Important Current Affairs 25th September 2018 English

International News

4th India International Science Festival to be inaugurated by President of India
  
The fourth edition of India International Science Festival will be inaugurated by President of India in Lucknow on October 6, 2018. IISF-2018 is expected to be represented by approximately 10000 delegates including 5000 students, 550 teachers, 200 students from North-East Region, 20 international delegates and approximately 200 startups.
The first and second IISF were held in New Delhi and the third in Chennai. Ministry of Science & Technology; Earth Sciences in association with Vijnana Bharti or VIBHA is organising the four-day event from 5-8 October, 2018. 

BRICS bank approves $525 mn loan for infra projects in MP
 
The New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS countries has approved a $525-million loan to Madhya Pradesh for infrastructure projects.
The Board of Directors of the NDB approved a $350-million loan for the Major District Roads Project II of Madhya Pradesh and $175 million for building and upgrading 350 bridges.
The loan will be used by the Indian Government for on-lending to the Madhya Pradesh government for rehabilitating major district roads with a total length of about 2,000 km to improve the connectivity of the rural interior with the national and state highway networks, a press release issued by the Shanghai-based bank said.
The project will improve the road conditions and enhance the transport capacity, which will lead to a less travel time, reduced vehicle-operating cost, reduced emissions and improved road safety.

BSNL signs deal with Softbank, NTT to roll out 5G, internet of things

State-run telecom firm BSNL has inked a pact with Japan’s Softbank and NTT Communications to roll out 5G and internet of things (IoT) technology in India.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has recommended the auction of about 8,644 MHz of telecom frequencies at an estimated base price of ₹ 4.9 lakh crore. The government is yet to finalise details of allocation of spectrum for 5G services.

PM Modi inaugurates new airport in Odisha's Jharsuguda 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a new airport at Jharsuguda, which he said will attract investors to the mineral-rich area and act as a lifeline in the western region of the state.
It would act as a junction for neighbouring Raipur and Ranchi and strengthen connectivity. Development of eastern Indian states, including Odisha, West Bengal and Assam, was essential for achieving balanced development of the country.

Defence News
India successfully test fires Prithvi Defence Vehicle

India successfully conducted an interceptor missile test off the Odishacoast last night, achieving a major milestone in developing a two-layerBallistic Missile Defence system. Defence sources said, the interceptor waslaunched from Abdul Kalam Island of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at 8.05 PM. 

A Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist said that thisPrithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) mission is for engaging the targets in theexo-atmosphere region at an altitude above 50 kilometres of the earth'satmosphere. 

According to DRDO sources, both the PDV interceptor and the targetmissile were successfully engaged. In an automated operation, radar-baseddetection and tracking system detected and tracked the enemy's ballistic missile.

Sports News
Sinisuka Ginting and Carolina Marin Won China Open 

 
In Badminton, Indonesia's Anthony Sinisuka Ginting beat Japan's Kento Momota to take the Men's singles China Open title in Changzhou.  Spain's Carolina Marin beat China's Chen Yufei to take the women's singles title. The 3rd seed, Momota who took the Japan Open title on home ground last week, was beaten by world number 13th Ginting. 

Ginting last beat Momota at the Asian Games in Jakarta last month.  Top Indian shuttlers P.V.Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth lost their quarter-final matches earlier, drawing curtains to India's campaign at the China Open.