Sishu Suraksha APP to be launched in Assam

NATIONAL NEWS

Sishu Suraksha APP to be launched in Assam

• The Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights is going to launch a mobile app Sishu Suraksha on the occasion of Children’s Day.
• The purpose of the app is to empower citizens to take moral responsibility of protecting future generations. The app can be used by anyone in the state to lodge a complaint which will be directly registered at Commission.

FICCI signs Fintech MoU with Singapore; BHIM-UPI QR to go global

• Industry body FICCI signed an agreement with Singapore Fintech Association (SFA) to boost cooperation for development of financial technology industry in India and the southeast Asian country.
• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with SFA as part of the growing Singapore-India fintech eco-systems.

Air Chief to inaugurate ISAM Conference in Bengaluru

• Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria will inaugurate the 58th Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ISAM) Annual Conference which aims to address contemporary issues and applications in the subject of aerospace medicine.
• The event will take place at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Indian Air Force, Bengaluru from November 14-16.
• The theme for this year's conference is 'Changing Paradigms in Aerospace Healthcare', read a statement.

Swachh – Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan

• The Environment Ministry is undertaking a mass cleanliness-cum-awareness drive in 50 identified beaches under the “Swachh – Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan”.
• The identified beaches are in 10 coastal States/ UTs namely Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. The beaches have been identified after the consultation with the States/UTs.
• Environment Education Division of the Ministry and Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) under the aegis of this Ministry will be responsible for the overall coordination for the drive in 50 beaches.
• The cleaning drives in all beaches are being undertaken, involving school/college students of Eco-clubs, district administration, institutions, volunteers, local communities and other stakeholders.
• State Nodal Agencies for the Eco-clubs will be facilitating the week-long intensive cleanliness drive in all 10 States/UTs.

14-day India International Trade Fair 2019 to begin

• Several countries, including Australia, Iran, UK and Vietnam, will participate in the 14-day India International Trade Fair 2019 beginning in New Delhi.
• The theme for the 39th edition of the fair (November 14-27, 2019) is 'Ease of Doing Business' inspired by India's unique achievement of rising to 63rd rank on the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index from 142nd rank in year 2014.
• The fair will be inaugurated by Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Nitin Gadkari.
• A remarkable feature of this multi-product exhibition is that it offers an equal opportunity for large corporations, MSMEs, non-government agencies, artisans, self-help groups (SHGs) to promote their products and services to a very large sample of potential customers.

India To Host Shanghai Summit's Heads of Government Council Meet In 2020

• India will host the 19th council of heads of government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation next year, the first such high level meeting of the eight-member grouping to be organised by New Delhi after its admission into the grouping in 2017, SCO Secretary General Vladimir Norov.
• The SCO is a China-led eight-member economic and security bloc in which India and Pakistan were admitted as full members in 2017.
• Its founding members included China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Suranga Bawadi on World Monument Watch list

• The Suranga baodi is selected under the “Ancient Water System of the Deccan Plateau” by the World Monuments Fund (the NGO), which monitors restoration of ancient monuments across the globe. Suranga baodi is added in World monument watchlist for 2020.
• It is an integral part of the ancient Karez system of supplying water through subterranean tunnels built during the Adil Shahi era in Karnataka’s Vijayapura.
• The Suranga Bawadi is expected to get funds for restoration within the next two years.
• The World Monument Fund would also coordinate with the authorities concerned for restoration and create awareness on its importance.

Slowdown blues: SBI cuts FY20 GDP growth forecast to 5%

• In the backdrop of a deepening global slowdown and an alarming contraction in domestic factory output, State Bank of India’s economic research team has sharply cut India’s GDP forecast for FY2020 to 5 per cent from 6.1 per cent.
• In its Eco Wrap report, the SBI group has projected the second quarter (July-September) GDP growth at 4.2 per cent. It expects the growth rate to pick up in FY2021 to 6.2 per cent.

APPOINTMENT

Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth takes oath after election win

• Mauritius's incumbent Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth was sworn in for a five-year term after elections in which his coalition consolidated its grip on parliament.
• Jugnauth, 57, took over from his father in 2017 without going through a vote, and the decisive victory of his centre-right Morisian Alliance in the November 7 elections has strengthened his legitimacy.

Justice AP Sahi sworn-in as Chief Justice of Madras High Court

• Justice AP Sahi was sworn-in as Chief Justice of the Madras High Court in Chennai.
• Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered the oath of office to Justice Sahi at a small function in Raj Bhavan.
• Justice Sahi replaces Justice VK Tahilramani, who quit on September 6. In the last two months, the next senior most Judge, Justice V Kothari was the Acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court.