Daily G.K. Buzz - 17th to 19th May 2015

Nation

NS Kavaratti: Anti-submarine warfare class stealth corvette launched 

i. Adding to a series of recent developments in India's defence preparedness, Indian Navy's latest anti-submarine warfare class stealth corvette, the INS Kavaratti was launched on Tuesday.
ii. Kavaratti is the last of the four anti-submarine warfare class stealth corvettes being built for India under Project 28. The corvette, with a displacement of 3,300 tonnes, has a length of 109.1 metres and measures 13.7-m at beam.

6th National Conference on Nuclear Energy held in New Delhi

Theme - "Nuclear Energy: a Clean Energy option"

i. 6th National Conference on Nuclear Energy was held in New Delhi on 15 May 2015. The Conference was organised by ASSOCHAM.

ii. This conference is unique in many ways as 2015 happens to be the year of diamond jubilee celebrations of the setting up of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

Union government allocated 5000 crore for development of AYUSH

i. The Union Government on 17 May 2015 allocated 5000 crore rupees for the growth of Department of AYUSH (it comprises Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy). 

ii. Besides, the Union Minister of State (MoS) for AYUSH Sripad Naik in Mumbai informed that to create awareness about Ayurveda his ministry is planning to observe Ayurveda Day.

DoPT launches HR management pilot project

i. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), under the instructions of the Prime Minister’s Office, has undertaken a pilot project to implement the Gujarat human resources management model in two Central government agencies.

ii. The proposal for System of Application of Technology for Human Resources Improvement (SATHI) application was approved by the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in 2012, developed by IT major Infosys and launched by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel last August.

International

PM Narendra Modi announced e-Visa facility for Chinese Tourists

i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 May 2015 announced electronic tourist visa (e-Visa) facility for Chinese nationals. The decision was announced in Beijing, China during his three day visit starting from 14 May 2015.

ii. Incidentally, India designated 2015 as Visit India Year in China to augment Chinese tourist arrivals and tourist revenues.

Opah, the world’s first fully warm-blooded fish species, discovered by researchers

i. Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) discovered the world’s first fully warm-blooded fish species named Opah

ii. According to the finding, the Opah fish has developed an internal heat exchange system within its gills to conserve the warmth and it raises its temperature by flapping its fins.

India assumed Presidency of the 68th World Health Assembly after 19 years

i. India on 18 May 2015 assumed Presidency of the 68th World Health Assembly (WHA) after 19 years. The session was presided by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda at Geneva.

ii. The 68th World Health Assembly will be held from 18 May 2015 to 27 May 2015. The 68th World Health Assembly will deliberate on key issues of global interest including anti-microbial resistance, air pollution and health, global health emergency, preparedness and surveillance, global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property, and research and development in neglected tropical diseases.

MoUs & Agreements

India and Mongolia signed 13 agreements to enhance bilateral relations

i. India and Mongolia on 17 May 2015 signed 13 agreements to further enhance bilateral ties and co-operation between the two countries. India also announced to provide one billion US dollar credit to Mongolia.

ii. The 13 Agreements include

• Revised Air Services Agreement

• Treaty on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons

• Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Animal Health and Dairy

• MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Traditional Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy

• MoU on Establishment of Cyber Security Training Centre in the Ministry of Defence of Mongolia

• MoU on Establishment of India-Mongolia Joint Friendship School in Mongolia

• Programme on Cooperation in the field of Culture for the Years 2015-2018

• MoU for Cooperation between the National Security Council of India and Mongolia

• MoU on Cooperation between the Ministry of External Affairs of India and Mongolia

• MoU for cooperation on development of new and renewable energy technologies

• MoU on enhancing cooperation between the border guarding forces

• MoU between the Tata Memorial Centre of India and the National Cancer Center of Mongolia for Gifting Bhabhatron-II Tele-therapy Unit along with a Radiotherapy Simulator

• MoU to enhance their skills and improve the training programme in both the countries

India, South Korea signed 7 agreements to upgrade relations to special strategic partnership level

i. India and South Korea on 18 May 2015 signed seven agreements to upgrade relations to special strategic partnership level.

