The 20th edition of the India-USA Joint Military Exercise, Yudh Abhyas 2024, commenced today at the Foreign Training Node in the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan. This year's exercise will take place from September 9 to 22. Since its inception in 2004, Exercise Yudh Abhyas has been held annually, alternating between India and the United States.

This edition features a significant expansion in both scope and complexity, with increased troop strength and advanced equipment. The Indian Army contingent, comprising 600 personnel, includes a battalion from the Rajput Regiment, supported by various other arms and services. The US contingent, with a similar number of troops, is represented by the 1-24 Battalion of the 11th Airborne Division, based in Alaska.

The United Arab Emirates has successfully completed the Arab world's first nuclear power plant, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) said in a statement.

According to ENEC, the four-reactor plant will provide 25 percent of the electricity required by the hot, desert Gulf state, where air-conditioning is widespread—approximately equivalent to New Zealand's annual electricity consumption.

It will also power major industries such as oil production, steel manufacturing, and aluminum production.

Vinay Goyal has assumed office as the State Mission Director of National Health Mission (NHM).

He takes over from K. Jeevan Babu, who has moved to the Kerala Water Authority as managing director.

A native of Haryana, Dr. Goyal, belongs to the 2016 IAS batch. He holds an MBBS degree from PGIMS Rohtak, a postgraduate degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and yet another postgraduate degree in Public Management from Jawaharlal Nehru University.

He has formerly held the posts of CEO, Thiruvananthapuram Smart City; Managing Director of Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd. (KRTCL); Director of Backward Classes Development department; Secretary, Kerala State Housing Board among others.

The "Namami Gange Mission" is making significant strides in maintaining the purity and continuity of the Ganga river. In the first quarter of the fiscal year 2024-25, four major projects in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been successfully completed and are now operational. These large-scale initiatives aim to reduce pollution in critical areas along the Ganga and Ramganga rivers.

In Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, projects approved in May 2020 at a cost of Rs129.08 crore have been completed. This includes intercepting and diverting drains, establishing new networks, and constructing two Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with capacities of 8.5 MLD each at Bisunderpur and Pakka Pokhara. The existing 14 MLD STP at Pakka Pokhara has been upgraded, and a new main pumping station has been added to the city's infrastructure.

Deepu Yadav, Plant In-Charge of the 8.5 MLD STP in Bisunderpur, notes, "The biggest benefit of this STP is that municipal wastewater, previously disposed of into the Ganga, is now treated here. We meet all required parameters before discharging the treated water back into the river. This has also created job opportunities for local residents."

Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, S. Somanath, on Thursday (September 5, 2024) released a coffee-table book brought out by The Hindu Group of Publications, ISRO: Exploring New Frontiers - To The Moon, The Sun & Beyond.

The book curated by T.S. Subramanian, former Associate Editor, Frontline, documents the achievements of India as a space-faring nation in detail, from its nascent days in the 1960s to recent programmes like the Mars Orbiter Mission, Chandrayaan-1, 2 and 3 and the Aditya L-1 missions.

The book documents these missions with insightful behind-the-scenes stories, interviews and spectacular photographs of India’s space journey.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Somanath lauded The Hindu for bringing out the book, which he said was a good historical collection of information related to the ISRO and India’s space programme.

In wrestling, Jyoti Berwal clinched a gold medal in the women’s 76 kg freestyle category at the U20 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain. Jyoti defeated Ukraine’s Mariia Orlevych in the final yesterday without giving her a chance to score a single point, securing herself the title. On her way to the final, Jyoti defeated Mongolian, Chinese, and Turkish opponents. This was India’s second consecutive world U20 title in women’s 76 kg after Priya Malik claimed it in the 2023 edition.

Indian grapplers won two more medals in the same category. Komal in 59 kg and Sristhi in 68 kg bagged bronze medals. Among the few more medal matches in the women’s freestyle category, India’s Nitika will take on Ukrainian Iryna Bondar for a gold medal bout in the 62 kg category. Men’s freestyle matches are also beginning today and will run till 8th September, the last day of championships.

President Emmanuel Macron named EU former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s new Prime Minister on Thursday (September 5, 2024) after more than 50 days of caretaker government.

The appointment of the 73-year-old Mr. Barnier follows weeks of intense efforts by Mr. Macron and his aides to find a candidate who might be able to build loose groupings of backers in parliament and survive possible attempts by Mr. Macron’s opponents to quickly topple the new government that Mr. Barnier will now put together and lead.

A statement from Mr. Macron's office announcing Mr. Barnier's appointment said he'd been tasked “with forming a unifying government to serve the country and the French people.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Initiative,’ a rainwater harvesting programme led by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in collaboration with the Government of Gujarat.

The project aims to construct around 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures through community participation, ensuring long-term water sustainability across the state.

Speaking via video conferencing, PM Modi stressed that India, with its visionary and comprehensive approach, must lead the world in finding solutions to the water crisis.

Citing a Sanskrit quote, PM Modi said, “All living beings originate from water, and their lives depend on it. Thus, water conservation is the highest form of service. Rahim Das echoed this sentiment long ago.”

Reflecting on the recent floods in Gujarat and other regions, PM Modi said that almost every part of the country experienced heavy rainfall and flooding during the monsoon season. “Gujarat, where I served as chief minister for a long time, faced unprecedented rainfall this season. Despite the challenges, Gujarat and its people have shown resilience and unity in tackling nature’s fury,” he said.

Shourya Saini shot 452.4, after a qualification world record of 580, to clinch the men’s 50-metre rifle 3-position gold in the second World Deaf shooting championships in Hannover, Germany on Friday.

Shourya, a trainee of coach Anjali Bhagwat, beat Oleksandr Kostyk of Ukraine by nearly 10 points for the gold. He had earlier won the 10m air rifle silver behind compatriot Dhanush Srikanth. The bronze medal was also won by an Indian, Murtaza Vania.

Khushagra Rajawat finished fourth in the event.

Chetan Sapkal also medalled for India, clinching bronze in the men’s 25m sports pistol.

Indian chess players delivered an impressive performance at the Commonwealth Rapid Chess Championship, securing three podium finishes. Grandmaster Mitraba Guha claimed the gold medal with 6.5 points, while GM Panneerselvam Iniyan took silver with six points. GM Laxman Rajaram secured the bronze with 5.5 points.

Out of the 14 Indian participants, all finished within the top 30. Notable rankings among Indian men included Shyaam Nikhil P (5th with 4 points), Sayantan Das (8th with 4.5 points), and Hari Madhavan NB (9th with 4 points).

Other top finishes included Adireddy Arjun (11th with 4 points), Arul Prakash N (19th with 3.5 points), Vaibhav Suri (25th with 3 points), and Krishna CRG (27th with 3 points).