1) BSF Tracker Dog Babita Honored with the National Bravery Award

• Babita, a highly trained tracker dog of the Border Security Force (BSF), received the National Bravery Award for her exceptional operational contributions.
• She played a critical role in tracking intruders, detecting illegal movement along the border, and assisting troops in challenging terrains, making her one of the few service animals recognized at the national level.

2) India–Sri Lanka Joint Military Exercise Mitra Shakti 11 Begins in Karnataka

• The 11th edition of Exercise Mitra Shakti between the Indian Army and Sri Lankan Army commenced in Karnataka.
• The exercise focuses on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, sharing of battlefield tactics, joint planning, and enhancing interoperability between the two nations’ armies.
• Mitra Shakti is part of India's strategy to strengthen defence ties with its Indian Ocean neighbours.

3) David Szalay Wins the 2025 Booker Prize for His Novel Flesh

• David Szalay, a Hungarian-British author, won the 2025 Booker Prize for his novel Flesh.
• The Booker Prize is one of the world's top literary awards given for exceptional English-language fiction.
• Flesh was praised for its innovative narrative structure, psychological depth, and contemporary social themes, making it a standout in modern literature.

4) Sheikha Nasser of UAE Becomes First Woman to Lead United Nations Tourism

• Sheikha Nasser from the United Arab Emirates has become the first woman to head United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism).
• Her leadership marks a significant milestone for gender representation in global governance.
• She is expected to focus on sustainable tourism, technology-driven tourism growth, and post-pandemic resilience strategies for developing economies.

5) WHO Confirms Rift Valley Fever Outbreak in Mauritania and Senegal

• The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in Mauritania and Senegal, both located in West Africa.
• RVF is a mosquito-borne viral zoonotic disease affecting livestock such as cattle, goats, and sheep, with potential transmission to humans.
• The outbreak raises concerns about animal health, regional food security, and the risk of spillover into human populations.

6) India’s UPI Partners with Bahrain’s BENEFIT for Real-Time Cross-Border Payments

• Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India has partnered with BENEFIT, Bahrain’s national electronic payments network, to enable instant, real-time cross-border transactions.
• The collaboration strengthens fintech connectivity between India and the Gulf region, benefiting NRIs and businesses by ensuring faster, low-cost, and secure digital payments.
• The move also advances India’s goal of making UPI a global digital payments standard.