Spanish, Carlos Alcaraz(19) has defeated Casper Ruud to 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3 secure his maiden Men's Singles title at the 2022 US Open tennis.

 

He is the youngest men's Grand Slam champion since Rafael Nadal won the French Open in 2005.

 

Women's singles : Iga ÅšwiÄ…tek (Poland)

 

Men's doubles : Rajeev Ram (US) / Joe Salisbury (UK)

 

Women's doubles : Barbora Krejčiková (Czech Republic) / KateÅ™ina Siniaková (Czech Republic)

 

Mixed doubles : Storm Sanders / John Peers (Australia)..

Source : NY Times

MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), and Meta, here 13th Sep 2022, announced the launch of an accelerator programme to support and accelerate XR technology startups across India.

 

This initiative, XR Startup Program focuses on skilling and building technological capabilities for the metaverse, and will help shape the ecosystem for these emerging technologies, including Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in the country.

 

The Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar has said, “It is an important day in terms of achieving Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision of making the next 10 years as India’s Techade - full of opportunities for young Indians. It is also an important milestone in area of Metaverse which is an important part of emerging future of the internet. I look forward to the collaboration with Meta and I hope it provides the necessary impetus towards fueling the growth of investments in future technologies in line with the government vision for making India a trillion-dollar economy by 2025.”

 

Emphasising on the potential of Indian Startups from tier 2/3 cities & how the Narendra Modi government is committed in encouraging them, the Minister further added, “Young Indian Startups, especially from tier 2/3 cities, will play a significant role in emerging tech areas like Web 3.0, blockchain, AI, Metaverse etc. and will shape the future of Technology and the internet for India and the world.

 

The Accelerator Program will support 40 early-stage start-ups working in XR technologies with a grant of Rs 20 lakhs each. Further, the Grand Challenge will encourage early-stage innovators in sectors like Education, Learning and Skills, Healthcare, Gaming and Entertainment, Agritech & Climate Action and Tourism & Sustainability.

 

The innovators will be provided support to upscale from the R&D phase to developing workable products and services. At first 80 innovators will be shortlisted to attend a bootcamp, out of which, a total of 16 innovators will be provided grants of Rs 20 lakhs each and further support to help them develop Minimum Viable Product (MVP)/ prototypes..

Source : PIB

Navtej Sarna’s latest book, Crimson Spring, longlisted for the JCB Prize for Literature, starts with the Jalianwalla Bagh massacre that took place on April 13, 1919, and goes back and forth in time to bring that era and the aftermath of the event alive. After all, as stated in the Prologue, “These then are the facts. Even a hundred years later, the facts speak for themselves. The before and after is only history… made up of acts of human beings…”

 

About the book : Crimson Spring is a masterclass in writing that intertwines history and fiction to describe this critical period in Indian history and the changes happening in the world around that time. World War I had just ended, Mahatma Gandhi had started Satyagraha, and the Rowlatt’s Act had been passed. Known as the Black Act, it included measures such as allowing the government to search homes without warrants, arrest people without trials, stop public debates and shut down newspapers..

Source : Indian Express

The overall revenue of Indian Railways at the end of August 2022 was ₹95,486.58 crore, showing an increase of ₹26,271.29 crore or (38%)38 per cent over the corresponding period of last year(2021), an official statement said on Sunday(11th Sep 2022).

 

* The revenue from passenger traffic was ₹25,276.54 crore, an increase of ₹13,574.44 crore (116 per cent) year-on-year.

 

* Passenger traffic also increased compared to last year in both the segments -- reserved and unreserved. The growth from the long distance reserved mail express trains has been sharper than the same in passenger and suburban trains, the Railways said.

 

* The other coaching revenue stood at ₹2,437.42 crore, higher by ₹811.82 crore (50 per cent) over the corresponding period of last year.

 

* This is being fuelled by robust growth in the parcel segment of Indian Railways, the statement added.

 

* Goods revenue climbed by ₹10,780.03 crore (or 20 per cent) to ₹65,505.02 crore till August-end this year.

 

* This has been achieved through incremental loading of more than 58 MT and 18 per cent growth in the net tonne-kilometers (NTKMs) during the period. Food grains, fertiliser, cement, mineral oil, container traffic and balance other goods segments have been important contributors in this growth, in addition to the coal transportation.

 

* The sundry revenue was ₹2,267.60 crore, showing an increase of ₹1105 crore or 95 per cent over the corresponding period of last year, it added.

 

* Railways' total revenue during the entire last fiscal (2021-22) stood at ₹1,91,278.29 crore..

Source : Hindustan Times

'Taragiri', the third stealth-guided missile frigate of Project 17A was launched into the Arabian Sea in Mumbai on Sunday(11th Sep 2022) - marking a major step in India’s defence indigenisation programme. 

 

The Mumbai-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), one of the finest shipbuilders, is executing Project 17A or the Nilgiri-class of ships for the Indian Navy. 

