Daily GK Updates - 4th January, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Arunima Sinha scaled Mount Aconcagua in Argentina: Arunima Sinha, the amputee mountaineer who set a record by climbing the Mount Everest, conquered Mount Aconcagua in Argentina. 

2. India successfully test fired indigenously developed MBRL Pinaka II at Pokhran: Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) successfully test fired Pinaka II multi barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system from Pokhran test range in Rajasthan.

3. Union Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval for MoU on BRICS Network University: The Union Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval for signing of MoU among BRICS countries on BRICS Network University. The MoU will help in developing pro-active cooperation among the BRICS nations for the purpose of enhancement of scientific research, higher education and information exchange.

4. Terrorist attacked IAF Airbase at Pathankot: Several heavily armed terrorists belonging to Jaish-e-mohammad, an islamist militant group attacked Pathankot Air Force Station, part of the Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force.  

5. Union Government announced setting up of CCL Sports University in Jharkhand: The University will have a capacity of 1400 students and 15 sports academies. As 700 out of the total 1400 students will be selected from Jharkhand, the university will help the youth from the state to sharpen their skills under coaches of international standards. A MoU was signed between Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) and the Jharkhand Government.

6. Justice R M Lodha Committee submitted its report to the Supreme Court: The Committee submitted its report to the Supreme Court suggesting reforms in the Board of Cricket Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The panel has recommended separate governing bodies for IPL and BCCI, with limited autonomy for the IPL Governing Council. It has also recommended legalising betting.

7. President Pranab Mukherjee gives assent to five key legislations: The legislations are the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, the Schedule Castes and the Schedule Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, The Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Act, The Atomic Energy (Amendment) Act and the Payment of Bonus Act, 2015.

8. A strong 6.7 magnitude earthquake jolts North Eastern and Eastern parts of the country.

9. CM Akhilesh Yadav kick starts three day long UP Pravasi Divas at Agra.

10. R K S Bhadauria takes over as Deputy Chief of Air Staff.

11. Maharashtra Government inks MoU with Pawan Hans: In a bid to give impetus to tourism in state, Maharashtra government has signed a MoU with private helicopter company Pawan Hans.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir announced that his country has broken off diplomatic ties with Iran. The announcement was made amid a row over the Saudi execution of prominent Shia Muslim cleric.

2. World Braille Day observed on January 4: World Braille Day was observed across the World on January 4 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Louis Braille. 

3. Indian consulate in Afghanistan’s Mazar-i-Sharif city attacked: All consulate personnel are safe. Explosions and gunfire were heard at the compound when the attackers tried to storm the consulate building. 

OTHER UPDATES:

OBITUARIES:

1. Veteran CPI leader AB Bardhan passed away at the age of 92 after prolonged illness.

2. Oscar winning Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond died at the age of 85 in California (USA): He won the Oscar award for Steven Spielberg’s ‘Close Encounters of the third kind’.

3. English cricketer Matthew Hobden passed away at the age of 22: He played for Sussex.