Daily GK Updates - 8th August, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.M. Karunanidhi passes away : DMK chief M Karunanidhi died on 7th August 2018 in Chennai.Muthuvel Karunanidhi was an Indian writer and politician who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for five terms and twenty years between 1969 and 2011.He has also made contributions to Tamil literature, having written stories, plays, novels, and a multiple-volume memoir.

2. Delhi HC decriminalises begging : The Delhi High Court decriminalised begging in Delhi, saying provisions penalising the act were unconstitutional and deserved to be struck down.The consequence of this decision would be that prosecution under the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, against persons alleged to have committed the offence of begging, would be liable to be struck down.

3. Goa gets its own app-based taxi service : Goa got its first and exclusive app-based taxi service called ‘Goamiles’.The app was launched by the Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar.Goamiles is said to be managed by a local Goan company called Frotamiles which is a subsidiary of the parent company Pitasys Software.The app can be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple Store.

4. Parliament passes Immovable Property Bill : Parliament passed a bill to amend the regulations governing the compensation payable for acquisition of immovable property by the Centre for defence and security purposes.The bill seeks to amend a provision to allow the Centre to re-issue the notice of acquisition to ensure that the property owner gets an opportunity to be heard.the amendments included changing the year of the Bill.

5. MHADA to rope private landowners for PMAY : The Maharashtra government to rope in private landowners to collaborate with Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) to implement the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana (PMAY) in urban areas.Private landowners having more than 10 acres of land are eligible to participate in the scheme.The MHADA will construct houses for economically weaker sections and lower income groups.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Tokyo 2020 to use facial recognition :  A facial recognition system using artificial intelligence will be used at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.The Tokyo Olympics will be the first games to have this kind of security system using facial recognition technology.It is aimed at strengthening security and preventing terrorism, as well as shortening waiting times to lower athlete stress.

2. 3rd India-Nepal Coordination meeting in Delhi : The 3rd India-Nepal Coordination meeting was held in New Delhi on August 8, 2018.A seven-member delegation from Nepal, headed by Inspector General of Nepal Armed Police Force Shailendra Khanal will take part in the three-day meeting.Several important matters like security scenario along the border, coordination meetings at field level and training of police personnel will be discussed.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Government raises duty on textile products : India doubled import duties on 328 textile products to 20%, as the world’s largest cotton producer sought to curb soaring imports from China.The government in July had doubled import duty on over 50 textile products — including jackets, suits and carpets — to 20%.Import duty is a tax collected on imports and some exports by a country’s customs authorities.

2. Nikhil Nanda appointed as chairman and MD : Farm and construction equipment maker Escorts appointed Nikhil Nanda as the chairman and managing director (MD) of the company.The company’s board unanimously appointed Nikhil as the chairman and MD to succeed his late father, Rajan Nanda.Nikhil has been a key member of the company’s board since 1997.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1.SpaceX launches reusable rocket : SpaceX relaunched its newest version of its Falcon 9 rocket booster to send a communication satellite for Indonesia into the orbit.The so-called Block 5 booster, which SpaceX says will be able to fly as many as 10 times with routine maintenance.The booster first flew on May 11 2018, when it delivered the first Bangladeshi satellite into space.

2. New compound may reverse human cell ageing : Scientists have developed a novel compound which can reverse ageing in human cells, and may lead to “anti-degenerative” drugs.Researchers tested compounds designed to target mitochondria  the “power stations” of cells.The compounds – AP39, AP123 and RT01 – help the old or damaged cells to generate the ‘energy’ needed for survival and to reduce senescence.

SPORTS:

1. Indian Men’s hockey team rises to 5th rank : Indian men’s hockey team jump one spot to fifth in the latest FIH rankings chart.India is the only team which registered an upward movement among the top 10 teams.The Indian team, which now has 1484 points in its kitty, is above the likes of 2012 Olympic champions Germany, England and Spain.World champion Australia maintained its top spot with 1906 points.