For the first time since Independence, India’s head of mission in Pakistan will be a woman.

Geetika Srivastava, a 2005 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, will be the new Charge d’Affaires (CDA) in Islamabad. She will succeed Dr M Suresh Kumar who is likely to return to New Delhi.

While the two countries currently have a downgraded status of diplomatic representation in each other’s Capital — there are no High Commissioners, and the highest ranking diplomat is a CDA who is a Joint Secretary-rank equivalent officer — the government has selected a woman IFS officer to lead its High Commission in Pakistan.

Lt Gen Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon (Retd) was appointed as the Chairperson of the Board of Governors (BoG) of Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, on Friday, for a period of three years. Dhillon will succeed Professor Prem Vrat, the founding director of IIT Roorkee, in the position.

Dhillon retired from the defence services in January, 2023. He served as DG Defence Intelligence Agency and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff under the Chief of Defence Staff responsible for international military cooperation and strategic intelligence.

IndianOil proudly announced its collaboration with renowned Celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor as the brand ambassador for its innovative Indane XTRATEJ LPG brand, a release said.

The announcement was made at the prestigious Indane XtraTej Hotelier Harmony Meet in Bengaluru, a confluence of culinary excellence and industry insights.

The event witnessed the unveiling of the new XTRATEJ TV commercial featuring Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who commended IndianOil’s commitment to culinary innovation and efficiency.

Kapoor praised the company’s dedication to creating a cost-efficient solution that conserves LPG while enhancing business operations, thereby meeting evolving customer expectations.

Eminent littérateur and poet Jayanta Mahapatra passed away on Sunday late evening at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. He was 95.

Mahapatra was admitted to the said hospital on August 4 due to old-age related complications. He was shifted to the ICU after his condition deteriorated.

Mahapatra was the first Indian poet to win a Sahitya Akademi award for English poetry. He was also conferred with the Padma Shri award in 2009. However, he returned it in 2015 to protest against “rising intolerance in India”.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has set September 2 as the tentative date for the launch of its new ambitious solar mission, Aditya-L1 which will help in studying the sun and is planned to be placed in a halo orbit around the L1 of the Sun-Earth system, said an ISRO official.

"Most likely the launch will take place on September 2," an ISRO official said.

India officially handed over the Business 20 (B20) presidency to Brazil on Sunday and said "exciting times ahead as we continue shaping global business priorities together."

The B20 summit is the official G20 dialogue forum with the global business community.

The three-day summit was hosted by India from 25th to 27th August with the theme R.A.I.S.E – Responsible, Accelerated, Innovative, Sustainable and Equitable Businesses. It was attended by over 1,500 delegates from about 55 countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today emphasized the attractiveness of partnership with India for the global business community mentioning India’s young talent pool and its digital revolution. Addressing the B20 Summit India in New Delhi he said business can transform potential into prosperity, obstacles into opportunities, and aspirations into achievements. Whether they are small or big, global or local, businesses can ensure progress for everyone.
 
The Prime Minister said that India is now a trusted and efficient global supply chain partner. He recalled when the world needed medicines, during the Covid pandemic; India provided life-saving drugs to more than 150 countries. Mr. Modi stressed on the need to largely focus on building mutual trust which was destroyed during the pandemic. He highlighted that India is standing in front of the world with full sensitivity carrying the flag of faith in an atmosphere of mistrust.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi, and Rajesh Rames for qualifying for the ongoing World Athletics Championships 2023 and setting an Asian record in the process. The Prime Minister called it a historical comeback for Indian Athletics.

Indian men's relay team qualified at the ongoing World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. The team finished fifth with an impressive time of 2:59.92. The same quartet had clocked a new Asian and national record of 2.59.05s to qualify for the finals.

India's Parul Chaudhary finished 11th in the final of the 3000m steeplechase on Sunday, 27 August in Budapest. Parul finished her race with a national record-breaking run of 9:15:31 to attain qualification for the Paris Olympics, set to be held in 2024.

Parul Chaudhary had already made history by reaching the final of the World Athletics Championships 2023 in women's 3000m steeplechase, but her run - almost 10 seconds quicker than her qualification timings. She competed in the finals on Sunday, 27 August in Budapest with the world's best athletes.

Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won India's first-ever gold at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary last night. In the men's javelin final, Neeraj Chopra wins Gold medal with a throw of 88.17 metres. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem clinched Silver with a throw of 87.82 metres. Czech player Jakub vadlejchgot bronze  Kishore Jena finished 5th and DP Manu at 6th in the javelin throw event.

In the women's 3000-metre  steeplechase event,  India's Parul Choudhary has finished 11th, but, clocked her personal best, qualified for Paris Olympics 2024. She clocked 9:15:31 in the women’s 3000m steeplechase finals. With this performance, Parul set a new national record in women's steeplechase.