ABP Live News Shots: I.N.D.I.A Bloc's Resolution, Seat Sharing To Modi-Biden Meet On Sept 8 — Top Headlines This Week

ABP Live News Shots: From I.N.D.I.A bloc's resolution to PM Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden's bilateral meet on Sept 8 — bringing to you the big news that made headlines this past week.

This week, the opposition's I.N.D.I.A alliance resolved to contest next year's Lok Sabha elections together and announced that a seat-sharing formula would be initiated soon. Meanwhile, the Central government reduced the price of LPG cylinders by Rs 200. On the other hand, the government has called for a "special session of Parliament" for five days from September 18 to 22 which is likely to be held in the new Parliament building. Apart from these, all eyes are set for the G20 Summit slated to be held on September 9-10 in New Delhi where PM Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will also have a bilateral meeting. Meanwhile, India's golden javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra made the nation proud yet again as he bagged the gold medal at the Men's Javelin Throw Final of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

INDIA

The India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.) parties announced their resolution to jointly contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024 during their Mumbai meeting. This move aims to present a united front and prioritise the issues of public concern. The announcement, made on Friday, September 1, comes as a "collaborative" signal of effort by the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. One of the key aspects of the I.N.D.I.A. resolution adopted today was the initiation of seat-sharing arrangements in different states.

"We, the INDIA parties, hereby resolve to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections together as far as possible. Seat-sharing arrangements in different states will be initiated immediately and concluded at the earliest in a collaborative spirit of give-and-take," the resolution by the I.N.D.I.A. alliance stated.

The Centre on Tuesday announced a much-needed relief to the people by slashing the price of LPG cylinders by Rs 200. At a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Centre arrived at the decision at a time when the nation is celebrating Onam and ahead of rakhi. Soon after the Centre's announcement, PM Modi posted on X: "The festival of Raksha Bandhan is a day to increase happiness in our families. The reduction in the gas price will enhance the comfort of the sisters and make their lives easier. May every sister of mine be happy and healthy."

The government has called for a "special session of Parliament" for five days from September 18 to 22, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Thursday. There will be five sittings and the session is likely to be held in the new Parliament building.

"Special Session of Parliament (13th Session of 17th Lok Sabha and 261st Session of Rajya Sabha) is being called from 18th to 22nd September having 5 sittings.  Amid Amrit Kaal looking forward to have fruitful discussions and debate in Parliament," Joshi said.

World

Former US President Donald Trump on Thursday pleaded not guilty to charges related to his alleged efforts to overturn the results of 2020 Georgia election and waived his right to appear in the court next week, news agency AP reported. “Understanding my rights, I do hereby freely and voluntarily waive my right to be present at my arraignment on the indictment and my right to have it read to me in open court,” Trump said in the court filing. According to reports, Donald Trump and 18 others were charged in an alleged scheme to subvert the will of the Georgia voters who had chosen Joe Biden over the Republican incumbent in the presidential election in November 2020.

US President Joe Biden will arrive in India next week to take part in the G20 Summit and will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 8 on the sidelines of the meeting, the White House said. India, President of the G20, will host global leaders for the Summit scheduled to take place on September 9 and 10 in New Delhi. The White House stated that Biden will commend PM Modi for his leadership of the G20 during the Summit. “On Thursday (September 7), the President will travel to New Delhi, India to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit. On Friday, the President will participate in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the White House said in its week ahead schedule of the president released Friday night, as quoted by news agency PTI.

Military officers on Wednesday claimed that they have seized power in oil-producing Gabon and put President Ali Bongo under house arrest, minutes after the Central African state's election body announced he had won a third term, extending his family’s 55-year rule. The officers declared on television that the election results were cancelled, borders were closed and state institutions were dissolved. "The elections did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon," the statement said, reported AFP. As per the agency, Bongo pleaded for support in a video that gave no indication of when or where it was recorded. 

