1. GM Vaishali Rameshbabu won FIDE Women's Grand Swiss 2025

• Winning Score: Vaishali scored 8/11 points, edging out Kateryna Lagno on tiebreaks, who also scored 8/11.
• Candidates Qualification: Both Vaishali and Lagno have qualified for the 2026 Women's Candidates Tournament, joining other top players who secured spots through the Women's World Cup and Women's Grand Prix.
• Tournament Performance: Vaishali had a remarkable performance rating of 2604, gaining 21.4 rating points and moving up to number 15 in the women's live ratings.
• Comeback from Loss: Vaishali showed resilience by recovering from a loss in round eight against Bibisara Assaubayeva, stabilizing her tournament with crucial wins and draws.
• Second Consecutive Win: This victory marks Vaishali's second FIDE Women's Grand Swiss title, following her win in 2023, showcasing her consistency and skill at the highest level.

2. US, South Korea & Japan Launch Freedom Edge Military Exercise

• Exercise Purpose: The Freedom Edge exercise aims to enhance interoperability among the three nations to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in the face of North Korea's military threats.
• Participating Forces: The exercise involves warships, fighter jets, and personnel from the three nations, with approximately 7,000 trilateral military and defense force personnel participating in similar exercises held in November 2024.
• North Korea's Response: North Korea has protested against the joint drills, warning of military action and criticizing the exercises as an attempt to strengthen a "U.S.-led military bloc."
• Trilateral Cooperation: The Freedom Edge exercise demonstrates the growing cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the US.

3. Albania Appoints 'Diella' World’s First AI Cabinet Minister

• Role and Responsibilities: Diella has been appointed as the Minister for Public Procurement, tasked with managing and awarding government tenders. She will examine each tender, weigh merits, and produce outcomes designed to be objective, with full traceability across criteria.
• Background and Development: Diella was developed by the National Agency for Information Society of Albania and launched in January 2025 as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform. She assists citizens with online public services and issuing digital documents, having already handled over 36,600 documents and nearly 1,000 services.
• Anti-Corruption Efforts: Diella's appointment aims to reduce corruption in government tenders, a significant issue in Albania's bid to join the European Union by 2030. Prime Minister Edi Rama believes Diella will ensure 100% corruption-free public tenders.
• Functionality and Oversight: Diella will operate using AI-driven evaluation, gradually taking over decision-making responsibilities from ministries. However, concerns have been raised about the lack of human oversight and potential manipulation risks.
• Symbolism and Implications: Diella's appointment is seen as a symbolic move towards transparency and accountability, with her name meaning "sun" in Albanian, signifying clarity.

4. RBI Launches Microsite on Indian Banknotes

• Interactive Features: The microsite offers a 360-degree view of banknotes, allowing users to examine each note in detail and identify security features like watermarks, security threads and color-changing inks.
• Multimedia Tools: The platform incorporates multimedia features such as videos, audio guides, and animations to explain security features in a simple and engaging way, making learning more accessible and enjoyable.
• Banknote Exchange: A dedicated section provides guidance on exchanging old, damaged, or withdrawn notes, including step-by-step instructions on depositing or exchanging currency at banks and guidelines for different denominations.
• Objective: The microsite aims to promote financial literacy, reduce confusion among the public, and enhance trust in the banking system by educating users about Indian banknotes and their security features.

5. Justice M Sundar Sworn in as Chief Justice of Manipur High Court

• Background: Justice Sundar was born on July 19, 1966, in Chennai and has a distinguished legal career spanning over three decades. He graduated from Madras Law College and was elevated as a permanent judge of the Madras High Court in October 2016.
• Appointment: His appointment as Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court was recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium, comprising the Chief Justice of India and senior judges. President Droupadi Murmu appointed him, and Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administered the oath of office.
• Previous Experience: Before becoming the Chief Justice of Manipur High Court, Justice Sundar was the second senior-most judge at the Madras High Court, showcasing his extensive experience and seniority in the judiciary.
• Significance: Justice Sundar's appointment brings continuity and stability to the Manipur High Court, particularly amid ongoing law-and-order concerns and governance issues in the region.

