CURRENT AFFAIRS SEPTEMBER 19 by exampreparationdaily

World Bamboo Day: 18 September

World Bamboo Day is observed every year on the 18th of September by the World Bamboo Organization to generate awareness about conserving and promoting the bamboo industry.

• Known as poor man’s timber, bamboo is omnipresent in tribal cultures and community living.
• Restructured National Bamboo Mission was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in 2018.
• India is the world’s second-largest cultivator of bamboo after China with over 130 species.

Sri Lanka unveils South Asia’s tallest tower

Sri Lanka unveiled South Asia’s tallest tower, costing over $100 million, 80% of which has been funded by China under the controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

• The 350-metre-tall 17-storey Lotus Tower, located in the heart of Colombo city, comprises a television tower, a hotel, a telecommunications museum, restaurants, auditorium, an observation deck, a shopping mall and a conference centre.
• The tower spread over an area of 30,600 sq. metres was constructed at a cost of over $100 million, 80% of which was funded by China.

Mongolian President arriving in New Delhi on a five-day state visit

President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga is arriving in New Delhi on a five day State visit.

• He will be accompanied by a high-level official and business delegation.

• Mr Battulga will be accorded ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• During his stay, the Mongolian President will visit Agra, Bodh Gaya and Bengaluru.
• Mr Battulga's visit to India will be the first State visit by a Mongolian President in last 10 years.

At 17.5 million, Indian diaspora largest in the world: UN report

India is the leading country of origin of international migrants in 2019 with a 17.5 million-strong diaspora.

• The International Migrant Stock 2019, a dataset released by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs provides the latest estimates of the number of international migrants by age, sex and origin for all countries and areas of the world.
• The report says that India hosted 5.1 million international migrants in 2019, less than 5.2 million in 2015.
• Migrants from Mexico constituted the second-largest diaspora with 11.8 million people followed by China with 10.7 million people.

Union Minister Gehlot launches MIS portal under Accessible India Campaign

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has developed a Management Information System, MIS for stakeholders of Accessible India Campaign.

• Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot launched the MIS portal in New Delhi.
• The MIS portal will bring all the nodal ministries and States and Union Territories on a single platform for monitoring the progress being made against each target of Accessible India Campaign.
• The portal will be useful in maintaining all the function on a digital platform and capture data on a real-time basis.

Government issues ordinance to ban e-cigarettes

The Government issued an ordinance to ban e-cigarettes making the production, import, export, transport, sell or advertisements of such "alternative" smoking devices a cognizable offence attracting jail term and fine.

• First-time violators will face a jail term of up to one year and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
• For subsequent offences, a jail term of up to three years or a fine of Rs 5 lakh, or both according to the ordinance.
• The storage of e-cigarettes shall now be punishable with imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to Rs 50,000 or both.

Delhi Police launches 'Tatpar' app for citizens

In order to provide safety and a convenient online mode on a 24x7 basis to its citizen, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on launched newly-integrated one-touch mobile app 'Tatpar'.

• The app has included all the important websites, mobile applications and helpline numbers of Delhi Police besides, 50 other services.
• With the help of this app, people can also share information to police about a suspicious vehicle or person or of a crime.
• The police have claimed that there are more than 50 citizen-centric services in it with just a single click.

Supreme Court gets four new judges

Justices Krishna Murari, SR Bhat, V Ramasubramanian and Hrishikesh Roy were appointed as judges of the Supreme Court of India.

• The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended their names to the government last month.
• With a huge backlog of cases in the top court, the government had recently increased the strength of its judges from 31 to 34, including the Chief Justice of India.

Vinesh Phogat becomes first Indian wrestler to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

India's star wrestler Vinesh Phogat qualified for the 2020 Olympics after beating fancied American Sarah Hildebrandt in the World Championships in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan.

• She scored an impressive 8-2 win over the world championship silver medalist to secure her place at the Tokyo Games.
• Vinesh will wrestle in the bronze-medal bout against Maria Prevolaraki of Germany later.

The mascot for the 2020 Beijing Winter Olympics unveiled

A smiling panda and a walking Chinese lantern will be the mascots for the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing.

• The panda, named Bing Dwen Dwen, is the Olympic mascot.
• Colourful circles around its face symbolize skating tracks and 5G technology, according to the website of the Beijing organizing committee.
• The giant panda was one of the five mascots for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, and it also was the symbol for the Asian Games in Beijing in 1990.