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 IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 8^th, 2018

                         IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF SEPTEMBER 8^th , 2018

1. India has improved its ranking by one spot from 2016 and now stands 19th in the ‘Theft Ranking’ for countries with weapons usable nuclear materials, according to the Nuclear Security Index released today.

a.  The index was released by the US-based Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), which is co-chaired by Sam Nunn and Ernest Moni.

b.  Note : Australia, which was at the top in 2012, 2014, and 2016 among the 22 countries with weapons-usable nuclear materials, this time shares the top spot with Switzerland.

2. India and United States are going to conduct their annual combat exercise “Yudh Abhyas” at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand from 16 to 29 September, 2018.

a.  It will be 14th edition of exercise in Yudh Abhyas series which was started in 2004 under US Army Pacific Partnership Program. 

b.  This will be fourth time exercise will be conducted at Chaubattia in Uttarakhand.

c.   Aim of Yudh Abhyas : To enhance interoperability between armies. It will also focus on enhancing counter-terror cooperation.

3. President Ram Nath Kovind reached Prague (capital the Czech Republic) on the final leg of his three European nations visit (Cyprus, Bulgaria and Czech Republic).

a.  In Prague, he will hold a meeting with an Indian business delegation. 

b.  Earlier in the day, the President met Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. 

c.   He also inaugurated a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in South Park at Sofia. 

d.  He presented a copy of Mahatma Gandhi’s book Hind Swaraj to the President of Bulgaria.

e.  Both the countries called for reform of the UN Security Council. Bulgaria expressed its support for India's bid for permanent membership of the Council.

4. China's richest man and e-commerce company Alibaba's Co-founder, 53-year-old Jack Ma has announced that he is going to step down from the post of Executive Chairman on September 10 to pursue philanthropy in education. 

a.  Ma, a former English teacher who co-founded Alibaba in 1999, has a net worth of about $40 billion. 

5. Union Finance Ministry has doubled Pecuniary limit to Rs. 20 lakh from Rs.10 lakh for filing loan recovery application in Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRT) by banks and financial institutions. 

a.  It means that bank or financial institution or consortium of banks or financial institutions cannot approach DRTs if pecuniary limit amount due is less than Rs 20 lakh. 

b.  This move is aimed at helping reduce pendency of cases in DRTs.

6. State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) has made oil and gas discoveries in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal that may potentially open up two new sedimentary basins in country. 

a.  They are category-III basins, having hydrocarbon and are considered geologically prospective for exploration.

7. Rapper Mac Miller (26) passed away of an apparent drug overdose.

a.  Miller had recently released his fifth full-length album 'Swimming'.

b.  The rapper, whose real name was Malcolm James McCormick, had begun rapping aged 14 under the alias EZ Mac.

8. Former film actress, author, columnist and producer Twinkle Khanna launched her third book titled 'Pyjamas are Forgiving'. 

a.  She has previously written two books, 'Mrs Funnybones: She's Just Like You and a Lot Like Me' (2015) and 'The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad' (2016).

9. American electronic commerce and cloud computing company Amazon is going to launch its checkout-free 'Amazon Go' grocery store in New York.

a.  The cashierless store requires customers to scan a code on an app while entering. 

b.  It then uses sensors and cameras to track what shoppers buy and maintains a virtual cart, which is then automatically billed after they leave the store.

10.              Bengaluru International Airport has announced plans to introduce Paperless Boarding for passengers of some airlines from next year, and will use facial recognition technology for the same. 

a.  Passengers' faces will be identified as they move across the airport to prevent showing physical documents repeatedly. 

b.  The move will initially apply to passengers of Jet Airways, Air Asia and SpiceJet.

11.              According to recent report, Pakistan could become world’s 5th largest nuclear weapons state after Russia, United States, France and China in terms of possession of total nuclear warheads. 

a.  Pakistan currently has 140 to 150 nuclear warheads and its stockpile is expected to increase to 220 to 250 by 2025 (surpassing United Kingdom) if its current proliferation trend continues.

12.             India and Czech Republic have signed 5 agreements. They are :

a.  Cooperation between India’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Czech Academy of Sciences.

b.  Work plan to support Indo-Czech projects in diverse areas of science and technology. Department of Science and Technology will be taking lead from Indian side for this.

c.   Visa waiver agreement for diplomatic passport holders.

d.  Cooperation in laser technology between Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and ELI Beamlines.

e.  Cooperation between Haryana Agricultural University and Czech University of Life Sciences.

f.    Important Points to Note :

i)    These agreements were signed after delegation-level talks between Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Czech Republic counterpart Milos Zeman in Prague, capital of Czech Republic. 

ii)  President Kovind visited Czech Republic on final leg of his state visit to three European nations – Cyprus, Bulgaria and Czech Republic.

13.             Anshula Kant has been appointed as the new Managing Director of State Bank of India (SBI). 

a.  She will serve as the MD till she attains the age of superannuation on September 30, 2020, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. 

b.  With her appointment, SBI has now a total of 4 MDs, including PK Gupta, Arijit Basu and DK Khara.

14.              State-run telecom firm Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has appointed Indian boxer MC Mary Kom as its Brand Ambassador for two years.

15.             India Blue cricket team has won 2017-18 Duleep Trophy by defeating defending champion India Red in the final match played at NPR College ground in Dindigul, Tamilnadu. 

a.  Himachal Pradesh batsman Nikhil Gangta was named Man of Match.

16.              Junior Shooters Divyansh Singh Panwar and Shreya Agarwal bagged the Bronze medal in the Junior 10m air rifle mixed team event at the ISSF World Championship today.