Todays GK Update ================= 1. 18th SAARC Summit concluded, Next Summit will be held in Islamabad in 2016 i. With the issuing of Kathamandu Declaration, the 18th SAARC Summit concludes at Kathamandu, this evening. Chairperson of the Summit and Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala declared the Summit closed. ii. The SAARC Framework Agreement on Energy (Electricity) Cooperation was signed among the SAARC member countries. Chairperson Sushil Koirala also announced that the 19th SAARC Summit will be held at Islamabad in 2016 iii. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other SAARC members held informal talks at the Retreat Session of 18th South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation Summit (SAARC) at picturesque Dhulikhel under foolproof security arrangements. Mr. Modi planted sapling of banyan tree at the venue. 2. SAARC nations sign seamless electricity grid deal i. In a face saver, SAARC countries today signed a framework agreement on cooperation in power sector but failed to finalise the much-awaited motor vehicle and railway pacts for greater people-to-people contact and movement of goods due to opposition from Pakistan. ii. There were hectic efforts to pursue the Pakistani side, which stalled the inking of the pacts on the pretext that internal processes were not completed following which three months time was set for getting approval. iii. The framework energy pact will enable cooperation in the power sector among the eight member countries and facilitate integrated operation of the regional power grid. iv. A time period of three months have been set for approval to the Motor Vehicle and Railway pacts, Nepals Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, who is also the SAARC chair, said in his address at the concluding session of the 18th summit of the regional grouping. 3. Australian cricketer Phil Hughes dies of injuries i. Once compared to the great Donald Bradman, Australia Test cricketer Phillip Hughes passed away today in Sydney following a fatal injury he had incurred in a Sheffield Shield match on Tuesday. Hughes would have turned 26 on Sunday. ii. During this game for South Australia against New South Wales, Hughes was batting on 63 when he was struck on neck by a bouncer from pace bowler Sean Abbott. iii. Hughes stood dazed for a few moments before falling face first to the pitch. He did not gain consciousness again. iv. It is my sad duty to inform you that a short time ago Phillip Hughes passed away, Australian team doctor Peter Brukner said in a statement. v. He never regained consciousness following his injury on Tuesday, added Brukner. He was not in pain before he passed and was surrounded by his family and close friends. vi. As a cricket community we mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to Phillips family and friends at this incredibly sad time. vii. Phillip took the blow at the side of the neck and as a result of that blow his vertebral artery, one of the main arteries leading to the brain, was compressed by the ball, Brukner said on Thursday. That caused the artery to split and for bleeding to go up into the brain. He had a massive bleed into his brain. This is frequently fatal at the time. Hughes was wearing old, lighter helmet: manufacturer i. With questions being raised over the degree of safety provided by protective gears in cricket in the wake of the Phil Hughes incident, the manufacturer of the injured cricketer’s helmet, Masuri, has said that the Australian batsman was wearing an older and lighter headgear. ii. A spokesman for the UK-based company said that Hughes was wearing an old helmet instead of their their latest model, in the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and South Australia at the SCG on Tuesday. iii. “From the footage and pictures currently available to Masuri, it appears that Phil Hughes was struck by the ball to the rear of the grille and below the back of the shell, missing his Masuri Original Test model helmet,” the spokesman was quoted as saying by Australian press. iv. Hughes continued to fight for life as he remained in a critical condition after being struck on the head in a freak accident on Tuesday. 4. Justice CK Prasad assumes charge as new PCI chief i. Retired Supreme Court judge, Justice CK Prasad, Thursday assumed charge as the chairman of the Press Council of India (PCI), an official statement said. ii. Justice C.K. Prasad who retired as the judge of the Supreme Court of India July 14, 2014 assumed charge today (Thursday) as chairman, Press Council of India, said the PCI statement. iii. Justice Prasad succeeds Justice Markandey Katju who was appointed as PCI chairman Oct 5, 2011. 5. Sanskrit to be 3rd language in Classes 6-8 in KV: Centre to SC i. Centre on Thursday submitted before the Supreme Court that Sanskrit will be the third language in classes 6 to 8 in Kendriya Vidyalayas. ii. Appearing before the bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi sought its permission to file an affidavit on the controversy arising out of Centres decision to drop German as an alternative to Sanskrit as third language in Kendriya Vidyalayas
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 04:59:23 +0000
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