Daily Current Affairs, 15th October 2018

1) International Day Of Rural Women: 15 October

•The International Day of Rural Women is observed on 15th October. The day recognizes the crucial role of women and girls in ensuring the sustainability of rural households and communities, improving rural livelihoods and overall wellbeing. 

•This year's theme is "Sustainable infrastructure, services and social protection for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls". The theme places empowerment of rural women at the heart of fulfilling the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.

2) Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas: 15 October

•Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas is celebrated on 15th of October.  In 2016, the Ministry had decided to observe 15th October as RMKD to recognise the contribution of women farmers in various aspects of agriculture including sowing, planting, fertilizing, plant protection, harvesting, weeding, and storage.  

•Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh addressed the function in New Delhi. Women farmers, entrepreneurs, farming organizations, agricultural scientists and researchers from different states participated in the event. 

3) India, China Launched 1st Joint Programme For Afghanistan To Train Diplomats

•India and China have launched their first joint programme for Afghanistan to train its diplomats. According to the Indian Embassy in Beijing, 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.

4) Ajay Tamta Inaugurates 46th Edition Of IHGF-Delhi Fair Autumn-2018

•Union Minister of State for Textiles, Ajay Tamta, inaugurated the 46th edition of world’s largest IHGF-Delhi Fair at India Expo Centre & Mart at Greater Noida. 

•This Fair has played a vital role in increasing exports of handicrafts from the country and has acquired a special importance for the handicrafts sector. The fair is participated by 3200 exhibitors from over 110 countries. 

5) 6th RCEP Inter-Sessional Ministerial Meeting Held In Singapore

•The Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution C. R. Chaudhary, attended the 6th RCEP Inter-sessional Ministerial Meeting (IMM) in Singapore. 

•The Ministers from 16 RCEP countries met in Singapore to discuss a modern, comprehensive and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement among ASEAN and ASEAN's FTA partners. Next round meeting of Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) is scheduled to be held in Auckland, New Zealand. 

6) 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. 

7) Sikkim Wins FAO's Future Policy Award 2018

•The North-eastern state Sikkim won the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) Future Policy Award 2018 for being the world's first 100% organic state. Sikkim defeated 51 nominated policies from 25 countries, winning the Gold Prize of the Future Policy Award 2018, also known as “Oscar for Best Policies”.

•Moreover, Future Policy Award’s Silver Prize 2018 was awarded to the policies from Brazil, Denmark and Quito (Ecuador). All the winners received the awards in a ceremony at FAO headquarters during the celebrations of theWorld Food Week in Rome. 

8) WPI Inflation Rises To 5.13% In September

•Inflation-based wholesale prices rose to a two-month high of 5.13 percent in September, mainly due to the hardening of food prices and the rise in the cost of petrol and diesel. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation stood at 4.53 percent in August and 3.14 percent in September last year.

•According to the government data released recently, food articles witnessed hardening of prices with deflation at 0.21 percent September as against 4.04 percent in August. Data showed retail inflation rose to 3.77 percent in September from 3.69 percent in the previous month. The RBI mainly takes into account retail inflation data while formulating monetary policy.

9) Leander Paes Lifts Santo Domingo Open Trophy

•Indian tennis legend  Leander Paes has won his second Challenger-level title of the season, lifting the Santo Domingo Open trophy with partner Miguel Angel Reyyes-Varela.

•The second-seeded Indo- Mexican pair, playing its second consecutive final, came from behind to beat Ariel Behar and Roberto Quiroz 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 in the summit clash, which lasted one hour and 26 minutes in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.