Daily GK Updates - 3rd July, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. BRICS Youth Summit, 2016 held: The 2016 BRICS Youth Summit held in Guwahati, Assam concluded on 3 July 2016. The theme of the 2nd youth summit that started on 1 July 2016 was“Youth as bridge for Intra-BRICS Exchanges”.The three day summit saw participation of officials and youth of the delegation from BRICS nations, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

2. Kerala Government decided to ban ‘electronic cigarettes’: It was banned in view of studies claiming that its use can cause various health issues, including cancer and heart ailments.In this regard, the health ministry directed the additional chief secretary (health) to issue an order banning the production, sale and advertisement of 'electronic cigarette' alias 'e-cigarette'.With this, Kerala became the fourth Indian state to ban e-cigarettes. The other three states are Punjab (1st state to do so), Maharashtra and Karnataka.

3. National Doctor’s Day 2016 observed on 1 July 2016 across India: The 2016 National Doctors’ Day was observed on 1 July 2016 across India.The day is observed to honour legendary physician, Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy whose birth and death anniversary falls on the same day.

4. INS Tarasa, follow-on Water Jet Fast Attack Craft launched by Indian Navy: Indian Navy launched the fourth in the series of Follow-on Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (FO-WJFAC) called INS Tarasa. It was launched at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata.The name of the ship, like the previously launched FO-WJFACs, is based on the picturesque island in the Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal.

5. Union HRD Ministry launches teacher education portal ‘Prashikshak’: The Union Minister for Human Resource Development SmritiZubinIrani launched the Prashikshak, a teacher education portal, with a vision to strengthen District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) and bring quality teachers into the Indian school education system.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Solar Alliance Cell and World Bank sign Declaration for promoting Solar Energy: The Interim Administrative Cell of the International Solar Alliance (ISA Cell) and the World Bank on 30 June 2016 signed declaration to promote solar energy globally. The declaration was signed during the visit of the World Bank President Jim Yong Kim to India in June 2016. The declaration was signed by UpendraTripathy, Secretary of Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Chairperson, ISA cell and OnnoRuhl, India Country Director of the World Bank.

2. Exercise RIPMAC 2016 begins: Exercise RIMPAC 2016, the Pacific military exercise, began on 30 June 2016 at Hawaii with 26 nations participating in the war games that will cover the Hawaiian Island and southern California.The theme of RIMPAC 2016 is Capable, Adaptive, and Partners. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.  ICC relaxes Decision Review System: The International Cricket Council (ICC) approved a change to the DRS (Decision Review System) playing condition relating to the LBW “Umpire’s Call”. The decision will allow changes to the decision review system which will make it easier to overturn not-out LBW decisions.As per the amendment, the size of the zone inside which half the ball needs to hit any part of the stumps for a not out decision.  Currently, half of the ball would need to be hitting a zone between the centre of leg and off stumps.

2. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu becomes first Indian to play in Europa League: Sandhu was named in Norwegian club Stabaek FC'ssquad for their Europa League qualifying match against Welsh Premier League side Connah's Quay Nomads FC.

OBITUARIES:

3. Former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard died at the age of 85: Michel Rocard, former Prime Minister of France, passed away in Paris, France. He was 85.Rocard served as Prime Minister under President Francois Mitterrand from 1988 to 1991.

4. Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel died at the age of 87.