ASSAM

 

• Bigger pest threat looms large over Assam

 

• While invasion of cropland by the armyworm (called shurpok locally) is not unusual in Assam, a far bigger threat in the form of a possible fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) epidemic looms large over the State.

 

• Armyworm infestation of crop in Assam in varied degrees is almost a regular occurrence but the State’s cropland had borne the brunt of a massive armyworm invasion three years back, resulting in unprecedented crop damage.

 

• Worryingly, crop infestation by the exotic fall armyworm – which is native to tropical and subtropical North America – has already been reported in three northeastern states of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland.

 

• The pest is particularly dangerous because of its rapidly multiplying nature and quick movement. The female fall armyworm can travel up to around 100 km in a night. It can feed on 80 different crops and plants – though maize is its favourite – and is attacking new crops.

 

• The Assam agriculture department is apparently unaware of the developments in the neighbouring states. There have also been unconfirmed reports of crop infestation by the fall armyworm at places in Assam.

 

• Significantly, a number of Asian countries have reported fall armyworm invasion this year, with the pest spreading to new countries in quick time. In Africa also, it caused widespread devastation since 2016. Scientists have come to recognize fall armyworm as the biggest pestilence threat, in terms of extent of damage caused to both the crop varieties and the area.

INTERNATIONAL

·       World food day is observed on 16 October

• World Food Dayis observed on 16 October every year. The day is observed every year by people from around the world. The day aims totackle global hunger. On this day, people reaffirm their commitment to eradicate worldwide hunger for a lifetime.

 

• The theme for 2019 is Our Actions Are Our Future. Healthy Diets for A #ZeroHunger World. The diet and eating habits of the people have changed because of urbanization and income growth. It causes obesity and other related diseases among the people. The theme focuses on creating awareness about a healthy and nutritional diet.

 

·       Eliud Kipchoge First in World To Run A Marathon In Under 2 Hours

• Kenya’s Eliud Kipchogemade history busting the mythical two-hour barrier marathon on a specially prepared course in a huge Vienna park. The unofficial time completed by him was 1hr 59min 40.2sec.

 

• The world marathon record has, for the past 16 years, been contested uniquely between athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia. The two nations are also fierce rivals for distance medals on the track.

 

 

NATIONAL

·       CBIC to launch new scheme to attract investment

ð The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) launched a new scheme to promote investments in India. The scheme also aims to enhance the ease of doing business.

ð The scheme will enable the Make in India programme. The investment will encourage exports, repair & refurbishment operations, create hubs for electronics assembly, inward and outward processing, facilitate global e-commerce hubs etc.

 

• CBIC partnered with Invest Indiato launch a dedicated microsite to providing information. Also, the partnership will promote the scheme and facilitate the investors.

 

·       Tenth edition of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is celebrated in Maharashtra

• The10th edition of Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavwas inaugurated by Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Lalji Tandon. The festival aims to celebrate India’s plural traditions and culture under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Matrix.

 

• The aim is to celebrate World culture history and praise India, which has retained its culture even after several invasions and attempts at colonization.

 

• Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is hosted in Madhya Pradesh, as it is the cultural capital of India.

 

• A week-long diversified cultural carnival is celebrated in the cities of Jabalpur, Sagar, and Rewaof Madhya Pradesh from 14th October to 21st October 2019.

 

• Craftsmen-artists-culture practitioners from different states of India will be participating in the festival.

 

 

 

• Scientists to conduct the largest DNA barcoding of spiders in India

 

• Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) undertook a barcode of at least 100 species of spiders based on their DNA. It is the largest exercise on DNA barcoding of spiders from India.

 

• DNA barcoding is a method used to quickly identify any species based on extracting a DNA sequence from a tiny tissue sample of any organism. In other words, it is the molecular signature of a species based on its genes.

 

 

 

• Centre to amend the Indian Arms Act

 

• Union Home Ministry proposed amendments to the Indian Arms Act, 1959. The Ministry also submitted the draft for the act. The draft Arms (Amendment) Act 2019 was aimed at curtailing the proliferation of arms and ammunition.

 

• The ministry proposed a new section, 25 (6) for the prohibition of firearms or ammunition by members of an organised crime syndicate.

 

• The penalty includes a minimum punishment of 10 years in prison and maximum punishment of life imprisonment till death.

 

• The draft of the proposed law covers five new areas namely illegal trafficking of arms, tracking arms and their components from manufacturers to end-users, organized crime, organized crime syndicates, and celebratory firing. The punishment for these offences differs accordingly.