• National

1st India-Nepal passenger train on broad gauge likely in Dec

• As per reports, the first passenger train to run on broad gauge between India and Nepal is likely to run from December this year.
• The train will run from Jaynagar in Bihar to Kurtha in Dhanusa district in Janakpur Zone of south-eastern Nepal.
• Nepal will take rolling stock, coaches and others on lease from India for the purpose, reports added.

• National

AAP suspends Sukhpal Singh Khaira for anti-party activities

• The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has suspended rebel leaders Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Kanwar Sandhu from the party for indulging in “anti-party activities” and for continuously attacking the state and central leadership.
• Welcoming the suspension, Khaira said it exposes the “dictatorial face” of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
• Khaira was removed from the post of Leader of Opposition in July.

• International

Russia, China, Norway sink landmark Antarctic ocean reserve plan

• A plan to turn to huge tract of pristine Antarctic Ocean into the world’s biggest sanctuary has been rejected by Russia, China and Norway.
• The 1.8 million sq km reserve – five times the size of Germany – would have banned all fishing in a vast area of the Weddell Sea and parts of the Antarctic peninsula, safeguarding species including penguins, killer whales, leopard seals and blue whales.
• The proposal was put forwarded by Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. However, other 22 countries supported the proposal.

• Economy and Business

Kirloskar Capital gets RBI nod for NBFC biz

• Kirloskar Capital has received RBI licence to start a non-banking financial company (NBFC).
• Kirloskar Capital is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kirloskar Oil Engines (KOEL), plans to lend more than Rs 1,000 crore over the next three years.
• Earlier, the company roped in former Indo-Star Capital Finance Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Vimal Bhandari, to head its operations.

• Sports

Bangladesh wins SAFF U-15 Championship

• Bangladesh boys defeated India in the SAFF U-15 Football Championship by 3-0 at Dhaka.
• Bangladesh will face Pakistan in the finals.
• India was placed at 3rd position.
• SAFF U-15 is being held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

• खेल

India beat Windies in their first T20I at home without MS Dhoni

• Rohit Sharma-led India defeated Windies in the first T20I by 5 wickets at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Sunday.
• It was the first time ever that India were playing a T20I on home soil without former captain MS Dhoni in the playing XI.
• The match witnessed spinner Kuldeep Yadav take three or more wickets in a T20I for the fifth time.

• Sports

Quit wrestling to prepare Bajrang for Olympic gold: Yogeshwar Dutt

• Yogeshwar Dutt, who won bronze in 2012 Olympics, said he has quit wrestling to prepare Commonwealth Games gold medallist Bajrang Punia for the 2020 Olympics.
• “He is only 24. Since his junior days, he showed spark.
• I want people of India to see Yogeshwar in Bajrang now,” he added. “I want him to do better than me,” he further said.

• Awards

Namrata Biji Ahuja wins International Press Institute-India award

• The prestigious IPI India Award for Excellence in Journalism 2018 has been given to Namrata Biji Ahuja of THE WEEK magazine this year.
• She received the award for her exclusive story on Naga underground camps, providing information on the parallel and secret Naga state functioning with all ministries inside Nagaland, interviews and first personal accounts of Naga “ministers” and officials.
• The award comprises a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, a trophy and a citation.

• Miscellaneous

Offshore patrol vessel ICGS Varaha launched

• The Indian Coast Guard has launched a new offshore patrol vessel called ICGS Varaha from a corporate shipyard near Chennai.
• This is the third in a series of seven similar ships to be handed over to the Coast Guard. The timeline for the delivery of all the vessels is March 2021.
• ICGS Varaha will soon be fitted with advanced navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machineries. The weapons will include a 30 mm guns with Fire Control Systems.

• Agreements

India, Zimbabwe Sign 6 Agreements In Various Fields

• During the visit of Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu, India has agreed for the deputation of experts in five fields to assist Zimbabwe.
• Around 6 agreements in various fields were signed in areas including Mining, Visa waiver, Broadcasting and Culture.
• India will extend Line of credits of more than 350 million US Dollars to Zimbabwe for two power projects and a drinking water project.
• India will give about 3 million US dollar grant for upgradation of Indo-Zim Technology centre.