Daily GK Updates - 24th July, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Govt. launches ‘SHe-box’ portal for central government’s women employees: Women and Child Development ministry has launched an online platform called “SHe-box” portal. It is an online platform to enable women employees of the central government to file complaints related to sexual harassment at the workplace.

2. Lucknow Metro to provide free water, toilets at Metro stations: Lucknow Metro stations will be the 1st in India to provide free drinking water at all 21 metro stations of North-South metro corridor. Stations will have a kiosk providing purified, chilled water to commuters free. Lucknow Metro is also going to provide free toilet facility at each of its stations.

3. A glass of water at Re.1, IRCTC: Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation plans to install 1100 water vending machines at 450 stations in 2017-2018 to ensure clean drinking water at low cost across the country. A glass of 300 ml water dispensed through these machines will cost just Re 1.

4. Amitabh Bachchan’s UNICEF Ambassadorship extended: Superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s ambassadorship for Unicef has been extended for another two years. He will be working on eradicating measles and rubella infections for children.

5. ‘Mission Football’ launched in Meghalaya: Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma launched ‘Mission Football’ at a grand ceremony at JN Sports Complex, Shillong. Mission Football is an initiative to help develop skills of football enthusiasts and develop young footballers for the country.

6. Merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular gets CCI approval: The mega merger deal between Aditya Birla Group firm Idea Cellular Ltd and Vodafone India Ltd on Monday crossed a major hurdle with antitrust regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI) approving the proposal. The Vodafone-Idea merger will create India’s largest telecom firm, overtaking Airtel, and pose a stronger challenge to disruptor Reliance Jio

International UPDATES:

1. Spanish scientists discover novobiocin compound as anti-Zika drug: Researchers San Antonio Catholic University of Murcia, Spain have discovered novobiocin compound that could be used as a potential drug to fight the effects of a Zika virus infection.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS & ECONOMY:

1. CCEA approves selling 51% stake in HPCL to ONGC: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved sale of government’s 51.11% stake along with management control in HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum) to ONGC. HPCL will continue as PSU after the acquisition.

SPORTS:

2. Prannoy clinches US Open title: Indian Shuttler H S Prannoy has won his maiden US Open Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament title defeating his compatriot Parupalli Kashyap.

3. Froome wins fourth Tour de France: Britain’s Chris Froome won the Tour de France for the fourth time as Dylan Groenewegen sprinted to victory in Paris on the 21st and final stage.

4. Siwach wins gold at Commonwealth Games: World youth boxing champion Sachin Siwach clinched a gold medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas. Siwach defeated Welsh boxer James Nathan Probert 4-1 in the final to claim the gold in the light flyweight (49kg) category.

OBITUARIES:

5. The man who launched Aryabhata satellite, UR Rao, passes away: Former ISRO chairman and renowned scientist UR Rao passed away. Rao served as the chairman of ISRO for about 10 years, was conferred the Padma Vibhushan in 2017 and was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1976. He had launched India’s first satellite Aryabhata in 1975.