Kashmir’s Famed Saffron gets GI tag

NATIONAL NEWS

Kashmir’s Famed Saffron gets GI tag

• Kashmir’s famed saffron has finally been granted the Geographic Indication (GI) tag, which is likely to boost its market and ensure quality control.

NTPC inks pact to set up hydropower projects of 520 MW in Himachal Pradesh

• State-owned power giant NTPC has signed a pact with the Himachal Pradesh government to set up two hydropower projects totalling 520 megawatts (MW) (Seli and Miyar hydroelectric projects are located in Chenab Basin at the state's Lahaul and Spiti district) in the state.
• The memorandum of understanding was signed by Himachal Pradesh Principal Secretary (Energy) Prabodh Saxena and NTPC Director (Commercial) A K Gupta in the presence of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.

Amit Shah Launches Portal for Private Security Agency Licensing

• Emphasising the need to increase the number of licensed private security agencies, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Launched National launch of private security agency licensing portal.
• The move would enhance their "trustworthiness" as they have vital importance for the safe and secure business environment, and achieve Prime Minister's vision of $5 trillion economy by providing employment as well as guarding vital corporations and financial hubs in the country.

India International Science Festival to be held in Kolkata from November 5 to 8

• The fifth edition of India International Science Festival (IISF) will be held in Kolkata from November 5-8, Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan announced on Tuesday.
• The IISF will also hosts 28 different events such as Agriculture Scientists’ Meet, Vigyan Samagam, Young Scientists Conference, Vigyanika-International Science Literature Festival, International Science Film Festival of India.
• The theme for this year’s festival is ‘RISEN India - Research, Innovation, and Science Empowering the Nation’,

FACTS

Department of Science and Technology (DST) Secretary Ashutosh Sharma.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

PM Modi announces $150 mn line of credit to Pacific island nations for climate-related projects

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a $150 million line of credit to the group of Pacific island nations for undertaking solar, renewable energy and climate related projects based on their requirement.
• Mr. Modi, who attended the India-Pacific Islands Developing States (PSIDS) Leaders’ Meeting, also announced a total allocation of $12 million to the member states towards implementation of high-impact developmental project in the area of their choice.
• The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 74^th session of the UN General Assembly. This is the first time he has met the leaders of the PSIDS on the margins of UNGA in a plurilateral format.

PM Modi inaugurates Solar Park & Peace Garden at UN HQ in honour of Gandhi

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with UN chief Antonio Guterres and other world leaders, inaugurated the Gandhi Solar Park and Gandhi Peace Garden at the headquarters of the global body, underlining that his principles act as a moral compass as the world grapples with challenges of climate change, terrorism and corruption.
• The Gandhi Solar Park is a first of its kind symbolic Indian effort at the U.N. that highlights India’s willingness to go beyond the talk on climate change and climate action.
• At a contribution of about $1 million, India has gifted solar panels that have been installed on the roof of the U.N. Headquarters here, one panel each for every 193 U.N. member states.
• The ‘Gandhi Peace Garden’ is an innovative initiative under which the Consulate-General of India in New York, Long Island-based NGO Shanti Fund and the State University of New York-Old Westbury have entered into an agreement to plant 150 trees. The garden is in an open site within the 600-acre campus of the university.
• The special commemorative event “Leadership matters: relevance of Gandhi in the contemporary world” was hosted by Mr. Modi to mark Gandhiji’s 150th birth anniversary. A special UN Postage stamp on Gandhiji’s 150 birth anniversary was released.

Chinese navy launches its first amphibious assault ship

• China's ability to fight island and coastal conflicts got a big boost. when the country's navy launched its first amphibious assault ship.
• The massive ship, which was floated at a shipyard in Shanghai, is the first in China's Type 075 class of amphibious assault ships, according to the People's Liberation Army's English language website.
• Amphibious assault ships -- sometimes called helicopter landing docks -- can be described as small aircraft carriers designed for island or coastal assaults.

