Senior diplomat Ajit Vinayak Gupte has been appointed India’s next ambassador to Germany, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.

He is currently India’s envoy in Egypt.

“Ajit Vinayak Gupte (IFS: 1991), presently Ambassador of India to Egypt, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Federal Republic of Germany. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly,” the MEA said in a statement.

The appointment comes ahead of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s scheduled visit to India later this month.

The Maritime Exercise Malabar 2024 is set to take place from October 8 to 18, beginning with the Harbour Phase in Visakhapatnam, followed by the Sea Phase. Hosted by India, this year’s exercise will see participation from Australia, Japan, and the United States.

Originally a bilateral drill between the US and Indian Navies in 1992, Exercise Malabar has since evolved into a key multilateral event aimed at improving interoperability, fostering mutual understanding, and addressing shared maritime challenges in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions.

The Indian Navy will deploy various platforms, including guided missile destroyers, frigates, submarines, and aircraft. Australia, the US, and Japan will also send warships, helicopters, and maritime patrol aircraft. Special Forces from all four nations will participate.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Indian government's decision to provide support in the form of Rs 30 billion (USD 360 mn), in addition to USD 400 million bilateral currency swap agreement.

"I am thankful for the Indian Government's decision to provide support in the form of 30 billion Indian Rupees in addition to 400 million US Dollars bilateral currency swap agreement which will be instrumental in addressing the foreign exchange issues we are facing right now," Muizzu said.

PM Modi and Muizzu held bilateral and delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House in the national capital today.

The Bharatiya Kala Mahotsav (BKM), held at Rashtrapati Nilayam in Bolarum, Secunderabad, attracted over one lakh visitors and offered them a glimpse into the vibrant culture of northeast India.

The 8-day festival, jointly organised by Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Ministry of Development of the Northeast Region, and the Ministry of Culture, featured more than 300 artists and artisans from the eight northeastern states.

Rashtrapati Nilayam Manager K Rajani Priya informed that over 20 thousand people attended the Mahotsav on its final day, yesterday.

The closing ceremony celebrated the eight-day event, which showcased performances featuring various art forms, bands, and choirs from the northeastern states.

The stalls representing 8 northeast states featured a variety of products from traditional textiles to modern crafts.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Maharashtra and the Sports Authority of India was signed today for the establishment of the National Centre of Excellence in Kandivali, Mumbai. The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister for Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal.

Addressing the gathering, Piyush Goyal said that the Central Government is working hard for the betterment of India’s performance at major global sports events. He also expressed confidence that the 2036 Olympics will be held in India. Speaking about the National Centre of Excellence, Mr. Goyal said that it would surely play a significant role in the Olympics 2036.

The Sports Authority of India plans to develop modern sports infrastructure of international standards on the land parcel of 37 acres, which has been leased for 30 years at the rate of Rs. 1 per annum to SAI.

Ace gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who made India a talking point in world gymnastics by securing a historic fourth-place finish in vault in the 2016 Rio Olympics, announced her retirement from the sport on Monday.

The 31-year-old took to social media platform X to announce her decision.

Dipa, who had overcome a suspension for doping and injuries to become the first Indian to win a gold medal in the Asian championships in Tashkent in May last, said she was proud of her career.

“I remember a five-year-old Dipa, who was told that because of her flat feet she could never be a gymnast. Today I am very proud to see my achievements, representing the country on the world stage and winning medals. The most special moment was performing the Produnova vault in the Rio Olympics. It remains the most memorable moment of my career. Today, I feel very happy to see Dipa because she had the courage to dream,” said Dipa in her post.

Former captain Sanath Jayasuriya was on Monday (October 7, 2024) appointed as full-time head coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team until the end of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The former left-handed opener was Sri Lanka's interim coach since early July, and after he impressed in the role against India and England, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to hand him full-time responsibility.

Under Jayasuriya's guidance, Sri Lanka won their first bilateral ODI series against India in 27 years, and then defeated England in an away Test for the first time in 10 years.

Most recently, Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand 2-0 in a Test series at home.

Infrastructure company MEIL on Saturday said it has commissioned five solar plants in Maharashtra having a combined capacity of 19 megawatt (MW).

The plants were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually, Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) said in a statement.

"MEIL has commissioned five solar power plants with a total capacity of 19 MW under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM KUSUM) scheme across Maharashtra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Solar Plants and Dedicated to the Nation," it said.

The five solar plants are at Shambhaji Nagar (3 MW), Nanded (5MW), Kolhapur (3MW), Akola (3MW), and Buldhana (5 MW) in Maharashtra.

Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr Philip Green called on the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Lt. General K T Parnaik (Retd.) at Raj Bhavan, Itanagar today and discussed entrepreneurship, skill development, technology, mineral exploration, hydropower, tourism, and bilateral venture avenues in the state.

The Governor emphasized the capacity of the youth of the state in entrepreneurship, skill development and technology sectors through exchange programmes. He said that the youth of the State have potential but need exposure and specialized assistance.

The Governor highlighted the tourism perspective of Arunachal Pradesh, in eco, adventure and cultural tourism. He said that the State provides an array of avenues for tourism activities.

The High Commissioner, who is on a five-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh, appreciated the state and its people.

Adani group has started blending green hydrogen in natural gas that is supplied to households for cooking purposes in parts of Ahmedabad, with a view to cut emissions and meet net-zero targets.

Adani Total Gas Ltd, the group's city gas joint venture with French energy giant TotalEnergies, has started blending 2.2-2.3 per cent of green hydrogen in piped natural gas supplies in Shantigram in Ahmedabad, the firm said in a post on LinkedIn.

Hydrogen produced through clean pathways is injected into natural gas pipelines, and the resulting blends are used to generate heat and power with lower emissions than using natural gas alone.