Current Affairs 16 September 2024

Current Affairs 16 September 2024

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1. Anmol Kharb won her first Senior International Title in Women’s Singles at the Belgian International 2024
India’s rising badminton star Anmol Kharb clinched her first senior international title by winning the women’s singles event at the Belgian International 2024 in Leuven. In a remarkable performance, the 17-year-old triumphed over Denmark’s Amalie Schulz with scores of 24-22, 12-21, 21-10 in the final.
Foot notes:
  • Anmol's achievement is particularly remarkable as she entered the main draw through the qualifiers and was unseeded. Her journey to the title underscores her resilience and talent, marking a significant milestone in her emerging career.
  • Anmol Kharb played a key role in the Indian women’s team winning gold at the 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships.
  • She defeated Japan’s world No. 29 Natsuki Nidaira and Thailand’s world No. 45 Pornpicha Choeikeewong in straight games.
 2. Oscar Piastri Secures First Victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Oscar Piastri secured victory as he started behind pole-sitter Charles Leclerc, the Australian executed a bold move to overtake him. Piastri noted that the timing of his maneuver was crucial, even though it required him to disregard instructions from his race engineer, Tom Stallard. On the twentieth lap, Piastri seized his chance and surpassed race leader Charles Leclerc.
Foot notes:
  • Oscar Piastri’s victory and Lando Norris' fourth-place finish boosted McLaren to the top of the constructors' standings.
  • McLaren now holds a 20-point lead over Red Bull.
  • The top five finishers in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix were Oscar Piastri from McLaren in first place, followed by Charles Leclerc from Ferrari in second, George Russell from Mercedes in third, Lando Norris from McLaren in fourth, and Max Verstappen from Red Bull in fifth.
3. September 16th is celebrated as World Ozone Day
World Ozone Day marks the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987. It was Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994 as it raises awareness about ozone layer depletion and encourages efforts to protect it. In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided to organize World Ozone Day on the 16th of September.
Foot notes:
  • In 1913, the French Physicists, Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson discovered the Ozone Layer.
  • In 1985, the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted and signed by 28 countries.
  • Theme of 2024: Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Action.
  • Significance: The ozone layer, a delicate gas shield in the Earth's stratosphere, absorbs the majority of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It is vital for safeguarding life on Earth by blocking excessive UV radiation from reaching the surface, which can cause increased skin cancer rates and damage to ecosystems.
  • The Montreal Protocol has phased out 99% of ozone-depleting substances in refrigerators, air-conditioners, and other products.
  • These efforts have also helped combat climate change, preventing an estimated 135 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from 1990 to 2010.
4. Aishwarya Rai wins Best Actress at SIIMA 2024
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and daughter Aaradhya Bachchan turned up in blingy outfits at South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) 2024. She won the Best Actress in a Leading Role (Critics) for her performance in director Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2.
Foot notes:
  • Aishwarya highlighted the personal significance of the film and credited the award to the collective efforts of the team.
  • She received the SIIMA 2024 award from filmmaker Kabir Khan.
  • She expressed heartfelt gratitude, thanking SIIMA and acknowledging the entire team of *Ponniyin Selvan*.
5. The 55th International Film Festival of India 2024 will be held in Goa
The 55th IFFI is organized by the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) in collaboration with the Goa State Government and the Indian Film Industry. Recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers' Associations (FIAPF), the festival will showcase selected films at dedicated venues in Goa.
Foot notes:
  • Gala Events: Opening and closing ceremonies, daily red carpet events, and celebrations.
  • Program Highlights: Country Focus, Tributes, Retrospectives, Goan Films’ Section and other curated international and Indian film packages.
  • Educational Sessions: Workshops, master classes, interactive and academic sessions, and panel discussions.
