Daily GK Updates - 14th October, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Sikkim wins FAO’s future Policy awards 2018 : The small Himalayan state ‘Sikkim’ has won this year's UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's Future Policy for Gold Award for its achievement in becoming the world's first totally organic agriculture state.Pawan Chamling (Chief Minister of Sikkim) will receive the award in a ceremony at FAO headquarters during the celebrations of the World Food Week in Rome.Sikkim was considered for the award for its policies on Agroecology and Sustainable food systems.Brazil, Denmark, and Equador won Silver for their policies.

2.EC introduces C-vigil app as the pilot project to help citizen : The Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a unique Internet-based mobile app C-vigil in the upcoming assembly polls to help citizens upload or give information regarding electoral malpractices.The ‘C-Vigil’ (stands for ‘citizens’ vigil’) will be operationalized for the first time as a pilot project.

3. Pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi to get free Rs 5 lakh accident insurance cover : Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (Jammu & Kashmir) has approved the enhancement of free accident insurance cover for pilgrims visiting the shine to five lakh rupees at the 63rd board meeting in Srinagar.The chairmanship of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is Satya Pal Malik (Jammu and Kashmir Governor).The board has also approved additional life insurance cover of five lakh rupees to pilgrims who avail the service of the upcoming passenger ropeway between Bhawan and Bhairon Ghati

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Ajay Tamta Inaugurates 46th Edition of IHGF-Delhi Fair Autumn-2018 :  The Union Minister of State for Textiles, Ajay Tamta has inaugurated the 46th edition of world’s largest IHGF-Delhi Fair at India Expo Centre & Mart at Greater Noida.This Fair has played a vital role in increasing exports of handicrafts from the country and acquired a special importance for the handicrafts sector.The fair is participated by 3200 exhibitors from over 110 countries, organized by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts.

 2.Microsoft and NITI Aayog partner to deploy AI solution : NITI Aayog and Microsoft India have signed a partnership to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) based solutions across various sectors such as agriculture and healthcare.Microsoft India will support NITI Aayog by combining the cloud, AI, research and its vertical expertise for new initiatives and solutions across several core areas including agriculture and healthcare and the environment.

 3.Shekhar Mande appointed as Director-General of CSIR : Dr. Shekhar Mande has been appointed as the Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Research (DSIR).

He will succeed Girish Sahni.

BUSINESS/FINANCE:

1. Bank of Baroda MD & CEO Jayakumar gets one-year extension : The union Government granted a year’s extension to Bank of Baroda’s MD (Managing Director) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) PS Jayakumar (from 12th Oct).This extension comes in the backdrop of the amalgamation between Bank of Baroda (BoB), Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank to form India’s second largest public sector bank being set in motion.

SPORTS:

1.Britain beat India to lift Sultan of Johor Cup 2018 : Britain edge Sultan of Johor Cup (2^nd time) after beating India 3-2 at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium Malaysia.Meanwhile, Malaysia finished fifth after a 6-3 win over New Zealand.For the third and fourth placing, Australia defeated Japan 6-1.

Daily GK Updates - 13th October, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.First India-Israel Innovation Centre opens in Bengaluru : The country’s first India-Israel Innovation Centre (IIIC), an entrepreneurial technology hub, was launched in Bengaluru.The IIC is a significant step towards facilitating penetration of Israeli companies in India and aims to forge local partnerships and joint ventures between companies from the two countries.It will provide an ecosystem to support entrepreneurship, a partnership with vendors, mentoring and non-formal community development that will assist the growth of the companies in different verticals and covers business, technology, investors and customers.Start-ups that are part of IIIC will be given mentorship and guidance and opportunities to participate at all IIIC’s global events and experience networking avenues with potential customers.

2. Govt to form national trade portal to cut logistics cost: Commerce Joint Secretary : The union ministry of commerce and industry is in the process of forming a national trade portal to lower logistics cost and link all stakeholders in domestic and import trade, joint secretary to the ministry Keshawva Chandra has said.At a workshop on 'Indian textile sector-competitive analysis and way forward for free trade agreements (FTAs),', he said the portal would include online certificate system since there were 88 government entities delaying the process of certification.

