1) International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances: 30 August
•United Nations observes 30 August every year as International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. The day is observed to prevent enforced disappearances and bring to justice those responsible, as enforced disappearance has frequently been used as a strategy to spread terror within the society. The feeling of insecurity generated by this practice is not limited to the close relatives of the disappeared, but also affects their communities and society as a whole.
•2011 marked the inaugural commemoration of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
2) Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul locks and Kandangi sarees get GI tag
•Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul locks and Kandangi sarees have received Geographical Indication (GI) tags. The famous Dindigul locks are known throughout the world for their superior quality and durability, thatsway the city is called Lock City. The lock-making industry in Dindigul is said to be over 150 years old and they makeover 50 varieties of locks. Similarly, the hand-woven Kandangi sarees also have a 150-year-old tradition, and its history is interwoven with the story of the influential business community of Chettiars.
•The Geographical Indication sign is used on products which correspond to a specific geographical location. The use of a geographical indication may act as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, enjoys a certain reputation, due to its geographical origin.
3) IIT Guwahati signs MoU with RD Grow Green India for safer drinking water
•IIT Guwahati has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RD Grow Green India Pvt for Technology transfer for safer drinking water.
•Drinking water contamination is a major problem in most of the states including Assam. This “chemical-free” treatment technique might be useful to the citizens in rural and urban areas as well. The technology is based on the ‘Apparatus and Method for Removal of Fluoride, Iron, Arsenic and Microorganisms from Contaminated Drinking Water’.
4) Air India to ban single-use plastic on flights
•Air India, India’s national airline, will ban the usage of single-use plastic aboard its flights from October 2, 2019. The ban will come into effect on all flights of Air India Express and Alliance Air flights. Air India will replace plastic teacups and tumblers with sturdy paper cups and tumblers.
5) Book on former US President titled “Obama: The Call of History” released
•A new book titled “Obama: The Call of History” has been released. The book has been written by Peter Baker, the Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times. This book will give an in-depth account of the former US President’s Barack Obama years in office.
6) Abhishek Verma and Elavenil Valarivan won the gold medal in shooting worldcup
•Abhishek Verma and Elavenil Valarivan won the gold medal, While Saurabh Chaudhary wins bronze, in a dominant display by Indian shooters in the men’s and women’s 10m air pistol event of the World Cup at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
