Daily GK Updates - 25th August, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. U K Varma appointed ASSOCHAM Secretary Gen : Industry chamber ASSOCHAM appointed former bureaucrat Uday Kumar Varma as its new Secretary General.He succeeds DS Rawat who held the position for nearly 14 years.Varma retired from the position of Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India on June 30, 2013.

2. A book on Atal Bihari Vajpayee launched : A book on the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been launched.The title of the book is “Atal Ji Ne Kaha“.The book has been authored and compiled by Brijendra Rehi.The book is a rich repository of the former Prime Minister’s select speeches and photographs besides having three interviews by the author.

3. 1st cruise line service to begin on 1st Oct : The maiden sail of the country’s first luxury cruise line service between Mumbai and Goa will begin on October 1 2018.The Ministry of Shipping is investing Rs 1,000 crore to build a cruise terminal in the Mumbai port area on the east coastline.The name of the cruise liner is ‘Angriya‘ and was build in 1997.

4. WB launches world’s first blockchain bond : The World Bank (WB) has launched a blockchain-only bond.Named bond-i, or Blockchain Offered New Debt Instrument, the bond will be created and managed with distributed ledger technology.The World Bank mandated Commonwealth Bank of Australia to arrange the world’s first blockchain bond.The World Bank bonds carry an AAA rating.

5. Released a report on pollution : Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released a report on air and travel-related pollution loads caused by urban transport.The report, titled “The Urban Commute,” was released on 24th August 2018.The report made an assessment of the 14 most populous cities of India.Among the 14 cities, Bhopal has the lowest particulate matter, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide load.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Sushma Swaraj to visit Vietnam and Cambodia : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will leave for a four-day visit to Vietnam and Cambodia on 27th August 2018.In Vietnam, the Minister will co-chair the 16th meeting of the Joint Commission along with her Vietnamese counterpart.She will also inaugurate the 3rd edition of the Indian Ocean Conference.It will be the Minister’s first official visit to Cambodia

2. 2nd Protocol Amending CECA Signed : India and Singapore signed the Second Protocol amending the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).The signing of the Second Protocol, amending CECA, will boost bilateral trade between India and Singapore.CECA was the first comprehensive agreement covering trade in goods, services and investments, which India had signed.The CECA was signed on 29th June, 2005.

3. Exercise SCO Peace Mission 2018 begins : Exercise Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Peace Mission 2018, formally started on 24 August 2018 at Chebarkul, Russia.India is participating in the drill for the first time since becoming a full member of the SCO in June 2017.The SCO was established in Shanghai in 2001, with China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as founding members.

OTHER UPDATES:

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. INS Vikramaditya will be upgraded : INS Vikramaditya is going to be fitted with marine hydraulic system for the first time as part of its upgrade that will give an edge to the air-capable wing of the ship.It is India’s only aircraft carrier.The marine hydraulic systems are used for refuelling, cleaning and pressurization of hydraulic systems of aircraft and helicopters.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Prasar Bharati & Mizzima Media signed MoU : Prasar Bharati and Mizzima Media of Myanmar signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 24th August 2018.The Agreement will realize cooperation and collaboration in various fields of broadcasting.It also envisions sharing covering a wide range of genres, including culture, entertainment, education, science, news and sports.

SPORTS:

1. Joshna won bronze medal medal in squash : Joshna Chinappa bagged bronze medal in squash women’s singles at the Asian Games 2018 after losing her semi-final tie.She was defeated by Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam.It is the first individual medal for Joshna at the Asian Games.Joshna secured a medal despite losing her match as both the losing semi-finalists in squash get the bronze medal without any bronze medal play-off.

2. Dipika won bronze in women’s squash : India’s squash player Dipika Pallikal won a bronze medal at the Asian Games on August 25, 2018.She was defeated by Malaysia’s Nicole David.Dipika had won a bronze at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.This was her second medal at the Asian Games.