3.  Maneka Gandhi proposes a panel of legal experts to probe #MeToo cases : Women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi propose setting up a committee with senior judicial and legal persons as members to look into all issues emanating from the #MeToo campaign.The committee will look into the legal and institutional framework in place for handling complaints of sexual harassment, including some of the complaints if required, and advise the ministry on how to strengthen these.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  Maryse Conde wins alternative Nobel Literature Prize : Maryse Conde, one of the Caribbean's most renowned authors, has won an award created to replace this year's Nobel Prize for Literature.The prestigious literature prize was suspended this year after a scandal at the Swedish Academy, which awards it.The Guadeloupian author, 81, said she was "very happy and proud" to win the alternative version.

She was selected from 47 authors who were nominated by Swedish librarians and voted on by nearly 33,000 people from around the world.Conde is an author of some 20 novels, including Desirada, Segu and Crossing the Mangrove. She is considered as a grand storyteller who belongs to world literature.

2.  International Day for Disaster Reduction observed today : International Day for Disaster Reduction, held annually on 13th October, celebrates the way that people and communities around the world reduce their exposure to disasters and raise awareness about the risks that they face.This includes disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness.The International Day for Disaster Reduction was started in 1989, after a call by the United Nations General Assembly for a day to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction.The 2018 theme is - Reducing Disaster Economic Losses. 

3.  India wins election to UN Human Rights Council  : India was elected to the United Nations’ top human rights body for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019.India got total188 votes, the highest number of votes among all candidates in the Asia-Pacific category.The 193-member UN General Assembly held elections here for new members to the UN Human Rights Council.The 18 new members were elected by the absolute majority through a secret ballot. Countries needed a minimum of 97 votes to get elected to the Council.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Textile Ministry to release Rs 7.8 Cr for construction of textile tourism complex in Meghalaya : Minister of State for Textiles, Ajay Tamta has said that the Ministry will release 7.8 crore rupees for the construction of a textile tourism complex in Nongpoh, Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya.He added that the Textile Ministry will provide all necessary infrastructure and machinery to the apparel centers so that local garments can be exported throughout the world.

2. India's cooling energy consumption to grow around 2.2 times by 2027: Report : The country's cooling energy demand will rise to 2 times the existing level by 2027 and interventions can help cut it down by 17 percent in the next decade, a report said.The report, commissioned by the Indo-German Energy Forum, on behalf of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, was prepared by the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE).India, which currently has one of the lowest access to cooling across the world, is poised for rapid and significant growth in cooling demand.The report suggested that known interventions can help cut down cooling energy consumption by 17 percent, help avoid around 50 medium-sized power plants dedicated to cooling and reduce cooling-related carbon emission by 20 percent in the next decade.

SPORTS:

1. With 72 medals, India placed at 9^th place in Asian Para Games : India recorded its best-ever showing by adding two more gold as the 2018 Asian Para Games drew to a close in Jakarta today.With 15 gold, 24 silver and 33 bronze medals, India is placed 9th in the overall tally.In men's singles SL3 class Badminton, India's Pramod Bhagat defeated Ukun Rukaendi of Indonesia 21-19, 15-21, 21-14 to clinch the gold medal.Para shuttler Tarun added another gold for India on the final day of the event by beating Yuyang Gao of China 21-16, 21-6 in the men's singles SL4 class.

OBITUARIES:

1.Renowned Hindustani classical musician Annapurna Devi passes away : Renowned Hindustani musician Annapurna Devi passed away at the Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai today. She was 91.She was suffering from age-related issues for the last few years.Annapurna Devi was an Indian Surbahar player of Hindustani classical music and she was the daughter and disciple of Allauddin Khan.She was married to sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Daily GK Updates - 12th October, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  President Kovind inaugurates 13th Annual Convention of CIC : President Ram Nath Kovind has inaugurated the 13^th annual convention of the Central Information Commission (CIC) in New Delhi.The Convention will deliberate on three specific subjects-Data privacy and Right to Information , Amendment in the RTI Act and , Implementation of the RTI Act.

