Daily GK Updates - 8th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Centre asks SC to take back its order on playing National Anthem in cinema halls: In a dramatic turnaround, the Centre told the Supreme Court to take back its order making it compulsory for cinema halls to play the National Anthem before screening a film and compelling patrons to stand up and show respect. On November 30, 2016, a Supreme Court Bench led by Justice Dipak Misra, before he became Chief Justice of India, had directed that “all cinema halls in India shall play the National Anthem before the feature film starts and all present in the hall are obliged to stand up to show respect to the National Anthem.”

2. Gujarat celebrates International Kite Festival, locals call it Uttarayan: The international kite festival which attracts kite flyers from across the country and the world began on Sunday in Ahmedabad. The international kite festival was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani at Sabarmati Riverfront. The state government-sponsored festival will culminate on January 14, which is celebrated as Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti).

3. Curbs on tobacco sale in Rajasthan: In a pioneering step to curb tobacco consumption, the Rajasthan government has introduced vendor licensing for the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products. A circular of the Dept of Local Self-Government has laid down rules for licensing and prohibited tobacco sale outlets from selling non-tobacco products.

4. Indian Railways to equip stations with Wi-Fi: All railway stations in India, nearly 8,500 in number, will be equipped with Wi-Fi facilities at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore. As part of the government’s ambitious Digital India initiative, it has currently commissioned Wi-Fi services at 216 major stations.

5. Arunachal to have India’s second FTII: Arunachal Pradesh would get its first Film and Television Institute, being set up by the Union Government as part of tapping the potential of the Northeastern region. This would be the second such institute in the country. The first Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) was set up in Pune, an autonomous institute operating under the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

6. Haryana launches HRP portal, the first state to do so: Haryana has become the first state in the country to launch high risk pregnancy (HRP) portal. This portal not only helps in early identification of high-risk pregnancy cases but also ensures their timely referral to the civil hospitals for further management and delivery by specialists.

7. India’s first National Park for differently-abled people in Telangana: Telangana State Government inaugurated India’s first National Park for differently abled people in Hyderabad. The park will have speech therapist, physiotherapist, vocational training instructors for the differently-abled children. An IT park on similar lines is coming up in the state.

8. HP govt to set up Gudiya helpline: Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the government would set up ‘Gudiya helpline’ for reporting crime against women. Special women cells would be created in the state to deal with crime against women. ’Gudiya’ is a nickname given to the 16-year-old victim of rape and murder in Kotkhai town. The incident took place in 2017.

9. Bangla unveils official Emblem of the Bangla Government: Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee unveiled the official emblem of the state government, which was recently approved by the centre. The logo highlights the Ashoka emblem on the top with the theme of “Biswa Bangla” at the centre.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Golden Globe Awards 2018 announced: The 75th Golden Globe Awards ceremony was held in Los Angeles, the USA. Following are the winners. Best motion picture, drama: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama: Frances McDormand. Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, drama: Gary Oldman.

OTHER UPDATES

DEFENCE:

1. ICGS C-161 commissioned in Porbandar: Indian Coast Guard Ship C-161 was commissioned at Porbandar in Gujarat. The induction is a part of ongoing efforts by the Coast Guard to strengthen coastal security. It will strengthen the security umbrella of the west coast and also help augment patrolling to prevent illicit activities such as infiltration, smuggling, and illegal fishing.

SPORTS:

1. National Boxing Championship (Females) begins in Haryana: Over 300 top female boxers will be stepping into the ring during the second edition of the Elite Women’s National Boxing Championship. The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has indicated that the weeklong tournament will be seen as selection trials for 2018’s biggest boxing events – the Common Wealth Games and the Asian Games.

2. Switzerland won Hopman Cup Title: Switzerland won their third Hopman Cup as Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic beat Germany’s Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber. It was Federer’s second Hopman Cup triumph after victory in 2001 alongside then world number one Martina Hingis.