Daily GK Updates - 17th November, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Human ancestor fossil discovered in Kutch : Scientists have discovered a fossilised upper jaw of an eleven million-year-old human ancestor in Kutch, Gujarat.The find significantly extends the southern range of ancient apes in the Indian Peninsula.Apes, or hominoids, are a group of primates from Africa and Southeast Asia that includes the gibbons and the great apes: chimps, orangutans, gorillas, and humans.

2. Odisha govt announced new Biotechnology Policy : Odisha government announced a new ‘Biotechnology Policy 2018’ to attract investments in the sector at the Make in Odisha Conclave on 15 November 2018.As per the policy, all biotechnology units shall be allotted land at a concessional rate as per the Industrial Policy Resolution of the state government.An additional subsidy of 25% shall be available to reputed anchor tenants.

3. Indian Navy completes refit of Maldivian ship : Maldivian Coast Guard Ship (MCGS) Huravee successfully completed refit at the naval dockyard Visakhapatnam.The MCGS Huravee was originally commissioned as INS Tillanchang, a Trinkat-class patrol vessel built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata in March 2001.It was gifted to the Maldives by the Government of India in April 2006.

4. India’s 1st elephant hospital opens in Mathura : India’s first specialised hospital for elephants was formally opened in Mathura on 16 November 2018.The hospital is located close to the elephant conservation and care centre and is designed to treat injured and sick elephants.The unique medical centre offers wireless digital X-ray, laser treatment, dental X-ray, thermal imaging, ultrasonography, hydrotherapy and quarantine facilities.

5. Justice Amareshwar sworn in as CJ of Patna HC : Justice Amareshwar Pratap Sahi sworn in as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court on 17 November 2018.Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon administered the oath of office to Justice Sahi.Justice Sahi was a judge of the Allahabad High Court before his appointment as the Chief Justice  of Patna High Court.

6. Asim Kumar Roy appointed Bengal Lokayukta : Retired Calcutta High Court judge Asim Kumar Roy was appointed the Lokayukta of West Bengal on 16 November 2018.He is the 2nd Lokayukta in the state after Samaresh Banerjee, who had served in the post between 2006 and 2009.The West Bengal Assembly had in July 2018 passed the Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 9th Annual Defence & Security Dialogue held : India and China held the ‘9th Annual Defence and Security Dialogue’ in Beijing on 13 November 2018.The Indian delegation was headed by Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and Chinese delegation was headed by Deputy Chief of Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission. Both sides agreed on enhancing defence exchanges and interactions at different levels between the two militaries.

2. President Kovind to visit Vietnam & Australia : President Ram Nath Kovind will visit Vietnam and Australia from 18 to 24 November 2018 with an aim to strengthen ties with the Indo-Pacific nations.He will be in Vietnam in the first leg of his trip.The President’s second leg of the visit will be in Australia from 21 to 24 November 2018.This is the first visit by an Indian President to Australia.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Adobe CEO in Business Person of the Year list : Shantanu Narayen, the Chief Executive Officer of Adobe has been named by Fortune in its ‘2018 Business Person of the Year’ list.In the list, Shantanu Narayen is at 12th position.The list has been topped by the CEO of insurance company ‘Progressive Tricia Griffith’.In choosing Fortune’s ‘Business Person of the Year’, the publication weighs 10 financial metrics like profits and revenue.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. India’s first interactive credit card launched : IndusInd Bank has announced the launch of ‘IndusInd Bank Nexxt Credit Card’.The card empowers customers with a choice of payment options such as EMI, Reward Points or Credit at the push of a button, on the card, at the point of sale (POS).The bank claims it to be the nation’s first interactive credit card with buttons.

2. India & ADB signed $105 Million Loan agreement : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $105 million loan agreement on 16 November 2018.The loan amount will be used for financing the power transmission system upgrades in Himachal Pradesh.The loan is part of the $350 million multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) for Himachal Pradesh Clean Energy Transmission Investment Program

SPORTS:

1. Gukesh, Savitha won gold medals in Chess : Gukesh D and Savitha Shri B won gold medals in U-12 Open and girls category respectively at the World Cadets Chess Championship in Spain on 16 November 2018.The Championship was held for the age groups U-8, U-10 and U-12, girls and Open.The 2nd and 3rd places were won by Murzin Volodor of Russia and Chasin Nico of the USA in the open category.