Daily GK Updates - 14th March, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Government launches Mission Fingerling to achieve Blue Revolution: The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare has launched Mission Fingerling to achieve the Blue Revolution by enabling holistic development and management of fisheries. The programme will enhance the fisheries production from 10.79 mmt (2014-15) to 15 mmt by 2020-21.

Fish Fingerling production is the single most important critical input visualized to achieve fish production targets under the Blue Revolution.

2. Women Safety app ‘Ammavin Aran’ launched by AIADMK: The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) IT Wing has launched the women safety application 'Ammavin Aran' in Tamil Nadu.

The app will give the user details about the nearest police station and hospital along with map details and phone number. 

The app carries an in-built call recorder and 'Tips' icon to provide life- saving information.

3. Rs. 605-crore ‘KCR Kit’ scheme for pregnant women, new born: Focussing on women welfare and new born, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has come out with an innovative scheme – KCR Kit. The scheme is designed to address complications during the time of pregnancy and aimed at reducing infant mortality rate and encourage institutional deliveries. The KCR Kit consists of 16 essential things needed for a new-born and will be useful for up to three months. The government proposes to earmark Rs605 crore for the scheme.

4. Admiralty Bill  by Lok Sabha: Lok Sabha passes The Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims Bill which is also known as Admiralty Bill. Mr. Mansukh Madaviya has introduced the bill who is the Minister of State for Shipping on 16th November 2017.

5. SSB signs a MoU with National Skill Development Corporation: Sashastra Seema Bal signs a Memorandum with the NSDC popularly known as National Skill Development Corporation tp increase the skills of the individuals and their families. As a result, It is a step towards the development of India. Archana Ramasundaram is the Director of Sashastra Seema Bal.

6. New Chief Justices in High Courts of various states in India: In various states in India like Kerala, Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, new Chief Justices are appointed in the High Courts. Justice Hemant Gupta, the Judge of Patna court is now the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court. Justice Rajendra Menon, the judge of Madhya Pradesh Court is now the Chief Justice of Patna.

7. Arunachal Pradesh Launches Adarsh Gram Yojana for Rural Poor: The Arunachal Pradesh government has launched a new scheme 'Adarsh Gram Yojana' to reach the poor people in rural areas of the state to serve them better.

Under the scheme, 123 villages will be developed as “Model Villages” during the FY 17-18.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Vienna tops the list of cities offering the highest quality of life (research by consulting firm Mercer’s): While Baghdad is again considered the worst place to live. This survey of 231 cities helps companies and organizations determine compensation and hardship allowances for international staff. Singapore was the highest ranked Asian city, at 25 while 29th-placed San Francisco was the United States’ highest entry.

2. Pakistan is set to conduct its first national census in 19 years: With the assistance of over 200,000 troops, Pakistan will conduct its national census. The National census will be conducted in two phases from 15th March and will be completed on 25th May 2017.

3. Bangladesh’s unanimously adopted a resolution declaring 25th March as Genocide Day:  The day will be observed in remembrance of the atrocities carried out by the Pakistani Army in the night of 25th March, 1971.

OTHER UPDATES

BUSINESS & ECONOMY:

1. OnePlus India Ropes Amitabh Bachchan as its New Brand Ambassador: Chinese smartphone company OnePlus has roped in Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan as its new brand ambassador for India. Mr Bachchan is the first major face that OnePlus India is associating with for its latest flagship smartphone, OnePlus 3T. With this, Amitabh Bachchan has now joined the first-ever 'OnePlus Star' which is a select group of distinguished OnePlus users.

2. Intel to buy Mobileye for $ 15.3 billion: U.S. chip giant Intel has agreed to buy Israeli driverless technology firm Mobileye for $15.3 billion, the largest ever acquisition of an Israeli high-tech company. The $63.54 per share cash deal is the world's biggest purchase of a company solely focused on the autonomous driving sector. 

Mobileye accounts for 70 percent of the global market for advanced driver-assistance and anti-collision systems.

3. KPMG elects Bill Thomas as Global Chairman: William B Thomas has been elected Chairman of KPMG International. He will lead the KPMG global network of professional services firms for a 4-year term, effective October 1, 2017, succeeding John B Veihmeyer who is completing his term as Chairman and retiring from the firm, at the end of September 2017.

SPORTS:

4. Winners of 2017 All England Championship Title of Badminton:

Men’s Single: Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei won the 2017 All England Championship Title of Badminton by defeating China’s Shi Yuqi by 21-12, 21-10 score.

Women’s Single: Tai Tzu-ying (China) won the title by defeating Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand) by 21-16, 22-20 score. 

Men’s Double: Indonesia’s Marcus Gideon and Kevin Sukamuljo won the title by defeating China’s Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen by 21-19, 21-14 score. 

Women’s Double: South Korea’s Chang Ye Na and Lee So Hee won the title by defeating Denmark’s Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen by 21-18, 21-13 score. 

Mixed Double: China’s Lu Kai and Huang Yaqiong won the title by defeating Malaysia’s Peng Soon Chan and Liu Ying Goh by 18-21, 21-19, 21-14 score.

5. Punjab wins 2017 Santosh Trophy of Football: Punjab has won the 71st Santosh Trophy football tournament by defeating Railways by 2-1 goals. 

It was Punjab’s overall ninth Santosh Trophy after it had earlier won it in 1970, 1974, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1987, 2006 and 2007.