Important Current Affairs 17th September 2018 English

17th September 2018 - GK and Current Affairs

Science & Space
Inauguration of Polarimetry Doppler Weather Radar at Sriharikota spaceport
 
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has inaugurated the Polarimetry Doppler Weather Radar at Sriharikota spaceport near Chennai.
The S–Band Polarimetry Doppler Weather Radar facility was launched at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota by Isro Chairman Dr K Sivan.
The radar has been developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bengaluru under ToT (Training of Trainers) from ISRO.
Doppler Weather Radar (DWR)
The Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) provides advanced information, enhances the lead-time essential for saving lives and property in the event of a natural disaster associated with severe weather.
While conventional radars are able to track and predict cyclones, the DWR provides detailed information on a storm’s internal wind flow and structure.
The severity of the weather systems can be quantitatively estimated and more precise advanced warnings can be generated for saving human lives and property.
The polarimetric capability of the radar will significantly improve the accuracy of rainfall estimation leading to accurate and timely flash flood warnings, according to ISRO’s earlier release.

PSLV-C42 launches 2 foreign satellites
 
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C42) of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched two satellites -- NovaSAR and S1-4 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.
The satellites belong to UK-based Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), which has a contract with Antrix Corporation Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO. 
NovaSAR
NovaSAR carries S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Automatic Identification Receiver payloads. The satellite applications include forestry mapping, land use and ice cover monitoring, flood and disaster monitoring and maritime missions. It will be operated from SSTL’s Spacecraft Operations Centre in Guildford, UK.
S1-4
S1-4 is a high resolution earth observation satellite meant for surveying resources, environment monitoring, urban management and disaster monitoring.
Important
This was the 44th flight of PSLV and the 12th flight of the Core Alone version of the vehicle. Core Alone is its lightest version without the six strap-on motors. It is used for launching smaller payloads.

DRDO successfully tests anti-tank missile
 
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on 16th September successfully tested a low-weight indigenously developed man-portable anti-tank guided missile (MPATGM) at its Ahmednagar range. It was the second MPATGM test, the second test was held on 15th September. 

MPATGM
The MPATGM is a third-generation anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), which has been under development by DRDO in partnership with Indian defense contractor VEM Technologies Ltd. since 2015.  Fitted with a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead, the MPATGM reportedly boasts a top attack capability and has a maximum engagement range of about 2.5 kilometers.

Sports News
Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge sets new marathon world record
 
Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge set a new marathon world record in Berlin, smashing the previous best as he clocked 2 hour 1 minute 39 second.
The 33-year-old Olympic champion, aided by a string of pacemakers through to 25km of the 42.195 km race, took 1 minute 17 second off the previous best set four years ago by Dennis Kimetto.
It was the largest single improvement on the marathon world record since Derek Clayton improved the mark by 2:23 in 1967.
About Eliud Kipchoge
Eliud Kipchoge (born 5 November 1984) is a Kenyan long distance runner, the 2016 Olympic gold medallist in the marathon, and current world record holder in the marathon. He has been described as “the greatest marathoner of the modern era.” He has won 10 out of 11 marathons he raced; he finished second in his second marathon in 2013 in Berlin, where Wilson Kipsang ran the world record for that time.

Sakshi Malik settles for Silver medal at Medved Intl Wrestling
 
Rio Olympics Bronze medalist Sakshi Malik settled for a Silver medal at the Medved International Wrestling tournament at Minsk, Belarus last night. 

In the Final of the 62 kg category, Sakshi lost to Hungary's Marianna Sastin, 2-6 to finish second best.Other Indian grappler Pooja Dhanda bagged a Bronze medal in the 57 kg category after she produced a superb performance in the repechage round.

MC Mary Kom clinches her 3rd gold medal of the year at Silesian Open boxing in Poland
 
Indian five-time world boxing champion M C Mary Kom today clinched her third gold medal of the year in 48 kg category, while Jyoti Gulia picked up the country's lone gold in 51 kg of the youth category of the Silesian Open boxing Tournament for women in Gliwice, Poland

International News

Second Nepal-China joint military drill from Monday
 
The second edition of Nepal-China joint military exercise named Mt Everest Friendship Exercise-2018 (Sagarmatha Friendship-2018) with a special focus on combating terror began from 17th September in China's southwestern Sichuan province.
The Nepal Army's 12 military personnel will visit China to attend the second edition of 'Mt Everest Friendship Exercise', a 12-day long military drill.
Objective:-
The exercise will mainly focus on anti-terrorism activities, Disaster management training.
This will be the second time that the Nepal Army will participate in a joint military drill with People's Liberation Army. The first such exercise was held in April last year 2017.
Important:-
Nepal has been conducting battalion-level exercises named 'Surya Kiran' with the Indian Army for the last 13 years, engaging some 300 personnel from both sides.

Day & Dates News

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
 
September 16 was designated by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. This designation had been made on December 19, 2000, in commemoration of the date, in 1987, on which nations signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
In 1994, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 16 September the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
Ozone layer 
The Ozone layer or ozone shield is a region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation. It contains high concentrations ofozone (O3) in relation to other parts of the atmosphere, although still small in relation to other gases in the stratosphere.