  • Film Bazaar: held concurrently from November 20-24, 2024.
About Goa:
Capital: Panaji
Chief Minister: Pramod Sawant
6. Saleema Imtiaz becomes first Pakistani Woman to be nominated as International Cricket Umpire
Imtiaz has officiated in several Asian Cricket Council tournaments. Her first bilateral series appointment is the three-match T20 series between Pakistan women and South Africa women, starting in Multan.
Foot notes:
  • Imtiaz joined the PCB’s women’s umpires panel in 2008.
  • Her nomination makes her eligible to officiate in women's bilateral international matches and ICC women's events.
  • Nasir Hussain will join her from the PCB Elite Panel of Umpires.
  • Muhammad Javed Malik from the PCB International Panel of Match Referees will oversee the series as the match referee.
About Pakistan:
Capital: Islamabad
President: Asif Ali Zardari
Prime Minister: Shehbaz Sharif
7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Launches Six Vande Bharat Express Trains
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated six Vande Bharat Express trains via video conference from Ranchi. Four of these trains were allocated to Bihar, improving connectivity both within the state and to other regions.
Foot notes:
  • Routes: Tatanagar-Patna, Gaya-Howrah, Varanasi-Deoghar, Bhagalpur-Howrah
  • Significance: These initiatives are designed to drive economic growth by enhancing rail connectivity in Bihar and other states.
  • Inaugural Runs: Special inaugural runs held for the Varanasi-Deoghar and Bhagalpur-Howrah routes, marking their official launch from their respective cities.
  • Dignitaries Present: Virtually from Patna: CM Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary.
  • At Patna Junction: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha, and other officials.
  • At Gaya Junction: Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, Gaya MLA Prem Kumar, and Aurangabad MP Abhay Kushwaha.
  • Flagging off Bhagalpur-Howrah Vande Bharat Express: Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu.
8. The Finance Minister NPS will launch Vatsalya Scheme on September 18, 2024
On September 18, 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will launch the NPS Vatsalya Scheme, enabling parents to invest in their child's future with flexible annual contributions starting at Rs. 1,000. Overseen by the PFRDA, the scheme aims to build long-term wealth through compounding.
Foot notes:
  • Scheme Overview: Allows parents to invest in pension accounts for children with flexible contributions starting at Rs. 1,000 annually.
  • Objective: Secure children's financial futures and build long-term wealth through compounding.
  • Oversight: Managed by the PFRDA.
  • Launch Details: Virtually attended by nearly 75 locations, with PRAN cards distributed to minor subscribers.
  • Purpose: Promotes long-term financial planning and independence for India’s youth.
  • Government Focus: Reinforces commitment to inclusive financial security.
9. Arunangshu Sarkar has been appointed as the first Director of Strategy at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Arunangshu Sarkar has been named the first Director (Strategy and Corporate Affairs) at ONGC as part of the government's initiative to bring new perspectives and innovation to the company.The appointment is part of the government’s efforts to revamp and innovate within ONGC, aiming to bring fresh perspectives to the public sector company
Foot notes:
  • Arunangshu Sarkar, a petroleum engineer from the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, was previously Group General Manager (Production) at ONGC.
  • He also has strategic experience from his role as General Manager (Strategy & Corporate Planning) at ONGC Videsh Ltd.
About ONGC :
Founded : 14 August 1956
Headquarters : Delhi, India
Chairman & CEO : Arun Kumar Singh
10. Tito Jackson, American singer dies of a heart attack at 70
Tito Jackson, a teen heartthrob in the 1970s with hits like “ABC” and “I’ll Be There,” passed away on Sunday at the age of 70. Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson, born October 15, 1953, was the Jackson 5's backing singer and guitarist.
Foot notes:
  • Tito released his debut solo album, *Tito Time*, in 2016 and published the song “One Way Street” in 2017
  • His brothers, including Michael, pursued successful solo careers, with Michael becoming The King of Pop.
  • In 2019, he was working on his second album and had focused on parenting his three sons, TJ, Taj, and Taryll, who formed the singing trio 3T.
About America:
Capital: Washington
President: Incumbent Joe Biden
 
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