Andhra Pradesh government signs MoUs with Netherlands

• AP government signed MoUs with the Netherlands government and seven companies in food processing, marketing and technologies, to benefit the horticulture and aquaculture farmers across the State.
• The government signed an Mou with the Netherlands for interior architecture, design, packaging and containers for the food processing.
• An Mou with Tiruchirappalli-based ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana was signed for banana cultivation and processing.
• An MoU with Big Basket for marketing infrastructure pertaining to food processing of tomato and banana was signed.
• The MoU with ITC was meant for food processing of mango, sweet lime, chillies
• MoU with Lawrencedale Agro Processing India Private Limited is for food processing of onions.
• The government also entered into an agreement with IFB for technology and marketing of shrimp and fish

Andhra Pradesh government signs MoUs with Netherlands, 7 firms on food processing,marketing

About AP

• Capital - Amravati
• CM-YS Jaganmohan Reddy
• Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan

Assam relaunched SVAYEM Scheme worth Rs 1000 Crore to Provide Self Employment to Youths of the State

• Government of Assam relaunched its old scheme Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment (SVAYEM) worth Rs. 1000 crore. The scheme is aimed to provide self-employment opportunities to more than 2 lakh youths of the state.
• A new portal will be launched on 16th September 2020 to enable self-registration of the groups who seek to utilise the benefits of the scheme.
• Benefits: Redesigned SVAYEM will provide around Rs 50000 as a seed money to start a business venture to the qualified beneficiaries
• Eligibility: Age below 40 years.
• Qualification : Should have passed matriculation and be a part of existing self-help groups, joint liability group etc before first September 2020.

60th Convention of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers 2020 held Virtually

• The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) organized and hosted its 60th SIAM Annual Convention 2020 virtually, titled "Re-Building the Nation, Responsibly".
• SIAM appointed Kenichi Ayukawa, MD & CEO of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd appointed as its new president. He succeeds Rajan Wadhera, Senior Advisor, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
• Vipin Sondhi, MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland Ltd, appointed as the Vice President of SIAM.

Karnataka cabinet cleared Rs 600 crores watershed project with World Bank Assistance

• in order to increase the groundwater table in parched land of 20 taluks, the state cabinet of Karnataka approved Rs 600 cr project titled Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agriculture Resilience through Innovative Development (REWARD) with World Bank (WB) assistance. This project will benefit farmers to cultivate in 10 lakh hectares of parched land in 10 districts of Karnataka.
• Notably, the State Government would provide Rs 180 crore while the World Bank would extend an assistance of Rs 420 crore for the period of next six years.

About Karnataka

• CM- BS Yediyurappa
• Governor - Vajubhai Vala
• Capital - Bengaluru

About World Bank

• President - David Malpass
• HQ - Washington, D.C., United States

Union Minister Arjun Munda inaugurated two-days Virtual National Tribal Research Conclave

• Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda virtually inaugurated the two-days National Tribal Research Conclave
• The conclave will be chaired by Union Minister Arjun Munda, it will review progress on the outcome of various projects being implemented under different partnerships, and the best practices will be showcased to all participants.
• The Conclave has been organized by the Center of Excellence (COE) for Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MOTA) and Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA).

Union Minister Arjun Munda inaugurated two-days Virtual National Tribal Research Conclave

• MoU signed between MOTA and IIPA
• During the Conclave, an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) to set up the National Institute of Tribal Research at IPA Campus, New Delhi.
• The Proposed National Institute will be engaged in quality tribal research in collaboration with reputed government and Non-Governmental Organizations spread across the country.

FAO's 35th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) meeting held virtually

• The thirty-fifth session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC 35) hosted by Bhutan at its capital Thimphu through Zoom video conferencing platform amid COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health concerns.
• The conference was chaired by Bhutan's Secretary of the Agricultural Ministry, Rinzin Dorji,
• From Indian side the meeting was addressed by Minister of State (Mos) for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Khodabhai Rupala.

FAO's 35th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference (APRC) meeting held virtually

• At the end of the APRC35 the Member States agreed unanimously that Bangladesh will host the next FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (36th APRC) in 2022. Bangladesh will host for the first time since its joining FAO in 1973.
• The first Regional Conference was held in Bangalore, India, in 1953. India has hosted it four times.

About FAO

• Director General - QU Dongyu
• Headquarters- Rome

5-day USISPF 3rd Annual Leadership Summit 2020 held

• The 5 days long US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) 3rd Annual Leadership Summit was held from August 31-September 3, 2020 on the theme "US-India Navigating New Challenges".
• The aim of the summit was to discuss enhancing strategic and economic cooperation between the US and India with focus on trade and investment, healthcare, collaboration in fintech, technology and India's position in global supply chains.
• USISPF, formed in 2017 is the only independent bi-lateral organization that is committed to creating the most powerful strategic partnership between the U.S. and India.
• This annual leadership summit of USISPF is being attended by the world's top leaders, government officials and corporate leaders.

WhatsApp + CyberPeace foundation to create awareness about Cyber Safety Among students

• In order to create awareness on cyber safety among students, WhatsApp Inc. (WhatsApp) and CyberPeace Foundation have entered into a partnership. The partnership targets to reach about 15,000 students in 5 Indian states namely, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra by the end of 2020 under the first phase of a pan-India program.
• This initiative is built on a previous partnership under the 'e-Raksha' program, which has reached many students.
• To enhance online safety for children, CyberPeace Foundation in consultation with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and state police authorities will provide training to teachers, parents and students by using a curriculum co-created by Whatsapp and CyberPeace Foundation.
• Establish "CyberPeace Club'- The participants, at the end of these training sessions will establish a 'CyberPeace Club' to create a repository of guidance that other students can refer to increase online child safety.

WhatsApp + CyberPeace Foundation> To Create Awareness about Cyber Safety Among Students

About WhatsApp Inc.

• HQ - California, United States of America
• Head - Will Cathart

About CyberPeace Foundation

• HQ - New Delhi
• President - Capt. Vineet Kumar

SpaceX Launched 60 Starlink Satellites to Provide Faster Internet

• Falcon 9 of SpaceX ( two stage rocket) launched the 12th batch of Starlink mission with 60 Starlink satellites into orbit. Falcon 9 was launched from the Kennedy Space Center of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Florida.
• This launch is the first mission of SpaceX in September and 16th Mission in 2020.
• This Starlink mission marks the 8th Batch of Starlink satellites since May 2019, which makes the total number of satellites in the Starlink constellation to 482.

About SpaceX

• Founder & CEO - Elon Musk
• Headquarters - California

1st ever International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies 2020 → September 7

• first International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is observed on September 7, 2020 across the world to emphasize the need for further efforts to improve air quality, including reducing air pollution, to protect human health.
• The day also highlights that air pollution is now the biggest environmental threat to health, but it is preventable.
• Theme for 2020 - "Clean Air for All".