PM Modi chairs meeting on 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme

NATIONAL NEWS

PM Modi chairs meeting on 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting on 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme.
• Under the initiative, the government plans to hold people-to-people exchange between states to enhance knowledge about each other’s culture.
• 'Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat' is a personal initiative of the Prime Minister that highlights India's diversity and furthers national unity.
• The goal behind this unique Mission is to develop a holistic national perspective on important issues and encourage the celebration of India's vibrant regional cultures.
• The programme was announced by the Prime Minister in 2015 on the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

DEFENCE

Indo-Japan joint military exercise Dharma Guardian-2019 to begin from October 19

• The joint military exercise Dharma Guardian-2019 between India and Japan is scheduled to start at Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Variegate from October 19. The joint exercise will end on November 2.
• Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces (JGSDF) comprising 25 soldiers each will participate in the exercise with an aim to share experience gained during various Counter Terrorism Operations in respective countries.
• The Dharma Guardian Exercise is an annual training event which is being conducted in India since 2018.
• It is to be noted that India undertakes military training exercises with various countries but Dharma Guardian is significant in terms of security challenges faced by both the nations in the backdrop of global terrorism.

Indo-US joint military exercise 'Vajra Prahar' to take place in Seattle from October 13

• The 10th edition of the joint military exercise 'Vajra Prahar' between India and the US will be held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Seattle from October 13-28.
• A 45-member Special Forces team from Indian Army will train alongside US Special Forces from 13 - 28 October, 2019. Last year, the exercise had taken place in Jaipur.
• 'Vajra Prahar' is a Special Forces joint training exercise conducted alternately in India and the US.
• These exercises will enable sharing of best practices and experience in areas such as joint mission planning capabilities and operational tactics.
• Earlier in September, a joint military training exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' had taken place at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

ECONOMIC AND FINANCE

World Bank cuts India's growth projection to 6 per cent amid economic slowdown

• After a broad-based deceleration in the initial quarters of this fiscal year, India's growth rate is projected to fall to 6 per cent, the World Bank report.
• In 2018-19, the growth rate of the country stood at 6.9 per cent.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India, ADB sign 190-million-dollar loan agreement for improving road connectivity in Rajasthan

• India and Asian Development Bank, ADB have signed 190-million-dollar loan agreement for improving road connectivity in Rajasthan.
• To upgrade 754 kilometres of state highways which will benefit about 26 million people in 14 districts of Rajasthan.

Typhoon Hagibis hits northern Japan after paralysing Tokyo

• The most powerful typhoon to hit Tokyo in decades plowed into northern Japan after fierce rain and wind paralysed the capital, led to four deaths, millions under evacuation warnings, rivers flooded and normally busy streets deserted.

India extends USD 20mn Line of Credit to Comoros for defence, maritime cooperation

• India will extend a Line of Credit of USD 20 million to Comoros for strengthening bilateral defence and maritime cooperation.
• Addressing the parliament of Comoros at Moroni, the capital of the island nation after holding bilateral talks with President Azali Assoumani

SPORTS

MC Mary Kom crashes out but bags historic bronze in World Boxing Championships

• Legendary boxer MC Mary Kom's World Championships campaign came to an end after she lost in the semi-finals of the women's 51kg category to settle for the bronze medal in this edition.
• This was Mary's 8th medal at the World Boxing Championships, making her the most successful boxer of all time - male or female - in the competition's history.
• Mary has won 6 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze so far in her career.

Eliud Kipchoge breaks two-hour marathon mark by 20 seconds

• Eliud Kipchoge has become the first athlete to run a marathon in under two hours, beating the mark by 20 seconds.
• The Kenyan, 34, covered the 26.2 miles (42.2km) in one hour 59 minutes 40 seconds in the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria.
• It will not be recognised as the official marathon world record because it was not in open competition and he used a team of rotating pacemakers.

Simone Biles Becomes the Most Decorated Gymnast in World Championship History

• Simone Biles is the greatest gymnast of our time – or any time in history. She proved that Sunday at the World Championships, where she raked in her 24th and 25th world medals, both golds.
• Biles, 22, took home five of the six golds to be won in Stuttgart, Germany, winning the top of the podium in team competition, all-around, and vault in addition to floor and beam. (On the uneven bars, she took fifth.)

OBITUARY

First Female Head of Nobel's Literature Award Body, Sara Danius Dies at 57

• Sara Danius, the first female head of the prestigious Swedish body that awards the Nobel Prize in Literature, has died. She was 57.
• Danius, who was a literature critic, professor and writer, served as the first female permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy between 2015 and 2018.

Alexei Leonov, first human to walk in space, dies aged 85

• Alexei Leonov, the legendary Soviet cosmonaut who became the first human to walk in space 54 years ago, has died in Moscow at 85.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day for Disaster Reduction 2019

• International Day for Disaster Reduction focuses on how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and the importance of reining in the risks that they face.
• The theme for International Day for Disaster reduction 2019 is “Reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services”.
• The main aim is to focus on the target of the Sendai Framework. According to the UN, the Sendai framework highlights "Substantially to reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services, among them health and education facilities, including through developing their resilience by 2030.”