TITBITS:
1.BOOKER PRIZE: The 2024
Booker Prize shortlist has been announced, with the largest number of women
represented in its 55-year history. The list includes former Women’s Prize
winner Anne Michaels, American writer Percival Everett and British author
Samantha Harvey. Five of the six-strong shortlist are women, with authors from
five countries represented, including the Netherlands for the first time.
2.The 20th Maritime State
Development Council (MSDC) concluded recently in Goa with significant
advancements in India’s maritime sector. This event brought together stakeholders
from the Central Government, States, and Union Territories to resolve over 80
issues, focusing on port modernisation, maritime infrastructure, connectivity,
and regulatory frameworks.
3. President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the 8th India
Water Week 2024. The biennial event will be held from September 17-20. Jal
Shakti Secretary Debashree Mukherjee said that the theme of India Water Week is
'Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management'.
4. The Summit of The Future,
which is to convene at the United Nations in New York on September 22-23, 2024,
aims to identify multilateral pathways to address the major problems that
threaten the common future of humanity.
5. The Taliban have suspended polio vaccination
campaigns in Afghanistan, the UN said. It's a devastating setback for polio
eradication since the virus is one of the world's most infectious.
6. Recent findings from a study highlight concerns about the potential misuse of facial recognition technology, such as the Digi Yatra app. While Digi Yatra aims to streamline airport check-ins and boarding, there is significant apprehension regarding the abuse of biometric data by private entities.