Daily GK Updates - 10th December, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. India’s first mobile food testing lab unveiled in Goa: The Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar has launched India’s first mobile food testing laboratory enabling on-the- spot food safety tests in Goa.The vehicle is equipped to conduct on-the-spot tests to check food quality and curb adulteration, also check hygiene level of water.The mobile laboratory costs (Rs.45 lakh) has been fully funded by the union govt.

2. ASEAN India Connectivity Summit (AICS) begins in New Delhi: Two-day ASEAN India Connectivity Summit (AICS) began in New Delhi. The theme of the Summit is “Powering Digital and Physical Linkages for Asia in the 21st Century”. The Summit aims at accelerating existing connectivity prospects, identifying issues of concern, evolving suitable policy recommendations and developing strategies to enhance economic, industrial, trade relations between ASEAN & India.

3. Uma Shankar appointed RBI Executive Director: Uma Shankar, chief general manager (CGM) in charge of the Reserve Bank of India’s financial inclusion and development department has taken over as executive director (ED) in the central bank.EDs are selected by a committee involving the governor and deputy governors from among the CGMsCurrently, RBI has 11 EDs and each of them supervises the 34 departments headed by CGMs at the central bank.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. 10th December: World Human Rights Day: The World Human Rights Day is being observed to honor the United Nations General Assembly's adoption and proclamation.The theme this year is, 'Let's stand up for equality, justice, and human dignity'.This year, the Human Rights Day kicks off a year-long campaign to mark the upcoming 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

2. The “Bodhi Parva: BIMSTEC Festival of Buddhist Heritage”: India hosted the ‘Bodhi Parva: BIMSTEC Festival of Buddhist Heritage’ in New Delhi from December 8 to 10, 2017 as part of celebrations of 20th anniversary of BIMSTEC. The purpose of the fest is to emphasize and raise awareness of BIMSTEC’s rich and common heritage. It was inaugurated by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, the union minister of state for Culture (Independent Charge).

OTHER UPDATES

SPORTS:

1. Australia beat Argentina 2-1 to win gold in Hockey World League: Australia defeated Rio Olympics champions Argentina 2-1 in the final of the Hockey World League to win gold at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar (Odisha). In the third-fourth place classification match, India defeated Germany 2-1 and reclaimed the bronze medal.India had also won the bronze in the last edition of the tournament in Raipur in 2015.

2. Bergamasco appointed Performance Director for women's boxing: According to the BFI official, Italian coach Raffaele Bergamasco hasbeen elevated to the position of Performance Director for senior women pugilists. Raffaele Bergamasco was behind India's best-ever medal haul at AIBA Women's Youth Boxing Championship.

OBITUARIES:

1. Pioneer of DNA fingerprinting Lalji Singh passes away: The pioneer of DNA fingerprinting technology in India Lalji Singh passed away. He was the former Vice-Chancellor (25th) of Benares Hindu University (BHU) (2011 to 2014).Mr. Singh considered the father of DNA fingerprints, who worked in the area of the molecular basis of sex determination, wildlife conservation, forensics and evolution and migration of humans.