September 13 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate 'Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag' on Saturday with an objective to promote use of Indian languages along with Hindi and establish better coordination between them.

Shah will inaugurate the 'Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag' while attending the inaugural session of official language Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the 4th Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan being organised by Department of Official Language on September 14-15 here in the national capital to commemorate the completion of 75 years of Hindi becoming the official language, a statement said.

Keeping in view the intent of the Constitution and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's direction, a Home Ministry statement mentioned, the Department of Official Language of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had proposed to establish Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag with the objective of promoting the use of Indian languages along with Hindi and establishing better coordination between them.

Swati Vijay Kulkarni has been appointed as India's next Ambassador to Algeria, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Friday.

Swati Vijay Kulkarni is an Indian Foreign Service Officer of 1995 batch. She is presently serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry.

In a statement, MEA stated, "Dr Swati Vijay Kulkarni (IFS: 1995), presently Additional Secretary in the Ministry, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria."

"She is expected to take up the assignment shortly," it added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Friday (September 13, 2024) that Port Blair will be renamed as Sri Vijaya Puram.

In an X post, Mr. Shah said, “Inspired by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, to free the nation from the colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’.”

“While the earlier name had a colonial legacy, Sri Vijaya Puram symbolises the victory achieved in our freedom struggle and the A&N Islands’ unique role in the same,” he said in the post. “Andaman and Nicobar Islands have an unparalleled place in our freedom struggle and history. The island territory that once served as the naval base of the Chola Empire is today poised to be the critical base for our strategic and development aspirations.”

The BRICS Literature Forum 2024 began on Wednesday in Kazan, Russia, bringing together prominent writers, poets, philosophers, artists, and scholars from the BRICS nations. The forum was inaugurated by the Mayor of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin, under the theme, “World Literature in the New Reality: Dialogue of Traditions, National Values, and Cultures.”

Representing India at the forum were Madhav Kaushik, President of the Sahitya Akademi, and Dr. K. Sreenivasarao, Secretary of the Sahitya Akademi. During the plenary session, Madhav Kaushik emphasized the importance of literature in fostering unity and cooperation across societies in the modern world.

At another event titled “Meet the Authors from India,” moderated by Evgeniy Abdullaev, discussions centered on the topic, “Volga to Ganga: Celebration of Tradition and Multiculturalism.” Dr. K. Sreenivasarao spoke about the role of river-based cultures in promoting multiculturalism and social progress globally. Madhav Kaushik highlighted the shared literary traditions of India and Russia, underscoring how both countries’ literature embodies a diverse range of cultural values.

Johannesburg, Sep 13 (PTI) Pravin Gordhan, a veteran Indian-origin South African politician and anti-apartheid activist, died at a hospital here on Friday after a brief battle with cancer, his family said.

Gordhan, 75, had been in South African politics since 1994 when the country was transitioning to democracy.

Barely four months ago, he had announced that he was retiring from active politics to spend more time with his family.

The former Cabinet minister died early Friday in hospital after “a short, courageous battle with cancer”, his family said in a statement.

In Nagaland, the State Government has approved the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Chumoukedima, Niuland, and Dimapur districts. The decision to implement ILP in these three districts was taken during a Cabinet meeting held today, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

Briefing media persons in Kohima, Minister for Tourism and Higher Education, Temjen Imna Along announced that Dimapur residents will be classified into three categories, with Category I and II residents exempt from ILP requirements.

Category-I includes individuals who settled in Dimapur before December 1, 1963. These individuals will not require an ILP and will be eligible for a Smart Card, as well as the option to obtain a Permanent Residence Certificate and Domicile Certificate.

Category-II pertains to individuals who settled between December 1, 1963, and November 21, 1979. These individuals will also not need an ILP and will be issued a PRC, with the option of obtaining a Domicile Certificate.

Category-III includes those who settled in Dimapur on or after November 22, 1979. This group will be required to obtain an ILP for their stay in the district.

Minister Along said certain groups, including students, teachers, technical personnel, and business partners, will be eligible for an ILP valid for two to five years, depending on their purpose of stay in the state. He said government is working on strengthening the digital system for ILP issuance to ease the application process.

In a major development, India and the UAE have inked a pact that provides a framework for giving services for the operation and maintenance of nuclear plants in the emirate. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Bhuwan Chandra Pathak, Chairman and Managing Director of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), and Mohamed Al Hammadi, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) of the UAE.

The MoU was inked during the ongoing visit of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to India. Al Nahyan held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. "The MoU provides a general framework for the possible collaboration between the NPCIL & ENEC in the relevant fields, which inter alia include developing supply chains, sharing experience and providing services for Operation & Maintenance of Nuclear Energy Plants, providing nuclear consulting services, human resources development & training, research and development etc," a statement by the NPCIL said.

U.S. machinery manufacturer Caterpillar will expand its equipment manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin said on Thursday.

In a post on X, Stalin announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Tamil Nadu government and Caterpillar, which plans to invest in the Thiruvallur and Krishnagiri districts.

“The longstanding association between Caterpillar and Tamil Nadu has been further strengthened by new investments!” Stalin said.

During Stalin’s ongoing visit to the U.S., several key partnerships and investment agreements between American companies and the Tamil Nadu government have been signed.

The Indian Embassy in Bahrain unveiled new displays showcasing Punjab’s tourism attractions and One District One Product (ODOP) scheme in a vibrant ceremony this week. The event marks Punjab as the sixth state to be featured in the Embassy’s ongoing ‘focus state-union territory’ initiative.

Colorful walls in the Consular hall now highlight Punjab’s rich cultural heritage and diverse products, offering visitors a glimpse into the state’s touristic appeal and unique ODOP offerings. This month-long promotion aims to raise awareness among the Bahraini public and Indian diaspora about Punjab’s cultural and economic significance.

Local Punjabi-speaking community members attended the inauguration, with the women-led organization Punjabi Virsa playing a key role. The group sourced ODOP products for the display and enriched the event with a lively cultural performance and Punjabi cuisine tasting. The ODOP scheme, a central feature of this exhibition, aims to promote at least one signature product from each Indian district, fostering socio-economic growth across regions. Products are carefully selected based on local ecosystems, export potential, and geographical indications.

The Indian Army contingent on Thursday departed for the fifth edition of India-Oman Joint Military Exercise al Najah. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from September 13 to 26 September at Rabkoot Training Area in Salalah, Oman.

Exercise al Najah has been held biennially since 2015, alternating between India and Oman. The last edition of the same exercise was conducted at Mahajan in Rajasthan.

The Indian Army contingent comprising 60 personnel is being represented by a Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment along with personnel from other arms and services. The Royal Army of Oman contingent also comprising of 60 personnel will be represented by the troops of Frontier Force.