IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 25th, 2017

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 25th, 2017

1.  Russia and Pakistan On 25th September began the a two-week long joint military exercise titled DRUZBA, in the Russian town of Mineralnye Vody. 

a.      Aim of this exercise : To enhance military ties between the two countries and to focus on counter-terrorism, hostage and rescue, cordon and search operations.

2. US President Donald Trump On 25th September unveiled new travel restrictions on travellers from North Korea, Iran, Libya, Chad, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen as a replacement to a travel ban signed earlier this year.

3. Angela Merkel On 25th September won her 4th term as the German Chancellor after the Opposition conceded defeat in the general elections. 

a.      Her conservative CDU/CSU alliance won over 32% of votes, becoming the largest party in the parliament. 

b.     Important Note : Merkel, who has led the country since 2005, is only the eighth incumbent since the Federal Republic of Germany was founded in 1949.

4.   Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport became the first airport in India to offer a wheelchair lift ('verti-lift). 

a.      The lift, installed as part of the Accessible India Campaign, aims to minimise the waiting time for wheelchair-bound passengers who usually have to wait for an escort to reclaim their baggage.

5. Egyptian national Eman Ahmed (37), who was once the world’s heaviest woman andunderwent a weight-loss surgery in Mumbai earlier this year, passed away in Abu Dhabi due to complications from the underlying comorbid conditions, including heart disease and kidney dysfunction.

6. Actress Aishwarya Rai was named 'Vogue Influencer Of The Decade' while Shah Rukh Khan won the award for 'Vogue Entertainer of the Decade' at this year's Vogue Women Of The Year Awards. 

a.      Anushka won 'Game Changer of The Year Award' while Karan Johar was named 'Vogue Man of the Year'. 

b.     Further, Anita Dongre was named 'Designer Of The Year'.

7.     Microsoft and Facebook have announced the completion of their 6,600 km-undersea internet cable 'Marea' across the Atlantic Ocean earlier this week. 

a.      This internet cable runs from the US state of Virginia to Spain's Bilbao, and can transmit up to 160 terabits of data per second. 

b.     The cable system will be managed and operated by telecommunications infrastructure company Telxius.

8.     Prime Minister Narendra Modi has constituted an Economic Advisory Council to analyse and advise on policy matters referred by PM Modi. 

a.      The 5-member body will comprise Surjit Bhalla, Rathin Roy, and Ashima Goyal as part-time members, and includes Ratan Watal, the Principal Advisor of NITI Aayog as Member-Secretary of the panel.

b.     Head of the Council : Bibek Debroy (NITI Aayog member)

9.     Prime Minister Narendra Modi On 25th September launched the Saubhagya - Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana.

a. Aim of this Scheme : To Provide electricity to all rural and urban households. 

b.  The ₹16,320-crore scheme also aims to improve educational and health services, communication services, and public safety. 

c.    The scheme promises increased job opportunities and better quality of life for women.

10. China has banned the export of liquefied natural gas and gas condensates to North Korea, as well as textile imports from the country.

a.      As part of latest UN sanctions against the reclusive state, China will also limit the export of refined oil. 

b.     Note : The UN sanctions were imposed on North Korea over its latest nuclear test.

11. The government is going to set up 5scrap-based steel plants at an investment of ₹500 crore within a year. 

a.      India's target is to double the steel output by 2030 and part of it will be sourced from scrap. 

b.     The first such plant would come up in Noida next month.

12.The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) has inked MoU with e-commerce giant Amazon for selling tribal products.

a.      The aim of initiative is to promote tribal handicrafts like handloom products, cane and bamboo products, tribal jewellery, Dhokra craft, tribal weaves and embroidery, tribal paintings etc. 

b.     Note : TRIFED already has tied-up with Snapdeal.

13. Former Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi On 25th September took charge as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, succeeding Shashi Kant Sharma who demitted the office on September 22. 

a.      The 62-year-old (retired) IAS officer will have a tenure of three years as the CAG. 

14.Indian opener Rohit Sharma broke the world record for hitting the most number of sixes against Australia in international cricket during the third ODI in Indore on Sunday. 

a.      He broke former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum's record of 61 sixes against Australia.

b.     Sharma, who smashed four sixes during his 71-run knock, now has 65 sixes against Australia in 43 innings.

15. Indian shuttler and current world number two PV Sindhu has been recommended for the Padma Bhushan award, India's third highest civilian honour, by the Sports Ministry today. 

a.      The 22-year-old shuttler, who is India's only woman to win an Olympic silver medal, recently finished as runner-up in World Championships and also became the first Indian to win the Korea Open.