Daily GK Updates - 19th March, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  UMANG - the “lost and found” app for airports: CISF launched its lost and found mobile app for passengers at 59 airports across India. The app, named UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance), offers three facilities – lost and found items at airports, tracking complaints or request status and technical consultancy in security and fire services. The CISF had in 2015 launched a lost and found section on its website.

2.    Foreign poll funding won’t be scrutinised: The Lok Sabha has passed a bill that will exempt political parties from the scrutiny of funds they have received from abroad since 1976. Through Finance Bill 2016 passed earlier, the government had amended the FCRA to make it easier for parties to accept foreign funds. The Representation of People’s Act bars political parties from accepting foreign funds.

3.    C437 - Coast Guard commissions interceptor boat: The Coast Guard commissioned an interceptor boat, C-437 at Porbandar to strengthen the security umbrella of the Indian West Coast. The boat is provided with advanced navigational and communication equipment which gives it the capability to respond to any maritime situation. The boat would be based at Jakhau under the administrative and operational control of the Commander Coast Guard Region.

4.    Release of commemorative coins: President Ram Nath Kovind released Rs 1,000 and Rs 10 commemorative coins on the occasion of Nabakalebar festival. The government had announced the release of the coins marking the festival which is a symbolic recreation of sibling deities — Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. The commemorative coins were released at a function of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan at Puri in Odisha.

 INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim resigns amid allegations of corruption: She has vowed to fight the accusations — that she used a bank card provided by an NGO to make personal purchases, including jewellery and luxury goods worth at least € 25,000 according to the local newspaper. Gurib-Fakim, Africa's only female head of state, submitted her resignation in the "national interest," her lawyer Yousouf Mohamed told reporters, adding that it would take effect on 23 March.

2.     Li Keqiang re-elected as Prime Minister of China:  Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang got re-elected for his second five-year term by the members of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC). Li Keqiang received 2964 votes in favour and two in against.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.   Nepal cricket team was given One-Day International (ODI) status for the first time ever after its six-wicket win over Papua New Guinea in the World Cup Qualifiers: Nepal was given the Affiliate status by the ICC first in 1988 and was later promoted to the Associate rank in 1996. In 2008, Nepal was included in World Cricket League Division 5, where it finished on the third spot.

2.    Sri Lanka Cricket pays homage to Jagmohan Dalmiya with release of book 'A Tribute to Jagu': Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on the occasion of the 70th independence of the island nation, paid a glowing tribute to former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya by releasing a book, titled ‘A Tribute to Jagu’. SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala lauded Dalmiya's role in strengthening the Asian Bloc. Thilanga termed Dalmiya as a 'hero' who had the guts to stand up for what was right and carry on in the face of unmatched adversity. They felicitated him posthumously as the greatest non-Sri Lankan contributor to their country's cricket. Dalmiya's son, Avishek, joint secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) was invited to receive the commemorative book.

BUSINESS/ ECONOMY:

1. The First Indian to be appointed as MD at Sony India - Sunil Nayyar:  Sony India on     19th March announced the appointment of Sunil Nayyar as its Managing Director (MD) in place of Kenichiro Hibi. Hibi, who was MD of Sony India from 2012 till 2018, has now been appointed as President of Sony Brazil.

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY:

1.    “Pethia poiensis” - New fish species identified in Manipur:  A new freshwater fish species have been identified in the north-eastern state of Manipur. The new fish species, “Pethia poiensis”, was found by a research team of Manipur University’s life sciences department and a researcher from the Zoological Survey of India in the Challou River in Manipur. These fish species is locally known as “Ngakha macha” in Manipur.