Current Affairs Updates: 3rd September

Current Affairs Updates: 3rd September

Current Affairs is an important part of every competitive exam. Reading daily news updates is a must for all candidates. We are helping students to sort out those news which are important and have more chances of being asked in the exams, especially bank exams. Candidates must also go through the quizzes after reading the news updates regularly. This will help them improve their performance in every exam.

New Appointments: National

Indian-origin civil servant appointed Singapore's acting president

• J Y Pillay, an Indian-origin veteran civil servant, was on Friday appointed Singapore's acting president until a new head of state is sworn in later this month.
• Pillay, 83, took over from Tony Tan Keng Yam who completed a six-year term on Thursday.

Uber hires Firefox Co-founder and ex-FB executive Blake Ross

• Cab-hailing startup Uber has hired Firefox Co-founder Blake Ross to help develop product strategy at the startup. "This won't be a full-time project," said Ross, who is also Facebook's former Director of Product. Ross' hiring comes after Uber recently hired former Expedia chief Dara Khosrowshahi as its new CEO.

National Affairs

PM: Steps against black money instilled confidence in the honest

• Standing firm despite the recent backlash, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the government has taken steps such as demonetisation and implementation of stringent laws against black money and benami property to not only curb corruption, but also increase honest taxpayers’ confidence.

Ahmedabad gets India's first World Heritage City certificate

• Ahmedabad in Gujarat on Friday was formally accorded the status of India's first World Heritage City with UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova handing over the certificate in this regard to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

Central scheme for senior citizens launched in Gujarat

• Union minister Thaawarchand Gehlot today launched a scheme that provides for physical aids and assisted-living devices for senior citizens belonging to the BPL category.

International Affairs

World's highest sandcastle built in German city

• The world's highest sandcastle is now standing 16.68 meters (54.72 feet) tall in the German city of Duisburg.
• A German travel operator organized the construction of the mammoth sandcastle, bringing in 3,500 tons of sand over the past three weeks to the site at a former steelworks in the inland city.

World's most powerful x-ray laser to be unveiled near Hamburg on Friday

• A sleek, subterranean X-ray laser to be unveiled on Friday in Germany, by far the most powerful in the world, has scientists in a dozen fields jostling to train its mighty beam on their projects.
• European XFEL will reveal - and capture in images - secrets at the sub-atomic level, promising breakthroughs in medicine, biology, energy, information technology and chemistry.

GoGoVan becomes Hong Kong’s first $1 billion startup

• App-based goods transporting platform GoGoVan has become Hong Kong's first startup to hit a 1 billion dollar valuation. The valuation comes after GoGoVan merged with China-based delivery firm 58 Suyun this week. The merged entity which will be called GoGoVan, is aiming to raise 200 million dollar for expansion into two or three new markets next year, said its CEO Steven Lam.

Google's Alphabet to form new company XXVI Holdings

• Google's parent company Alphabet is set to form a new company called XXVI Holdings. The new entity will own the equity of each Alphabet company, including Google and encompass projects like Google's self-driving car spinoff company Waymo. The move is a part of corporate reorganisation which will allow Alphabet and Google to operate in an efficient manner, the company said.

Science & Technologies

AMD Ryzen Pro Processors for Business PCs Launched 

• Chipmaker AMD has unveiled a new line of microprocessor chips called 'Ryzen Pro' for commercial desktop workstations to be available in India and other countries by end of this year.

Defence & Railway

Railways to rename trains after famous Indian literary works

• The Railways Ministry is considering a proposal to rename trains after famous literary works, referencing not just their authors but the region they come from. "The idea came from Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu who said Railways is a secular integrating factor in India and the names of trains can be used to showcase varied cultural identities," a senior official said.

Schemes / Programme

SAAB ties up with Adani group to manufacture Gripen in India

• Announcing the collaboration, Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group, said the partnership in “aerospace and defence sectors will help establish new production lines in India, generate employment and build sustainable skills.”

Sports

Sports Ministry to constitute Empowered Steering Committee

• The Sports Ministry on Friday approved constitution of a 13-member Empowered Steering Committee (ESC) which will shape and influence India's preparation for multi- disciplinary events, including 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Viswanathan Anand returns to World Cup after 15 years

• Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand will return to the FIDE World Cup after 15 years, leading a seven-member Indian team at the 128-player knock out tournament in Georgia. Anand never needed to play at the World Cup ever since winning the World Championships in 2007. Anand will take on 18-year-old Malaysian Li Tian Yeoh in the opening round on Sunday.

11-yr-old Indian girl wins gold at World Cadets Chess C'ship

• Eleven-year old Indian chess player Divya Deshmukh bagged gold in the Under-12 World Cadet Chess championship held in Brazil. She remained unbeaten throughout the 11 rounds of the tournament, ending with eight wins and 9.5 points in the girls' category. The Nagpur-based girl was the only one among the 19 Indian participants to have won a medal.