NATIONAL
1. APEDA -GULFOOD 2017, Dubai
• Sixty four (64) exporters dealing into range of Agriculture and Processed Food products are participating under the banner of APEDA.
• (The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) an apex organization under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry in the Gulf Food 2017 in Dubai.(26TH FEBRUARY- 2ND MARCH 2017) .
• APEDA pavilion would be inaugurated on 26th February, 2017 by Ms. Rita Teaotia, Commerce Secretary.
• APEDA is mandated with the responsibility for Promotion and Development of the export of various agro products.
• India is one of the largest producer of food in the world.
2. India Clears Rs 17,000 Crore Mega-Missile Deal With Israel
• A Rs 17,000 crore deal has been cleared by the government for jointly developing with Israel a medium-range surface-to-air missile (MR-SAM) for the army, reflecting India’s fast growing defence ties with the Jewish nation.
• The project will be implemented by the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation)and and Israeli Aircraft Industry (IAI).
• The approval for the deal comes ahead of a possible visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel later this year.
• 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
• The MR-SAM, a land-based version of the long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) for the navy, will have a strike range of up 70 km. The deal envisages 40 firing units and around 200 missiles.
3. India, Bangladesh ink MoU for development of Sylhet city
• India and Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the sustainable development of Sylhet city with financial aid from India.
• Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Additional Secretary of the Economic Relations Division Shah Md. Aminul Haque and Sylhet City Corporation CEO Enamul Habib signed the tripartite agreement on Friday in Sylhet, a metropolitan city in northeastern Bangladesh.
• Under the MoU, three projects — construction of a five-storeyed Kindergarten & High School Building, a six-storeyed Cleaner Colony Building and Development of Dhupa Dighipar area – will be implemented with Tk 24.28 crore.
4. Government ropes in Shilpa Shetty as Swachh Bharat brand ambassador
• The government has roped in actress Shilpa Shetty as a brand ambassador for the Modi government’s cleanliness initiative Swachh Bharat Mission.
• The 41-year-old actress will feature in TV and radio campaigns aimed at discouraging people from littering on roads. Soon, campaign posters featuring her will be displayed at various places across the country.
BUSINESS
5. India, ADB ink $375 mn loan pact for industrial corridor
• India and ADB have signed USD 375 million pact for loans and grants to develop 800—km Visakhapatnam—Chennai Industrial Corridor,
• which is the first phase of a planned 2,500-km East Coast Economic Corridor.
• ADB had last September approved USD 631 million in loans and grants for the industrial corridor.
• The Asian Development Bank said that it approved loans comprising a USD 500 million multitranche facility to build key infrastructure in the four main centers along the corridor — Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Amaravati, and Yerpedu—Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh.
• The first tranche of USD 245 million that was signed will finance subprojects to develop high-quality internal infrastructure in 2 of the 4 nodes of the corridor
SPORTS
6. ISSF World Cup: Pooja Ghatkar Clinches Bronze in 10m Air Rifle Event
• Pooja Ghatkar overcame technical issues to clinch the women’s 10m air rifle bronze medal as hosts India opened their account on a positive note in the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup here on Friday.
• Deepak Kumar, competing in his maiden World Cup, gave a good account of himself and finished fifth in men’s 10m air rifle final with a score of 185.4.
