Today's Current Affairs 23rd September 2023

INTERNATIONAL

China and Syria announce 'strategic partnership' after its leaders met in Beijing

• In a significant diplomatic development, China and Syria have formally announced the establishment of a strategic partnership. This announcement came during a meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Syrian President Bashar Assad in Hangzhou, China, as the city prepared to host the Asian Games.
• Amid the backdrop of an unstable international environment, Xi Jinping emphasized China’s commitment to supporting Syria and vice versa. The leaders pledged to strengthen their cooperation, not only to bolster their own interests but also to uphold international fairness and justice. This move aligns with China’s strategy to position itself as a counterbalance to the U.S.-led international order.

ISRAEL UNVEILS CUTTING-EDGE BATTLE TANK, SHOWCASING TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN ARMORED WARFARE

• Israel unveiled its cutting-edge main battle tank, the Merkava Mark 5, known as “Barak,” signifying a significant leap in technological advancement and military capability. The development of the Barak tank involved collaboration between the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Armored Vehicles Directorate, the IDF’s Ground Forces, Armored Corps, and multiple Israeli defense companies, including Elbit Systems, Rafael, and the Israel Aerospace Industries’ subsidiary, Elta.
• The Barak tank represents a remarkable achievement in the field of armored warfare, showcasing Israel’s commitment to advancing its defense capabilities. This 5th-generation tank builds upon the legacy of earlier Merkava models, incorporating cutting-edge technologies and innovations.
• The Barak tank is equipped with a network of sensors designed for target detection. This sensor data can be seamlessly shared with other military units, facilitating improved enemy detection and coordination on the battlefield.

Asian Games News: Hectic day for team India as teams prepare to participate in hockey, tennis, shooting, boxing

• The I2U2 group comprising India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United States has unveiled an ambitious joint space venture. This collaborative initiative aims to create a groundbreaking space-based tool with wide-ranging applications for policymakers, institutions, and entrepreneurs.
• The announcement follows India’s recent successful lunar mission, marking a significant milestone for the quartet’s space exploration efforts. Against the backdrop of India’s triumphant lunar soft-landing, the I2U2 group, consisting of four nations deeply engaged in space exploration, has come together to pioneer a unique space-based tool.

 NATIONAL

'Judiciary Has Been Protector Of India's Justice System': PM Modi At ‘International Lawyers’ Conference

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘International Lawyers’ Conference 2023‘ at New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan today. This conference, organized by the Bar Council of India, has brought together legal experts from across the globe to deliberate on the theme ‘Emerging Challenges in Justice Delivery System.’
• The event, scheduled for September 23 and 24, marks the first of its kind in India and aims to facilitate discussions on pressing legal issues of both national and international significance. The primary objective of the International Lawyers’ Conference 2023 is to serve as a platform for meaningful dialogue and discussion on various legal topics.
• The conference is designed to foster the exchange of ideas and experiences among legal professionals and strengthen international cooperation while enhancing the understanding of legal issues. Throughout the two-day event, experts and participants will delve into a wide range of topics that are shaping the legal landscape.

PM Modi flags off 9 new Vande Bharat trains

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to flag off nine Vande Bharat Express trains on Sunday, September 24th, according to ministry officials.
• Among these nine trains, the Indian Railways is launching two trains for West Bengal’s Howrah and Tamil Nadu’s Chennai, with one each for Kerala, Odisha, Telangana, Gujarat, and the poll-bound state of Rajasthan. These semi-high-speed trains are configured with eight coaches and are expected to offer a significant boost to the country’s rail connectivity.

The nine new routes that will be inaugurated on Sunday are as follows:

SNo	Origin	Destination
1	Ranchi	Howrah
2	Patna	Howrah
3	Vijayawada	Chennai
4	Tirunelveli	Chennai
5	Rourkela	Puri
6	Udaipur	Jaipur
7	Kasaragod	Thiruvananthapuram
8	Jamnagar	Ahmedabad
9	Hyderabad	Bengaluru

 

Biswanath Ghat in Assam selected as Best Tourism Village of India 2023

• The Ministry of Tourism has declared Biswanath Ghat in Assam as the Best Tourism Village of India for the year 2023. This recognition comes after an extensive selection process that involved reviewing 791 applications from 31 different states and union territories across the country. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his delight at this achievement, highlighting the immense efforts made by the government to promote rural tourism in the state.
• Biswanath Ghat, situated to the south of Biswanath Chariali Town, is famously referred to as ‘Gupta Kashi.’ This name is derived from the ancient Biswanath temple in the town and draws a parallel with Kashi during the illustrious Gupta Empire era. This picturesque ghat is adorned with a collection of temples dedicated to various deities. Notably, a Shiva temple graces the confluence of the Bridhaganga (Burigonga) River with the Brahmaputra.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

India's Defence Acquisition Council gave the green light to several capital acquisition proposals

• India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has given the green light to several capital acquisition proposals, including the indigenous Dhruvastra short-range air-to-surface missile.
• This precision-guided weapon is designed for deployment on the indigenously built DHRUV MK-IV helicopters and is poised to elevate India’s combat capabilities against enemy tanks and armored vehicles significantly.
• The Dhruvastra missile is a third-generation, fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system, renowned for its versatility in engaging and neutralizing enemy tanks and armored vehicles. With a range spanning from 500 meters to an impressive 7 kilometers, Dhruvastra can engage targets across a wide spectrum. This extensive reach ensures that enemy tanks and armored vehicles are within its striking distance.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

With entry into JP Morgan bond indices, India is playing in the world

• JP Morgan Chase & Co. is set to include Indian government bonds in its renowned benchmark emerging-market index. This long-anticipated move is expected to attract substantial foreign investments into India’s debt market.
• The inclusion of Indian government bonds in the JP Morgan Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets is scheduled to take effect from June 28, 2024. India will have a maximum weight of 10% on this index, as outlined in a statement.
• JPMorgan’s decision to include Indian government bonds in its index is attributed to India’s introduction of the FAR (Fully Accessible Route) program in 2020 and its substantial market reforms aimed at facilitating foreign portfolio investments. A survey conducted among benchmark investors revealed that nearly three-quarters of respondents supported India’s inclusion in the index.

Axis Bank launches ‘NEO for Business’, a mobile-first Business Banking proposition for MSMEs

• In a strategic move to cater to the evolving needs of Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Axis Bank has recently unveiled its groundbreaking Transaction Banking platform, ‘NEO for Business.’ This innovative digital offering is designed to comprehensively address the real-time requirements of MSMEs, marking a significant milestone in the landscape of business banking in India.
• “NEO for Business” is built to create a distinctive first Transaction Banking platform for MSMEs. It has a contemporary UI/UX along with bank-grade security features. NEO for Business, will  transform the Transaction Banking landscape for MSMEs by creating a strong digital ecosystem to solve all the evolving needs of MSMEs.