2. Three-day Silver Jubilee celebrations of NHRC begin today : The three days Silver Jubilee celebrations of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has begun to mark the occasion.Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the new version of the NHRC website and addressed the Silver Jubilee Foundation Day of the commission in New Delhi.Mr. Modi also issues a Postage Stamp and Special Cover on the occasion.The Commission will organize a ‘Human Rights Mela’ and ‘Human Rights Street Theatre Festival’ tomorrow.

3.  Sushma Swaraj participates in 17th CHG meeting of SCO in Tajikistan : The union External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj participated in the 17th Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.This was the second CHG meeting since India became a full member of SCO in June 2017.The SCO CHG meeting is a forum that enables India to engage with SCO member countries and Observer states of Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  Malaysian Government abolishes Capital punishment : The Malaysian government decided to scrap capital punishment following strong domestic opposition to the practice.Currently, Capital punishment in Malaysia is mandatory for murder, kidnapping, possession of firearms and drug trafficking, among other crimes.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Govt hikes import duty on certain communication items up to 20% : According to The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) release, The Union government has hiked import duty on certain communication items, including base stations, to up to 20 per cent.This is the second round of import duty hike announced by the government in a little over a fortnight.The import duty has also been hiked on certain inputs used in the communication industry like Printer Circuit Board Assembly.

2.  Central University of Jammu signs MoU with ISRO to set up space applications centre :The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed an MoU with the Central University of Jammu (CUJ) for setting up of the Satish Dhawan Center for Space Science in the University in Jammu.Another MoU was signed between CUJ and the Central Scientific Instruments Organization (CSIR-CSIO). The objective of the centre to create awareness about space research and motivate young minds to take up researches related to space, astronomy, geology, tmospheric sciences and related fields.

3. Indus Towers wins Deming Prize for 2018 : The world's largest telecom tower company (outside China) ‘Indus Towers’ has won the Deming Prize for 2018.Indus Towers is the first Indian company in the service sector and the fifth in the world to achieve this.The Deming Prize was bestowed on Indus Towers for distinctive performance improvements through the application of Total Quality Management (TQM) practices.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. World Bank’s Human Capital Index: Singapore Tops, India Ranks 115^th  : As part of the World Development Report 2019, The World Bank released the Human Capital Index (HCI) at the World Bank-IMF annual meetings in Bali, Indonesia.Singapore topped the poll, highly rated for its universal health care system, education exams results and life expectancy figures.It is followed by South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Finland.The broader theme of the World Development Report (WDR) 2018 is “The Changing Nature of Work”.

SPORTS:

1. Archer Harvinder Singh clinches seventh gold for India in 2018 Asian Para-Games : Archer Harvinder Singh clinched seventh gold for India in the men's individual recurve category in the Asian Para-Games in Jakarta. Harvinder defeated Zhao Lixue (China) 6-0 in the W2/ST category final. Monu Ghangas claimed the silver in the men's discus throw F11 category, while Mohammed Yasser fetched a bronze in the men's shot put F46 category.

Daily GK Updates - 11th October, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Tushar Mehta appointed as the new Solicitor General of India : Senior Advocate Tushar Mehta has been appointed as the new Solicitor General of India till 30^th June 2020.Currently, He is serving as the Additional Solicitor General (since 2014).The Solicitor General of India (below the Attorney General for India) is the Indian government's chief legal advisor.

2. BPCL to set up country’s first biofuel plant in Odisha : The Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has commissioned a second generation (2G) Ethanol Bio-Refinery (estimated cost of Rs1000 crore) at Baulsingha village in Odisha’s Bargarh district (by December 2020).It will be the first biofuel plant in the country at which ethanol will be produced from rice straw.The refinery will have a capacity to produce 30 million litres (3-crores) of fuel-grade ethanol annually.