ii. List of Agreements/MoUs signed

• Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion

• India-Korea Agreement on Cooperation in Audio-Visual Co-Production

• MoU for Cooperation between the National Security Council of India and South Korea

• MoU for Cooperation in the field of Electric Power Development and New Energy Industries

• MoU on Cooperation in Youth Matters

• Framework of Cooperation in the Field of Road Transport

• MoU on Cooperation in the Fields of Maritime Transport and Logistics

GMR Infra, GIIC ink MoU for Kakinada SEZ

i. Kakinada SEZ Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure Ltd., has signed an MoU with Guizhou International Investment Corporation (GIIC) to set up industrial park for Chinese equipment manufacturing companies.

ii. A consortium of three Chinese manufacturing firms, GIIC plans to set up 2,000 acres industrial park in Kakinada SEZ for Chinese high-end equipment manufacturers.

Economy

Askme acquired BestAtLowest.com for 10 million US dollar

i. As part of the agreement, BestAtLowest.com will become part of Askme. The acquisition will further expand the company’s search plus capabilities and enable near real-time inventory sync between online and physical stores.

ii. Bestatlowest.com is a marketplace working in the hub-and-spoke model. It has tied up with retailers and supermarket stores to acquire food and groceries to supply to its hub, which are then delivered across locations.

Reliance Jio signs pact with Huawei for 4G devices

i. Telecom arm of Reliance Industries (RIL), Reliance Jio Infocomm (RJio), has signed a pact with Chinese firm Huawei for sourcing various 4G devices.

ii. RJio plans to launch 4G service this year in around 5,000 towns and cities, accounting for over 90 per cent of urban India and over 2.15 lakh villages.

HDFC Bank, Apollo Hospitals join hands

i. HDFC Bank, in association with Apollo Hospitals, has launched a co-branded pre-paid card called HDFC Bank Apollo Medical Benefits Card, which will enable corporates to easily disburse medical allowance to their employees without waste of time and incurring any cost.

ii. Corporates can load the specified allowance on to the card of each employee every month, which can be used by employees for medical expenditure at pan-India VISA/MasterCard outlets.

Awards

Anurradha Prasad conferred with Pt. Haridutt Sharma Award for Journalism and Social Services

i. Anurradha Prasad, the Editor-in-Chief of News 24 Channel, on 15 May 2015 was conferred with the Pt. Haridutt Sharma Award for Journalism, Writing and Social Services.

ii. She was conferred with the award by Vice- President Hamid Ansari in New Delhi. The Award comprises of Cash prize of 51000 rupees, Citation, Trophy, Shawl and Souvenir.

Indian-American Harkeert Singh Saini won Prestigious Police Award in Texas, US

i. Harkeert Singh Saini, an Indian-American policeman in third week of May 2015 won the prestigious Top Civilian Supervisor of the Year.

ii. He was awarded for his efficient services to the Houston Police department in the state of Texas of United States.

iii. Saini hails from Hoshiarpur district & a graduate from Deshbandu College in New Delhi.

Appointments

Former Army Brigadier David Granger sworn-in as eighth President of Guyana

i. He was sworn-in as the President after his A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) party-led coalition won the national elections.

ii. In the national elections held on 11 May 2015, his coalition APNU – Alliance for Change (AFC) defeated the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Sports

Roam Masters or Italian Tennis Open Winners 2015

i. Men's Singles - Novak Djokovic

ii. Women's Singles - Maria Sharapova 

iii. Men's Doubles - P. Cuevas  and D. Marrero

iv. Women's Doubles - Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic

Brad Haddin, the Australia wicketkeeper retired from ODI cricket

i. Brad Haddin, the Australian wicketkeeper batsman on 17 May 2015 retired from One Day International (ODI) cricket. His final ODI appearance was the seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in World Cup final in Melbourne on 29 March 2015.

ii. Haddin, a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper, played his debut ODI match on 30 January 2001 against Zimbabwe at Hobart. He represented Australia in all three forms of international cricket.