Today's Current Affairs (16.09.2019)

World Ozone Day: 16 September

World Ozone Day is observed on 16 September every year to spread awareness among people about the depletion of the Ozone Layer.

• In 1994, the UN General Assembly proclaimed this day as 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.
• The theme of World Ozone Day 2019 is '32 years and Healing'.

Poland’s Foreign Minister unveils memorial dedicated to Polish World War 2 refugees in Kolhapur

Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland Marcin Przydacz inaugurated the museum in Kolhapur, where around 5000 Polish people took asylum during the World War-2.

• A Memorial Museum was built to commemorates the asylum seekers.
• When Poland was caught between Adolf Hitler’s Germany and Josef Stalin’s Russia during the Second World War, a stream of refugees made their way to Valivade village in Kolhapur district, 235 km from Pune.

Arunachal Pradesh CM dedicates Dikshi Hydroelectric Project to people of the state

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu dedicated the Dikshi Hydroelectric Project to the people of the state.

• The 24 Mega Watt Hydroelectric Project has been installed at Dikshi Village in West Kameng District.
• It is a Run-of-the-River project constructed on the river Phudung by Devi Energies Private Limited.
• It was completed in a record time of four years with an investment of about 430 crore rupees.
• Government of Arunachal Pradesh is the sole beneficiary of the power generation from this project.

Traditional Neermahal Jal Utsav concludes in Tripura

In Tripura, the three-day-long traditional Neermahal Jal Utsav concluded with eye-catching boat race and swimming competitions at Rudrasagar lake.

• Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb flagged off the boat race.
• Neermahal is a water palace built at the middle of Rudrasagar lake by Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya in 1930 as his summer resort is inspired by the Mughal style of architecture.

 ‘Great Ganga Run 2019’ flagged off in New Delhi

Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju flagged off ‘Great Ganga Run-2019’ at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.

• The event was organised by Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• A large number of people from all age groups participated in the marathon.

Justice P Lakshman Reddy sworn in as first Lokayukta of Andhra Pradesh

Justice P Lakshman Reddy was sworn in as the first Lokayukta of Andhra Pradesh.

• The oath was administered by Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan.
• Justice Reddy will be holding the position for the next five years.
• He is the first Lokayukta to be assuming charge since the state bifurcated in 2014.
• Justice Reddy had begun his career as an advocate in the district court and later elevated to the status of the judge in the High Court.

Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav, Chairman, Railway Board awarded with Eminent Engineers Award

The Union Minister for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, awarded Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav, Chairman, Railway Board with Eminent Engineers Award.

• The award was presented at the special event to mark the 52nd Engineers’ Day organised by the Institution of Engineers in New Delhi.
• The award was for his outstanding contributions in the field of engineering.

Bangladesh School project wins Aga Khan Architecture Award

An innovative project for constructing a floating school for children in Bangladesh has been awarded the prestigious Aga Khan Architecture Award 2019.

• The award was given away in Kajan, the republic of Tatarstan for the Arcadia Education Project in South Kanarchor of Bangladesh.
• The project involved the construction of a school in an area which is underwater during the monsoon months.
• Five other projects from other countries were also given the award.

Smith creates a record of scoring most runs in a series this century

Australia batsman Steve Smith has now become the highest run-scorer in a Test series of this century.

• In the ongoing fifth Ashes Test against England, Smith went past his own record of scoring 769 runs against India during the 2014-15 season.
• Smith now has a total of 774 runs in the series.
• Smith has made his comeback in the international cricket in the ICC Men's World Cup after serving a 12 months suspension for his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal at Newlands in March 2018.
• Smith recently attainted the number one batsman spot in the ICC Test rankings.

Pankaj Advani clinches record 22nd world billiards title

Pankaj Advani increased his tally of world titles to 22 by winning a fourth straight final in the 150-up format at the IBSF World Billiards Championship.

• The 34-year-old has brought home a world trophy every year ever since returning from a professional stint in the UK in 2014.
• With another trophy in the bag, Advani extends his remarkable run of winning a global crown since 2003.
• The Bengaluru-based Advani has won more world titles in his sport than anyone else.