ANDHRA PRADESH

Pochampally logo, Durgi stone sculpture get GI tag

Faction-ridden Palnadu in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh has shot to fame for something positive this time. After three years of persistence by AP Handicrafts Development Corporation, Chennai GI registry finally granted geographical indicator tag to Durgi stone carvings.

From Telangana, the GI tag was granted to Pochampally Ikat logo while the saris got the tag 10 years ago. GI tag will help promote exports, duplication of products and boost market.

Durgi stone carvings are linked to Buddhist art that flourished in Amaravati and traces its roots to a village near Macherla where sculptures were carved from soft limestone.

Durgi stone craft is said to have originated in l5th century. The carvings include a wide range of products, like statues of gods, human form, animals and nature, gift & decorative items, stands, lamp shades, flower vase, tulsi pots, jewellery boxes and paperweight

INTERNATIONAL

Guinea becomes new member of International Solar Alliance

In tune with India’s growing engagements with Africa, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held a meeting with Guinea’s Foreign Minister, Mamady Toure, during the course of which the latter handed over his country’s instrument accession to the India-initiated International Solar Alliance (ISA).

Toure invited the Indian government and Indian business to participate in the Investors Conference to be held at Paris in third week of November 2017.

· HSBC Bank pledges $100 billion of finance by 2025 to combat climate change

HSBC Bankpledged to provide $100 billion in financing and investment by 2025 to help combat climate change.
They promised $100billion of finance for low-carbon technology and sustainable development by 2025 as part its commitment to tackling climate change and other “green” goals.

They would become more transparent about risks to its business and to those of its clients from climate change by adopting recommendations made by the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures.

NATIONAL

Tokyo’s AI ‘boy’ first bot to gain a residency

Microsoftas a joint developer, an AI characterwas made an official resident of a busy central Tokyo district in
He doesn’t exist physically. He is a virtual chatty seven-year-old boy.
The virtual boy was named “Shibuya Mirai”.Mirai, whose name means “future” in the Japanese language.
He can have text conversations with humans on the widely used LINE messaging app.
He can reply to messages and make light-hearted alterations to the selfies he is sent.

Union HRD Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar inaugurates ‘Chintan Shivir’

Union HRD Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar inaugurated a two-day National Workshop ‘Chintan Shivir’organized by Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development in New Delhi.

The main aim of the workshop is to provide holistic education relevant for 21st century India and to bring together key stakeholders from various NGOs, private sector and individuals to deliberate on key themes in the education sector.

He informed that workshop mainly focuses on five themes i.e. Digital education, Life Skill education, Experimental learning, Physical Education and Value education.

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia designated Finance Secretary

Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia has been designated as the new Finance Secretary.

Adhia is a 1981 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre.

The vacancy was caused following the superannuation of Ashok Lavasa last month.

There are five departments under the Finance Ministry — Expenditure, Economic Affairs, Financial Services, Revenue and Department of Investment and Public Asset management (DIPAM).

Commissioning of new Instrument Landing System at Chennai Airport

Airports Authority of India has replaced the existing Instrument Landing System (ILS) for runway 07 at Chennai International airport at a cost of Rs. 5.0 Crores.

ILS provides the necessary guidance to pilots as they approach for landing at the runway. The new ILS will facilitate smooth landing of the aircrafts at Chennai Airport even during rain, low clouds, smog etc. and provide an improved guidance to the Aircrafts.

The new system uses a highly directional antenna system – “Wide Aperture Log Periodic Antenna Array [LPDA]” system. This antenna system has addressed the coverage restrictions of the old ILS, and will provide guidance to the aircraft to a much lower height and improved precision.

This is turn will enhance the safety of the aircraft during landing.

The state of the art equipment is manufactured by M/s Indra Navia AS, Norway.

Indian Railways launches main arch on world’s highest bridge on Chenab

Indian Railwayslaunched the main arch of the world’s highest bridge on the river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district which will provide direct connectivity to the Kashmir valley.
The bridge will stand 359 metersabove the bed of the River Chenab and will be 30 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The 1.3-km-long bridge is being constructed at a cost of 1,250 crore.
The bridge would be completed by May 2019.
The bridge could withstand winds up to 260 kmph and its lifespan will be 120 years.

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