3. Maharashtra approves Rs. 1,610 cr for 'Tarli' irrigation project : The Maharashtra government has approved the Tarli Irrigation Project (cost- Rs 1,610 crore) in the state's Satara district.The project will bring 6,507 hectares in the Tarli Valley and 8,876 hectares in the Maan and Khatav talukas of Satara district under irrigation.This is the fourth time that the state government has given a revised administrative approval for the project.

4. External Affairs Ministry launches India for Humanity initiative : The union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has launched the ‘India for Humanity’ initiative, a year-long series of artificial limb fitment camps.The limb fitment camps aim to provide physical, economic and social rehabilitation of the differently-abled around the world.The camps will help such individuals regain their mobility and dignity in order to become self-respecting and productive members of society.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Day of the Girl Child being observed today : The International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) is observed every year across the world on 11th October (7^th- edition) to recognize girls’ rights and challenges girls face around the world.

The theme of 2018 is “With Her: A Skilled GirlForce ".The main aims of the day are to promote girl's empowerment and fulfilment of their human rights while also highlighting the challenges that girls all over the world face.

2.  UNICEF & NASSCOM sign MoU to strengthen child rights : UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and NASSCOM Foundation have signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen child rights through "meaningful business interventions.Now, the two organisations will work collaboratively on two key areas including national sensitisation on child online protection and encouraging innovations for child rights' in the country.

3. Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium dedicated to people in Sri Lanka : The Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium built with Indian grant assistance of 30 crore Sri Lankan rupees has been dedicated to the people in a special function in Sri Lanka.The auditorium is largest in any of the universities in Sri Lanka at the University of Ruhuna, Matara in Southern Province. The state of art auditorium with 1500 seating capacity has been designed by the famous Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa to conform to the philosophy of “Tropical Modernism”.

4. Japanese passport named as the world’s most powerful passport : According to the 2018 Henley Passport Index, The Japanese passport has been declared the most powerful passport across the world in this year.The Japanese people can travel without a Visa (or on-arrival Visa) across 190 countries.The passport of Singapore allows visa-free or on-arrival visa travel to 189 countries.Japanese citizens do not need a visa to enter any of China, India, Uzbekistan, Vietnam or Myanmar, while Americans need a visa for all of them.India stands at the 81st number, grants access to 60 destinations.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.  Dakar to host 2022 Youth Olympic Games : According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the fourth edition of the Youth Olympic Games will be held in Dakar, Senegal.The IOC selected the Dakar candidacy by acclamation based on the recommendation of the Evaluation Commission.The Dakar 2022 Youth Games will be the first-ever Olympic event in Africa.

2. Youth Olympic Games: Saurabh Chaudhary bags Gold in 10-m air pistol : Pistol shooter Saurabh Chaudhary (16-year) has bagged the Gold Medal in the 10 metre air pistol event in the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina.He finished a massive Seven and a half points ahead of his closest rival. It is India’s third gold medal in the history of Youth Olympic Games.

Daily GK Updates - 10th October, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. President Kovind inaugurates Accountants General conference in New Delhi : President Ram Nath Kovind has inaugurated the two days Accounts General conference in New Delhi.The Accounts General from all over the country is participating in the conference, organized by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.The meeting deliberates the most modern audit techniques to further improve audit effectiveness and enhance accountability in public spending.

2. Cyclone 'Titli' intensifies into severe cyclonic storm : According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone 'Titli' over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and is moving towards the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast.The cyclonic storm is likely to make a landfall between Gopalpur in Odisha and Kalingapatanam in Andhra Pradesh at a wind speed of 145 kmph.

3. Uttarakhand CM flags off test run of state’s first electric bus : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh ‘Rawat flagged off the test run of the state’s first electric bus to encourage the operation of pollution-free vehicles.The Electric Vehicle Policy was framed by the Uttarakhand Government.In the recent Investors Summit, a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) of 700 crore rupees was signed for the operation of electric buses in the state.In this connection, a bus has been provided by a Hyderabad based company for test run on Dehradun-Mussoorie and Haldwani-Nainital road for one month.

3. Govt. to commemorate 550^th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev next year  : The Union Govt. will commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev (founder of Sikhism) next year with events across the globe.According to Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma, special programmes will be organised in the country as well as in different parts of the world to mark the occasion.