DEFENCE

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissions ICGS Varaha

• The ICGS Varaha, the fourth in the series of seven 98-m Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), was commissioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
• The ship, which was commissioned at the Chennai port, would be based at New Mangalore under the administrative and operational control of Commander Coast Guard region (west). The ship will have on board 14 officers and 89 men, says a press release from ICG.
• The ship has been designed and built indigenously by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) at its Katupalli ship building yard in North Chennai.

Malabar 2019- Trilateral Naval Exercise Between India, Japan And US to Begin from Off the Coast of Japan

• In its 23rd edition this year, the trilateral maritime exercise between India, Japan and United States (US) is scheduled to be conducted from 26 September to 4 October off the coast of Japan.
• Two frontlines indigenously designed and built Indian naval ships, the Multipurpose Guided Missile Frigate Sahyadri and ASW Corvette Kiltan have been dispatched for the exercises, along with a P8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft.

ECONOMIC AND FINANCE NEWS

Mobile phone export grows over 8-fold: ICEA

• Mobile handset exports grew over eight-fold to ₹11,200 crore in 2018-19 and exceeded imports for the first time, industry body ICEA said in a note.
• Handset exports during April-July 2019 reached around ₹7,000 crore, thereby creating grounds to hit an annual figure of ₹25,000 crore in the current fiscal, according to the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA).

FACTS

ICEA chairman- Pankaj Mohindroo

ICEA Headquarters-New Delhi

ADB cuts India growth forecast to 6.5% for 2019-20

• The Asian Development Bank slashed its growth forecast for India for fiscal 2019-20 to 6.5% from 7% projected in July, following weaker growth in the first quarter due to a slowdown in consumption and investment activities that hit manufacturing and service sectors.

APPOINTMENT

Coe re-elected for new term as International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) chief

• Britain's Sebastian Coe was re-elected unopposed as president of the IAAF for a second term.
• Coe, 62, the former Olympic and world champion middle-distance runner, was named head of the governing body of world athletics in 2015 and receives his second mandate just two days before the World Athletics Championships opens in Doha.
• Coe, who took over the reins during a period of turmoil in world athletics, was re-elected by unanimous vote of the 203 delegates attending the International Association of Athletics Federations' Congress in Doha.

Govt reconstitutes Economic Advisory Council to PM

• Government has reconstituted the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister for a period of two years with effect from tomorrow.
• Dr Bibek Debroy will continue to be the Chairman and Ratan P. Watal will continue to be the Member Secretary of the reconstituted EAC-PM.
• Apart from these two Full-Time Members, the EAC-PM will have two Part-Time Members. While Dr. Ashima Goel continues to be one of the Part-Time Members, Dr. Sajjid Chinoy has been made as another Part-time Member

FACTS

IAAF President- Adille Sumariwalla

Headquarters- Monaco

AWARD

Climate activist Greta Thunberg wins Sweden’s 'alternative Nobel Prize'

• Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg was named as one of four winners of the 2019 Right Livelihood Award, known as Sweden's alternative Nobel Prize.
• Ms. Thunberg won the award “for inspiring and amplifying political demands for urgent climate action reflecting scientific facts,”
• The 16-year-old climate activist denounced world leaders for failing to tackle climate change in a speech at the start of a climate summit at the United Nations in New York.
• Ms. Thunberg shares the award with Brazilian indigenous leader Davi Kopenawa of the Yanomami people, Chinese women's rights lawyer Guo Jianmei and Western Sahara human rights defender Aminatou Haidar.

SPORTS

Pankaj Advani-Aditya Mehta pair wins World Team Snooker title

• The Indian duo of Pankaj Advani and Aditya Mehta overcame a tough Thai team to emerge world champions in the International Billiards & Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Snooker Team event.
• This takes Advani's world title tally to a phenomenal 23 while Aditya claimed his maiden at a time when his future is being doubted due to health issues.
• For Advani, this win has ensured that his name is now there on every IBSF world title on offer.
• He had won the world billiards event here last week.

FACTS

IBSF President- Mubarak Al-Khayarin (Qatar)

Headquarters-Dubai, United Arab Emirates