Daily GK Updates - 9th July, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Government sets noise standards for airports : The Union Environment Ministry has set noise standards for airports across the country, excluding defence aircraft, and those that are landing and taking off.A civil airport with more than 50,000 aircraft movements per year should not exceed noise levels beyond 75 dB(A) Leq (decibels) during the daytime.It should not exceed 65 dBA during the night.

2. SC for Live-Streaming Of Court Hearings : Senior lawyer Indira Jaising and others filed a petition for live streaming of Court’s proceedings.The Centre in its reply to the petition said if the top court takes a policy decision; it can facilitate the setting up of a separate channel for the Supreme Court.Chief Justice Deepak Misra said, “The concept of access to justice can be stretched through live streaming.

3. Modi inaugurated largest mobile factory : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited Noida and inaugurated the New Mobile Manufacturing Plant of Samsung at Noida.Notably, it will be the world’s largest mobile factory.With the beginning of this New Plant, India’s Make In India and Skill India Will get a major Push in the country.

4. Rajnath to chair 2-day plenary meet : A 2-day plenary meeting of NE Council will be chaired by the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Shillong.He will discuss development projects with the Governors and CM of northeast states in thepresence of Union Minister for Development of NE Region.Some of the major issues set to be discussed at the meet would be water resources management, POSHAN Abhiyan, road connectivity, and more.

5. 51 lakh houses approved in 3 years under PMAY : More than 51 lakh dwelling units have been sanctioned by the government under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (urban) in last 3 years.This jump is a huge one in comparison to the erstwhile housing scheme, under which only 12.4 lakh houses were approved in 9 years.Out of these 51 lakh houses, over 8 lakh houses have already been completed.

6. Tenth edition of Delhi dialogue : India will held the 10th edition of Delhi Dialogue on 19-20 July 2018.It is a premier annual event to discuss politico-security, economic and socio-cultural engagement with ASEAN members.RCEP is a free trade area consisting of 10 ASEAN members and six FTA partners which includes India.

7. Himachal banned sale of thermocol cutlery : The Himachal Pradesh government has banned the use and sale of thermocol cutlery including cups, plates, glasses, spoons or any other item in the state.Those violating the order will be fined according to the quantity of the thermocol.The state government has set a deadline of three months for manufacturers to dispose of their stocks.

8. Section 144 to be used in animal emergencies : The National Board of Wildlife has recommended that states use Section 144, which prohibits the assembly of four or more people, during wildlife emergencies.The provision will be used to “prevent people from gathering in large numbers, which aggravates wildlife emergency situations”.The Centre is expected to issue advisories to the state governments regarding the recommendation.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Best-ever Booker Prize winner : The English Patient’ was voted as the best-ever Man Booker Prize winner, celebrating five decades of this prestigious literary award.

Michael Ondaatje’s ‘The English Patient’ won the Booker Prize in the year 1992 and was made in a movie in 1996 that won nine academy awards.The novel beat 4 other novels in an online poll that received a total of 9,000 votes.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Bills of Rs 29.41 crore raised by IAF : Over Rs, 29.41 crores were spent to ferry the newly-issued Rs 500 and Rs 2000 currency notes after demonetisation using Indian Air Force’s ultra-modern transport aircraft.IAF aircrafts C-17 and the C-130J Super Hercules undertook 91 sorties for transporting the currency.RBI had spent Rs 7,965 crore in 2016-17 post-demonetisation for printing the new Rs 2000 and Rs 500 notes.

SPORTS:

1. Dhoni played 500 international matches : The Indian team’s senior-most player Mahendra Singh Dhoni reached the coveted milestone of playing 500 international matches during the second T20 International against England.In doing so, Dhoni became the third Indian after Sachin Tendulkar (664) and Rahul Dravid (509) to breach the 500 match barrier in international cricket.He has played 90 Test matches and 318 One Day Internationals.

2. Dalabehera bags bronze in World Weightlifting : Indian lifter Jhilli Dalabehera has bagged the bronze medal in the 2018 IWF Junior World Weightlifting Championships at Tashkent.She lifted 167 kg in the 48 kg category to finish third on the podium.According to Indian Weightlifting Federation Secretary General Sahdev Yadav, Jhilli is the 2nd woman lifter after Saikhom Mirabai Chanu in 2013 to win a medal in the Junior World Championships.

3. Dipa Karmakar clinches gold medal : India’s premier gymnast Dipa Karmakar clinched a gold medal in the vault event of FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup at Mersin in Turkey.Karmakar who had finished fourth in the vault event at the 2016 Rio Olympics, scored 14.150 to win gold.This is Dipa’s first medal in a World Challenge Cup. She had topped the qualification also with a score of 13.400.