IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 11th, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 11th, 2017

1. The United States On 11th September commemorated the 16th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.

a.   These attacks killed nearly 3,000 people when 19 al-Qaeda militants hijacked 4 airplanes and attacked the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. 

2.   China is going to ban Diesel and Petrol cars and is working on a timetable to end their production and sales.

a.   The move aims to reduce pollution and oil imports by switching to electric vehicles. 

b.   Important Note : France and the UK have already announced plans to ban diesel and petrol cars by 2040.

3.   Pakistan PM Shahid Abbasi On 11th September became the country's first premier to fly in a US-made F-16 fighter aircraft. 

4.   Afghanistan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani is on a visit to India.

a.   During his visit, he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

b.   The visit comes weeks after US President Donald Trump announced a new policy on Afghanistan and sought sought more help from India in Afghanist

5.   Maharashtra government has announced plans to launch 112 as a single integrated helpline number for police, fire brigade, and ambulance services. 

a.   The government will procure 1,000 new patrolling vans, equipped with Global Positioning System and vehicle tracking system, to reach out to complainants within minutes. 

b.   The new mechanism will also have caller identification system to reduce fake calls.

6.   Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has announced a Smart Cities Awards Contestwith a total prize money of ₹50 lakh to recognise and reward cities and innovative ideas that promote mission's goals. 

a.   Best performers in categories like improving governance, culture and economy, transportation, among others will be awarded ₹5 lakh each and a scroll on June 25 next year.

7. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that it is using sophisticatedCurrency Verification and Processing Systems (CVPS) for checking numerical accuracy and genuineness of the currency notes, including the demonetised notes.  

a.   "These machines (CVPS) are way superior to the note counting machines," RBI said in a statement.

8.   China is planning to ban trading of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on domestic exchanges, but plans to allow over-the-counter transactions. 

a.   This comes after China recently banned Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), saying the practice constituted illegal fundraising.

9.   To monitor high value transactions and detect tax evaders using technology with a view to curbing circulation of black money, the Union Finance Ministry is going to launch ‘Project Insight’ from October 2017.

a.   To implement the project, the Indian government has signed contract with Information Technogolgy major L & T Infotect Ltd.  

b.   The project will add to list of efforts made by government to curb black money like Operation Clean Money’ after demonetisation, Income Disclosure Scheme, GST implementation, amendment DTAA with other countries etc.

10 The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)'s mutual fund advisory panel has recommended strict definitions for mutual fund schemes, that might halve the number of schemes offered currently. 

a.   SEBI aims to ensure that an asset management company has only one product offering in each category. 

b.   The move is expected to help investors cut through the clutter of 2,000 investment schemes, and take better decisions.

11. The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industries has set up an online service facility titled Contact@DGFT, for effective resolution of foreign trade-related issues of importers and exporters. 

a.   This will enable traders to raise all trade related matters to Directorate or other agencies of Centre and States.

12.The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has named two mountain ranges on icy dwarf planet Pluto as Tenzing Montes and Hillary Montes after Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary.

a.   Note : They were the first mountaineer to reach the summit of Mount Everest and return safely in 1953.

13.Renowned Indian Badminton legend Prakash Padukone selected for the first life time award by Badminton Association of India.

14.       The 2017 edition of the World Senior Badminton Championships started On 11th September at the Rajeev Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Kadavanthra, in Kochi.

a.   Badminton Association of India (BAI) president Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarmainaugurated the week-long championship.

b.   The tournament will see a total of 665 players from 40 countries battle it out in eight different age groups — plus-35, plus- 40, plus-45, plus-50, plus-55, plus-60, plus-65 and plus-70 and will be played in all the five categories.

15.  World number one Rafael Nadal clinched his 3rd US Open title, taking his tally of Grand Slam titles to 16 by defeating first-time Grand Slam finalist Kevin Anderson

16. Switzerland's Martina Hingis won her second US Open title in two days after claiming the women's doubles title alongside Taiwan's Chan Yung-Jan On 11th September, a day after winning the mixed doubles title alongside Britain's Jamie Murray. 

17.  US Open 2017 Complete Winners List :

a.   Men's Singles : Rafael Nadal (Spain)

b.   Women's Singles : Sloane Stephens (United States)

c.   Men's Doubles : Jean-Julien Rojer (Netherlands) / Horia Tecău (Romania)

d.Women's Doubles : Taipei Chan Yung-jan (Chinese) / Martina Hingis(Switzerland)

e.Mixed Doubles : Martina Hingis (Switzerland) / Jamie Murray (United Kingdom)