The total value of Project 17A is around Rs 25,700 crores.

 

The first ship of Project 17A, Nilgiri was launched on September 28, 2019, and is expected to be ready for sea trials in the first half of 2024.

 

The second ship of P17A class, 'Udaygiri' was launched on May 17, 2022, and is expected to start sea trials during the second half of 2024. 

 

The third in the series, 'Taragiri', whose keel was laid on September 10, 2020, was launched on Sunday. The ship is expected to be delivered in 2025..

Source : Deccanherald

 

Sri Lanka on 11 September 2022 lifted the Asia Cup 2022 in Dubai by defeating Pakistan by 23 runs.

 

Earlier, Sri Lanka scored 170 runs by losing 6 wickets, as Bhanuka Rajapaksa scored 71 runs in just 45 balls. However, apart from him, nobody from the team crossed fifty runs. For Pakistan, Haris Rauf emerged as the most successful bowler, clinching 3 important wickets.

 

 In response, Pakistan's opener Mohammad Rizwan put down a fantastic performance under pressure and scored 55 runs in 49 balls. Sri Lankan bowlers Pramod Madushan and Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva clinched four and three wickets respectively in the crucial match.

 

As Pakistan faced Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2022 finals in Dubai, cricket fans across south Asia are wondering who much much prize money will the winning team and runners-up will receive.

 

Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka have lifted the Asia Cup trophy in 2012 and 2014 respectively.

 

This year(2022), the winning team of Asia Cup 2022 will receive a grand amount of ₹1,59,53,000 (approx), while the runners up will take home a cheque of ₹79,66,000..

Source : Mint

Army’s Kharga Corps and the Indian Air Force conducted a joint exercise to showcase the might and prowess of the armed forces.

 

Termed “Gagan Strike”, the exercise was conducted over a period of four days in several areas of Punjab, bordering Ambala in Haryana.  

 

In a statement release defence on Friday(9th Sep 2022), the army said the operation validated the Apache 64E and Advanced Light Helicopter WSI as potent weapon delivery platforms.

 

Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding, Kharga Corps, who spearheaded this exercise, also showcased precision firepower by attack helicopters in coordination with ground forces’ mechanised columns..

Source : Hindustan Times

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Army have successfully completed six flight tests of Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) system from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, off the Odisha coast, as part of its evaluation trials, Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Thursday(8th Sep 2022).

 

* QRSAM is a short-range Surface Air Missile (SAM) system, which is designed and developed by the DRDO.

 

* The QRSAM aims to provide a protective shield to the moving armored columns of the Army from aerial attacks.

 

* The six flight tests were carried out against high-speed aerial targets mimicking various types of threats to evaluate the capability of the QRSAM as a short-range Surface Air Missile (SAM) system.

 

* The different threat scenarios include long-range medium-altitude, short-range, high-altitude-maneuvering target, low-radar signature with receding and crossing target, and salvo launch with two missiles fired in quick succession.

 

* These tests were conducted in the final deployment configuration consisting of all indigenously-developed sub-systems, including the missile with indigenous radio frequency seeker, mobile launcher, fully automatic command and control system, surveillance, and multi-function radars..

Source : Indian Express

HE Madam Halimah Yacob, the President of Republic of Singapore, conferred the prestigious Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) [Meritorious Service Medal (Military)] on Admiral Sunil Lanba (Retd), the former Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy. 

 

Dr Ng Eng Hen, Defence Minister of Singapore presented the award to Admiral Sunil Lanba (Retd), on behalf of the President, in a solemn Investiture Ceremony, held on 08 Sep 22 at the Ministry of Defence, Singapore.

 

The award is a recognition of strong bilateral defence ties between India and Singapore as well as stellar contribution of Adm Sunil Lanba to strengthen the engagements between the two Navies. During his tenure as the Chief of Naval Staff, the Indian Navy hosted the 25th edition of Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) at Visakhapatnam in Oct 2018. 

 

Adm Sunil Lanba (Retd) fondly recalled having hosted Dr Ng Eng Hen, Defence Minister of Singapore along with Rear Adm Lue Chuan Hong, the then Chief of Navy, Republic of Singapore Navy onboard INS Shakti for the concluding day of the Sea Phase of the Exercise..

Source : PIB

Announcing a partnership with branchless banking network PayNearby, a senior executive of Axis Bank said on Wednesday(7th Sep 2022) that such tie-ups would aid the private lender in achieving priority sector lending aims.

 

“The priority sector targets that we have in our own business, if we have a shortfall, we have to build up through PSLCs (priority sector lending certificate) or something else. It is ensuring that we meet the requirements of the bank,” said Munish Sharda, group executive and Head of Bharat Banking.

 

Axis Bank aims to meet its priority sector lending targets in an organic manner, taking advantage of the PayNearby’s distribution-as-service network of 50 lakh micro businesses.

 

The tie-up will be used to set up current and savings accounts for both retail and individual customers in remote areas..

Source : Business Standard