1) International Day For Disaster Reduction: 13 October
•The day celebrated how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the risks associated with them. The theme of the 2018 International Day for Disaster Reduction is ‘Reducing Disaster Economic Losses’.
2) PM Modi Inaugurates Silver Jubilee Celebrations Of NHRC
•Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Human Rights Commission's (NHRC) 25th anniversary and said that it has an important role to play in government’s efforts to achieve sustainable development goals.
•Mr Modi cited Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat, Saubhagya Yojana as schemes aimed towards providing dignified life for all.
3) India And Azerbaijan Agree To Enhance Bilateral Trade Relations
•India and Azerbaijan have agreed to take measures to enhance bilateral trade relations. The two countries signed a protocol on trade and economic, science and technology cooperation at the 5th meeting of India-Azerbaijan Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade and Economic, Science and Technology Cooperation which concluded in New Delhi.
•The two-day meeting was co-chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu and Azerbaijan’s Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Mukhtar Babayev. The next meeting of the Commission will be held in Baku.
4) India Elected To UNHRC Securing Maximum Votes
•India has been elected to the United Nations' Human Rights Council with the highest vote among all candidates. It secured 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019. India's win with the highest number of votes reflects the country's standing in the international comity.
•The 18 new members were elected by the absolute majority through a secret ballot. India got the highest number of votes among all 18 countries in the five regional categories. In the Asia Pacific category, India got 188 votes followed by Fiji with 187 and Bangladesh 178 votes.
5) Global Hunger Index 2018: Belarus Tops, India Ranks 103rd
•The 2018 Global Hunger Index (GHI) indicates that the level of hunger and undernutrition worldwide falls into the serious category, at a value of 20.9, down from 29.2 in 2000. As per the index, India was ranked 103rd out of 119 qualifying countries.
•The Global Hunger Index 2018 report was prepared jointly by global NGOs namely, Concern Worldwide (Ireland) and Welthungerhilfe (Germany). In the countries included in the GHI, the share of the undernourished population stood at 12.3 percent in 2015–2017, down from 17.6 percent in 1999–2001.
6) Legendary Musician Annapurna Devi Passes Away
•Legendary musician Annapurna Devi has passed away in Mumbai. She was 91. She was suffering from age-related issues. 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 Ravi Shankar.
