Daily GK Updates - 26th August, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  Nine Dera Sacha Sauda Ashrams sealed in Kurukshetra: The step is aimed to avoid any act of violence similar to the one that led to over 30 casualties in Panchkula after the Ram Rahim verdict. The Army and paramilitary forces also entered the Dera headquarters in Sirsa and evacuated the supporters from the premises.

2.  Rs.500 crore relief fund for flood-hit Bihar: PM Modi undertook an aerial survey of Bihar floods and announced the relief package for the state. He also announced fiving Rs.2 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs.50,000 to the injured from the PM’s National Relief Fund.

3. Monsoon floods takes over 1,200 lives in South Asia: The death toll from India, Bangladesh and Nepal has climbed above 1,200. Six flood affected Indian states accounted for 850 deaths.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Failure of N Korea’s Missiles test:  N Korea test fired 3 short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan. This comes amid the US and S Korea’s ongoing joint military drills which N Korea has denounced as preparation for war.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Sania Nehwal and PV Sindhu enters into Finals and Semi fimals at Badminton World Championships: Shuttler Saina Nehwal reached Badminton World Championships semi finals for the second straight time. PV Sindhu also entered the semifinals.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Newly appointed  Syndicate Bank chairman – Ajay Vipin Nanavati: The appointments committee of the cabinet (ACC) has approved Mr. Ajay Vipin Nanavati’s appointment as non-official director/non-executive chairman of Syndicate Bank for three years.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. JioPhone pre-booking temporarily suspended: This came after its website crashed for a short while following large volumes of requests within minutes of launching the service. The firm is currently allowing prospective buyers to register their interest and check device order status online.

2. CEO hunt by Infosys: Infosys has appointed Egon Zehnder to help it find a new CEO, a week after Vishal Sikka stepped down from the post. The firm will work with the nomination and remuneration committee to identify the right candidate.

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY:

1.  A new species ‘Nasikabatrachus bhupathi(N.Bhupathi)’ -  a frog with the face of a pig: Indian scientists have discovered a new species of frog ‘Nasikabatrachus bhupathi’ that has a snout-shaped nose, just like a pig in West Ghats. Soiled-dwelling species ‘Nasikabatrachus bhupathi’ discovered by scientists from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad. It inhabits the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, near the Srivilliputhur Grizzled Giant Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. It has been named after the Indian herpetologist S. Bhupathy.

OBITUARIES:

1. Oldest Indian cinematographer Ramanda Sengupta (101-year) passed away: He worked with legends like Jean Renoir, Ritwik Ghatak, and Mrinal Sen. In 1946, the first film as a full-time cinematographer was in Purbaraag directed by Ardhendu Mukherjee.