6. Mohammed Siraj Named ICC Men’s Player of August 2025

• Award-Winning Performance: Mohammed Siraj won the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for August 2025 due to his exceptional performance in the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England at The Oval.
• Match-Winning Spell: Siraj took 9 wickets at an average of 21.11 across both innings in the final Test, helping India win the match by 6 runs and level the series 2-2. He was awarded Player of the Match for his efforts.
• Series Highlights: Siraj was the only Indian pacer to feature in all five Test matches against England, becoming the leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets at an average of 32.43, including two five-wicket hauls.
• Career Milestones: This award-winning performance also earned Siraj a career-best ranking in the ICC Men’s Test Bowler Rankings. His consistent performances have drawn praise from cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar, who felt Siraj's contributions are often underappreciated.

7. India’s Anandkumar Wins First Gold Medal At Speed Skating World Championships

• First Indian Gold Medalist: Anandkumar Velkumar, a 22-year-old Indian speed skater, won India's first-ever gold medal at the 2025 Speed Skating World Championships in the men's 1000m sprint event.
• Winning Time: He clocked a time of 1:24.924 seconds to secure the gold medal, showcasing his exceptional speed and skill.
• Double Medal Winner: Anandkumar Velkumar won two medals at the championships: a gold in the 1000m sprint and a bronze in the 500m sprint, with a time of 43.072 seconds in the latter.
• Historic Achievement: This achievement marks a milestone in Indian speed skating, with Anandkumar becoming the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal at the senior level in the Speed Skating World Championships.

8. Former diplomat Preeti Saran elected as chair of the UN Committee

• Background and Experience: Saran has a 36-year-long illustrious career with the Indian Foreign Service, operating in diverse global missions across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
• Role and Responsibilities: As chair of the CESCR, Saran will oversee the committee's work in monitoring the enactment of international covenants related to economic and social rights among member nations.
• Election and Significance: Saran's election acknowledges her expertise in handling sophisticated multilateral issues and reflects India's global leadership in human rights advocacy.
• Current Session: The CESCR's 78th session, which began on September 8, 2025, and will run until September 26, 2025, will focus on reviewing reports of six countries, adopting lists of issues for seven countries.

9. World Ozone Day observed on 16th September

• Purpose: The day aims to promote global efforts to protect the ozone layer and combat climate change, highlighting the importance of collective action in preserving the ozone layer.
• History: World Ozone Day commemorates the signing of the Montreal Protocol on September 16, 1987, a landmark international treaty to phase out ozone-depleting substances.
• Theme: The theme for World Ozone Day emphasizes the importance of science-driven global action to protect the ozone layer and the environment, such as "Safeguarding Ozone, Preserving Life, Ensuring Sustainability".
• Ozone Layer Recovery: According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the ozone layer is on track to recover to 1980s levels by the middle of this century, thanks to concerted international action under the Montreal Protocol.
• Importance: Protecting the ozone layer is crucial for safeguarding human health, ecosystems, and the environment, as ozone depletion can lead to increased risks of skin cancer, cataracts, and ecosystem damage due to excessive UV exposure.

10. Boxing Legend Ricky Hatton passed away

• Boxing Record and Titles: Hatton's professional boxing record stood at 45 wins and 3 losses. He held multiple world championships in the light-welterweight division, including the IBF, Ring, and lineal titles, and one at welterweight.
• Notable Fights: Some of his most notable fights include victories over Kostya Tszyu, Carlos Maussa, and Juan Urango.
• Awards and Recognition: Hatton was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine, the Boxing Writers Association of America, and ESPN in 2005. He was also inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2024.
• Career Highlights: Hatton's fight against Kostya Tszyu in 2005 was considered one of the best victories by an English boxer in the last 20 years. He also had a remarkable win against Juan Lazcano in 2008.