Daily GK Updates - 23rd December, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. 7th International Coffee Festival to be held in Bengaluru: The seventh edition of the India International Coffee Festival (IICF) will be held in Bengaluru from January 16-19. The four-day IICF 2018 is being organized by the India Coffee Trust and State-run Coffee Board to promote the Indian coffees globally. IICF 2018 would be a precursor to the International Coffee Organisation’s World Coffee Conference being hosted by India in Bengaluru in 2020.

2. India to set up IT Centre of Excellence in Egypt: India will be establishing a Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT) at Al Azhar University. It is Egypt’s highest religious authority and one of the world’s most eminent seats of Sunni Muslim learning.

3. MEA Launches ‘SAMEEP’ Policy: With an aim to bring foreign policy to the masses the External Affairs Ministry has come up with an initiative called SAMEEP – ‘Students and MEA Engagement Programme’. Under this, MEA officials will talk to students to help them better understand foreign policy. The main objective of SAMEEP is to take Indian foreign policy and its global engagements to students across the country.

4. Kisan Diwas celebrated – 23rd December: Kisan Diwas (Farmer’s Day) is observed every year on 23 December to celebrate the birth anniversary of the fifth prime minister, Chaudhary Charan Singh. A kisan leader, Late Chaudhary Charan Singh belonged to a peasant family. He also served as the Deputy PM during the reign of Morarji Desai.

5. ‘Blue Flag’ Beach Project launched: Ministry of Environment and Forests has launched a pilot project named “Blue Flag” for beach cleanup and development. The objective of the project is to enhance standards of cleanliness and upkeep basic amenities at beaches. Under the pilot programme, each of the coastal State/UT has identified a beach, to be funded through the ongoing Integrated Coastal Management Programme.

6. Government Launched ‘Ganga Gram’ project: The government had formally launched the ‘Ganga Gram’ project at the Ganga Gram Swachata Sammelan in New Delhi. It is a part of clean Ganga mission. Namami Gange, the Ganga Gram project is an integrated approach for the holistic development of villages situated on the banks of the holy river with the active participation of villagers.

7. Vijay Rupani to continue as Gujarat’s CM: Vijay Rupani will continue as chief minister of Gujarat and Nitin Patel as his deputy chief minister. The BJP had won 99 seats, only seven more than it needed for a majority to form the government. The decision was taken at a meeting of all the newly-elected BJP MLAs and the announcement was made by union minister Arun Jaitley.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Kumi Naidoo is next Secretary General of Amnesty International: The human rights activist of South African Kumi Naidoo has been appointed as the next Secretary General of Amnesty International. In August 2018, he will take over from Indian activist Salil Shetty (since 2010).

2. New species of scorpions discovered: Tripura has identified a new species of scorpions in Tripura’s Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary. The Schaller’s wood scorpion has large and powerful pincers. The study was published in Zootaxa, an international journal devoted to new species descriptions. Mr. Mirza discovered them. He named the new species Liocheles schalleri in honour of celebrated wildlife biologist George Schaller.

3. Jerusalem no longer Israel’s capital: The U.N. General Assembly denounced President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The resolution reaffirmed what has been the United Nations’ stand on the divided holy city since 1967- that Jerusalem’s final status must be decided in direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

OTHER UPDATES

BUSINESS/ ECONOMY:

1. Quikr acquires HDFC’s Realty arms: HDFC has sold its realty brokerage business HDFC Realty and its digital real estate business HDFC Developers to Quikr. The all-stock deal will see HDFC pick up around 3.5% stake in Quikr for the two businesses, which have collectively been valued at about Rs 357 crore.

2. The Way I See It  - Book on Gauri Lankesh’s writings: A book containing selected writings by late journalist Gauri Lankesh was launched at the Mumbai Press Club. The book named “The Way I See It” has been edited by writer and sociologist Chandan Gowda. The six sections of the book comprise Lankesh’s early reportage in various publications and selected articles.

OBITUARIES:

1. Bengali Singer Jatileswar passes away: Acclaimed Bengali singer Jatileswar Mukhopadhyay passed away in Kolkata following a prolonged illness. The West Bengal government had conferred him with the Sangeet Samman award in 2012. Among his popular numbers were E kon sakal, Tomar Sange Dekha Na Hole, Aamar Swapan Kinte Paare and Bondhuya Amar Chokhe Jal Enechhe.