Daily GK Updates - 20th August, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Gen Dalbir Singh awarded ‘Legion of Merit’ : Former Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag has been awarded United States (US) ‘Legion of Merit‘ (LOM).The award was given to Singh for exceptionally meritorious service as Chief of Army Staff from August 2014 to December 2016.The LOM is issued to members of the seven uniformed services of the United States as well as to military and political figures of foreign governments.

2. SS Mundra appointed Independent Director : Subhash Sheoratan Mundra has been appointed as Independent Director on the Board of Indiabulls Housing Finance for a period of three years.SS Mundra was the Chairman of Bank of Baroda and an Executive Director at Union Bank of India.SS Mundra was the former Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and left the RBI in July 2017.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Greece exits final bailout successfully : According to European Stability Mechanism (ESM), Greece has successfully exited its final, 3-year bailout programme, agreed in August 2015 to help it cope with the continued fallout from a debt crisis.The ESM has disbursed 61.9 billion euros over 3 years in support of macroeconomic adjustment and bank recapitalisation.The ESM is a European Union agency that provides financial assistance.

2. World Mosquito Day observed on 20th August : World Mosquito Day is observed every year on August 20.World Mosquito Day is a commemoration of British doctor Sir Ronald Ross’s discovery in 1897 that female mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans.The day intends to raise awareness regarding what all causes malaria and ways to prevent it.The day is celebrated by The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

3. India, Thailand military drill concludes : The armies of India and Thailand have concluded their two-week joint exercise ‘Maitree 2018’ in Thailand on 19th August 2018.Exercise Maitree is an annual event designed to strengthen the partnership between Royal Thai Army and Indian Army.The exercise commenced on August 6, 2018 in Thailand.

OTHER UPDATES:

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY :

1.First 4D printing for ceramics developed : Scientists have successfully developed the world’s first 4D printing for ceramics, that can be used to create complex, shape-changing objects.4D printing is conventional 3D printing combined with the additional element of time as the fourth dimension.The printed objects can re-shape or self-assemble themselves over time with external stimuli, such as mechanical force, temperature.

DEFENCE:

1. India building new fighter jet : The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s next indigenous fighter, is expected to make its first flight by 2032.The aircraft will have a low radar cross-section, making it difficult for the enemy to spot it.This is India’s only fifth generation aircraft programme.The AMCA will feature geometric stealth and will initially fly with two GE-414 engines

2. Successful flight test of ATGM ‘HELINA’ : Indigenously developed anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) HELINA has been successfully tested in the ranges of Pokhran.

The missile is guided by an Infrared Imaging Seeker (IIR) operating in the Lock on Before Launch mode.It is one of the most advanced Anti-Tank Weapons in the world.

The HELINA missile will be a part of the Army’s weaponry.

SPORTS:

1. Rishabh Pant creates history on debut : Rishabh Pant became the fourth Indian wicket-keeper to take five catches on debut.He achieved this feat on Day 2 of the third Test against England at Trent Bridge.He also became the third in the world to take five catches in an innings on Test debut.Besides Rishab, the two other cricketers to achieve this feat are – Australia’s Brian Taber and his compatriot John Maclean.

2. India opens medal count with bronze in Rifle : Apurvi Chandela and Ravi Kumar won the bronze medal in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event at the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta on 19th August 2018.Chinese Taipei won the gold medal while China won the silver medal.Kumar had earlier won team gold at the 2014 Asian Games and individual bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games while Chandela won gold in the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

3. Bajrang Punia won gold in wrestling : Bajrang Punia won the gold medal in the 65 kg freestyle wrestling event at Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta on 19th August 2018.Bajrang Punia beat Japan’s Daichi Takatani.This is India’s first gold medal of the 2018 Asian Games.He had won a silver medal in the 61 kg category in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.

4. Deepak Kumar wins silver medal : Deepak Kumar clinched India’s third medal at the Asian Games 2018 by winning the silver medal in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle category in Jakarta on 20th August 2018.Deepak Kumar had earlier won the bronze medal at the 2018 ISSF World Cup in Mexico in the 10-metre air rifle mixed team event.China’s Haoran Yang won the gold with an Asian Games.