China on Tuesday set its 2019 GDP growth target at 6-6.5 per cent — lower than the annual 6.6 per cent growth witnessed last year — according to a government report quoting National Bureau of Statistics figures. The country, however, stated that the 2019 growth projection, lowest target set in nearly three decades, was “comparatively high” among major economies in the world and is in accordance with domestic and international expectations.

China also said it will lower its defence budget growth rate to 7.5 per cent in 2019 from 8.1 per cent last year. The defence budget will be 1.19 trillion yuan, a state media report said.

GDP figures in China seen together with India’s show that two of the world’s fastest growing economies have been slowing down. In India, figures released in February 2019 shows that the overall GDP growth estimate for 2018-19 was revised downwards to a five-year-low of 7 per cent as against the Reserve Bank of India’s projection of 7.4 per cent for this fiscal.

Twenty fishing jetties to be constructed across the country at a cost of 4,132 crore rupees for the benefit of the fishermen community. This was stated by the Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari after laying the foundation stone for the new fishing jetty at Kulai in Karnataka. 

Mr Gadkari said the Kulai Jetty could accomodate 300 boats and would be completed by May 2022. He also inaugurated road development works under Sagarmala and Bharathmala projects at a function held at New Mangalore Port in Panambur Mangaluru.

In Cricket, Skipper Virat Kohli's 40th ODI ton and pacer Vijay Shankar heroics in the 50th over spell helped India to register an eight run victory against Australia in the second ODI at Nagpur last evening. 

Sent to bat, the hosts bowled out for 250 in the 49th over, thanks to Kohli's 116 off 120 balls knock which lifted India to a decent total. The Aussies was in the chase until the last over when, they needed 11 to win with two wickets left. 

Marcus Stoinis was lbw on 52 by Vijay Shankar on the first ball, and Adam Zampa was bowled two balls later to wrap up the visitors for 242. India now lead the five-match series 2-0. The third ODI will be played in Ranchi on Friday. 

Women officers will be granted Permanent Commission in the Indian Army in all the ten branches where they are inducted for Short Service Commission (SSC). 

Now, the Permanent Commission will be granted in Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Army Air Defence, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps and Intelligence to women officers besides the existing two streams of Judge Advocate General and Army Education Corps. 

In a statement, the Defence Ministry said, SSC women officers will give their option for Permanent Commission before completion of four years of Commissioned Service. It said they will have the option for grant of Permanent Commission and their choice of specialisation.

The government has introduced a scheme for providing financial assistance for transport and marketing of agriculture products with a view to boosting export of farm commodities to certain countries in Europe and North America. 

Under the Transport and Marketing Assistance scheme, the government would reimburse a certain portion of freight charges and provide assistance for marketing of agricultural produce.

The commerce ministry said in a statement that the scheme would be applicable for a period as specified from time to time. Presently, it would be available for exports effected from March 1 this year to March 2020.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Kalaburagi in Karnataka and Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday to launch various development projects.

In Kalaburagi, PM Modi will launch development projects in various sectors including energy, health and education. In a major boost to the healthcare sector in Karnataka, PM Modi will dedicate the ESIC Hospital and Medical College, Bengaluru to the nation. He will also launch the Super Specialty Block of KIMS, Hubballi to ensure quality and affordable healthcare for the people in Karnataka.

Modi will lay the foundation stone of the resitement of BPCL Depot Raichur to Kalaburagi the ‘Women’s Hostel for students from North Eastern Region at Bangalore University. He is also scheduled to inaugurate the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Terminal in Bengaluru.

The Prime Minister will also interact with the beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat at Kalaburagi.

At Kancheepuram, PM Modi will unveil multiple projects in roadways, railways and energy sectors to further strengthen the roadway and railway infrastructure in the state. The project will also pave way for better, faster and cheaper transportation for people in Tamil Nadu.

India has given proof to the United States about the use of F-16 fighters and AMRAAM beyond visual range air-to-air missile by Pakistan during its unsuccessful aerial raid targeting Indian military installations on 27th of last month. 

Official sources said, India is confident that Washington is carrying out a thorough investigation into use of the US-manufactured fighter as well as the missile onboard it in the offensive operation against India. 

As part of the purchasing agreement, the US had put restrictions and reportedly barred Pakistan from using the F-16s against any third country. 

State-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman G. Satheesh Reddy is the joint winner of the 2019 Missile Systems Award given by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in the US, said the Virginia-based aerospace technical society on Sunday.

"Reddy was selected for his over three decades of national contributions to indigenous design, development and deployment of diversified strategic and tactical missile systems, guided weapons, advanced avionics and navigation technologies in India," said the society in a statement.

Reddy, 55, is also the Defence Secretary and Director-General of DRDO's aerospace arm Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) here. Reddy contributed to the Agni-5, the 5,000km range surface-to-surface, long-range strategic missile.

The other winner of the missile award, Rondell J Wilson is the retired principal engineering fellow of Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona.

"Wilson was selected for his technical leadership and innovation that has advanced the performance and capability of the world's premier missile defense systems," said the statement.

American television icon and heartthrob Luke Perry of Beverly Hills, 90210 fame has passed away at the age of 52 after suffering a massive stroke. The actor breathed his last on Monday morning at St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank, California.

As per his rep, his children Sophie and Jack, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, fiance Wendy Madison Bauer, sister Amy Coder, brother Tom Perry, mother Ann Bennett, step-father Steve Bennett among close family and friends were present with him at the time of his death.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says 35 thousand crore rupees have been released to be disbursed under the One-Rank One-Pension(OROP) for the defence personnel. 

Speaking at a programme in Dehradun yesterday, the Minister announced that three hospitals of 200 beds will be built for defence personnel. Mrs Sitharaman also honoured the wives of martyrs.