IFFCO introduces India’s first nanotechnology-based products for on-field trials

NATIONAL NEWS

IFFCO introduces India’s first nanotechnology-based products for on-field trials

• The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), world’s largest fertiliser cooperative, announced the introduction of its nanotechnology-based product range by introducing Nano Nitrogen, Nano Zinc, Nano Copper for on-field trials at an event held at its Kalol unit in Gujarat.
• These products have been researched and developed indigenously at the IFFCO Nano Biotechnology Research Centre (NBRC), an advanced research and development centre based at Kalol Unit.
• Other benefits of these Nano-products include reduction in the requirement of conventional chemical fertilizer by 50%; upto 15-30% increase in crop production; improvement in soil health; reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases.

India: First Ever Movement of Container Cargo on Brahmaputra

• In line with Government’s focus on improving connectivity to the North Eastern Region (NER), a landmark container cargo consignment will sail on inland waterways from Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) to the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) terminal at Pandu in Guwahati.
• Shri Gopal Krishna, Secretary (Shipping) will flag off the inland vessel MV Maheshwari carrying 53 TEUs (containers) of petrochemicals, edible oil, and beverage, etc.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Guyana’s economy projected to grow by 86% in 2020- IMF report

• South America's Guyana, a country of 780,000, will experience the world's fastest economic growth in 2020 driven by ExxonMobil's discovery of oil, according to IMF.
• Its GDP is expected to grow 86% next year after expanding 4.4% this year. Guyana is projecting $300 million in petroleum revenue in 2020 as ExxonMobil starts pumping from its first oil well next month.

FACTS

Capital of Guyana-George Town

Currency of Guyana-Guyanese Dollar

BANKING

ADB to give $451 mn for Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor power links

• The Asian Development Bank will provide a $451 million (about Rs 3,200 crore) loan to strengthen power connectivity between the southern and northern parts of the Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) in Tamil Nadu.
• The total cost of the project is $653.5 million, of which the government will provide $202.5 million, the Manila-headquartered multilateral agency.
• The estimated completion date is the end of 2024

APPOINTMENT

IndusInd Bank board finalises appointment of next MD & CEO

• IndusInd Bank has finalised a potential candidate to replace Romesh Sobti as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, a regulatory filing by the private lender.

OBITUARY

Industrialist and son of Modinagar's founder, K Modi passes away

• The scion of one of the oldest business families in the country - the Modi family - and the eldest son of late Rai Bahadur Gujarmal Modi (founder of the city of Modinagar), Krishan Kumar Modi passed. He was 79.

AWARD

Madhuri Vijay’s debut novel ‘The Far Field’ wins 2019 JCB prize for Literature

• U.S. based-Indian author Madhuri Vijay’s debut novel, The Far Field bagged this year’s JCB prize for Literature, the most expensive Indian award for writing.
• Ms. Vijay’s debut novel that follows one young woman’s search for a lost figure from her childhood, a journey that carries her from southern India to Kashmir and to the brink of a devastating political reckoning, was chosen by a five-member jury chaired by Indian filmmaker and environmentalist Pradip Krishen.

Serbia’s Sara Damnjanovic wins Miss Asia Global title held in Kochi

• The fifth edition of Miss Asia Global organised at Gokulam Convention Centre awarded the Miss Asia Global title to Sara Damnjanovic from Serbia. The title is given to the winner from Asian region.
• Nguyen Thi Yen Trang from Vietnam was awarded Miss Asia title given to the winner from the rest of the world. The chief guest of the event was Y B Yeoh Soon Hin, the Tourism Minister of Penang, Malaysia.
• Nguyen was crowned by Honey Tianmia, who won Miss Asia title in 2017. Sara was felicitated by Assem Yessengeldiyeva, who was the Miss Asia Global in 2018.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Sudan’s first-ever satellite ‘SRSS-1’ launched by China

• Sudan's first-ever satellite, SRSS-1, was launched by China from Shanxi Province in north China.
• The launch of the satellite was announced by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who heads Sudan's sovereign council, during a meeting with his top security officials in Khartoum.
• The remote-sensing satellite has been launched to conduct research in economic, military and space technology.

SPORTS

Gateway of India Illuminated with Official Emblem for FIFA U17 WC 2020

• Mumbai's iconic Gateway of India was illuminated with the official emblem for FIFA U17 WC 2020 on Monday was launched.
• The Official Emblem for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020™ was unveiled on 2 November 2019, during a star-studded launch event at the Gateway of India, in Mumbai.
• With one year to go before the start of the tournament, fans from across India and around the world experienced the excitement and optimism as the Official Emblem for the tournament was revealed to the public.