A SpaceX rocket soared into the sky Saturday (September 28, 2024) with two passengers on board, leaving two seats empty to return American astronauts who have been stranded for months on the International Space Station, NASA said.

The Falcon 9 rocket took off at 1:17 p.m. (1717 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It used a new launch pad, the pad’s first use for a crewed mission.

“Congrats to @NASA and @SpaceX on a successful launch,” NASA chief Bill Nelson said in a post on X. “We live in an exciting period of exploration and innovation in the stars.”

On board were NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov.

Justice Manmohan took oath as the chief justice of the Delhi High Court on Sunday (September 29, 2024).

Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena administered the oath to the 61-year-old judge at a ceremony at the Raj Niwas, the Lieutenant Governor’s secretariat.

The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Delhi Chief Minister Atishi.

After the elevation of then Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma to the Supreme Court, Justice Manmohan was appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court in Delhi on November 9, 2023. Justice Manmohan is the son of the late Jagmohan, a famous bureaucrat-turned politician who also served as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and the lieutenant governor of Delhi.

Shigeru Ishiba won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election on Friday by securing 215 votes and is set to become the next prime minister of Japan.

The former defence minister won against Sanae Takaichi, who secured 194 votes.

The 67-year-old Ishiba has previously come close to securing the top position, notably in 2012 when he was defeated by nationalist Shinzo Abe, Japan's longestserving leader, who was later assassinated.

Andro village in Manipur has received the distinguished award as one of the Best Tourism Villages in the Heritage category at the 2024 Best Tourism Villages Competition, organized by the Ministry of Tourism. The recognition was announced during a celebratory event at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, held in conjunction with World Tourism Day.

The event featured the Hon'ble Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar, as the Chief Guest, who praised the winners and highlighted the significance of sustainable tourism development. Among the attendees were representatives from Manipur Tourism and Andro village, including Shri Thounaojam Shyamkumar Singh, Chairman of the Tourism Corporation of Manipur Limited (TCML) and MLA for Andro Constituency, and Shri W. Ibohal Singh, Director of Tourism for Manipur.

Andro village’s rich cultural heritage and traditional practices were pivotal in earning this accolade. Central to its cultural landscape is the Panam Ningthou Temple, a prominent heritage site dedicated to a local deity, which draws visitors eager to explore the region's historical depth.

On the occasion of World Tourism Day on Friday, the Ministry of Tourism has launched a national responsible tourism initiative titled Paryatan Mitra and Paryatan Didi. The primary aim of this initiative is to elevate the overall experience for tourists in destinations, by having them meet ‘tourist-friendly’ people who are proud Ambassadors and Storytellers for their destination.

The Ministry said that under this initiative, special emphasis is being placed on the training of women and youth to enable them develop new tourism products and experiences like heritage walks, food tours, craft tours, nature treks, homestay experiences, and other innovative tourism products based on the potential of the destination.

Tourism-specific training is being followed by general training in digital literacy and digital tools to ensure that the experiences they create are discoverable and visible to tourists, nationally and globally. Since the pilot of this program on August 15th this year, around 3,000 people have been trained in the 6 pilot destinations on the importance of creating a positive experience for tourists, thereby being a Paryatan Mitra.

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar would be inaugurating the 20th Divya Kala Mela, in Pune, Maharashtra tomorrow. This event will be held from 28th September to 6th October 2024, at PWD Ground, New Sangvi, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune. The Mela is being organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) [DEPwD], under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, through National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC), an apex corporation under the DEPwD.

The Divya Kala Mela stands as a unique celebration of the craftsmanship, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of Divyang (Persons with Disabilities) artisans, artists, and entrepreneurs from across India. Approximately 100 Divyang participants from over 20 states and Union Territories will showcase an eclectic assortment of products, including home décor, clothing, eco-friendly stationery, toys, and personal accessories. Visitors will also have the chance to explore a range of organic packaged foods, handlooms, and exquisite embroidery work.

The Reserve Bank of India had organized a day long conference for the Directors of Small Finance Banks, SFBs in Bengaluru. The theme of the conference was ‘Governance in SFBs – Driving Sustainable Growth and Stability’.

Delivering the keynote address, RBI Deputy Governor Mr. Swaminathan J. encouraged the Directors to be vigilant and proactive in identifying and mitigating emerging risks. He emphasised the need for strengthening cybersecurity and a stronger focus on financial inclusion, customer service and grievance redressal. He also highlighted the importance of sustainable business models.

According to an official press release, the Conference also included technical sessions conducted by senior officials of RBI in the areas of ‘Governance and Assurance Functions’, ‘Business Risk – Regulatory and Supervisory Expectations’ and ‘IT Systems and Cybersecurity’.

India has risen to 39th position among 133 global economies in the Global Innovation Index 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed this as a remarkable feat. In a social media post, Mr Modi said the government is committed to ensuring a vibrant innovation ecosystem, which can transform the lives of the youth.

India has climbed from 81st in 2015 to 39th in 2024 among 133 economies. In the Global Innovation Index, India is the first among ten economies in Central and Southern Asia. It is also the first among lower-middle-income economies.

Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav announced the theme of 9th Ayurveda Day as “Ayurveda innovation for Global Health”. This year, Ayurveda Day will be celebrated on 29th October. At the curtain raiser event in Delhi, the Minister said the theme underscores the potential of Ayurveda’s contribution in global health system through various innovative practice solutions. The Ayurveda day is observed every year on the auspicious occasion of Dhanwantari Jayanti, also known as Dhanteras. Since 2016, Ayurveda Day has been celebrated annually. The celebration reflects the commitment of India for the promotion of Ayurveda as an indispensable part of the holistic healthcare system of Indian traditional medicine system and overall healthcare culture of India.

The central government has announced an increase in minimum wage rates by revising the Variable Dearness Allowance. The new wage rates will take effect from the 1st of next month. The minimum wage rates are categorized based on skill levels-unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and highly skilled, as well as by geographical areas A, B, and C. After the revision, minimum wage rates for workers in area ‘A’ in construction, sweeping, cleaning, and loading & unloading for unskilled work will be 783 rupees a day. For semi-skilled workers, the minimum wage will be 868 rupees a day, and for skilled, clerical, and watch & ward (without arms), the minimum wage will be 954 rupees a day. For highly skilled workers and watch & ward (with arms), the revised wage will be 1,035 rupees a day.