Current Affairs 11th September 2018

Current Affairs 11th September 2018 - Important Points

•  Participation  in first BIMSTEC joint military exercise refused by - Nepal

• Novak Djokovic wins men’s singles title in - 2018 US Open
• Aadhaar not mandatory for booking International Parcel on - 10th September 2018
• India’s combat aircraft Tejas successfully completes first-ever mid-air refuelling trial on - 10th September 2018

Current Affairs 11th September 2018 - Details

 Participation  in first BIMSTEC joint military exercise refused by - Nepal

Nepal has declined to take part in initial joint military exercise of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation nations planned to be organised in Pune, Maharashtra. Nepal’s withdrawal comes in awaken of rigorous criticism from ruling and opposition parties in the
nation.
Reasons for Nepal’s backing out

• The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation military drill saying it is beyond the agenda of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
  Cooperation.
• It also goes against nation’s history of subsequent policy of maintaining equal distance from its neighbouring nations, without ever part of a regional bloc militarily.
• Specialists believe that non-participation of Nepal in these ‘military drill’ certainly looks like political call and comes a time when Nepal-China ties are on upward trajectory and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation connectivity seen as counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
  BIMSTEC Military Exercise
• The 1st BIMSTEC field training workout will be directed at Foreign Training Node at Aundh in Pune,
  Maharashtra from September 10th and 16th, 2018. Armies of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation members consisting India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and Nepal were to participate in it.
• The aim of exercise includes counter-terrorism in semi-urban terrain and cordon and search. The chief objective of this military exercise is to endorse strategic alignment among the member-states and to share greatest practices in the area of counter-terrorism.

Novak Djokovic wins men’s singles title in - 2018 US Open

Former world number 1 Novak Djokovic from Serbia secured 2018 US Open title of tennis in men’s
singles group by defeating Argentina’s Juan Martín del Potro which is world no three.  It was Djokovic’s
3rd US Open title and overall fourteenth Grand Slam title. With this victory, he equalled Pete Sampras’
haul of fourteen Grand Slams. Further, he became 7th man to secure US Open singles title at least thrice in the Open Era.

2018 US Open Winners

• Women’s singles title was secured by Japan’s Naomi Osaka by defeating Serena Williams of US with a score of 6-2, 6-4 in the finals.
• Men’s Double title was secured by US duo of Mike Bryan and Jack Sock. They defeated ?ukasz Kubot of Poland and Marcelo Melo of Brazil with a 6–3, 6–1 score.
• Women’s Doubles title was secured by Ashleigh Barty from Australia and CoCo Vandeweghe from
  United States. They defeated Tímea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic of France duo by 3–6, 7–6(7–2), 7–6(8–6).
• Mixed Doubles title was secured by Jamie Murray from United Kingdom and Bethanie Mattek-Sands of United States. They defeated Alicja Rosolska of Poland and Nikola Mekti? of Croatia duo by 2–6, 6–3, [11–9] score.
  2018 US Open
• It was the 138th edition of tennis’ US Open organised on outdoor hard courts at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City.
• It was 4th and final Grand Slam event of the year. Rafael Nadal and Sloane Stephens were previous champions in the men’s and women’s singles games, but they were ineffective to defend their titles in this edition of tournament.

Aadhaar not mandatory for booking International Parcel on - 10th September 2018

The Department of Posts broadcasted that Aadhaar was not compulsory for booking an International Parcel, on 10th September 2018.
The department explained that it is compulsory to present a copy of an ID proof acceptable for crucial
transactions including booking an International parcel (Merchandise) for safety and security motives.
Further, the department explained that all related documents were only needed for office record and were not needed to be stuck on the consignments.
Did you know?

The explanation followed issuing of a news report with the heading ‘India Post asks for display of Aadhaar card details on parcels’ in one of India’s leading newspapers. The department informed that it seems like the confusion was generated by a mistaken message produced from the twitter account of the office of the Chief Postmaster General, Delhi Circle.
Following the episode, instructions have been restated to the post offices to make sure smooth booking of articles taking the convenience and regulatory necessities into account together.
In another Aadhaar related issue, the UIDAI had elucidated that schools cannot refuse admission to students for the lack of Aadhaar Card. The authority had declared that denial of admission on such basis is “invalid” and is not permitted under the law.

India’s combat aircraft Tejas successfully completes first-ever mid-air refuelling trial on - 10th September 2018

In a 1st, Tejas, the advanced version of made in India Light Combat Aircraft was positively refuelled mid air by a Russian-origin Ilyushin-78 tanker on September 10th, 2018.
The mid-air refuelling was a part of a ‘wet contact” trial for Light Combat Aircraft Tejas MK-1. The Russian-origin tanker refuelled the fighter aircraft, piloted by Wing Commander Siddarth Singh, with 1,900 litres of fuel at an altitude of 20,000 feet. The interchange validates a crucial capability sought by the Indian Air Force.
Key Highlights

• The authentic engagement followed 2 dry tests, which were directed last week when the refuelling systems including probe and drogue were tested without actually transferring fuel.
• On the day of the real test, the Light Combat Aircraft’s internal and drop tanks were refuelled while the jet was flying at 270 knots.
• The Indian Air Force provided all necessary support to DRDO including the tanker aircraft for the successful test flight.
• The Indian Air Force has well-ordered 123 Light Combat Aircraft variants at an amount of Rs 70, 000 crores and plans to order 201 additional upgraded models to arrest a sharp decay in its combat capabilities.
• Among the 123 planes on order, 20 apiece are in the initial operational clearance and the more advanced final operational clearance configurations, while the residual 83 are in the Mk-1A configuration that comes with additional enhancements.