Daily GK Updates - 2nd September, 2017

                 NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Karnataka government will provide free education to girls up to graduation: The Karnataka government has recently decided to provide free education for girls across the state from Class 1 up to graduation in all public and aided private schools and colleges, excluding professional institutions. The scheme will be able to avail free education without paying a penny from the next academic year.

2. Sunil Arora appointed new Election Commissioner: Former Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sunil Arora will be the new the Election Commissioner of India. It is noteworthy that Achal Kumar Joti is the CEC (Chief Election Commissioner of India), Om Prakash Rawat is the other Election Commissioner.

3. Government plans to create FarmerZone: The union Govt. has planned to create “FarmerZone”, a collective open-source data platform for smart agriculture. It will use biological research and data to improve the lives of small and marginal farmers.

4. Ahmedabad formally accorded status of India's first World Heritage City by UNESCO: UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova handed over the certificate declaring Ahmedabad as a 'World Heritage City' to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in Gandhinagar.

                                 INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Air Force becomes first military branch in UK open to women: The Royal Air Force (RAF) has become the first branch of Britain’s armed forces to open every role to female personnel. The decision comes after the Britain lifted the ban on women serving in combat roles last year.

2. The world’s tallest sandcastle built in Germany: The world’s tallest sandcastle 54.72 feet (16.68 metres) has been built in the German city of Duisburg. It takes the title from a 14.84-meter (48.69-foot) sandcastle built early this year in India.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Saab & Adani join hands for defence manufacturing: Saab (Swedish defence giant) and Adani group (Indian conglomerate) have announced collaboration in defence manufacturing entailing billions of dollars of investment in New Delhi. They mainly are eyeing a contract for single-engine fighter jets for the Indian Air Force.

2. Bitcoin crosses the $5000 milestone for the first time ever: Bitcoin’s price surged past the $5000 mark setting a fresh record high. The cryptocurrency has surged over 400% this year.

SPORTS:

3. Divya Deshmukh wins gold in the girls’ Under-12 category at the World Cadets Chess Championship: Divya Deshmukh has won gold in the girls’ Under-12 category at the World Cadets Chess Championship at Pocos de Caldas, Brazil. It is Divya’s second world title after her victory in the under-10 World Youth Chess Championship-2014 in Durban.