World’s oldest known natural pearl discovered on Abu Dhabi Island

1.18th NAM Summit: Baku, Azerbaijan

18th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is scheduled to take place at Baku, the capital of  Azerbaijan from 25-26 October 2019.The 18th NAM Summit will be preceded by the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting on 23-24 October and Senior Officials Meeting on 21-22 October 2019.

The Summit will consider the report of Preparatory Ministerial Meeting, review the progress achieved in the implementation of outcomes of 17th Summit held in 2016 and conclude with the adoption of the Baku Declaration.

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a forum of 120 developing world states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.

2.World’s oldest known natural pearl discovered on Abu Dhabi Island

The oldest known natural pearl in the world has been discovered by Abu Dhabi archaeologists working at a Neolithic site on Marawah Island.Dubbed the ‘Abu Dhabi Pearl’, it was found in layers that have been radiocarbon dated to 5,800-5,600 BCE, during the Neolithic period.

The Emirates News Agency said that the discovery is a proof that pearls and oysters were being used in the UAE nearly 8,000 years ago, and represents the earliest known evidence for pearling yet discovered anywhere in the world.

Prior to the Abu Dhabi Pearl discovery, the earliest known pearl in the UAE came from a Neolithic site in Umm Al Qaiwain.

3.World’s highest battlefield Siachen now open to tourists

Centre announced that the world’s highest battlefield Siachen has been open to tourists.The entire stretch from Siachen base camp to Kumar Post has been thrown open for tourism.

The move will give a boost to tourism in Ladakh and allow people to appreciate the tough work done by Army jawans and engineers in extreme weather and inhospitable terrains.

The Siachen Glacier at the height of around 20,000 ft in the Karakoram range is known as the highest militarized zone in the world where the soldiers have to battle frostbite and high winds.

4.President Kovind attend Japan’s Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement ceremony

President Ram Nath Kovind attended the enthronement ceremony of Japan’s Emperor Naruhito.Naruhito is the 126th monarch according to Japan’s traditional order of succession.

The President arrived in Tokyo after concluding his five-day state visit to the Philippines.

The president visited a Buddhist temple in Tokyo where he planted a Bodhi sapling, which he carried from India.

This is the first presidential visit to Japan from India after a gap of 29 years.

5.Rajnath Singh inaugurates ‘Col Chewang Rinchen Setu’ in eastern Ladakh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on inaugurated ‘Col Chewang Rinchen Setu’, a strategically important bridge, over Shyok river in Ladakh region.The 430-meter-long bridge has been built by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and connects Durbuk and Daulat Beg Oldie in Eastern Ladakh.

It will not only provide all-weather connectivity in the region but also be a strategic asset in the border areas.

The construction has been completed in record 15 months.

Col Chewang Rinchen, born on November 11, 1931, at Sumur, Nubra Valley in Ladakh region, is known as the “Lion of Ladakh” for his extraordinary acts of courage in defending Leh and Partapur sector.

6.Union Culture Minister launches E-Portal, YouTube Channel of CCRT

Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel launched the E-Portal of Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, CCRT ‘Digital Bharat Digital Sanskriti’ and CCRT YouTube Channel in New Delhi.This will enable the dissemination of cultural education through digital interactive medium into the classrooms all over the country.

The Minister specifically stressed that each and every child has a latent talent which needs to be identified.

CCRT should provide a platform for specifically dropout children so that they can join the mainstream and pursue their dreams.

7.Defence Ministry clears indigenous projects worth Rs 3300 crore

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired defence minister Rajnath Singh gave the nod for procurement of indigenous defence equipment worth Rs 3300 crore to give a push to the Make in India’ initiative.The three projects, which got the go-ahead, include two third-generation anti-tank guided missiles and the auxiliary power units for the T-72 and T-90 tanks.

The third-generation anti-tank guided missiles would provide ‘fire and forget’ and ‘top attack’ capabilities to the troops in an armoured battle.

The third indigenous project pertains to discrete electronic warfare (EW) systems for the mountain and high altitude terrain, which would be designed and developed by DRDO and manufactured by design cum production partner from the Indian industry.

8.Government launches BHIM 2.0

In a major thrust for the digital and cashless payments ecosystem in India, the Central government launched the BHIM 2.0 Universal Payments Interface (UPI).Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016, the BHIM 2.0 comes loaded with a host of functionalities, including support for additional languages, and also enhanced transaction limits.

The new version of BHIM supports three additional languages – Konkani, Bhojpuri and Haryanvi – over and above the existing 13.

The new developments in the application also include options of investing and applying in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), gifting of money, linking multiple bank accounts etc.

The application also comes equipped with a dedicated gateway for donations.

9.Rajasthan Royals appoints Andrew McDonald as new head coach

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals have appointed Australian coach and cricketer Andrew Barry McDonald as new head coach for a tenure of three years.The former Australian all-rounder has outstanding credentials and has coached Leicestershire, Victoria, and the Melbourne Renegades.

The 38-year-old played four Tests for Australia, had guided Victoria to the title win in Sheffield Shield in his first year as senior coach.

McDonald has been a part of the IPL in the past and has played for Delhi Daredevils in 2009 IPL before being signed up by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2012-2013.

10.India off to a good start at World Military Games in China

In Boxing, World Championships silver medallist Amit Panghal won his opening bout in the men’s flyweight (52kg) category as the boxers gave India a good start in the 7th CISM World Military Games in Wuhan, China.Panghal beat Douglas Andrade of Brazil 4-1, while Chirag (56kg) defeated Zambia’s Katanga Christopher 5-0.

India had sent a contingent of 54 participants in nine sports, Archery, boxing, diving, modern pentathlon, shooting, track and field, gymnastics and tennis in the competition.

A total of 9,308 military personnel from 109 countries are competing in the World Military Games.