Daily GK Update - 18 December 2023 Current Affairs

               Current Affairs

                                         National Affairs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Surat Diamond Bourse.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB), the world’s largest and modern center for international diamond and jewelry business.
• The SDB building is the world’s largest office complex with over 67 lakh square feet of floor area spread in nine 15­storey interconnected towers with offiices ranging from 300 sq. ft to 7,5000 sq. ft.

Indian Air Force gets 213 Flying Officers in the Passing Out Ceremony in Hyderabad.

• 213 Cadets passed out from Indian Air Force Academy Passing Out Parade.
• These cadets will start their glorious career as Flying Officers in the Indian Air Force.

IAF Successfully Testfires ‘SAMAR’ Air Defense Missile System In Andhra Pradesh.

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrates the triumph of the SAMAR air defense missile system, successfully tested during Exercise AstraShakti-2023 at Air Force Station Suryalanka in Andhra Pradesh.
• The IAF conducted the successful firing trials of the SAMAR air defence missile system during the AstraShakti-2023 exercise at Air Force Station Suryalanka

                               International Affairs

Bhutan is planning to build a green city along the Indian Border.

• Bhutan King Jigme Khesar has announced a decision to build an ‘International Green City’ along the Indian Border near Assam.
• This city will be an economic corridor connecting Bhutan with other south asian countries and other east-asian countries.

More than 60 People died near the Libyan Coast in an attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea.

• In a tragic incident near the coast of Libya, more than 60 migrants crossing the Mediterranean sea for Europe perished after their boat capsized near the coast.
• The Central Mediterranean route is the most dangerous route for migrants. Here, thousands of people have lost their lives in an attempt to cross the sea.

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf has passed away.

• Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al­Ahmad Al­Sabah, who was Defence Minister has passed away at the age of 86.
• He was a key figure in Kuwait who had seen the Kuwait-Iraq War During the 1990s.

PM Narendra Modi Launches Second Edition of Kashi Time Sangamam in Varanasi.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the second edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam, a cultural extravagance aimed at fostering the cultural ties between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu.

                                             Economy

The Commerce Ministry released the fifth LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) 2023 report.

• According to this report, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, and Gujarat are among the 13 states and Union Territories recognized as “achievers” in the logistics index chart for 2023.

                                                  Sports

Australian Spinner Bowler made a huge record of 500 Wickets in Test Cricket.

• During a test cricket series against Pakistan, Australian Spinner Nathan Lyon made a unique record by becoming one of the most successful spinners of Australia by taking 500 Wickets in test cricket.
• Shane Warn is the only Australian bowler who is ahead of this record.
• There are only seven bowlers in the world who have taken more than 500 wickets in test cricket.
• Mutthaih Muritharan is the highest wicket taker in test cricket with 800 wickets.

Daniel Ebenyo and Sutume Kebede clinch titles with new World best time.

• Kenyan Daniel Ebenyo and Ethiopian Sutume Kebede ran fast in perfect conditions to clinch the men’s and women’s titles with new World best times for standalone events in the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K Marathon.
• Both Champions have won prize money of $7,500 and a bonus of $3,000.

1. Which air defense missile system was successfully test-fired by the Indian Air Force during Exercise AstraShakti-2023?

a) Agni

b) BrahMos

c) SAMAR

d) Prithvi

Answer- SAMAR

2. Which Australian cricketer achieved the milestone of 500 test wickets during the recent series against Pakistan?

a) Pat Cummins

b) David Warner

c) Steve Smith

d) Nathan Lyon

Answer- Nathan Lyon

3. How many states received the "achiever" status in the LEADS 2023 report?

a) 5

b) 8

c) 13

d) 18

Answer- 13

4. Which of the following organizations published the LEADS 2023 report?

a)RBI

b)Ministry of Finance

c)Ministry of Commerce and Industries

d)Central Statistical Organisation

Answer- Ministry of Commerce and Industries

5. Which of the following country is planning to build a ‘Green City’ along the Indian Border?

a)China

b)Pakistan

c)Bangladesh

d)Bhutan

Answer- Bhutan

                                        Daily Vocabulary

Word and its meaning

Synonym

Antonym

Inaugurated (Verb):

Formally opened for the first time; declared or established officially.

Launched, initiated, commenced, started.

Closed, abolished, discontinued, suspended.

Colossal (Adjective):

 Very large or great in size; enormous.

Huge, gigantic, immense, vast.

Tiny, miniature, diminutive, insignificant.

Interconnected (Adjective):

 Linked or joined together.

Connected, integrated, combined, interwoven.

Separate, isolated, independent, disjointed.

Glorious (Adjective):

Splendid or magnificent; inspiring admiration or awe.

Magnificent, impressive, splendid, majestic.

Dull, drab, unremarkable, unimpressive.

Triumph (Noun):

A great victory or achievement; a successful outcome.

Victory, success, conquest, breakthrough.

Defeat, loss, failure, setback.