Daily GK Update 16th February 2015

Modi, Sirisena hold joint press conference

(i) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday

held talks during which they discussed bilateral civil nuclear cooperation among other key strategic issues.

(ii) The two signed agreements including one on civil nuclear cooperation.

(iii) "We are pleased to be Sri Lanka's largest trading partner, I express my support for balanced trade in both directions. We will further improve air and sea connectivity between Sri Lanka and India, " Modi said in a joint press conference.

(iv) "The bilateral agreement on civil nuclear cooperation is another demonstration of our mutual trust," he further added.

(v) PM Modi also said he discussed the fishermen issue with Sirisena and hoped for a solution soon.

Commentary: Ireland beats West Indies by 4 wickets

(i) Ireland stunned West Indies by 4 wickets in their opening match of the cricket World Cup at Saxton Oval on Monday.

(ii) Chasing 305 for a win, the William Porterfield-led side rode on gutsy fifties from Paul Stirling (92), Ed Joyce (84) and Niall O’Brien (79 not out) to achieve its target in 45.5 overs.

(iii) Earlier, left-arm spinner George Dockrell took three wickets as Ireland briefly lived up to its reputation as a giant-killer before West Indies stormed back to reach 304-7 in their Cricket World Cup Pool B match on Monday.

Indian sets record for marathon yoga

(i) A 29-year-old Indian yoga teacher in Hong Kong set a Guinness World Record on Sunday for performing yoga for 40 hours non-stop; he demonstrated more than 1,500 ‘asanas’.

(ii) Yogaraj C.P., a yoga instructor based here, broke the record for the ‘Longest Yoga Marathon (Male)’ by performing continuously for three days, starting on Friday and ending this afternoon. 

(iii) He did multiple twists and turns at his Tsim Sha Tsui studio, which was open to public for the duration of the challenge.

(iv) External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin congratulated Yogaraj on Twitter, while the Indian Consulate posted its congratulatory message on Facebook.

Autopsy shows New York Times writer David Carr died of lung cancer

(i) Autopsy results show New York Times media columnist David Carr died of complications from metastatic lung cancer.

(ii) Julie Bolcer, a spokeswoman for the New York City medical examiner’s office, says the autopsy shows heart disease was a contributing cause of death.

(iii) Carr collapsed at the newspaper’s headquarters and died on Thursday. He was 58.

(iv) Carr’s 2008 memoir “The Night of the Gun” traces his rise from cocaine addict to single dad raising twin girls to sobered-up media columnist for the Times.

German eurosceptics win seats in Hamburg elections

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(ii) Germany’s eurosceptic Alternative für Deutschland has taken a big step towards establishing itself as a national political force by winning seats in elections in Hamburg, its first in a west German regional assembly following its recent successes in the east.

(iii) The outcome of Sunday’s poll will put pressure on chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative CDU, which suffered its worst-ever Hamburg result, and raise questions about the ruling party’s strategy on key AfD issues, notably immigration.

Dr. Tessy Thomas, Geeta Varadan jointly named for Nayudamma Award 2014

(i) Women scientists Dr. Tessy Thomas and Geeta Varadan on 15 February 2015 were jointly named for Dr. Y Nayudamma Memorial Award 2014. 

(ii) They have been chosen for the award for their outstanding performance in the field of science and technology.

(iii) Ramon Magsaysay award recipient Prof. Shanta Sinha will present the award to Dr. Tessy Thomas and Geeta Varadan at a special function to be held at Tenali in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh on 1 March 2015.

(iv) This is the first time in the history of the trust that two eminent women scientists are being concurrently honoured.  

(v) The recipients will deliver the 23rd Dr. Y Nayudamma Memorial Lectures on the themes Make in India-Defence Needs and Initiatives and Remote Sensing Technology for National Needs respectively.

NCP leader RR Patil passes away at 58

(i) Raosaheb Ramrao Patil (58), former deputy chief minister and home minister of Maharashtra died at a city hospital on Monday in Mumbai after battling cancer for three months.

(ii) Patil’s political career spanning over 25 years has been marked by both milestones and controversies which he always handled confidently. Patil was suffering from oral cancer.

(iii) “The doctors and hospital team tried really hard to stabilise him but since last two days his condition worsened. 

(iv) His organs started failing one after another and he could not be revived. 

(v) Few days back his condition was improving and he was responding well to the treatment,” said NCP leader and Patil’s close aide Chhagan Bhujbal.