Daily GK Update: 14th October, 2016

World Standards Day: 14 October

i. World Standards Day is observed annually on 14 October. 

ii. The theme for World Standards Day 2016 is “Standards Build Trust". 

Dharmendra Pradhan launches National Seismic Programme in Mahanadi Basin

i. Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State (with Independent charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas, on 13 October 2016 launched the National Seismic Programme (NSP) on Mahanadi basin (onshore) in Odisha.

Amrit Lugun concurrently accredited as the Ambassador of India to the State of Eritrea 

i. Shri Amrit Lugun, presently Ambassador of India to the Republic of the Sudan, has been concurrently accredited as the Ambassador of India to the State of Eritrea, with residence in Khartoum(Sudan).

Antonio Guterres appointed UN Secretary-General

i. The 193 member states of the General Assembly adopted the resolution by acclamation, appointing 67-year-old Mr. Guterres as the 9th U.N. Secretary-General to take over from Ban Ki-moon, whose tenure will end on December 31, 2016.

R.A. Mashelkar conferred award by Centre for Organisation Development

i. R. A. Mashelkar, former Director-General of CSIR, has been conferred the V Krishnamurthy Award for excellence by the Hyderabad-based Centre for Organisation Development.

King of Thailand dies

i. Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej - the world's longest-serving monarch - has died aged 88.

ii. King Bhumibol, the ninth king of the 234-year-old Chakri dynasty. After the demise of the Thai King, 63-year old Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is expected to become the new king.

CCEA approves revision of ethanol prices for supply to Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies

i. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 13 October 2016 approved the mechanism for revision of ethanol price for supply to Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to carry out the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme.

ii. The administered price of ethanol for the Programme will be 39 rupees per litre for the next sugar season from 1 December 2016 to 30 November 2017.

British Olympics icon Jessica Ennis-Hill announces retirement from athletics

i. Jessica Ennis-Hill has announced her retirement from athletics. 

ii. Ennis-Hill, 30, who won a gold medal for heptathlon at London 2012, hinted after winning silver at Rio 2016 that she could leave the sport.

Renowned writer and litterateur Dayanand Anant passed away at 88

i. Renowned writer and litterateur from Uttarakhand, Dayanand Anant, passed away today at his residence in Bhowali near Nainital.

ii. He was 88.

Dario Fo, Nobel-winning playwright, dies aged 90

i. The Nobel prizewinning playwright and actor Dario Fo, famous for his cutting political satire in plays such as The Accidental Death of an Anarchist, has died aged 90.