Daily Current Affairs Updates: 18 September 2014

1) Richard Verma named new US ambassador to India: Indian-American Richard Rahul Verma was nominated by US President Barack Obama as the next ambassador to India. The move that comes ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the US next week is being seen as a positive signal since the US embassy is being headed by charge d’affaires Kathleen Stephens since June this year. Verma’s confirmation, however, is expected to take a while due to the current political situation in the US.

2) Li Na Announced Retirement From Tennis: Li Na, Asia's biggest tennis star, said she is retiring from the sport, capping a career in which she became the first Asian woman to win a Grand Slam, as well as an iconoclastic personality that made her one of China's most marketable sports stars. The 32-year-old said in statements via her verified Chinese social-media microblog and Facebook that four surgeries on her knees to heal pain and swelling had taken their toll, including the most recent in July on her left knee. "My chronic injuries will never again let me be the tennis player that I can be," she wrote.

3) Sardar Singh to be India's flag bearer at Asian Games opening ceremony: Ending the suspense over who would be the Indian contingent's flag bearer at 17th Asian Games opening ceremony in SOuth Korea, men's hockey team captain Sardar Singh was bestowed with the honour. "The flag bearer will be Sardar Singh, captain of the men's hockey team. Actually all the people were asked and we have been trying to ask the coaches about who is available. They all have matches the next day or the day after and none wanted to stand outside the stadium from 12 noon to 4 pm (before the parade). Sardar does not have a match. He was happy to do so," said Chef-de-Mission Adille Sumariwalla.

4) Xi Jinping announces new route to Kailash-Mansarovar: Chinese President Xi Jinping made a special announcement on opening a new route for pilgrims to Kailash-Mansarovar in the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Mr. Xi on behalf of the people of India and said the gesture will enable a higher number of pilgrims to visit the shrine and will be especially beneficial to older pilgrims. India and China signed 13 agreements even as the two leaders called for a speedy border resolution process.

5) International Economic Association appointed Kaushik Basu as President-Elect: The International Economic Association (IEA) on 16 September 2014 appointed Kaushik Basu as president-elect of the association beginning September 2014. However, he will continue to serve as Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of World Bank. This will be the second time that an Indian will be heading this association that produces a large number of research papers and books and organizes round tables on topics of contemporary interest. Amartya Sen became the first Indian to join IEA.

6) Le Yucheng is China's New Ambassador to India: China appointed Le Yucheng as its ambassador to India, a day ahead of President Xi Jinping's maiden visit to the country. The President appointed Le as the country's envoy, replacing Wei Wei, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted a statement from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body.

7) Leonardo DiCaprio appointed as UN Messenger of Peace: Academy Award-nominated actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio has been designated the United Nations Messenger of Peace by UN chief Ban Ki-moon, with a special focus on climate change.

8) Naseeruddin Shah released his autobiography And then One Day: A Memoir: Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah on 12 September 2014 released his autobiography And then One Day: A Memoir. And Then One Day is the poignant and inspiring memoir of the acclaimed Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah. The autobiography depicts his extraordinary journey from a feudal village near Meerut, to Catholic schools in Nainital and Ajmer, and finally to stage and film fame in Mumbai