IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 19th, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 19th, 2017

1.   During a trilateral meeting with US andJapan, India sought probe into North Korea's nuclear proliferation linkages to countries like Pakistan, asserting that those who are involved must be held accountable. 

a.   Note : Pakistan has been under UN Security Council's scanner after certain sources in the council claimed North Korea has secretively been receiving nuclear enrichment technology from them.

2.   New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world to

grant national voting rights to women on this day (19th September) in the year 1893. 

a.   The Electoral Bill was the outcome of years of suffragette meetings across the country. 

b.   Important Note : India granted the voting rights to women as soon as it became a Republic in 1950.

3.   3 districts - Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Odisha (Koraput) and Thane (Maharashtra) will see the launch of India's ambitious 'Zero Hunger' programme through interventions in farm sector on October 16 (World Food Day). 

a.   The Programme will be initiated by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in association with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), MS Swaminathan Research Foundation and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).

b.   Main focus of this programme : Agriculture, nutrition and health in a symbiotic manner.

4.   To empower government to confiscate property of economic offenders and defaulters who flee India, the Union Law ministry has approved Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2017.

a.   The Bill seeks to deter economic offenders from evading the process of Indian law by fleeing the country. 

5.   The Ministry of Railways has decided to recruit one lakh people in the 'sanraksha shreynee' (safety category). 

a.   The move comes after five incidents of train derailment were reported in the month of September. 

6. Aiming at developing villages of freedom fighters in the state, the JharkhandGovernment has launched Shaheed Gram Vikas Yojana.

a.   Under this scheme, villages of many tribal freedom fighters will be developed and their habitants will be provided basic amenities. 

b.   It was launched from Ulihatu Village, birth place of freedom fighter Birsa Munda.

7.   Senior IPS officer Rajni Kant Mishra On 19th, September  appointed as the new Director Generalof Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). 

a.   He is going to replace Archana Ramasundaram, who holds distinction of being first woman IPS officer to head a para-military force in the country.

8. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has been appointed as Brand Ambassador of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

a.   Note : Last month, Akshay Kumar was also appointed as the brand ambassador for cleanliness drive by the Uttar Pradesh Government.

9. Former Facebook employee Sriram Krishnan has joined Twitter as the Senior director of product.

a.   He will be responsible for the core features of the app including timeline, direct messaging and search.

10. State-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is going to launch a co-branded feature phone at a price of about ₹2,000 in October. 

a.   CMD of BSNL : Anupam Shrivastava

11. Tata Group is going to venture into online grocery business under the Starquikbrand. 

12.   Soviet officer Stanislav Petrov (77), who prevented a possible nuclear war between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, has died On 19th, September . 

13.   Indian athlete Purnima Hembram has won the Gold Meal in Women's Pentathlon Event at the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games held in Turkmenistan On 19th, September . 

14.     Japan Open Super Series (badminton) tournament kicked off in Tokyo On 19th, September 's morning.

a.   This tournament will be held from On 19th, September  (19th September 2017 to 24th September 2017)

b.   This is the 8 Super Series tournament of the 2017 BWF Super Series.