CURRENT AFFAIRS 13 September, 2024

CURRENT AFFAIRS 13 September, 2024

1. 79TH UNITED NATIONS (UN) GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION STARTS –

• The United Nations General Assembly provides an opportunity to member states a unique forum for multilateral discussions on international issues, this year 79th session of UNGA started on 10th September.
• The UNGA provides world leaders from the current 193 member states with a forum where they can discuss, debate and make recommendations on subjects pertaining to international peace and security, including development, disarmament, human rights and international law.
• In principle, the UN is a perfect democracy. Every member nation, small or large, rich or poor, has an equal voice in the Assembly. And each country has one vote, of equal value.
• Resolutions adopted in the General Assembly carry political weight, but they are not binding, unlike Security Council resolutions, which is where the real power resides at the United Nations.

2. PM MODI INAUGURATES 2ND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GREEN HYDROGEN-

• On September 11, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen, which is being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from September 11-13, 2024.
• The conference aims to position India as a leader in the global green hydrogen ecosystem by discussing recent technological advances and fostering strategic investments and partnerships to accelerate green hydrogen adoption.
• The three-day conference brings together key stakeholders in the Green Hydrogen value chain, including Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Prof. Ajay K. Sood, and other dignitaries.

3. PORT BLAIR RENAMED AS SRI VIJAYA PURAM BY GOI –

• The Home Minister of India Shri. Amit Shah has announced the decision on renaming the Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Sri Vijaya Puram.
• The decision has been taken to free the nation from the colonial imprints as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have an “unparalleled place” in the country’s freedom struggle and history.
• Port Blair is the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• He also said that “Inspired by the vision of PM Narendra Modi Ji, to free the nation from the colonial imprints, today we have decided to rename Port Blair as Sri Vijaya Puram.”

4. ALGERIA JOINS BRICS NEW DEVELOPMENT BANK –

• Algeria has been officially authorized to join the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), as announced by the bank’s president, Dilma Rousseff, during the ninth annual meeting in Cape Town.
• The NDB, established by the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) in 2015, aims to support infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging economies and developing nations.
• Since its inception, the NDB has expanded to include new members beyond the founding BRICS nations.
• In 2021, Bangladesh, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay were added. Algeria’s admission, following a favorable assessment of its macroeconomic indicators, marks a significant step in its integration into the global financial system.

5. QUAD LEADERS SUMMIT WILL BE HELD ON 21ST SEPTEMBER IN WILMINGTON –

• United States of America’s president Joe Biden will host leaders from QUAD members of other countries like India, Japan and Australia in Wilmington, Delaware on 21st September in the USA.

1. India
2. Japan
3. United States of America
4. Australia

• The Quad is a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient.
• It is a key pillar in foreign policy and complements our bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation, including with partners in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
• The purpose behind QUAD is to keep strategic sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific free from other military or political influences.