Sports

Neeraj Chopra Bags Unprecedented Gold Medal For India At World Athletics Championships With 88.17m Throw

Neeraj Chopra, India's star javelin thrower, made the nation proud yet again as he bagged the gold medal at the Men's Javelin Throw Final of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday (August 27). While his season-best throw of 88.77m in the first attempt of his qualifying round was enough to aid him seal a place in the final, it also secured him a place in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Dutch Grand Prix Race Results: Max Verstappen Roars To Record-Equalling Ninth Consecutive Win

Max Verstappen, the Dutch driver for Red Bull Racing, secured victory in his home Grand Prix on Sunday, marking his ninth consecutive win and equaling a remarkable record. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso clinched second place, while Alpine's Pierre Gasly secured a place on the podium at Zandvoort.

Youth Can Conquer Any Domain': PM Modi After Meeting Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met 18-year-old chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa at his residence on Thursday (August 31). The Grandmaster recently won a silver at the FIDE Chess World Cup 2023 after a hard-fought defeat against world number 1 Magnus Carlsen. While Praggnanandhaa had termed it a great honour to be able to meet the Prime Minister, PM Modi also replied to his post on the micro-blogging site X (formerly Twitter) saying that India's youth can conquer any domain.

ENT

R Madhavan has been named the next President of the Film & Television Institute of India, days after his directorial debut 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' took home the National Award for Best Film. He succeeds acclaimed director Shekhar Kapur, who held the office from September 30, 2020, to the present. Anurag Thakur, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, announced the news on his X account (formerly Twitter) and sent his warmest wishes to the National Award-winning actor.  “Heartiest congratulations to @ActorMadhavan ji on being nominated as President of @FTIIOfficial and Chairman of the governing council. I'm sure that your vast experience & strong ethics will enrich this institute, bring positive changes, & take it to a higher level. My best wishes to you,” he wrote.

During her visit to Mumbai, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stopped by Amitabh Bachchan's home. On Wednesday, Mamata Banerjee landed in Mumbai for the third INDIA alliance summit. Prior to the meeting, Mamata made time to see the actor at his residence in Jalsa. Aditya Thackeray greeted Mamata Banerjee as she landed at the Mumbai airport earlier today. Bachchan reportedly welcomed Mamata Banerjee to his home for tea on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, according to ANI news agency. Amitabh and his wife Jaya Bachchan have a strong relationship with CM Banerjee.

Bollywood heartthrob Shah Rukh Khan has once again stoked the passions of his devoted fan base with his upcoming film 'Jawan'. Tickets for the first-day show of his highly-anticipated film, ‘Jawan,’ sold out entirely within 15 minutes of advance booking in many locations throughout India. The anticipation among viewers and critics for the release of ‘Jawan’ was considerable, as word of the movie spread for months beforehand. But no one predicted that the tickets would be sold out so quickly. Fans of Shah Rukh Khan are going crazy over ‘Jawan’. On September 7th, the film will open in theatres. Some venues have begun taking reservations for the film in advance, and the reaction has been overwhelming. Advance tickets for Jawan sold out in a matter of minutes. Industry tracker Sacnilk reports that the film's U.S. advance bookings have already raked in a staggering Rs 1.2 crore. Germany, the UAE, and Australia all offer pre-booking tickets for the film

BUSINESS

India's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.8 per cent in the quarter that ended on June 30, data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Thursday revealed. The GDP, at 7.8 per cent in Q1 of 2023-24, is the highest in four quarters, according to NSO data. The April-June GDP grew 7.8 pr cent as against 6.1 per cent in January-March, while 13.1 per cent in the year-ago quarter. India still remains the fastest-growing major economy as China's GDP growth in the April-June quarter was 6.3 per cent. According to the release, the real GDP or GDP at constant (2011-12) prices in Q1 2023-24 is estimated to attain a level of Rs 40.37 lakh crore, as against Rs 37.44 lakh crore in Q1 2022-23, showing a growth of 7.8 per cent as compared to 13.1 per cent in Q1 2022-23. Nominal GDP or GDP at current prices in Q1 2023-24 is estimated at Rs 70.67 lakh crore, as against Rs 65.42 lakh crore in Q1 2022-23, showing a growth of 8.0 per cent as compared to 27.7 per cent in Q1 2022-23.