4.  IAF launches a mobile Health app for citizens of India  : The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched an innovative mobile health App named ‘MedWatch’ for citizens of India.The app is conceived by the doctors of IAF and developed in house by Directorate of Information Technology (DIT) with ZERO financial outlay.‘MedWatch’ will provide correct, Scientific and authentic health information to air warriors and all citizens of India.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Mental Health Day: 10th October : The World Mental Health Day is observed every year on 10th October to raise awareness about mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.The theme for this year is " Young people and mental health in a changing world”.

2.  Nikki Haley resigns as US Ambassador to United Nations : US Ambassador to the United Nations (since 2017) Nikki Haley (Indian American) resigned directly to US President Donald Trump.At United Nations, she has been a vocal critic of Russia and a supporter of US sanctions.According to US President Donald Trump, Nikki Haley will continue as the US Ambassador to the United Nations until the end of the year.

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE:

1.  India, Japan navies hold the joint military exercise in Vizag : The third edition of Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) was carried out by the naval forces in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.The objective of the exercise to improve interoperability and imbibe the best of the practices.The Indian Navy is represented by three indigenously designed and built warships and a fleet tanker including, INS Satpura, anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kadmatt, missile corvette and INS Shakti (fleet tanker).

Daily GK Updates - 9th October, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi unveiled a statue of Deenbandhu Sir Chhotu Ram in Rohtak, Haryana : Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 64-Feet tall statue of Deenbandhu Sir Chhotu Ram (messiah of farmers) at Sampla in Rohtak district, Haryana.PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of the Rail Coach Repair Factory at Badhi in Sonepat district.Prime Minister also visited the museum set up in memory of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram which depicts and gives glimpses of his life.

2. EC establishing 500 pink booths in Madhya Pradesh for the assembly election : According to an official of election commission, the Madhya Pradesh election commission will establish 500 pink booths in the state for the assembly election.These polling booths will run by only women officers and workers.Elections will be held on 28th November and counting will be held on 11th December 2018.Similarly, only disabled employees will ensure election process at 20 to 25 polling stations of the state.

3. Jharkhand to become partner state at Goa International Film Festival : Jharkhand state has become the partner state at 2018 Goa International Film Festival to showcase its culture and favourable filmmaking incentives.This year Goa International Film Festival from 20th to 28th of November.It was also decided to organize Jharkhand Film Festival, under Indian Panorama, in two towns of Jharkhand in the first month of 2019.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.William Nordhaus & Paul Romer win 2018 Nobel prize for economics : The 2018 Nobel prize for economics has been awarded to William Nordhaus and Paul Romer of the United States for their work on sustainable growth.The research of the two US economists focuses on how climate change and technology have affected the economy.Prof Nordhaus (from Yale University) was the first person to create a model that described the interplay between the economy and the climate

2. World Post Day is being observed today : World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9th October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern.It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969.Since then, countries around the world participate annually in the celebrations.

3. Srinivasan Swamy becomes the new chairman of International Advertising Association : Indian advertising veteran and RK Swamy Hansa Group chairman Srinivasan Swamy took over as the new chairman of the International Advertising Association (IAA).He is the first Indian to hold the prestigious seat at the 80-year old institution, which is considered the world's most influential network of marketing and communication leaders.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1.  IMF predicts 7.3% growth rate for India in the current fiscal year : International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts a growth rate of 7.3% for India in 2018 and 7.4% in 2019. In China, growth is projected to 6.6% in 2018 and 6.2 % in 2019.In 2017, India had recorded a 6.7 per cent growth rate.According to IMF study, Gender diversity is likely to boost productivity growth including in countries like India, because women bring new skills to the workplace.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1.  The Union Govt. decides to start issuing Sovereign Gold Bonds 2018-19 from this month : The union govt. in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds 2018-19.The Sovereign Gold Bonds will be issued every month from October 2018 to February 2019.The 2018-19 Series II tranche will be issued on 23rd of this month and the period of Subscription is 15th to 19th of this month.

