Current Affairs - September 8, 2025 Current Affairs

Russia’s Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA) announced a significant breakthrough by unveiling a colon cancer vaccine during the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) 2025. The vaccine demonstrated promising results in preclinical trials, with a 60–80% reduction in tumour size, improved survival rates, and no recorded adverse effects. It specifically targets colorectal cancer, which is one of the world’s leading causes of cancer-related deaths. If approved by regulators, this would become Russia’s first immunotherapy treatment for colorectal cancer. Furthermore, FMBA is also working on developing vaccines for glioblastoma and melanoma, marking a major stride in cancer research and treatment.

Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the leader of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has been re-elected as the President of Guyana with a decisive mandate. His party secured more than double the votes of its nearest rival, marking a stronger position than in the 2020 elections. Guyana, situated on the northern Atlantic coast of South America, has its capital at Georgetown and its Prime Minister as Mark Phillips. Ali’s re-election reflects continued public confidence in his leadership and the PPP’s governance, further shaping Guyana’s political stability and regional influence in South America.

International Literacy Day 2025 will be observed on September 8 with global events focusing on the theme “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era.” The day emphasizes the importance of digital literacy, highlighting access to digital platforms, the creation of content, and safe engagement in online spaces. It also brings attention to critical aspects such as privacy, ethics, sustainability, and critical thinking while navigating digital environments. Since its inception in 1967, International Literacy Day has played a vital role in advocating literacy as a fundamental human right, fostering awareness and collective efforts to achieve global educational equality.

David Lammy, who was serving as the UK’s Foreign Secretary, has been appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister following Angela Rayner’s resignation due to a tax scandal involving underpaid stamp duty. Rayner stepped down from both her Deputy PM role and position as Labour’s deputy leader, creating a significant shift within the party’s leadership structure. In the subsequent reshuffle led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Yvette Cooper was moved to the role of Foreign Secretary, while Shabana Mahmood became the new Home Secretary. Lammy’s elevation reflects his rising influence within the government and the Labour Party.

Bhubaneswar has been chosen as the host city for the 28th ITTF-ATTU Asian Table Tennis Team Championships in October 2025. This prestigious event will feature both men’s and women’s team competitions and also act as a qualifier for the 2026 ITTF World Team Championships. It is the first time that Odisha will host an Asian-level table tennis tournament, marking a significant achievement for the state. The championships are expected to draw top teams from powerhouse nations such as China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, along with emerging teams, making Bhubaneswar a major hub for global table tennis action.

Punjab National Bank (PNB) signed a significant ₹21,000 crore Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rajasthan government as part of the Rising Rajasthan initiative. The collaboration focuses on empowering MSMEs, promoting women entrepreneurs, and strengthening digital financial inclusion across the state. PNB aims to facilitate easier access to credit, encourage adoption of modern technology, and provide financial support to women-led enterprises. As part of this initiative, 2,000 loan letters were distributed to women entrepreneurs in Jaipur. This MoU represents a step toward socio-economic development and inclusive growth, reinforcing PNB’s role in driving financial empowerment in Rajasthan.

India created history by winning its first-ever men’s compound team gold at the 2025 World Archery Championships. The Indian team secured a narrow 235–233 victory over France in a thrilling final, showcasing exceptional composure under pressure. Key performances came from Rishabh Yadav, Priyansh Saini, and Aman Fuge, whose teamwork and precision proved decisive. In addition, Rishabh Yadav also bagged a silver medal in the mixed team event alongside Jyothi Surekha Vennam. While the women’s team ended their eight-year medal streak with an early exit, Coach Teja’s tactical planning and strategies were instrumental in India’s landmark achievement.

INS Kadmatt, an Indian Navy ship, played a key role in Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Day celebrations. The ship’s naval band performed at the Military Tattoo in Port Moresby, where bands from various nations came together to promote unity and cultural harmony through music. India’s martial and melodic tunes were particularly appreciated during the event. Additionally, INS Kadmatt’s crew visited the Bomana War Cemetery to honour the memory of World War II heroes, including the unsung Indian soldiers who fought bravely. This act highlighted India’s respect for shared history and its commitment to international friendship.

India emerged victorious in the Men’s Asia Cup Hockey, defeating South Korea 4-1 to secure its 4th title. The goals came from Sukhjeet, Amit Rohidas, and Dilpreet Singh, who scored twice, giving India a commanding win. This triumph also earned India a direct qualification spot for the 2026 Men’s Hockey World Cup to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium. After an 8-year gap, India reclaimed continental hockey supremacy, reflecting its strong preparation, teamwork, and resilience. To celebrate the achievement, Hockey India announced cash rewards of ₹3 lakh for players and ₹1.5 lakh for the support staff.

The newly inaugurated NTH Chemical Laboratory is located in Ghaziabad. This facility is designed to enhance testing and analysis in multiple sectors such as water, food packaging, construction materials, fertilizers, plastics, and metals. With advanced equipment like AAS, ICP-AES, OES, GC-MS, HPLC, and Ion Chromatograph, the lab aims to support both industrial needs and public health by ensuring strict safety and quality compliance. Establishing such a facility in Ghaziabad strengthens the city’s role in national-level research and development, while also helping industries adhere to international testing and regulatory standards.

Israel successfully launched the Ofek-19 satellite on 2nd September 2025 using a Shavit rocket from the Palmachim Airbase. Ofek-19 is a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)-based reconnaissance satellite designed to provide high-resolution images with sub-half-metre accuracy, offering effective all-weather and day-night surveillance. Its primary role is to monitor regional threats from Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah, significantly strengthening Israel’s defence and intelligence-gathering capabilities. This launch further enhances Israel’s independent space program and highlights its strong security and technological cooperation with the United States, marking a major step in safeguarding national and regional security interests.