Daily GK Updates - 16th September, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Assam passes PRANAM (Parents Responsibility and Norms for Accountability and Monitoring) Bill: The Assam Employees’ Parents Responsibility and Norms for Accountability and Monitoring Bill-2017 – better known as the Assam Employees PRANAM Bill – is aimed at ensuring that employees do not neglect their loved ones in times of need. The bill has provisions for deducting 10% of an employee’s pay and transferring it to the account of the relative concerned. Another 5% would be deductible if the employee has a differently abled sibling.

2. Jaipur's National Institute of Ayurveda enters Guinness Book: National Institute of Ayurveda of Jaipur has entered the Guinness Book for 'Most people receiving Nasya Panch Kararma simultaneously'. 733 Ayurvedic practitioners performed Nasya Karma, which has been registered in the Guinness Book of records.

3. Salman Khan receives Global Diversity Award at Britain’s House of Commons: The Global Diversity Award is given to people of immense stature in terms of what they have done for diversity in the world. Salman Khan was honored for his contribution to the Indian film industry as an actor, producer, television personality, singer, and philanthropist.

4. Top athletes to get a monthly stipend of Rs. 50000: Ministry of sports & youth affairs has decided to pay a monthly stipend of Rs 50,000 to each elite athlete preparing for the coming Commonwealth & Asian Games. The govt has selected 152 athletes under the TOP scheme, stipend will be paid with effect from Sept 1.

5. India, Japan sign open sky agreement: India and Japan signed an agreement that will allow their airlines to operate unlimited number of flights between the two countries. The open sky agreement will be signed in accordance with the National Civil Aviation Policy (NACP), 2016.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Day for Preservation of Ozone Layer observed today: The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is observed every year on 16th September for the preservation of the Ozone Layer. This year, the theme for the Day is 'Caring for all life under the sun'. The day marks the commemoration of the date of signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987 on substances that deplete the Ozone layer.

2. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon tabbed for IOC ethics chair: Former Secretary-General of United Nations (UN) ‘Ban Ki-moon’ has been elected as Chair of Ethics Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the four-year term. He succeeds Youssoupha Ndiaye of Senegal.

3. Stuggart comes out as the Least Stressed City in the world and Baghdad comes out as the most stressed one: According to 2017 Global Least & Most Stressful Cities Ranking, Stuttgart is the least stressed out city across the globe, with 4 of top 10 relaxing cities situated in Germany. Luxembourg stood at 2nd spot while Hanover was at 3rd place in the ranking.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. India Signs 76 Million Dollar with JICA to Upgrade Alang-Sosiya Shipyards: India has signed a loan deal of 76 million dollars with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a project to upgrade the environment management plan at Alang-Sosiya ship recycling yards. The total cost of the project will be 111 million dollars and executed by Gujarat Maritime Board (completed by 2022).

2. Abanti Sankaranarayanan appointed as Chairman of ASCI: The Advertising Standards Council of India has appointed Abanti Sankaranarayanan as the chairman of its board.

3. Amazon ties up with Bank of Baroda to provide loans: Amazon has tied up with Bank of Baroda to offer micro loans to its sellers. Loans will be extended in the range of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 25 lakh at an annual interest rates b/w 10.45% & 11.5% RPT.

SPORTS:

4. A book – “Unstoppable: My Life So Far” authored by Maria Sharapova released: The book titled ‘Unstoppable: My Life So Far’ authored by Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova. The book talks about Sharapova’s rise from nowhere to tennis stardom and the unending fight to stay on top.

OBITUARIES:

5. Swami Bhaskar Das passes away: The major litigant in Ayodhya's disputed structure case Swami Bhaskar Das passed away due to cardiac arrest in Uttar Pradesh. He was the Chief of Nirmohi Akhara and main priest of Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya.

6. World’s oldest person dies aged 117: The oldest person in the world, Violet Mosse Brown, has died in Jamaica aged 117. Known as ‘Aunt V’ to friends, she was born in Trelawney on March 10, 1900 and lived there all of her phenomenally long life.