'Namaste Pacific' - Culture of countries in Pacific region showcased in Delhi

NATIONAL NEWS

KVIC launches 'Terracotta Grinder' to reuse broken, wasted pottery

• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched first-ever 'Terracotta Grinder' at Sewapuri in Varanasi. This machine can be used to grind wasted and broken pottery items for re-use in pottery-making.
• The Terracotta grinder was designed by the KVIC Chairman and fabricated by a Rajkot-based engineering unit.

Health Minister opens WHO's SE Asia Regional Committee meet

• Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the week-long 72nd session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for South-East Asia.
• Emphasising the need for healthy nutrition, the Union Health Minister said the government is observing the month of September as "Poshan Maah" (Nutrition Month) to sensitise the public on healthy eating and address the twin issues of malnutrition and undernutrition and obesity in some sections, while intensifying the campaign for a "malnutrition-free India'.

Reliance Power inks pact with Japan's JERA for Bangladesh's 750 MW project

• Reliance Power signed a partnership agreement with JERA, one of the largest power utilities of Japan, for jointly setting up 750 MW gas-based combined cycle power project (Phase-1) at Meghnaghat, Bangladesh.
• Reliance Power will hold 51 per cent stake while JERA will hold 49 per cent stake in the joint venture company.
• Reliance Power had signed an MoU, during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in June 2015, for setting up 3,000 MW gas-based combined cycle power project in phases in Bangladesh.

Rajasthan to launch AB-MGRSBY health insurance scheme

• The Rajasthan government will launch a new health insurance scheme -- Ayushman Bharat-Mahatma Gandhi Rajasthan Swasthya Bima Yojna (AB-MGRSBY) -- from September 1.
• The scheme will be implemented after merging the Centre's Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY) and the state's Bhamashah Swasthya Bima Yojna (BSBY)
• With the merger of AB-PMJAY and BSBY, the number of families getting benefit will increase

Tourism Minister inaugurates first-ever architectural LED illumination at Qutb Minar

• Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Prahalad Singh Patel inaugurated first-ever architectural LED illumination at the historic Qutb Minar.
• The Qutb Minar complex is a true reflection of India's culture and contains the history of several eras. The bottom to top illumination of this magnificent monument will highlight the true beauty of its elements.
• The systematic development of the Qutb complex will not only increase the footfall of visitors but also benefit communities around it.

I&B min Prakash Javadekar unveils new logo, certificate design of CBFC

• The union minister for information & broadcasting and environment, forest & climate change Prakash Javadekar has unveiled the new logo and certificate design of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
• The launch was done at a special interaction between the film industry of India and board members of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), organised by CBFC in Mumbai.

'Namaste Pacific' - Culture of countries in Pacific region showcased in Delhi

• The High Commissions of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji jointly organised a cultural event 'Namaste Pacific' here to showcase in India the culture of the Pacific countries.

Indian Air Force inducts 8 US-made Apache AH-64E attack helicopters

• The Indian Air Force inducted eight US-made Apache AH-64E attack helicopters, which will give a major boost to its combat capabilities.
• The aircraft were formally inducted at the induction ceremony at Pathankot Air Force station with Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa as the chief guest.
• The AH-64E Apache is one of the world's most advanced multi-role combat helicopters, and is flown by the US Army.
• The ceremonial key was handed over by the Boeing company.

M Venkaiah Naidu to inaugurate Aqua Aquaria India 2019

• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will inaugurate Aqua Aquaria India 2019, organised by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)
• Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is organising this bi-annual event.
• "This year's theme would be 'taking blue revolution to India's hinterland'

14th Conference of Parties UNCCD begins on high note in Greater Noida

• The 14th Conference of Parties, COP14 to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification began on a high note at Greater Noida.
• As India assumed COP presidency for two years, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar expressed optimism towards restoring land ecology and environment.
• Pointing to an unprecedented global campaign to save productive land, Union Minister for Environment Prakash Javadekar said 122 countries, among them Brazil, China, India, Nigeria, Russia and South Africa, which are among the largest and most populous nations on Earth, have agreed to make the Sustainable Development Goal of achieving land degradation neutrality a national target.

IIT-Kharagpur, Amazon Web Services join hands to develop AI portal

• IIT-Kharagpur announced that it will collaborate with Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com company, to develop a National Artificial Intelligence Resource Portal to promote learning and development in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for all AI learners, practitioners and researchers in India

AWARD

PM Modi to be honoured by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for Swachch Bharat Abhiyan

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be honoured later this month with the prestigious 'Global Goalkeeper Award' by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for his leadership and commitment to the Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan.
• The prime minister will also address global leaders and corporate executives at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum during his visit here for the high-level UN General Assembly (UNGA) session.
• Modi will be presented with the 2019 'Global Goalkeeper Award', which according to the Foundation is a "special recognition" that celebrates a political leader who has "demonstrated their commitment to the Global Goals through impactful work in their country and/or globally".