Deep Ocean Mission to commence from 31 October 2019

1.India became fifth largest investor in Africa: President Kovind:-

President Ramnath Kovind said that trade and investment ties between India and Africa are growing. India has become the fifth largest investor in Africa with cumulative investment at over 54 billion US dollars. He was addressing Special Session of National Assembly of Gambia yesterday evening in capital Banjul.President said African continental Free Trade Area Agreement launched this month will make Africa the largest free trade area in the world. India views this development as yet another opportunity to boost economic ties with Africa. He said after South Asia, the African Continent is the largest recipient of Indian overseas assistance. President has promised India’s support to Gambia in areas of skills development. Later President participated in a community reception at Banjul. The event was organised by the Indian community and Friends of India. Addressing Members of the Indian Diaspora he said that just like Mahatma Gandhi the Indian diaspora are the biggest and best ambassadors of India Abroad. He highlighted India’s priority for the Africa region. India is opening 18 new missions, of which seven will be in west Africa. During his two-day visit to Gambia, President had extensive talks with his Gambian counterpart Adama Barrow. During the delegation-level talks, the two leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and regional and global issues of mutual interest.

2.Postal dept decides to convert India Post Payments Bank into SFB:-

The Postal Department said it has decided to convert the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) into a small finance bank (SFB), enabling it to offer small loans to customers. Besides, the department also looks to open one crore accounts for IPPB in 100 days.
A statement of the Postal Department said that the decisions were taken at the annual Heads of Circles Conference held at Srinagar.

3.UNSC to meet on N Korea missile tests:-

United Nations Security Council will meet behind closed doors today to discuss North Korea’s recent ballistic missiles tests, diplomats said.Britain, France and Germany requested the discussion amid growing concern that Pyongyang is developing long-range weapons in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.North Korea fired two ballistic missiles yesterday, Seoul said, days after a similar launch that the nuclear-armed North described as a warning to the South over planned joint military drills with the United States.The North is banned from ballistic missile launches under the Security Council resolutions but it was the second in less than a week.

4.Indian women’s football team to start its COTIF Cup 2019 campaign:-

The Indian women’s football team will face Villareal CF to kick off its campaign in the 2019 COTIF Cup in Valencia, Spain, today.The team was supposed to face Equatorial Guinea earlier but AIFF d the revised fixture on its Twitter.Speaking ahead of the match, head coach Maymol Rocky said that playing tough teams in the competition will put her team in good stead.India had a three-week-long camp in New Delhi ahead of their sojourn to the Iberian Peninsula. Having registered a massive six-place rise to number 57 in the FIFA rankings, the Indian team will now be looking to build on this progress, with one eye on the World Cup Qualifiers next year.Indian Women next will face Bolivia on Saturday.

5.Deep Ocean Mission to commence from 31 October 2019:-

The Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) to be led by the Union Earth Sciences Ministry will commence from 31 October 2019.The mission has received a go-ahead from the government.Expenditure plans will be drawn and circulated to various institutions affiliated to the Ministry for executing programmes.The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences had unveiled a blueprint of the programme in July 2018.A major thrust of the mission will be looking for metals and minerals.

6. IAF’s Tarun Chaudhri becomes the first pilot to accomplish wingsuit skydive jump:-

Wing commander Tarun Chaudhri became the first pilot of Indian Armed Forces (IAF) to do a wingsuit jump.The jump was accomplished by Chaudhri from a Mi-17 helicopter from an altitude of 8500 feet.This is the first flying wingsuit jump demonstration at an organised gathering.The jump was undertaken during the Kargil Diwas celebrations at Air Force Station Jodhpur.

7. IIT Hyderabad develops low-cost, eco-friendly solar cells using ‘kumkum dye’

Scientists at IIT Hyderabad have developed low-cost, environment-friendly solar cells by employing an off-the-shelf dye used to make kumkum or vermilion in India.The dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) is based on New Fuchsin (NF) dye with aqueous electrolyte and platinum-free counter electrodes.The most familiar solar cells today are made up of silicon and can be seen in the various overhead panels and other places.This technology is limited by huge fabrication costs as silicon processing is very expensive.