Daily GK Updates - 25th October, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. GoM set up to strengthen safety laws for women at workplaces : The union government has constituted a group of ministers (GoM) to strengthen the legal and institutional frameworks to prevent and deal with sexual harassment of women in workplaces.The four-member GoM headed by Rajnath Singh (union home minister) will examine the existing provisions for dealing with sexual harassment of women in offices. The other members of the GoM are Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman and  Maneka Sanjay Gandhi .

2. Six-member panel set up to resolve stressed assets : The overseeing committee (OC) that is being set up under the inter-creditor agreement (ICA) for resolution of stressed assets will have six members.These members include Janki Ballabh (former Chairman, State Bank of India), MBN Rao (former Chairman & Managing Director, Canara Bank), M Damodaran (former Chairman, SEBI) and HR Khan (former Deputy Governor, RBI).

3. India Mobile Congress 2018 begins in New Delhi : The Indian Mobile Congress 2018 (second edition) has opened in New Delhi's Aerocity.The digital forum is organized by the COAI and brings together industry partners, OEMs, service providers, policymakers and experts to discuss and deliberate on emerging technology, issues, policy guidelines.The theme for this year is "New Digital Horizons Connect, Create, Innovate."

4. Global Agriculture Leadership Summit 2018 opens in New Delhi : Sanjay Agrawal (Secretary Agriculture and Co-operation) has inaugurated the two-day Global Agriculture Leadership Summit 2018 in New Delhi.The theme of the summit is, 'Connecting Farmers to Market'.In the meeting, several issues to double farmers’ income by 2022 were discussed.Pioneer of India's green revolution Professor MS Swaminathan was also present on the occasion.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. M.S. Swaminathan to be awarded World Agriculture Prize : Agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan (Pioneer of India’s Green Revolution) will receive the first World Agriculture Prize instituted by the Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) in New Delhi.The prize will be presented by Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu at Vigyan Bhawan at a special session.The prize has been instituted by the ICFA with an aim to recognize individuals who have served humanity through agriculture.

2. Second Guwahati International Film Festival begins today : Assam Chief Minister ‘Sarbananda Sonowal’ has inaugurated the second Guwahati International Film Festival in Assam.The festival is being organized by Jyoti Chitraban in association with Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute.Total of 108 movies from 50 countries will be screened during the week-long festival, with a special focus on ASEAN countries.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Satish Kumar Gupta appointed CEO of Paytm Payments Bank : Veteran banker Satish Kumar Gupta has been appointed as managing director (MD) and CEO of Paytm Payments Bank.Gupta comes in after Renu Satti stepped down as CEO in July.Previously, Mr. Gupta had stints as the chief product officer at National Payments Corporation of India and deputy general manager at State Bank of India.

2. PNB Metlife launches AI-powered customer service app 'Khushi' : PNB Metlife has unveiled an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered customer service app ‘Khushi’.The app is designed to be a one-stop shop providing insurance-related information, anytime, anywhere, such as policy features, premium due details besides providing fund value and portfolio details.Khushi app has the ability to understand customer intent and provide tailored responses.

SPORTS:

1. First edition of North East Olympic Games begins in Imphal : Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has declared open the first edition of North East Olympic Games (NEOG) 2018 at main Stadium Khuman Lampark Sports Complex, Imphal.Around 2000 thousand athletes will compete in 12 disciplines including Athletics, Archery, Badminton, Boxing, Football, Judo, Karate-Do, Shooting, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Weightlifting, and Wushu. The NEOG games is being organized by the MOA under the aegis of the North East Olympic Association.

2. West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo retires from international cricket : West Indies all-rounder ‘Dwayne Bravo’  announced his retirement from international cricket.He will continue to play franchise T20 cricket around the world.Dwayne Bravo last represented West Indies in a T20I game vs Pakistan in 2016.Bravo played 40 Tests, 164 ODIs & 66 T20Is for the Windies, made 2986 runs in ODIs and took 199 wickets.

3. Kohli becomes fastest to reach 10,000 runs in the history of ODI Cricket :

India captain Virat Kohli (29-year) has become the fastest batsman to score 10,000 runs in the history of ODI cricket (in just 205 innings).He overtook Sachin Tendulkar, who had reached 10,000 ODI runs (259th innings) in 2001.