RAJASTHAN

• Vasundhara Raje expands Annapurna Rasoi scheme in Rajasthan, launches 500 more mobile vans

• Chief minister Vasundhara Rajelaunched 500 mobile kitchen vans of Annapurna Rasoi which serve subsidised food across the state.

• The Annapurna Rasoi scheme was started by the state government on December 15, 2016 in Jaip
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• ur on the lines of Amma Canteens of Tamil Nadu providing food on subsidy.

INTERNATIONAL

·       Worlds First negative emissions plant starts operations in Iceland, turning carbon dioxide into stone

• ð The world’s first “negative emissions” plant that turns carbon dioxide into carbonate rocks has begun operations in Iceland.
• ð The EU-backed project at one of the world’s largest geothermal power plants in Hellisheidi, Iceland, will capture CO₂from ambient air for permanent storage underground.

·       HPCL becomes first Indian Oil Marketing Company to launch lubricants in Myanmar

• ð HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd) has become the first Oil Marketing Company (OMC) from India to mark its presence in the lubricant market in Myanmar.
• ð HPCL has chosen commercial hubs of Yangon and Mandalay

NATIONAL 

·       Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated the Indian Handicrafts and Gift Fair 2017 at Greater Noida

• ð Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani today inaugurated the 44th edition of Indian Handicrafts and Gift Fair (IHGF) 2017 at India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida.
• ð The five-day extravaganza hosting a gathering of over 2,980 exhibitors will have buyers coming from around 100 countries including China, Australia, the US and the UK.
• ð The exhibition will end on October 15.

·       Kolkata to host International Puppet festival from October 26

• ð Kolkata will host International Puppet festival for the first time and the six-day long festival will commence from October 26 to 31.
• ð West Bengal principal secretary Tourism and Home Affairs Atri Bhattacharyawill be inaugurating the festival.
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• ð Artists from the UK, Germany, Peru, Portugal, Italy, Lithuania, Brazil, Singapore and India would be participating in the festival.
• ð The puppet festival is aimed at regenerating the emotions attached to puppetry and it will be held at

·       India proposed to operate a Sri Lankan airport near the Hambantota seaport

• ð India plans to operate a Sri Lankan airport on the southern tip of the island, where China has invested heavily as part of its Belt and Road initiative.
• ð China runs the seaport with a 99-year leaseand was planning to expand its footprint in the area with the refinery, which would be Sri Lanka`s largest, and an investment zone of about 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres).
• ð India has offered to set up a joint venture with Sri Lanka to manage and expand facilities at the loss-making Mattala airport, which sits adjacent to the Hambantota seaport. 

• India Sri Lanka Joint Military exercise Mitra Shakti 2017 begins

ð The fifth India-Sri Lanka Joint Training Exercise MITRA SHAKTI 2017 started with a grand Opening Ceremony conducted at Aundh Military Station, Pune.

ð The exercise is based on Counter Terrorist Operations and an Infantry company from both the countries is participating in the same.

ð The India – Sri Lanka joint training exercise MITRA SHAKTI 2017 in its fifth edition will send a strong signal to the world that both India and Sri Lanka understand the emerging threat of terrorism and stand shoulder to shoulder in countering this menace.

• DoP launches Sampoorna Bima Gram Yojana

ð The Minister for Communications launched the Sampoorna Bima Gram (SBG) Yojana and an initiative for expansion of clientele base of Postal Life Insurance.

ð All villages under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana will be brought under its ambit.

ð Under Sampoorna Bima Gram (SBG) Yojana, at least one village (having a minimum of 100 households) will be identified in each of the revenue districts of the country, wherein endeavour will be made to cover all households of that identified village with a minimum of one RPLI (Rural Postal Life Insurance) policy each.

ð  Coverage of all households in the identified Sampoorna Bima Gram village is the primary objective of this scheme.