Daily GK Updates - 11th June, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India Post launches logo and tagline design contest for India Post Payments Bank: India Post wants to involve the people of India in designing the DNA of the India Post Payments Bank by conducting a contest for the design.

2. NIIF, Qatar Investment Authority signed MoU to facilitate investment in Indian Infrastructure sector: The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) Ltd signed a MoU with the Qatar Investment Authority to facilitate investment in Indian infrastructure sector.

3. National Research and Development Corporation (NRDC) inks MoU with Andhra Pradesh government to establish smart agribusiness platform networks.

4. Researchers in Assam developed two rice variants, Ranjit Sub-1 and Bahadur Sub-1, for submerged areas.

5. Indian Reserve Battalion to be named after MaharanaPratap: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced that a new Indian Reserve Battalion in Rajasthan will be named after MaharanaPratap as ‘MaharanaPratap Reserve Battalion’.

6. Union Government to introduce International Yoga Award Scheme: The AYUSH Ministry is working on the scheme and it will start giving the award from 2017. It is an initiative to promote yoga.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Iceland scientists turn carbon dioxide into stone under Carbfix project: Scientists of Iceland found a technique to capture and store the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in deep underground by turning it into rock.

2. NATO launches biggest ever Joint Military Exercise Anaconda-16 in Poland: The exercise involves some 31000 troops from Poland, the US and 17 other NATO member nations and from five partner nations.

OTHER UPDATES:

AWARDS:

1. Indian-origin Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharya awarded Regius Professorship in Manufacturing by Queen Elizabeth II.

2. Ridley Scott to receive American Cinematheque Award for his valuable contributions to the International Film Industry.

OBITUARIES:

3. Gordie Howe, the legendary ice hockey player died at the age of 88: The Canadian was nicknamed ‘Mr. Hockey’ and was considered one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time.