Current Affairs 15 September 2026

Houthis Expand Control Along Yemen’s Red Sea Coast

The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, have made major territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast in September 2026, strengthening their position around the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Reports indicate that Houthi forces captured areas including Mocha and Dhubab and reached Perim (Mayyun) Island, located in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The Houthi movement emerged among the Zaydi Shia community of northern Yemen and developed from a religious revivalist movement in the 1990s. It is named after Hussein al-Houthi, whose rebellion against the Yemeni government began in 2004. The Houthis captured the capital Sana’a in 2014, after which a Saudi-led coalition intervened militarily in Yemen in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government.

A UN-brokered nationwide truce began in April 2022, significantly reducing large-scale fighting for a period. However, renewed conflict in 2026 has again increased tensions between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces.

Why is Bab el-Mandeb Important?

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. Ships travelling between Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal normally pass through this narrow chokepoint. The Suez–Red Sea route has historically handled roughly 12–15% of global trade, making security in the Bab el-Mandeb crucial for international shipping.

Eritrea–Ethiopia Tensions Rise in the Horn of Africa

Eritrea accused neighbouring Ethiopia of destabilising the Horn of Africa on 12 September 2026, marking another escalation in tensions between the two countries. Eritrea’s Foreign Ministry alleged that the Ethiopian government had intensified hostile rhetoric and supported groups acting against Eritrea.

Eritrea and Ethiopia share a long and troubled history. Eritrea became independent from Ethiopia in 1993, after which Ethiopia became a landlocked country. The two countries later fought a major border war from 1998 to 2000, largely linked to disputes over their boundary.

The conflict formally ended with the Algiers Agreement of 2000. Relations improved significantly in 2018, when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki signed a Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship. Abiy Ahmed subsequently received the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, partly for his efforts to achieve peace with Eritrea.

Mysuru to Host India’s First L’Étape by Tour de France Cycling Event

Mysuru in Karnataka will host India’s first L’Étape by Tour de France cycling event on 4 October 2026. L’Étape Mysuru is part of the official amateur cycling series associated with the Tour de France and will bring the Tour de France-style racing experience to India for the first time. The event is being organised by NEB Sports in association with Karnataka Tourism.

Andhra Pradesh Launches ‘Trishul’ Strategy to Tackle Drugs

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed the police and district administrations to implement a new three-pronged strategy called “Trishul”. The initiative aims to achieve zero drugs, zero tolerance towards atrocities against women, and zero road accidents in the State. State-level and district-level Trishul committees will be formed to prepare time-bound action plans and monitor their implementation.

• The State also plans to establish De-addiction Centres of Excellence at Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Amaravati.
• The government has additionally proposed a “One Court–One Constable” system to monitor cases pending before courts and improve follow-up in criminal cases.

New Development Bank

The New Development Bank (NDB) came into focus during the BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi as an important mechanism for financing infrastructure and sustainable development in emerging and developing economies. The NDB was established by the five original BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — and began operations in 2015.

The NDB has so far approved 139 projects worth about US$42.9 billion. Its major areas of financing include transport, clean energy, water and sanitation, social infrastructure and digital infrastructure. The Bank is headquartered in Shanghai, China, and is currently headed by former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

India is one of the NDB’s largest beneficiaries. By March 2026, the Bank had committed nearly US$10 billion across 32 projects in India, including metro rail projects and the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). The NDB also operates its India Regional Office at GIFT City, Gujarat.

A major feature of the NDB is its emphasis on local-currency financing. Its 2022–26 strategy targets 30% of total financing in the national currencies of member countries. Lending in local currencies can reduce the foreign-exchange risk faced by infrastructure projects whose revenues are earned in domestic currency.

The NDB is also working on its proposed Indian Rupee bond programme, also referred to as the proposed Maharaja Bond programme. It aims to mobilise around ₹25,000 crore over five years to finance infrastructure and other projects in India in rupees.

Joe Root Breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s Record for Most Test Fifties

England captain Joe Root became the batter with the most half-centuries in Test cricket, surpassing Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar during the third Test against Pakistan in England. With this innings, Root increased his tally to 69 Test fifties, moving past Tendulkar’s previous record of 68 Test half-centuries.

India Wins Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Cricket Title

The Indian women’s cricket team won the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026, defeating defending champions Sri Lanka in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, UAE. With this victory, India lifted the Women’s Asia Cup for a record eighth time.

• Player of the Match: Shafali Verma (India)

Q1. Andhra Pradesh’s ‘Trishul’ strategy, announced in September 2026, focuses on which of the following three objectives?
A. Zero poverty, zero unemployment and zero school dropouts
B. Zero drugs, zero tolerance towards atrocities against women and zero road accidents
C. Zero corruption, zero cybercrime and zero traffic violations
D. Zero drugs, zero pollution and zero organised crime

Q2. Which Indian city will host the country’s first L’Étape by Tour de France cycling event in October 2026?
A. Bengaluru
B. Mysuru
C. Pune
D. Hyderabad

Q3. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, recently in the news due to advances by Yemen’s Houthi forces, connects the Red Sea with which of the following?
A. Persian Gulf
B. Gulf of Aden
C. Gulf of Oman
D. Mediterranean Sea

Q4. Mayyun Island, seen in the news recently, is located in which strategically important maritime chokepoint?
A. Strait of Hormuz
B. Bab el-Mandeb Strait
C. Strait of Malacca
D. Bosporus Strait

Q5. Eritrea and Ethiopia, recently in the news over renewed tensions, are located in which geographical region of Africa?
A. Sahel
B. Horn of Africa
C. Maghreb
D. Great Lakes Region

Q6. What is the capital of Eritrea?
A. Addis Ababa
B. Asmara
C. Djibouti
D. Mogadishu

Q7. Who surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 68 half-centuries to become the batter with the most fifties in Test cricket in September 2026?
A. Steve Smith
B. Kane Williamson
C. Joe Root
D. Virat Kohli

Q8. The New Development Bank’s proposed Indian Rupee bond programme aims to mobilise approximately how much over five years?
A. ₹10,000 crore
B. ₹15,000 crore
C. ₹25,000 crore
D. ₹50,000 crore

Q9. Who was named Player of the Match in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 final between India and Sri Lanka?
A. Smriti Mandhana
B. Deepti Sharma
C. Shafali Verma
D. Sree Charani