, the world’s third largest ship manager with a diverse fleet of over 640 vessels, was honoured with two major awards at the Informa Marine Fuels 360 Awards, hosted at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, 28-29 November.

Synergy Marine Group, which employs over 25,000 seafarers, picked up the Ship Manager of the Year Award for 2023. In reaching their decision, the judges evaluated a range of company criteria including leadership, technical and operational performance, bunker operations, sustainability, technology innovation and future readiness to manage net-zero ships.

Ajay Chaudhry, Co-CEO of Synergy Marine Group’s Ship Management division, commented, “At Synergy we provide the highest quality ship management services to a worldwide industry ‘who’s who’ of owners, covering all vessel types from handysize bulkers to the most complex LNG-FSU conversions. Our owners know that we marry operational excellence with technical innovation, and they value close technical partnerships to help them navigate the many regulatory and technical hurdles, especially in advancing the net-zero transformation. I’d like to thank the organisers and judges for kindly recognising Synergy’s achievements in these areas.”

The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) has today published the 2023 World Digital Competitiveness Ranking (WDCR), in which India ranks 49th among 64 economies. According to IMD's study, India has made significant in terms of cybersecurity knowledge but lacks on fronts like technology and future readiness. IMD's World Digital Competitiveness Ranking offers insights into how various nations are navigating digital transformation in the era of artificial intelligence (AI).

Essentially, it sheds light on the essential elements that contribute to a nation's genuine digital prowess —a crucial quality as the impact of this technology continues to reshape society. The leading economies in this year's ranking are akin to "digital nations,"implying countries that actively promote the comprehensive integration of digital technologies, encompassing AI, across governmental, corporate, and individual spheres. The United States moved back to the top position with robust results across all three factors: knowledge, technology, and future readiness.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch a green credits initiative, aimed at encouraging the establishment of plantations, during his two-day visit to the United Nations climate conference being held in the United Arab Emirates.

The Prime Minister, who is expected to deliver his address at the opening session of the World Climate Action Summit, will also launch another climate initiative aimed at industries, foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said at a press briefing on Thursday.

In the eco-conscious lead-up to COP28, the UAE proudly showcases 'Jaywun,' its eco-friendly marine research vessel launched by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi  'Jaywun,' a symbol of sustainable innovation, not only marks a significant leap in marine science capabilities but also exemplifies the UAE's dedication to environmentally conscious practices.

Amid the global urgency to address climate change, at COP28 'Jaywun' actively contributes to the 'Ocean World Discovery' project, emphasizing sustainable practices and ecological awareness. The vessel employs green technologies to monitor and comprehensively assess the marine environment, aligning with COP28's focus on climate resilience and eco-friendly solutions.

Dubai, 1 December 2023: Today, amidst the gathering of global leaders at COP28, the United Arab Emirates , the COP28 Presidency declared an unprecedented $30 billion commitment to ALTÉRRA, a climate-focused investment vehicle. This initiative aims to revolutionize international climate finance, prioritizing equitable access for the Global South.

With the $30 billion pledge, ALTÉRRA now stands as the world's largest private investment vehicle dedicated to climate action, with a targeted mobilization of $250 billion globally by 2030. The primary focus is to guide private markets toward climate investments and bring transformative change to emerging markets and developing economies, where traditional investments face perceived higher risks.

Veteran actor R. Subbalakshmi, best known for her immense contribution to Malayalam cinema, has passed away.

She was 87. Subbalakshmi breathed her last on Thursday. She had been admitted to a hospital a few days ago due to age-related ailments.

Subbalakshmi was also a trained singer. She started her career as a Carnatic musician. Later, she went on to explore acting. She was widely recognised for her roles in Malayalam movies, including popular films like Kalyanaraman (2002), Pandippada (2005), and Nandanam (2002). She also acted in Telugu and Tamil films.

NTPC Bongaigaon has been recognized for its outstanding achievements in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environment Protection with two prestigious awards from the Greentech Foundation. The power station received the trophy in the Environment Protection Category at the 22nd Annual Greentech Environment Award 2023 and in the Rural Development Category at the 10th Annual Greentech CSR India Awards.

Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, IAS, Addl. Chief Secretary, Environment, Govt. of Assam in the presence of Dr. Arup Kumar Mishra, Chairman, Assam Pollution Control Board and Shri Shantanu Kumar Dutta, Member Secretary, Pollution Control Board, Assam presented the awards to Shri Ekonthung Ngullie, AGM (EMG & O&M/Civil) at the award ceremony in Sonmarg, Jammu and Kashmir.,

Odisha’s Manisha Padhi, a 2015 batch IAF Squadron Leader, has been appointed as India’s first woman Aide-De-Camp (ADC). Mizoram Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati appointed her as his ADC on Wednesday. Padhi, currently serving as a Squadron Leader in the IAF, hails from Berhampur. Governor Kambhampati shared a video of appointing the officer to the key post on his ‘X’ handle.

“Hearty congratulations to Sqn Leader Manisha Padhi for being appointed as Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to the Governor of Mizoram. Sqn Leader Manisha is India’s first Woman Indian Armed Forces officer to be appointed as Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to the Governor in the country. My best wishes to her and may she excel in the sector with the expertise she has earned over the years,” the Governor wrote.