News in Short

• Former U.S. President Donald Trump, banned from social media platforms Facebook and Twitter since the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, has announced that he is launching a social media company.
• The app is expected to rollout across the U.S. in the first quarter of next year, with a beta version being launched next month.
• The former president was known to call his political rivals names on Twitter. Since being expelled from social media sites, Mr. Trump has sought to restore his voice online in various ways.

• Social media giant Facebook Inc is planning to rebrand itself with a new name next. The news comes at a time when the company is facing increasing government scrutiny in the United States over its business practices.
• Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg plans to talk about the name change at the company’s annual Connect conference on October 28.
• The rebranding would position Facebook’s social media app as one of many products under a parent company, which will also oversee groups like Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus and more.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kushinagar international airport, which is an endeavour to connect Buddhist pilgrimage sites around the world.
• Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh is the final resting place of Gautama Buddha where he attained Mahaparinirvana after his death and is among the most important pilgrim spots for Buddhists.
• The airport has been developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in association with the Uttar Pradesh government.
• The airport will help in attracting more followers of Buddhism from home and abroad to Kushinagar and will enhance the development of a Buddhist theme-based circuit.

• The Indian Army won a gold medal at the Cambrian Patrol Exercise held in the UK while competing against 96 teams representing special forces and regiments from around the world.
• The 4/5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) represented the Indian Army at the drill held at Brecon, Wales, during October 13-15.
• The event is considered the ultimate test of human endurance and team spirit and is considered the “Olympics of military patrolling”.
• The Indian Army team performed well in harsh terrain and inclement weather. These conditions added to the challenges of simulated situations to assess the reaction of the teams in a combat setting.

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) vowed to meet India’s growing energy demand, saying it will remain the nation’s trusted partner of choice.
• Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said the UAE is investing across its energy supply chain to remain a reliable energy provider to India and the world.
• Stating that the energy demand is outpacing supply, he said the present global scenario calls for continued investment across the entire energy sector to avoid a deeper supply crunch.