Daily GK Updates - 4th October, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. SECURE Himalayas project launched: The Centre has launched a six-year project for conservation of Himalayan ecosystem. SECURE, which stands for, Securing Livelihoods, Conservation, Sustainable use and Restoration of High Range Himalayan ecosystems, is meant for specific landscapes.

2. Satyapal Malik became new Bihar governor: Satyapal Malik, a former lawmaker and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) national vice-president took oath as the governor of Bihar. The position was vacant after Ramnath Kovind became the President.

3. India to help Myanmar in police training, MoU signed: The Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval to a MoU between India and Myanmar on upgradation of the Women’s Police Training Centre at Yamethin, Myanmar. MoU was signed on September 6.

4. National waterway on Krishna River: Vice president Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone of the 2,890-km National Waterway-4 at Amravati in Andhra Pradesh. The first phase involves development of a water channel from Muktyala to Vijayawada on Krishna river along with 4 floating terminals and 3 fixed terminals to handle cargo operations.

5. President of India reaches Djibouti: Indian president, Shri Ram Nath Kovind reached Djibouti on October 3, 2017 in the first leg of his state visit to two African countries – Djibouti and Ethiopia. This is President Kovind’s first overseas visit after assuming office.

6. Allahabad to have Turtle Sanctuary: In order to protect the rich aquatic biodiversity of river Ganga from escalating anthropogenic pressures a Turtle sanctuary is built in Allahabad. The Sanctuary along with a River Biodiversity Park at Sangam have been approved under Namami Gange programme.

7. Women’s health scheme ‘Sanitease’ launched: The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has launched ‘Sanitease’ under its social development activity, Swachhagraha, to promote women’s health and hygiene, especially in rural areas. The objective of ‘Sanitease’ is to create awareness and provide logistics for women specially in the rural parts of the state.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 2017 Chemistry Nobel Prize announced: Swiss researcher Jacques Dubochet and Americans Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson won the 2017 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. They got the nobel for developing cryo-electron microscopy which simplifies and improves the imaging of biomolecules.

2. Aung Suu Kyi stripped of “Freedom of Oxford” honour: An honour bestowed on Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi by the city of Oxford has been withdrawn as a reaction to her perceived inadequate response to the plight of Rohingya Muslims in the country. The ‘Freedom of Oxford’ had been granted to her in 1997 for her long struggle for democracy by the Oxford City Council.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. CRPF constable wins gold at Wushu Worlds: Rohtak player Puja Kadian created history by becoming first Indian wushu player to win a gold medal in the World Championships in Kazan, Russia. Kadian, who is a head constable with CRPF, became the world champion with a win over Evgeniya Stepanova of Russia in the women’s 75 kg event.

2. Claire Polosak, a woman umpire, all set to make a history: Claire Polosak is going to make history with her umpiring debut in JLT Cup one-day match between New South Wales and Cricket Australia XI, scheduled to be held on Sunday at the Hurstville Oval in Sydney. Polosak will become the first woman to officiate a first-class men’s domestic fixture.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

3. MobiKwik partners with IRCTC Rail: Digital payments firm MobiKwik announced its partnership with IRCTC Rail connect app, which will allow customers book railway tickets using the former’s payment gateway. Mobikwik’s Payment Gateway currently powers payments for more than 3,000 e-commerce websites and apps.

BANKING/FINANCE:

4. Rajnish Kumar to be next SBI chairman: Rajnish Kumar has been appointed as the next chairman of State Bank of India. He will take over Arundhati Bhattacharya, whose term will come to an end this week.