SPORTS:

1.Asian Para Games: Ekta Bhyan wins club throw gold for India : Ekta Bhyan won India's fourth gold at the Asian Para Games by topping the women's club throw event in Jakarta.Bhyan produced her best throw of 16.02m in her fourth attempt to win the F32/51 event.Bhyan had come into the competition on the back of a gold in the Indian Open Para Athletics Championship earlier this year.India also secured three bronze medals courtesy Jayanti Behera, Anandan Gunasekaran and Monu Ghangas.

Daily GK Updates - 8th October, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi inaugurates Uttarakhand investors summit : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the first Uttarakhand Investors Summit in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.All the leading business firms and industrial houses participated in the two-day event to explore investment opportunities in the hill state in 12 major sectors, including tourism and hospitality. Uttarakhand has already received investment proposals worth over Rs 70,000 crore during the run-up to the event.

2.  Sumitra Mahajan inaugurated Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference of Indian Region in Guwahati : Sumitra Mahajan (Lok Sabha Speaker) formally inaugurated the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPA) of Indian Region (Zone III) in Guwahati, Assam.The Executive Committee meeting of the Conference is being held tonight.Speakers and Deputy Speakers of state assemblies and MPs from the North-East states are taking part in the conference.

3. The exhibition “Revisiting Gandhi: The Art of Shelly Jyoti” : The Union Minister of Textiles Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani has inaugurated the exhibition “Revisiting Gandhi: The Art of Shelly Jyoti” at IGNCA, New Delhi.The exhibition organized as part of Gandhi Parv realizes what Gandhi inspired and put into action, self-ransformation, with the ultimate goal of the total transformation of society.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. President Ram Nath Kovind in Tajikistan on a three-day visit : President Ram Nath Kovind has reached Tajikistan on a three-day visit to Central Asian Country.He will meet his Tajik counterpart Emamoli Rahmon.Kovind will also visit the Tajik National University where he will deliver an address on 'Countering Radicalization: Challenges in Modern Societies'.He will address the members of the Indian diaspora in Tajikistan during his three-day visit.

2. Bilateral Maritime Exercise between Japan and India to Commence at Visakhapatnam : The Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF), Escort Flotilla-4 (CCF-4) and Inazuma – a Guided Missile Destroyer arrived at Visakhapatnam to participate in the third edition of Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) with the ships of Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy (IN).JIMEX-18 is aimed to enhance interoperability, improve understanding and imbibe the best practices of each other.The Indian Navy (IN) will be represented by three indigenously designed and built warships and a Fleet Tanker.

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE:

1. Indian Air Force celebrates the 86th anniversary : Air Force Day 2018 is being observed annually on 8th October across India.Today, the Indian Air Force is celebrating its 86th Anniversary.The Indian Air Force has displayed various Aircraft at Air Force Station Hindan air base near Delhi with parade and air display.

SPORTS:

1. Keerthana Pandian wins girls' title in IBSF World U-16 Snooker Championships : India's Keerthana Pandian has won the girls' title in the IBSF World Under-16 Snooker Championships, in St Petersburg, Russia. Keerthana outclassed her Belarussian rival Albina Leschuk 3-1.

2.  India wins Under-19 Asia Cup 2018 title : India beat Sri Lanka by 144 runs to clinch the Under-19 Asia Cup 2018 title (7th edition) in Dhaka, Bangladesh.I ndia outplayed Sri Lanka in all departments by first scoring an imposing 304 for 3 after skipper Prabh Simran Singh won the toss and elected to bat. For his consistency (318 runs in the tournament), Jaiswal was adjudged man-of-the-tournament.

OBITUARIES:

1.  Gandhian Natwar Thakkar passes away : Noted Gandhian, Natwar Thakkar (86-years) passed away in a private hospital after a brief illness in Guwahati.Mr.  Thakkar (Padma Shri awardee) hailed from Maharashtra but made Nagaland his home ever since he had landed in the state in 1955.Thakkar had founded the Nagaland Gandhi Ashram at Chuchuyimlan