Daily GK Updates - 25th October, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi launches 7 schemes worth Rs 5000 crore in Varanasi: The schemes launched includes "Urja Ganga".

a. Expansion of Diesel Locomotive Works, the dedication of 765/400 KV GIS Varanasi Power Sub-station and inauguration of Varanasi Postal Region. 

b. Inaugurated second line and electrification of Allahabad-Varanasi rail line and setting up of perishable cargo centre at Rajatalab Railway Station. 

c. Doubling and electrification of 120-km-long Varanasi-Madhosingh-Allahabad railway line involving an expenditure of Rs 750.66 crore.

d. An expansion project of the Diesel Locomotive Works and Felicitation of selected beneficiaries of SukanyaSamriddhiYojana, and handed over LPG connections to select Ujjwala beneficiaries.

e. Released a commemorative postage stamp on Varanasi City.

2. Bilal Nazki appointed as chairperson of JKHRC: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has appointed former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court Bilal Nazki as the chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission.

3. FIFA U-17 World Cup in India to start from October 6 next year: The U-17 FIFA World Cup will be held in India from October 6 to 28 next year, with the draw scheduled for July 7. The tournament will be held in six cities across the country, namely Kochi, Mumbai, Guwahati, Delhi, Goa and Kolkata.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. China’s space lab launches micro satellite: Tiangong-2, the experimental space lab of China has successfully launched a micro-satellite, Banxing-2 (the word means Companion Satellite). The micro-satellite is roughly the size of a desktop printer. At present, Tiangong-2 is orbiting the Earth with two astronauts on board.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. Bank of America unveils AI-powered ‘personal finance’ bot: Bank of America has unveiled a virtual assistant called Erica,that uses artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to learn consumers' personal spending habits and offer financial advice. It will help users understand financial concepts and warn them of imminent risks, among other things.

SPORTS:

2. Portugal’s Renato Sanches wins 2016 European Golden Boy Award: Portugal’s Renato Sanches on 24 October 2016 was awarded the 2016 European Golden Boy award. Sanches will be handed a trophy at a Monte Carlo ceremony. He defeated Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Bayern's Kingsley Coman and AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to bag the prize.

AWARDS:

3. 54 eminent personalities selected for Yash Bharti Awards 2016: The Uttar Pradesh government has declared the list of Yash Bharati awardees 2016. 54 personalities have been selected for the coveted award for the year 2016-17. The award is given by the Uttar Pradesh Government for excellence in literature, fine arts, folk and classical music and sports.Some of the prominent names: 1. Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah. 2. PayTM CEO Vijay Shekhar 3. Paralympic athlete Varun Kumar. 4. Qawwali singers Aftab and Hashim (Sabri Brothers) 5. Film director Saurabh Shukla.