India-led Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) on Monday announced a $2.5 million fund to support cities to improve awareness, enhance planning, build financial resources, and integrate resilience into infrastructure operations to mark its fifth foundation day.

Cities in 30 low and middle-income countries including India will be eligible for funding under this urban infrastructure resilience programme (UIRP) via international organisations, multilateral and bilateral cooperation agencies, NGOs, or the United Nations.

CDRI said this fund will respond to the demand of member countries for technical assistance to ensure their investments are aligned towards disaster and climate resilience of new and existing infrastructure. “This will result in avoiding asset loss, reducing spending on repair and minimising disruption of critical services. Additionally, it will support economic growth and social development through enhanced service resilience; reduced carbon emissions resulting in improved biodiversity, cleaner air, and water,” a CDRI document said.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi and Intuitive, a biotechnology company known for robotic-assisted surgical systems have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish an innovative new training centre for robotic-assisted surgery.

The centre will provide comprehensive technology training on Intuitive's advanced da Vinci systems for surgeons and care teams across a broad range of specialities.

This will be Intuitive's fourth RAS training centre in India and its first in a government medical college.

The AIIMS da Vinci RAS training centre will focus on equipping surgeons and care teams with the skills and technology training necessary to perform robotic-assisted surgery across specialities including urology, gynaecology, general surgery and more. This industry-academia collaboration will advance the adoption of robotic-assisted surgery in India by providing state-of-the-art technology training for more surgeons.

The preparation review meeting for the International Film Festival 2024 was held by Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in Panaji today. Chief Secretary of Goa Shri Punit Goyal, IFFI Director Shekhar Kapoor, NFDC, Entertainment Society of Goa, and others were present at the meeting. Later, they met the Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant. IFFI is to be held between the 20th and 28th of November in Goa, which will be the 55th edition of this festival.

India’s economy remains on a positive trajectory despite ongoing fluctuations. Global ratings agency S&P has upheld its forecast for India’s economic growth at 6.8% for the current fiscal year 2024-25. The agency is also hopeful that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will begin lowering interest rates in its upcoming monetary policy review scheduled for October.

Growth Projections for 2025-26 Remain Steady at 6.9%
In its latest Asia-Pacific economic outlook report, S&P Global Ratings maintained its growth forecast for India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at 6.8% for 2024-25. It also kept its forecast of 6.9% for the next fiscal year, 2025-26. The agency noted that India’s strong economic performance will enable the RBI to continue its efforts in managing inflation in accordance with its targets.

Rate Cuts Expected Soon
S&P has suggested that the RBI might begin reducing interest rates during its October Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) review. Just a week ago, S&P reiterated that India is on course to become the world’s third-largest economy by fiscal year 2030-31. S&P is one of the top three credit rating agencies globally, alongside Moody’s and Fitch Ratings.

The RBI had earlier projected India’s growth rate at 7.2% for the current fiscal year

Becoming self-reliant in the defense sector, India is today also exporting its weapons to other countries. In such a situation, Armenia, a mountainous country located in the Caucasus region of West Asia and Europe, may not be in conflict with any other country, but it remains the largest country to buy weapons from India. Armenia has purchased Pinaka multiple-launch rocket system, Akash anti-aircraft system, howitzers, anti-tank rockets and anti-drone equipment and ammunition from India. By the beginning of the current financial year 2024-25, Armenia has purchased weapons worth a total of $ 600 million from India.

Indian arms purchase in Armenia

A Defence Ministry report said military cooperation between New Delhi and Armenia's capital Yerevan is steadily growing. In the last four years, Armenia has emerged as the largest importer of arms from India. Armenia ordered 15 Akash missile systems from India for $720 million in 2022 as the first foreign buyer. Armenia is scheduled to receive indigenously developed Akash-1S air defence missile systems from Indian company Bharat Dynamics Limited in late 2024. This Akash-1S system provides reliable protection against air threats such as fighter aircraft, guided missiles and drones.

School districts in California will have to create rules restricting student smartphone use under a new law Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom signed Monday.

The legislation makes California the latest state to try to curb student phone access in an effort to minimise distractions in the classroom and address the mental health impacts of social media on children. Florida, Louisiana, Indiana and several other states have passed laws aimed at restricting student phone use at school.

“This new law will help students focus on academics, social development, and the world in front of them, not their screens, when they’re in school," Newsom said in a statement.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 41st Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Commanders' Conference at the Coast Guard Headquarters on Tuesday. The conference is scheduled at New Delhi from 24 to 26 September.

This annual gathering serves as a vital forum for ICG Senior Commanders to engage in meaningful discussions on pressing strategic, operational, and administrative matters, all framed against the backdrop of shifting geopolitical landscapes and the complexities of maritime security. The conference plays a crucial role in shaping the future course of the ICG, according to a statement by the Ministry of Defence.

The Defence Minister interacted with ADG S Paramesh, Director General ICG (Addl. Charge) and other senior Coast Guard Commanders on pivotal issues concerning national and maritime security.

Pratyasa Ray, a rising star in swimming, was selected for the prestigious Ekalabya Puraskar for 2024, an official said. Ray secured six medals - four gold, one silver and a bronze - in the Khelo India University Games in Guwahati in February this year. The Ekalabya Puraskar committee comprising jury members drawn from various sectors were unanimous in selecting Ray for the prestigious award at a meeting in Bhubaneswar. Ray will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh—an increase from the previous Rs 5 lakh, along with a citation at a ceremony to be held at a later date.

Sprinter Dondapati Mrutyam Jayaram and badminton player Tanvi Patri will also be felicitated for their remarkable performances in various international and national-level events in their respective fields.

Each of the citation winners will receive a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lakh, up from Rs 1 lakh, along with citations at the award ceremony.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Thursday has also approved several officers for Secretary position for different departments in the Government of India.

Arun Singhal, lAS, Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is appointed as Secretary, Department of Fertilisers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.

B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, lAS, Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry as Chairman and Managing Director, India Trade Promotion Organisation on contract basis for a period of two years in the rank and pay of Secretary to the Government of India upon his superannuation on 30 September 2022.

Anil Ambani's son Jai Anmol Ambani was fined by markets regulator Sebi as he failed to exercise due diligence while approving general-purpose corporate loans in the Reliance Home Finance matter. Sebi imposed a fine of Rs 1 crore on Jai Anmol and a separate fine of Rs 15 lakh was slapped on Krishnan Gopalakrishnan, the former Chief Risk Officer of Reliance Home Finance, for approving the loans.

In its order issued on Monday, Sebi pointed out that Jai Anmol, a member of the board of Reliance Home Finance, sanctioned general-purpose corporate loans (GPCL loans) despite clear instructions from the board of directors to refrain from doing so.

Anmol Ambani approved a loan of Rs 20 crore to Accura Productions Private Limited on February 14, 2019, contradicting the directive given by the board of directors during their meeting on February 11, 2019, to abstain from approving any more GPCL loans.