Daily GK Updates - 8th December, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. MAHARASTHRA  BECOMES FIRST STATE TO ALLOW MLA’S ONLINE QUESTION:

The Maharashtra legislature has become the first in the country to launch an online mechanism for its members to send questions and move different motions in the House. In this regard state government has launched a website mls.org.in as part of Digital MLAs initiative in the winter session of state legislature in Nagpur.

2. CENTRAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN YOGA  AND NATUROPATHY :

Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), an autonomous organization under the Ministry of AYUSH has obtained 20 acres of land from Odisha Government in Binjhagiri Village in Khordha District to establish a Central Research Institute in Yoga and Naturopathy.

3. MoU SIGNED FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN MANUFACTURING SECTOR:

A MoU for skill development in the manufacturing sector has been signed between Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the Department of Heavy Industry (DHI). The purpose of the MoU is to create centre of excellence for different manufacturing skills and a multi-location national institute of manufacturing technologies for training education and research by utilizing/upgrading the existing training facilities of Central PSUs such as HMT, BHEL and Instrumentation Ltd. under the DHI.

4. GENETICALLY MODIFIED MOSQUITO TO HELP FIGHT MALARIA:

Scientists have genetically modified malaria-causing mosquitoes to become infertile and pass on the trait rapidly, an advance that may substantially reduce the transmission of the deadly disease. The mosquito species Anopheles Gambia is a major carrier of dangerous malaria parasites in sub-Saharan Africa, where 90 per cent of annual malaria deaths occur. 

5. ATOMIC ENERGY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2015 INTRODUCED IN LS:

To fast-track nuclear power projects in the country, a Bill to amend the Atomic Energy Act to enable Nuclear Power Corporation of India to enter into joint ventures with other public sector undertakings was introduced in the Lok Sabha. The amendment has been brought to facilitate the fast expansion of nuclear power, utility and establishment, living up to India’s commitment of using nuclear energy for peaceful purpose. 

  INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. FIRST RED ALERT ON POLLUTION DECLARED IN BEIJING:

The Chinese capital’s first ever pollution “red alert” came into effect. The alert, the highest possible warning level, was issued on December 7 and will last until midday on December 10.  It comes as China, the world’s worst polluter, takes part in talks on carbon emissions in Paris. It is the first time China has declared a red alert under the four-tier alert system, which was adopted a little over two years ago, although pollution levels were far from the city’s worst

2. US HOUSE PASSED VISA WAIVER PROGRAMME IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2015:

US House of Representatives on 8 December 2015 passed the Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act of 2015. It amends the United States' visa travel practices. The lawmakers voted 407 to 19 in support of the Bill that seeks to impose restrictions on people who have visited Iraq, Syria and countries listed as supporting terrorism to travel visa-free to the United States.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. INDIA PICKS UP HISTORIC WIN OVER SOUTH AFRICA:

India wins Kotla Test against South Africa to seal series 3-0.This was also India’s highest victory margin in terms of runs, beating their 320-run defeat of Australia in Mohali in 2008. 

2. PUNE , RAJKOT BECOME INTERIM IPL FRANCHISEES TO REPLACES CSK, RR:

Pune and Rajkot have become the new interim franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) through the reverse bidding process. They will replace the suspended teams of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) for a period of two years. The Pune franchise was bought by Kolkata-based company New Rising owned by business tycoon Sanjiv Goenka, while Intex Mobiles won the bid for the Rajkot franchise.

BANKING & ECONOMY:

3. VODAFONE ANNOUNCES 4G SERVICES ROLL-OUT:  Vodafone India Ltd, the country’s second largest communications services provider announced the launch of its 4G telecom services in Kochi, becoming India’s second Telco to roll out the high-speed telecom service in India, after Bharti Airtel, the country’s largest Telco.

AWARDS:

4. INS SINDHUDHWAJ BAGS AWARDS FOR INNOVATION FROM MODI:

INS Sindhudhwaj, a submarine of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC), has been awarded ‘The Best Innovation Trophy’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The award was given as part of the Navy Day celebrations that concluded recently. The innovation undertaken by the submarine to repair their ventilation system under challenging circumstances at sea during a search and rescue (SAR) operation was adjudged the first among the 137 entries of Navy.

5. INDIAN- AMERICAN ENTREPRENEUR TO GET UTTAR PRADESH RATNA AWARD:

An Indian-American entrepreneur and philanthropist will be conferred with Uttar Pradesh Ratna Award to recognise his achievements and outstanding contributions in a foreign country. Frank Islam studied at Aligarh Muslim University will be honoured by UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav at the inaugural UP Pravasi Diwas in Agra on January 4. The UP Ratna award has been instituted to recognise achievements and outstanding contributions of NRIs who hail from the state.

OBITUARIES:

6. FORMER FIFA REFEREE SK BHATTACHARYA PASSES AWAY:

Former FIFA referee SK Bhattacharya has passed away in Chandanpur, West Bengal following a brief illness. One of India’s most reputed referee in the 1960’s and 1970’s, Bhattacharya held the distinction of supervising the Asia Cup finals in the 1972 in Tehran. He also supervised the finals of all top tournaments in the country, including Durand Cup, DCM trophy and IAF Shield.