👉 First, what is Quad? In 2017, the United States, Japan, India, and Australia came together to form the “Quad,” or Quadrilateral coalition to promote the principles of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
👉 The China reference: Modi’s remarks were viewed as a thinly veiled reference to China’s ongoing territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas, where it asserts claims of sovereignty.
👉 Hot mic comments: US President Joe Biden further lifted the veil when he stated that China was “testing” them while attempting to “buy diplomatic space” for itself. Furthermore, the paragraph on the South China Sea in their declaration was more strongly worded than in previous versions.
👉 Biden hosts Modi: The summit also included a bilateral meeting between the Indian PM and President Biden, who stated that the United States’ partnership with India is “stronger, closer, and more dynamic than at any point in history.” Here are the key takeaways from their discussion.
👉 “Watershed arrangement”: India and the US also reached an agreement to establish a semiconductor fabrication plant for producing chips intended for “national security and next-generation telecommunications.”
👉 A gesture: The US formally handed over 297 artefacts, dating from 2000 BCE to 1900 CE and primarily originating from eastern India, to the Indian government.
⚡ Only in Express
‘Mumbai in minutes’: Mumbai’s traffic woes may end soon! The development authority of the metropolitan region has rolled out a Rs 58,000 masterplan to encircle Mumbai with a network of ring roads that looks to seamlessly connect all corners of the city. The network aims to cut travel time significantly by 2029.
Take a look at the details of the masterplan, exclusively accessed by The Indian Express.
📰 From The Front Page
Neighbourhood watch: It’s been found that immediately after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in Bangladesh, an Adani Power subsidiary sought the government’s nod to sell power back home. To jog your memory, the new interim government in Dhaka had previously indicated that it will review a 2017 agreement with the company and determine whether the power price is justified.
Interestingly, this is not the only recent blow to Adani. With the status quo disrupted in Sri Lanka, the now-ruling Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party’s vow to cancel the Adani’s wind power project in the island country is very much on the cards.
A change of guard: Sri Lankan voters have turned their backs on the old political guard, widely blamed for pushing the nation into economic turmoil. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the 55-year-old leader of the leftist JVP party, has been declared the winner of Lanka’s presidential election.
Seen as a symbol of political transformation in the island country, we trace the rise of Dissanayake from a humble rural background to claim the country’s presidency in a groundbreaking election.
📌Must Read
In this week’s Idea Exchange, catch Paralympic champions air rifle shooter Avani Lekhara and javelin thrower Sumit Antil as they speak about overcoming their physical and mental challenges, inspiring people and bridging the comparison gap. Both double gold medalists at the Paralympic Games, they also champion the cause of increasing accessibility and recognition for people with disabilities.
“Two weeks after bombs rained down on Koutruk village, the smell of gunpowder and ash still lingered in the air…”
The destruction that rocked this small village in Manipur’s Imphal West district on September 1 was the worst spate of violence that it’s seen since the start of the ongoing conflict. While tensions in the state have ebbed and flowed, “fringe” villages like Koutruk have not seen any rest from the brutality, and the sound of gunfire has become part of the new normal.
In our Opinion pages today, J Sai Deepak writes on why the perception of justice is as important as justice itself: “When unelected constitutional organs display greater commitment to probity and quality, they inspire greater confidence in the public, which, in turn, gives such institutions greater moral authority to hold power accountable with public support.“
👉And Finally…
A win for the ages: D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and P Harikrishna — put together, these five players claimed a sensational win in the open section of the Chess Olympiad, losing just one game out of 44. With help from grandmaster RB Ramesh, we try to piece together their on- and off-board personalities, decoding what makes them so unstoppable.
Delhi Confidential: Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Friday played ‘peacemaker’ to avoid a ‘face-off’ between two Additional Solicitors General representing two Public Sector Undertakings. While counseling them to settle the dispute amicably, this is what he said.
🎧 In the latest episode of the 3 things podcast, Indian Express’ Shubhajit Roy discusses the recent coordinated attacks in Lebanon, Anonna Dutt highlights the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance, and Nihal Koshie talks about Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s transition into politics. Tune in!
That’s all for today.
Aradhana Kalia and Ayesha Jain
Business As Usual by Unny
Top news on September 23, 2024. 
Business As Usual by Unny
Share
