1 PM Modi attended BRICS Summit
PM Modi attended the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia . He participated in both the closed plenary and open plenary meetings. PM Modi said, ‘BRICS in its new form represents 40% of the world’s humanity and about 30% of the economy. The organization has achieved many achievements in the last 2 decades. I hope that BRICS will emerge as a more effective medium for global challenges.’ He said that reforms in the UNSC are necessary. Modi said that BRICS in its new form is an economy of more than 30 trillion dollars . It is capable of dealing with all challenges. Modi said that UPI payments are a huge achievement of India. India is ready to share the UPI system with BRICS countries. Other countries have also adopted it. He invited BRICS countries to join Mission Life, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign . While thanking President Putin for the successful organisation of the BRICS summit, the PM congratulated the new BRICS President, Brazilian President Lula da Silva . He also assured Brazil of India’s support as the new President.
On October 23, talks were held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan city of Russia . This is the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders after the Galwan clash in 2020. Jinping said that both countries should handle their differences properly. India and China should work together with each other to maintain their relations normal. Only then will both countries be able to achieve their development targets. The leaders of both countries welcomed the patrolling agreement on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) . Special representatives were appointed to resolve issues between the two countries. NSA Ajit Doval from India and Foreign Minister Wang Yi from China have been made representatives. The talks between the two leaders lasted for about 50 minutes.
3 PM Modi met Iran’s President Dr. Masoud Pazshkian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the President of Iran, Dr. Masoud Pazshkian, in Kazan, Russia, on the evening of 22 October . The Prime Minister is on a visit to Russia to attend the 16th BRICS Summit. He met the President of Iran on the sidelines of BRICS. PM Modi congratulated Dr. Masoud Pazshkian on being elected as the 9th President of Iran. The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and discussed further strengthening cooperation in various fields. Earlier, the long term contract for Chabahar Port in May 2024 confirms the excellent bilateral relations. The Prime Minister invited President Pazshkian to visit India.
4 Agreement on Kartarpur Sahib Corridor extended for 5 more years
India and Pakistan have agreed to extend the validity of the Agreement on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for a period of five years through diplomatic channels . The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement giving this information. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the agreement was signed on 24 October 2019 for a period of five years to facilitate the travel of pilgrims from India to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, Narowal, Pakistan through the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. India and Pakistan have decided to extend the Agreement on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for 5 years through diplomatic channels on 22 October. The ministry said that in view of the continued request of pilgrims regarding the removal of the service fee of US $ 20 per pilgrim per visit imposed by Pakistan, India has once again urged Pakistan not to impose any fee or charge on the pilgrims.
The two-week-long UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) kicked off in Colombia , attended by environmental leaders from nearly 200 countries . The crucial gathering is aimed at evaluating historic commitments to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The meeting follows the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework signed by 196 countries, an ambitious treaty to protect the planet’s diverse ecosystems.
6 Egypt is malaria free
Egypt has achieved a significant public health milestone by being formally declared ‘ malaria-free ‘ by the World Health Organization (WHO) on October 20, 2024. With this achievement, Egypt becomes the second country to receive malaria-free certification in 2024 after Cape Verde . Egypt becomes the third country in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to receive malaria-free certification, which includes the United Arab Emirates (2007) and Morocco (2010) .
7 Israel became the 69th member country of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
In a significant development in the field of international financial cooperation , Israel has become the latest non-regional member of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Manila-based financial institution announced the news on Friday, marking a major step for Israel to expand its global strategic ties and economic reach. Israel officially joined the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as its 69th member and 20th non-regional member , fulfilling all the necessary membership conditions. Established in 1966, the ADB is a premier financial institution that aims to promote social and economic development in Asia and the Pacific. It is owned by 69 member countries, of which 49 are from Asia and the Pacific, while 20 are non-regional members.
8 Historic agreement signed between Indo-Latin American Chamber of Commerce and VPVV Techno Construction
The Indo-Latin American Chamber of Commerce (ILACC) and VPVV Techno Construction Pvt Ltd signed a historic agreement at the Constitution Club of India that will significantly contribute to making India a developed country by 2047. The US$10 billion agreement will focus largely on investments in India including industrial manufacturing . It includes programmes such as the Corridor Development Programme, Semiconductor Mission, National Logistics Policy, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, Make in India and Made from India and several other initiatives in defence and infrastructure development.
9 55th IFFI to be held in Goa
The 55th International Film Festival of India i.e. IFFI 2024 will be held in Goa from 20 to 28 November this year . The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced this on 23 October. The ‘ Country of Focus ‘ segment is the key feature of IFFI, which shows the best contemporary films of a country. This year IFFI will screen 7 Australian films selected through critics . It will be a mix of different genres like drama, powerful documentaries, thrillers and light comedy. These films will showcase the unique culture of Australia, reflecting the diversity of vibrant stories of its indigenous and contemporary communities.
10 NESTS launches ‘Amazon Future Engineer Programme’ for Eklavya Model Residential Schools
The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) launched the third phase of the ‘ Amazon Future Engineer Programme ‘ in 50 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in Andhra Pradesh , Gujarat , Karnataka , Madhya Pradesh , Odisha , Telangana and Tripura . The third phase will have an orientation on blockchain, artificial intelligence, coding, blockchain programming and AI sessions. The third phase of the Amazon Future Engineer Programme will be launched in 410 proposed EMRS in India. The engineer programme has been running for two years. It has so far introduced over 7,000 students from classes 6 to 8 to computer science and blockchain programming. It has trained over 50 teachers in previous phases. The third phase will expand the curriculum to include blockchain, artificial intelligence and coding for students from classes 6 to 9. Additionally, project-based virtual sessions will be provided for class 10 students, which will be in sync with the CBSE AI skills curriculum.
11 World Gibbon Day
“ International Gibbon Day ” is celebrated on October 24 , a day to celebrate gibbons and raise awareness about the threats faced by these endangered primates. All 20 gibbon species, including the hoolock gibbon, are at risk of extinction due to conservation challenges. Gibbon populations and their habitats have declined significantly over the last century, leaving a very small population restricted to tropical rainforests only. Gibbons are found in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia and are also known as the smallest and most intelligent of all apes. Two distinct hoolock gibbon species are found in the north-eastern region of India: the eastern hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconidis) and the western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) . Both species are listed in Schedule 1 of the Indian (Wildlife) Protection Act, 1972 .
