CURRENT GK
1.Rescue of US citizen from Leh by IAF Helicopter :-
On 26 Sep 17, the IAF was requested by US Embassy through Ministry of Defence to help in locating and rescue of US citizen Ms Margaret Allen Stone. Ms Stone had set out for trekking in the Ladakh region and had been held up in Zhingchan area at a distance of 75 Km from Leh since 06 Sep 17 due to injury. Her condition had deteriorated during this prolonged period of lack of care. She was in a critical condition. The US Government informed IAF of the situation in the afternoon hours on 26 Sep 17.
IAF responded to the situation with requisite alacrity. Exact location of Ms Stone was ascertained with the help of civil administration and by evening two IAF helicopters were able to locate Ms Stone in the valley. Ms Stone was brought to the safety of Leh hospital for medical care by sunset on 26 Sep 17.
2.India Mobile Congress-Country’s largest platform connecting Mobile, Internet and Technology gets underway :-
Telecom Industry expected to generate 4 Million jobs in India-Manoj Sinha
The Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha said that India is currently the second largest telecommunication market in the world with over 1.2 billion subscriber base and approximately 450 million internet users. Delivering the inaugural speech at the India Mobile Congress-2017 here, the Minister said that driven by the adoption of smartphones and exponential increase in data consumption, telecom industry is expected to generate revenue of approximately up to USD 38.25 billion by 2017, registering a CAGR of 5.2% during the period 2014 to 2017. He said that investment into the sector has increased by approximately 220% in last four years and to enhance and expand mobile coverage, operators have rolled out more than 0.2 million sites in the last 15 months and every 3 minutes a new site is being put up.
3.Government is launching Mudra scheme promotion campaign :-
The government is launching a money-incentive campaign in different parts of the country which will continue till 17th of next month. Central Railway and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal will launch this campaign in Varanasi.
4.ICC has made some significant changes in the rules of cricket :-
The International Cricket Committee-ICC has made some significant changes in the rules of cricket, which will apply to all series starting tomorrow or thereafter. The most important change is the rule of sending the players out of the field for indecent behavior.
New DRS In the rules, if the decision of the umpire remains intact after review, then referrals to the team seeking the review will not be deducted. It will be considered as the decision of the umpire.
According to the new rules of catches taken on the boundary line, if the fielder tries to take a catch in the air and try to catch, then the ball must be in contact with the boundary line. Otherwise it will be considered boundary. Apart from this, the batter or wicket-keeper’s helmet can also be caught out, run out and stump out after the ball is hit.
Although the current cricket series being played between India and Australia will be played according to the old rules. The new rules will apply to the series of international one-day matches between South Africa and Bangladesh Test Cricket Series and Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
5.Two American MPs presented a resolution to the United States House of Representatives in support of the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council :-
Two influential Democrats of the United States have presented a resolution in the lower house of parliament to get permanent membership of the UN Security Council to India.
This offer, introduced by MP Amy Bera and Frank Pellon, will be recognized as a government proposal. Amy Bera, Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, has been representing Indians for the longest time in the US Parliament. He said that with the status of permanent member of India in the United Nations Security Council, democracy will be strengthened around the world.
6.The latest figures of GST Revenue continue :-
Goods and Services Tax (GST) was implemented on July 1, 2017. It was stated in the press release of the August 29, 2017 that under the various items for July, 2017 (till August 29), total GST revenue of Rs 92,283 crore was paid.
In total GST collection of Rs 92,283 crore, total CGST revenue was Rs 14,894 crore, SGST revenue was Rs 22,722 crore and IGST revenue was Rs 47,469 crore (in which IGST received Rs 20,964 crore from import), while compensation cess was Rs 7,198 crore ( In which the compensation cess from import is Rs. 599 crores).
Many taxpayers have filed late returns for July 2017 and till July 31, 2017, for the July total, GST of Rs 94,063 crore was paid.
7.Prime Minister Modi has invited French companies to take advantage of the growing potential of investment in India :-
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the French companies to take advantage of the good environment for business in India and the growing potential of investment in India. Shri Modi invited French companies to invest in India during a meeting with Piyak Gottaz, President of the Movement of the Enterprises of France in New Delhi.
Recalling the visit of France in April 2015, the Prime Minister said that at that time he had a discussion with several French businessmen. Shri Modi lauded the invaluable contributions of
businessmen of both countries to strengthen the bilateral relations between India and France for years.
8.US Defense Secretary James Matis meets Prime Minister Modi :-
US Defense Secretary James Matis met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. He made the Prime Minister aware of the progress made in advancing the mutual agendas and implementation of the decisions taken during Mr. Modi’s visit to India in June this year. Both sides reiterated their commitment to further strengthen their strong strategic partnership.
The military cooperation between India and the United States is constantly increasing and both countries have recently conducted trilateral, Malawar naval exercises with the help of Japan. USA is the leading country to provide state-of-the-art defense equipment at the moment.
The US Defense Minister said that India and the United States have suffered the threat of terrorism and both countries are familiar with this global threat. Both countries stressed that safe shelters of terrorism can not be tolerated.
9.USA imposes new economic sanctions against North Korea :-
The United States has put more pressure on North Korea to ban eight banks and 26 bank officials. This restriction will stop the properties and interests of related companies and individuals in the United States. The United States has blacklist its banks and officials in many countries.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has warned North Korea that if America uses the army’s option to deal with ballistic and nuclear weapon programs in North Korea, it can be a huge catastrophe.
Mr Trump said that we have made a complete preparation of the second option, but this option is not in our priority. If we choose this option then it will be disastrous. We want to tell North Korea that we can opt for military action.
On the other hand, North Korea’s Foreign Minister Re Yong Ho accused America of having said that Mr. Trump has declared war against North Korea. Mr. Re Yong Ho was in New York earlier this week.
10.Saudi Arabia issues first order to drive women in the country :-
Saudi Arabia’s Shah Salman has issued the order for driving for women for the first time in the country. The reports of the Saudi Press Agency have reported that the government ministers will prepare the report within 30 days and this order will be applicable from June next year. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where women are prohibited from running vehicles.
11.Social networking site Twitter announces the number of tweeted words to increase from 140 to 280 :-
To accelerate the social network, Twitter has increased the number of experimental tweeted words to 280, which is twice the number of the current number.
The tweeters located in San Francisco have said that the new limit of 280 words has been increased by 140 words keeping in mind the needs of Twitter users. Twitter’s Chief Executive Jack Dorsey has said that this is a minor change, but it is a great achievement for consumers.
12.The fourth one-day international cricket match between India and Australia will be held in Bangalore :-
The fourth one-day international cricket match between India and Australia will be played in Bangalore. India will try to maintain its superiority and highest ranking in ODIs by winning this match. India won the third match by five wickets in Indore on Sunday, making an unbeaten 3-zero lead in the five-match series.
13.South Asian boxing championship will be held in India for the first time :-
South Asian boxing championship will be held in India for the first time. The competition will be held in Guwahati from December 6 to 10. After the meeting of the Indian Boxing Association, after the meeting of its executive, India will host the ‘India International Open Tournament’ in New Delhi in the third week of January.
In a press release, the Association said that other SAARC countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will participate in the South Asian boxing championship. In addition to the top players in the tournament, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Ukraine will also present their challenge.
