Australia to join India, US, Japan in large naval exercises

NATIONAL NEWS

Mansukh Mandaviya launches “Development of Indigenous Software solution for VTS and VTMS”

• Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya e-launched the development of Indigenous Software solution for Vessel traffic services (VTS) and Vessels Traffic Monitoring Systems (VTMS) in New Delhi.
• The main aim of this launch is to provide software solutions for Traffic Managements of the Indian Port indigenously rather adopting high costing foreign made software solutions.
• VTS and VTMS is a software, which determines vessel positions, position of other traffic or meteorological hazard warnings and extensive management of traffic within a port or waterway.
• Ministry of Shipping has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 10 Crore to IIT, Chennai for development of indigenous VTS software.

Dr Harsh Vardhan launches CSIR collaborated clinical trials website “CUReD”

• Union Minister of Science & Technology, Health and Family Welfare and Earth Sciences Dr Harsh Vardhan launched a website that provides information on COVID-19 clinical trials.
• The website called as CuRED or CSIR Ushered Repurposed Drugs, which was developed in collaboration with CSIR.
• The website provides information about the drugs, diagnostics and devices including the current stage of the trials, collaborating institutions and their role in the trials and other details.

Naveen Patnaik launches “Mo Bidyut” portal and App

• Odisha government has launched Mo Bidyut Portal at mobidyut.com as well as mobile app for electricity consumer service.
• Chief Minister of Odisha has launched the portal that benefits more than 89 lakh electricity consumers of the State.
• The portal, www.mobidyut.com, is a bilingual online-integrated platform covering all four-power utilities of the State such as TPCODL, NESCO, WESCO and SOUTHCO.

Fact: Chief Minister of Odisha – Naveen Patnaik

          Governor of Odisha - Ganeshi Lal

           Energy Minister of Odisha - Pranab Prakash Das

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

9th Session Of India-Oman Joint Commission Held

• The ninth session of the India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) was held through the virtual platform.
• The meeting was co-chaired by Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and his Oman counterpart H.E. Mr. Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Oman.
• The meeting highlighted discussions on review of bilateral trade and investments, to cooperate in various sectors like agriculture, energy, space, healthcare, education etc.
• For Oman, India was the 3rd largest source for its imports and 3rd largest market for its non-oil exports.
• Bilateral trade between India and Oman grew at 8.5% in 2019-20 over the previous year to reach USD 5.93 billion.

Fact: Capital of Oman – Muscat

Australia to join India, US, Japan in large naval exercises

• Australia will join the India-led Malabar 2020 naval exercise next month, operating along with the U.S. and Japan.
• The Malabar Naval exercise is being conducted annually since 1992 between India and US. Japan became a permanent Malabar member in 2015.
• The joining of Australia is expected to strengthen the military relationship between the four democracies.
• The participation of Australia means that all four members of the so-called Quad will be participating in the exercises for the first time since 2007.
• The exercises will begin in November in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.

REPORTS&RANKINGS

India second largest source of migrants to OECD countries - 44^th International Migration Outlook 2020

• India is the second largest source of migrants to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and acquiring citizenship in these countries in 2018.
• Secretary General of OECD Angel Gurría unveiled the report.
• China maintained its top spot with 4.3 lakh migrants, which was 1 percent lower than last year, while India with 3.3 lakh migrants leaped 10 percent, overtaking Romania to emerge as the second largest exporter of human capital to these countries.
• The OECD is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 37 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Statistics Day – October 20

• World Statistics Day is an international day to celebrate statistics once in every 5 years.
• The United Nations Statistical Commission formulated this day and was first celebrated on 20 October 2010.
• The theme for this 3rd year is “Connecting the world with data we can trust”.