i. The 6th India-China Strategic Economic Dialogue was held in New Delhi. The Dialogue comprised of round table meetings of Joint Working Groups on infrastructure, energy, high-tech, resource conservation and policy coordination followed by technical site visits and closed-door G2G meetings.
ii. The Indian side was led by Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog and the Chinese side by Mr. He Lifeng, Chairman, National Development and Reforms Commission. The dialogue is held annually alternately at the capital cities of the two countries.
iii. The 2 sides arrived at following mutual agreements:
- They exchanged views on regulatory procedures of ease of doing business, development of artificial intelligence, high-tech manufacturing, and next-generation mobile communications of both countries.
- They also pressed upon the need for promoting cooperation in emergent areas like Waste to Power, co-processing of Septage with Sewage Sludge, stormwater management etc.
- They agreed on cooperation in R&D for developing new technology for manufacturing solar cell from alternate material and improvement of efficiency of solar cells.
9. 22nd Session of UN Committee on CRPD at Geneva
i. The 22nd Session of UN Committee on Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities was held at Geneva. The UN Committee on CRPD took up India’s First Country Report for consideration during the session. India ratified this Convention on 01-10-2007 in pursuance of Article 35 of the Convention.
ii. Shakuntala D. Gamlin, Secretary, DEPwD headed the Indian delegation at the session. She highlighted various initiatives taken by the Government in the recent past for inclusion and empowerment of PwDs in line with the obligations under UNCRPD.
Obituaries
10. Freedom fighter Heeralal Sharma passes away
i. Rajasthan born freedom fighter of India Heeralal Sharma has passed away at the age of 95. He took an active participated in the freedom struggle and was jailed for two years.
Important Days
11. World Suicide Prevention Day: 10 September
i. The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) observes World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) on 10 September every year. WHO has been co-sponsor of the day.
ii. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented. The number of countries with national suicide prevention strategies has increased in the five years since the publication of WHO’s first global report on suicide.
Miscellaneous
12. Royal Society honour for Dr Yusuf Hamied
i. Dr Yusuf Hamied, chairman of Cipla, a pharmaceutical company has been inducted as an honorary fellow of the Royal Society. He was elected as an honorary fellow of the Royal Society for his service to the cause of science.
ii. A total of 51 new Fellows and 10 foreign members were elected to the Royal Society in 2019. Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK and the Commonwealth which is dedicated to promoting excellence in science.
13. Hurricane Dorian: India announces USD 1 million disaster relief aid for Bahamas
i. India announced humanitarian assistance of USD 1 million to help people in the Bahamas affected by Hurricane Dorian. According to reports, the death toll from the calamity has risen to over 40 and is likely to increase even more, even as search and rescue teams are still trying to reach out to Bahamian communities isolated by floodwaters and debris in the wake of Hurricane Dorian.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:
- Capital of Bahamas: Nassau; Currency of Bahamas: Bahamian dollar.
14. PM Modi and Nepalese PM to inaugurate Motihari-Amlekhgunj oil pipeline
i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P.Sharma Oli will jointly inaugurate Motihari-Amlekhgunj cross border petroleum products pipeline.
ii. The 69 km long pipeline from Motihari in Bihar to Amlekhgunj in Nepal has been constructed by India. This is the first transnational petroleum pipeline form India and first South Asian oil pipeline corridor.
iii. The pipeline will ensure smooth, cost-effective and environment-friendly supply of petroleum products to Nepal. The pipeline will save billions of rupees every year on transportation, leakage and expected to make a significant contribution to the prosperity of Nepal and its people.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:
- Capital of Nepal: Kathmandu; President of Nepal: Bidhya Devi Bhandari; Currency of Nepal: Nepalese rupee.