If you are someone who turns to Google for investment advice, chances are you must have stumbled upon the '15x15x15 rule' of investment that promises to make you a 'crorepati' in 15 years. Many asset management companies (AMCs) and investment platforms are advising investors to follow the 15X15X15 system that revolves around mutual funds and SIP. However, when it comes to investing hard-earned income, one should always ask, is it really a reliable plan? Can you consider investing in the plan that promises to make a future millionaire? Let us explore.Many new investors today chose mutual funds over stock markets to avoid risks that come with the ups and downs of markets. Managed by professional fund managers, mutual funds allocate investor funds into a diversified mix of instruments such as equities, bonds, money market instruments, and other securities. They provide returns based on a combination of capital appreciation, interest income, dividend income, and capital gains. One popular investment approach within mutual funds is the Systematic Investment Plan (SIP), which promotes long-term wealth creation. 

Life is unpredictable, and this unpredictability can lead to unexpected financial crises that catch us off guard. Dealing with a financial emergency is a situation no one desires. However, preparing for such contingencies is a crucial step toward safeguarding your financial stability. Establishing a proactive approach and building a contingency fund are key measures in mitigating monetary hardships. In times of unforeseen crises, having a well-defined strategy can make all the difference. Here are some measures that can alleviate your financial emergencies while safeguarding your financial stability. Amit Gupta, the managing director at SAG Infotech, offers a step-by-step guideline that incorporates considerations like investments, mutual funds, and trading. "Keep a composed mind and assess the severity of the emergency. Understand the immediate financial requirements and prioritise them. Ideally, maintain a dedicated emergency fund that covers 3-6 months' worth of expenses. If you don't have one, start saving a portion of your income regularly to build this safety net," Gupta advises, while talking to ABP Live.

TECH

Apple on Tuesday sent invites for the iPhone 15 series launch. Apple's big launch is set to take place on September 12 at 10am PT or 10:30pm IST. Apple's invite for the September event reads: “Wonderlust” which would be hosted at Apple Park in California. The media invite has the Apple logo in several colours, including black, blue and grey that cryptically point to the colour variants the company may introduce the iPhone 15 Pro in. The new iPhone 15 lineup and Apple Watches are expected to be unveiled at the event.

Days after company CEO Linda Yaccarino said that X would be getting a video calling feature, Elon Musk on Thursday announced that audio and video call features will be added to the platform soon. The video and audio calling feature on X, formerly Twitter will work on platforms including Android, iOS, PCs and Macs. The feature will not require a phone number to make audio and video calls.

Garena, the Singapore-based gaming giant, has announced plans to resurrect the widely acclaimed mobile game, Free Fire, in the Indian gaming market. This revival comes 18 months after the game faced a ban in the South Asian region due to national security concerns. Determined to stage a triumphant comeback, Garena has taken comprehensive measures to ensure a seamless return.

SCIENCE

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched Aditya-L1, India’s first space-based solar observatory to study the Sun, on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at 11:50 am IST. Aditya-L1 took off atop a PSLV-XL (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. This was the second launch from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Also known as PSLV-C57, the mission marked the 59th flight of PSLV. 

Chandrayaan-3, which softly landed on the lunar south pole on August 23, 2023, has been operating on the Moon for over a week. In just a week, the payloads onboard Vikram and Pragyan have made groundbreaking scientific discoveries. Both Vikram and Pragyan will be left on the lunar surface after their mission life is over, and will be decommissioned. The reason why they have a short mission life is that they generate power using solar energy.

Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander and Pragyan rover have made groundbreaking scientific discoveries and performed breakthrough experiments in just a week of starting operations on the Moon. From creating the first temperature-depth profile on the Moon's south pole, to confirming the presence of sulphur on the lunar south pole, from discovering that the lunar plasma environment above the south pole is sparse, to detecting a potential lunar quake, the payloads onboard Vikram and Pragyan achieved several milestones in less than a week.