Current Affairs September 17, 2017

Dear Reader's,

INTERNATIONAL

30th Anniversary of Montreal protocol and 23rd World Ozone Day Celebrated

30th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol and 23rd World Ozone Day was observed on 16th September 2017. 

• The theme for the year 2017 is ‘Caring for all life under the Sun’.
• The year 2017 marks the 30th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Points to Remember:

• The Montreal Protocol is one of the most successful global environmental treaties, the implementation of which has not only led to the phase-out of around 98% of ozone depleting chemicals, but also averted more than 135 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
• The Montreal Protocol is the only environmental treaty which enjoys universal ratification of 197 UN member countries.

German citizenship is ranked the most valuable in the world

Not only do Germans have the most powerful passports in the world, they also have the highest quality of citizenship, according to a new report.

• The consultancy Henley & Partners’ first Quality of Nationality Index (QNI) ranks the value of 161 nations’ citizenship on a scale of 0 to 100%.
• European nations dominated the top 20 spots.

NATIONAL

Opening Ceremony held for INDO-USA Joint Exercise Yudh Abhyas – 2017

Exercise Yudh Abhyas - 2017, a joint military exercise between Indian and US armies commenced at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, USA with a brief and impressive opening ceremony.    

• The US contingent was represented by Company of 5th Infantry Battalion from 20 Infantry Regiment of the US Army while the Indian side was represented by soldiers of Gorkha Rifles from the Surya Command. 

India will soon grant citizenship to Chakma, Hajong refugees

The Centre will soon grant citizenship to nearly one lakh Chakma and Hajong refugees, who came from the erstwhile East Pakistan five decades ago and are living in camps in the northeast.

• In 2015, the Supreme Court had directed the Central government to grant citizenship to the Chakma and Hajong refugees, mostly staying in Arunachal Pradesh.

Points to Remember:

• Chakmas and Hajongs were originally residents of Chittagong Hill Tracts in the erstwhile East Pakistan.
• They left their homeland when it was submerged by the Kaptai dam project in the 1960s.
• The Chakmas, who are Buddhists, and the Hajongs, who are Hindus, also allegedly faced religious persecution and entered India through the then Lushai Hills district of Assam (now Mizoram).

Nation’s first Govt. mobile vet clinics launched 

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao flagged off a hundred mobile veterinary clinics for as many Assembly constituencies in the State.

• The clinics, like 108 for people which are serviced by GVK-EMRI, will also be aided by the same combination on toll free number 1962. .
• Billed as the first in the country, the programme won the appreciation of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda.

BUSINESS

Govt considering its own cryptocurrency 

The Central government is considering a proposal to introduce its cryptocurrency similar to Bitcoin.

• Sources also said the government might name its cryptocurrency “Lakshmi”. 
• Proposal was discussed by a committee of government officials, and the panel found the idea of setting up and running blockchain for financial services useful.

Points to Remember:

• A cryptocurrency is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange using cryptography to secure the transactions and to control the creation of additional units of the currency.
• Cryptocurrencies are classified as a subset of digital currencies.
• Bitcoin became the first decentralized cryptocurrency in 2009.

APPOINTMENTS

Jain appointed India’s ambassador to the Slovak Republic

Shri Harsh Kumar Jain, (IFS: 1993) has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Slovak Republic.

• He is expected to take up the assignment shortly. He is presently Ambassador of India to the Republic of Kazakhstan.

AWARDS

Salman Khan honoured with Global Diversity Award

Bollywood star Salman Khan has received a Global Diversity Award at Britain’s House of Commons.

• Salman received the award from Keith Vaz, British Parliament’s longest-serving Asian MP.
• Keith Vaz praised Salman Khan for being not just a megastar for Indian and world cinema, but also someone who has done so much for humanitarian causes.

SPORTS

PV Sindhu wins Korea Open Super Series title

PV Sindhu won the Korea Open Super Series title with a 22-20, 11-21, 21-18 win over Japan's Nozomi Okuhara.

• With the win, Sindhu exacted revenge for last month's defeat to the same opponent in the final of the world championship in Glasgow.
• This is Sindhu's second Super Series title of the year, having earlier won the India Open, beating Spain's Carolina Marin in the final.

India exempts import duty on goods for FIFA U-17 World Cup

The government has exempted from import duty sports items and a wide range of goods for the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup India, which will see 24 nations vying for the coveted trophy.

• The first FIFA event to be held in India will be spread over six cities starting October 6 and have 52 matches.
• The final football match, on October 28, will be played at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium.
• These goods will also be exempt from the integrated tax levied under the GST.

Points to Remember:

• The 17th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup will be held under the slogan ‘Football takes over’.
• India, as the host country, is automatically qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017.

DEATHS

Arjan Singh, India's first ever IAF Marshal, passes away

Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, one of Independent India’s most celebrated soldiers, passed away in the national capital on Saturday. He was 98.

• One of the heroes of the 1965 war with Pakistan, Arjan Singh became the chief of IAF when he was just 44. Born on 15 April 1919, in Lyalpur, now called Faisalabad, in today’s Pakistan, Singh was selected for the Empire Pilot training course at RAF Cranwell, at the age of 19 in 1938.
• On August 1, 1964, Singh took over as the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) in the rank of Air Marshal.
• After his retirement in July 1969, he was appointed Indian ambassador to Switzerland.