Daily Current Affairs, 14th October 2018

1) India,China launch their first joint programme for Afghanistan to train its diplomats

•India and China have launched their first joint programme for Afghanistan to train its diplomats. According to a tweet put out by the Indian Embassy in Beijing yesterday, Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Vinay Kumar hosted 10 Afghan Diplomats who will be travelling to India for the 1st India-China joint training programme for Afghan diplomats under the aegis of the Trilateral Cooperation between India, China and Afghanistan.

•An understanding to launch a joint programme was reached during an informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held in April at China's Wuhan city. 

2) Centre To Provide Rs 7.8 Crore Textile Tourism Complex In Meghalaya

•Minister of State for Textiles, Ajay Tamta has stated that the Ministry will release 7.8 crore rupees for the construction of a textile tourism complex in Nongpoh, Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya.

•The Union Minister visited different weaving centers in Shillong. The NBCC has completed construction of an apparel center worth 14 crores rupees in the State. 

3) India And Sri Lanka Sign Two MoU For Construction Of 1200 Houses

•India and Sri Lanka has signed two MoU for construction of 1200 houses through 50 model villages, using Indian grant assistance of 60 crore Srilankan rupees.  The MoUs were signed by Mr. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, and Mr. Bernard Vasantha, Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Construction, in the presence of Sajith Premadasa, Minister of Housing and Construction.

•With this, India's collaboration with Srilankan government under Model Villages Housing Program stands at 2400 houses in 100 model villages. As per the new MoUs, 600 houses each will be constructed in the Southern and Northern Provinces.

4) UN Food & Agriculture Organisation awards Sikkim for becoming world's first totally organic agriculture state

•Sikkim has won this year's UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's Future Policy for Gold Award for its achievement in becoming the world's first totally organic agriculture state. 

•FAO said that Sikkim was considered for the award for its policies on Agroecology and Sustainable food systems. It won the gold by beating 51 nominated policies from 25 countries. Brazil, Denmark and Equador won Silver for their policies. 

•The UN body said that the policies of Sikkim had helped more than 66,000 farmers, boosted tourism and set an example to other countries. 

•The small Himalayan state of Sikkim was declared fully organic state in 2016 after phasing out chemical fertilisers and pesticides and substituting them with sustainable alternatives.

•Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Chamling will receive the award in Rome tomorrow.