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.

Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi has said that India has become the World’s third largest Producer and Consumer of Ethanol. While inaugurating the two-day India Sugar and Bio-Energy conference in New Delhi, the Minister emphasized that the government is committed to a robust, sustainable sugar industry that is not only an economic pillar but also a driving force in India’s renewable energy landscape. Speaking on Sugar Production in the country, the minister said that in the last decade sugarcane cultivation increased by about 18 percent while the sugarcane production has increased by 40 percent. He added that through Minimum Support Price, the dues of farmers has become a thing of the past and stressed on the vital role of the farmers in the country’s renewable energy landscape from being the Anna Dattas to becoming Urja Dattas. Mr. Joshi added that the government has launched national green hydrogen mission last year with an outlay of 19 thousand 744 crore rupees to make India a global hub for production, usage and export of Green Hydrogen.

In May 2024, a tragic incident in Alappuzha, Kerala, highlighted the ongoing threat of rabies in the 21st century. A nine-year-old boy died from rabies after being bitten by a stray dog. He was not vaccinated after the attack owing to the absence of major wounds. This preventable death prompted school assemblies that turned into science classes. A message was delivered to over 159,000 students across 740 schools, underscoring the critical need for immediate medical attention and vaccination after any animal bite to prevent rabies.

This incident serves as a stark reminder that, despite advancements in medical science and the availability of effective rabies vaccines, the disease remains a significant public health challenge. With a nearly 100% fatality rate once symptoms develop, rabies continues to be a formidable threat. World Rabies Day, observed on September 28 to commemorate the death of Louis Pasteur, encourages reflection on both the historical misconceptions that once shaped the approach to this deadly disease and the ongoing efforts to develop vaccines and modern strategies for rabies control. By connecting the past and present, we are reminded of the continuous need for awareness, education, and vaccination to eradicate rabies.

In a significant demonstration of its advancing space capabilities, China successfully launched eight satellites into orbit from a sea-based platform.

The launch took place from the Haiyang sea launch platform off the coast of Shandong province.

The mission utilised the Jielong-3 (Smart Dragon-3) rocket, marking its second successful launch since its debut. This solid-fueled rocket, developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), is designed specifically for commercial satellite deployments and sea-based launches.

A Russian Soyuz capsule landed on the Kazakh steppe on Monday, bringing two Russian cosmonauts and a U.S. astronaut back to Earth after a stint on the International Space Station (ISS).

The Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft with Roscosmos cosmonauts Nikolai Chub, Oleg Kononenko and NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson landed at 1159 GMT.

Kononenko and Chub had been part of the ISS crew since last September, completing a 374-day mission. Dyson's stay was shorter, lasting 184 days.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday released the book "Khaki Mein Sthitapragya" written by former Uttarakhand Director General of Police Anil Raturi at the IRDT auditorium located at Survey Chowk in Dehradun

B Vanlalvawna has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Thursday.

The 1998 batch Indian Foreign Service officer is presently the Joint Secretary in the Ministry.

According to MEA, "B. Vanlalvawna (IFS: 1998), presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Cambodia,"

He is expected to take up the assignment shortly. Prior to this appointment, Devyani Uttam Khobragade was serving as the Indian Ambassador to Cambodia.

South African middle-order batter David Miller played his 500th T20 match on Wednesday, becoming only sixth player in the format to do so.

Miller accomplished this milestone during his team Barbados Royals' match against Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Miller celebrated this occasion in style, as he scored 71* in 34 balls, with eight fours and five sixes. His runs came at a strike rate of 208.82.

However, it was not enough as Barbados could score just 172/9 in reply to Guyana's 219/8, which they had reached thanks to explosive half-centuries from West Indies stars Shai Hope (71 in 37 balls, with five fours and five sixes) and Shimron Hetmyer (57 in 34 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes).

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which allows certain areas to be declared as “disturbed” to facilitate security operations, has been extended for six more months in parts of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. This decision follows a review of the law and order situation in these northeastern states.

According to a notification from the Union Home Ministry, the extension applies to eight districts and 21 police stations across five additional districts of Nagaland. The areas were first declared as “disturbed” on April 1, 2024, under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. The extension will now remain in effect from October 1, 2024, for six months, unless withdrawn earlier.

The districts in Nagaland where the AFSPA has been extended include Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, and Peren. Additionally, several areas under the jurisdiction of police stations in Kohima, Mokokchung, Longleng, Wokha, and Zunheboto districts have also been designated as “disturbed” areas.

Wabtec Locomotive Private Limited, a joint venture between Indian Railways and Wabtec, is expanding the capabilities of its plant to export locomotives to Africa. For the first time, the plant will manufacture locomotives for export to a global customer.

The plant will supply Evolution Series ES43ACmi locomotives to global customers. The ES43ACmi is a locomotive featuring a 4,500 HP Evolution Series engine, offering best-in-class fuel efficiency and proven performance in high-temperature environments. The Marhowra plant will begin exporting these locomotives in 2025.

This project is of strategic importance as it positions India as a global locomotive manufacturing hub and aligns with the “Make in India” and “Make for the World” initiatives under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” vision of the Hon'ble Prime Minister. It will also enable the Marhowra plant to export standard-gauge locomotives globally, expanding the local supplier footprint and fostering long-term job creation, thereby benefiting the Indian economy.