Daily GK Updates - 6th August, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Startup India’s Academia Alliance Programme : To fulfil the Government of India’s mission to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship in the country, Startup India launched the “Startup Academia Alliance programme”.The programme is a unique mentorship opportunity between academic scholars and startups working in similar domains.The programme aims to reduce the gap between scientific research and its industrial applications.

2. Fugitive Offenders Bill gets president’s nod : President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018, that will deter offenders to evade legal process in India and flee the country.The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 25 July 2018 and by the Lok Sabha on 19 July 2018.The Bill allows designated special court to declare a person as fugitive economic offender and and to confiscate his property.

3. Mughalsarai Junction renamed : The iconic Mughalsarai Railway Junction in Uttar Pradesh has been renamed as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction Railway station.A passenger train with an all-women crew and a goods train was also flagged off. Railway officials said it will be the first time in the country that an all-woman crew will run a train.

4. Guj to implement Ayushman Bharat programme : Gujarat government will implement the Centre’s Bharat Ayushman programme which is expected to roll out across the country this August 2018.The Ayushman Bharat- National Health Protection Scheme aims to provide medical coverage to over 10 crore poor families.The medical coverage is up to 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.

5. Govt approves projects under ‘IMPRINT-2’ : Government has approved 122 new research projects of 112 crore rupees under its Impacting Research Innovation and Technology ‘IMPRINT-2’ scheme.The initiative aims to advance research in energy, security, and healthcare domains in the higher education institutions.IMPRINT is MHRD supported Pan-IIT and IISc joint initiative to address the major science and engineering challenges.

6. Scheme for girl child launched : Bihar CM Nitish Kumar launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana’.The ambitious scheme will provide Rs. 54,100 from the birth of a girl child till she graduates.The ‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana’ will be run by three departments — education, health and social welfare.Over 3.12 lakh girls will be covered under the scheme in the current financial year.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.China successfully tests hypersonic aircraft : China has successfully tested its first cutting-edge hypersonic aircraft, ‘Xingkong-2’ or Starry Sky-2.The aircraft could carry nuclear warheads and penetrate any current generation anti-missile defence systems.The hypersonic aircraft was designed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics in collaboration with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

2. Russia appoints Steven Seagal as US envoy : Russia has appointed martial artist and action film star Steven Seagal as a special envoy to improve ties with the United States.His responsibility will be to “facilitate relations between Russia and the United States in the humanitarian field, including cooperation in culture, arts, public and youth exchanges.”Seagal was also granted Serbian citizenship in 2016.

3. China launches exascale supercomputer : China has operationalised a prototype exascale computing machine, the next-generation supercomputer.The Sunway exascale computer prototype was put in operation on 5th August 2018 and helps to execute a quintillion calculation per second.The exascale computer is expected to be built in the second half of 2020 or the first half of 2021

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE:

1.Defence India Startup Challenge launched : Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched defence India startup challenge in Bengaluru.The highlight of the event was the launch of 11 challenges by MoD now thrown open to provide solutions in the startup ecosystem.The launch of challenges will provide the fillip to the innovation potential in the country, partnering with the best minds nationally and internationally.

2.  task force for making aircraft, UAVs formed : The Government of India has set up two task force to prepare the roadmap for manufacturing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles in India.One committee will explore the possibility of manufacturing aircraft in India.The other committee will explore the possibility of manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles (Drones) in India.

SPORTS:

1. Momota 1st Japanese man to win Gold at BWF : Kento Momota became the first Japanese man to win the Badminton World Championships.Kento Momota of Japan defeated Shi Yuqi of China in the men’s final at the Badminton World Championships.Momota has won nine of 13 tournaments he has entered since returning from a 15-month gambling-related suspension.

2. Kuznetsova wins Washington WTA title : Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Croatia’s Donna Vekic and won her 18th career Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) title at the Washington Open.Svetlana Kuznetsova is ranked 128th in the world.Kuznetsova, the winner of the 2004 US Open and 2009 French Open, claimed a second Washington title to go with the one she won in 2014.

3. Netherlands won women’s hockey world cup : In Women’s hockey world cup, the Netherlands have been crowned the world champions for a record eighth time.Spain won the third-place match by beating Australia to claim their first ever World Cup medal.India finished the tournament at the 8th spot.