Title Daily Current Affairs Capsule 17th October 2019

Title
Daily Current Affairs Capsule
            Title 2019
      17th October

International Poverty Eradication Day: 17 October

The United Nations' International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed on October 17 each year since
1993.

      It aims to promote awareness about the need to eradicate poverty and destitution worldwide, particularly
       in developing countries.
      2019 theme: ‘Acting together to empower children, their families and communities to end poverty’.

Death Anniversary of Lalon Shah observed in Bangladesh

The 129th death anniversary of the mystic Fakir Lalon Shah is being observed in Bangladesh.

      Devotees of Lalon from across the country and the world have congregated at the shrine to participate in
       the three-day-long programme which is being organised by the Lalon academy and the culture ministry
       of Bangladesh.
      Lalon is believed to be born in 1774 though no written records exist.

   It is said that Lalon was born Hindu but he was raised by a Muslim family after he was abandoned by his
       own family when he got infected with smallpox and thrown into a river.
      Lalon was a prominent Bengali philosopher, Baul saint, mystic, songwriter, social reformer and thinker
       from the Indian subcontinent.

India to gift 75,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan

India will gift 75,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan in November as announced by Ambassador Vinay
Kumar.

      The Indian envoy made these announcements while speaking at the 37th anniversary of the Afghan Red
       Crescent Society's (ARCS) Special Week.
      India sent its maiden cargo of wheat to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port in Iran, bypassing Pakistan,
       in October 2017.
      The Indian government has supplied 1.1 million tonnes of wheat for the people of Afghanistan on a grant
       basis.

‘Food Safety Mitra’ scheme launched on the World Food Day

On the occasion of World Food Day, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan launched
Food Safety Mitra Scheme, Eat Right Jacket and Eat Right Jhola.

      Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced the scheme of Food Safety Mitra
       (FSM) through which it plans to engage motivated individuals with the food safety ecosystem at ground
       level.
      An FSM is an individual professional certified by FSSAI who assists in compliances related to FSS Act,
       Rules & Regulations with three avatars- Digital Mitra, Trainer Mitra and Hygiene Mitra depending upon
       their respective roles and responsibilities.
      During the event, the Minister also launched Eat Right Jhola which is a reusable, washable and bio-
       degradable bag.

President Kovind to visit Philippines, Japan from Oct 17 to Oct 23

President Ram Nath Kovind will be on a two-nation visit to the Philippines and Japan from October 17th to 23rd
October.

      Mr Kovind is visiting Japan to attend the enthronement ceremony of the Emperor of Japan Naruhito.
      In May 2019, Naruhito became the 126th Emperor of Japan.
      The President will be in the Philippines from October 17th to 21st and in Japan from October 21st to 23rd.

Points to remember

      Philippines Capital: Manila
      Japan Capital: Tokyo

India ranks 82nd on the World Giving Index

India ranked 82 spots among the 128 countries surveyed in the World Giving Index (WGI).

      It is an aggregate of trends for each country that emerged in surveys conducted by CAF over the past
       decade (2009 to 2018).
      According to the WGI, the USA stood at the top followed Myanmar, New Zealand and Australia.
      The average figures for India over the past decade show that 34 per cent people helped a stranger, 24 per
       cent donated money and 19 per cent volunteered or donated their time.

Textiles Secretary Inaugurates Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF)- Delhi Fair

Textiles Secretary, Ravi Capoor, inaugurated the 48th edition of the Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF) at
the India Expo Centre & Mart at Greater Noida.

      Overseas buyers from 110 countries are in India to source home, lifestyle, fashion, furniture and textiles
       products from around 3200 Indian exhibitors who are participating in the Fair that will be on from 16-20
       October 2019.
      Theme: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Chenani-Nashri tunnel to be renamed after Shyama Prasad Mukherjee

The Chenani-Nashri tunnel, the longest tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir, will be renamed after Bharatiya Jana
Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.

      The 9.2-kilometre-long tunnel was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017.
      The bi-directional tunnel reduces the distances between Jammu and Srinagar by 30 km. It is also known
       as the Patnitop tunnel.
      Mukherjee died in the police custody on June 23, 1953, after he was arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir
       police for entering the erstwhile state without a permit.

Mastercard joins hands with MS Dhoni to build 'Team Cashless India'

Mastercard along with legendary cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni launched on a nationwide initiative to
accelerate the acceptance and adoption of digital payments.

      Titled 'Team Cashless India', the initiative brings consumers and merchants to the forefront of the digital
       payments dialogue.
      The campaign encourages all Indians to nominate one or more merchants who currently do not accept
       digital payments.
      Mastercard will work together with the Confederation of All India Traders, acquirer banks and fin-tech
       companies to support nominated merchants to deploy digital payments acceptance infrastructure.

Mumbai's Yashasvi Jaiswal, youngest cricketer to score 200 in One Day cricket

Mumbai teenager Yashasvi Jaiswal created history as he became the youngest cricketer in the world to score a
double century in One Day cricket.

      He became the youngest batsman to score a double century in List A (One-Day) cricket.
      Playing in his debut Vijay Hazare season, the 17-year-old scored 203 off 154 balls against Jharkhand at
       Alur, Karnataka.