Daily GK Updates - 18th June, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Government Announces New Post Office Passport Seva Kendras: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has announced the launch of 149 new Post Office Passport Seva Kendra. These will be in addition to 86 POPSKs announced in the first phase. In the first phase 86 POPSKs were to be set up 52 of which are now functional. Government is planning to set up a comprehensive network of POPSKs across the nation so that no Indian will have to travel more than 50 kms to get her passport.

2. GST Council fixes rates for hotels, lottery: The GST council has fixed tax rate of 18% for hotel rooms between Rs 2,000 and Rs 7,500. Rooms with tariff above Rs 7,500 will attract 28% tax. Anti-profiteering and e-way bills have also been cleared by the council. The rate on state-run lottery will be 12% while govt authorised private lottery will draw 28%.

3. Kannada poet, Shivaprakash, honoured with Kusumagraja Rashtriya Puraskar: Kannada poet and playwright H S Shivaprakash has been honoured with prestigious Kusumagraja Rashtriya Puraskar for his outstanding contribution to social and educational fields. It was presented to him by Akshaykumar Kale, the president of the 90th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan.

4. CRPF launches helpline ‘Madadgaar’ at Srinagar: Madadgaar 24×7 helpline has been launched by Central Reserve Police Force at Srinagar’s Tagore Hall. The helpline is the first of its kind in Kashmir with a toll free number 14411. Aim of the helpline is to assist Kashmiris, especially students studying all over the country who face security issues and other problems away from the home.

5. Sabarmati Ashram Celebrates 100 Years: Sabarmati Ashram, the epicentre of country’s freedom struggle during Mahatma Gandhi stay will celebrate its 100 years in presence of his grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi. 2 new permanent exhibition galleries on Gandhi’s life – My Life is My Message Gallery and Charkha Gallery were opened at the Ashram on this occasion. 2 books ‘Letters to Gandhi’ and ‘Pioneers of Satyagraha’ were also released. Sabarmati Ashram is the famous place from where Gandhiji started the Salt Satyagraha.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Day of Yoga in Singapore: Yoga enthusiasts across Singapore were joined by Singaporean leaders, envoys of Cambodia and Israel to celebrate 3rd International Day of Yoga. UN International Day of Yoga is held on June 21 every year but it was celebrated today in Singapore.

2. BRICS Foreign Ministers to meet in China: According to Russian Foreign Ministry Foreign Ministers of BRICS countries will meet in Beijing, China on June 18-19. It is the first time the foreign ministers meeting has been called by a host country holding the BRICS Summit.

3. Katy Perry, the first Twitter user to hit 100 Million mark: Singer Katy Perry has become the first Twitter user to reach 100 million followers. The second most-followed Twitter account belongs to Justin Bieber with 96.7 million followers followed by Barack Obama.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Kidambi Srikanth wins Indonesia Open: India’s K Srikanth has lifted Indonesia Open Super Series badminton title by defeating Kazumasa Sakai in Men’s Singles final at Jakarta. It is his 3rd Super Series title. He had earlier won the 2014 China Open and 2015 India Open.

2. No ICC World T20 in 2018: World Twenty20 Championship’s seventh edition next year is all set to be scrapped and pushed to 2020. Reason for the postponement is that the top member nations will be busy with bilateral commitments in 2018.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY:

3. BMW to invest Rs 130 cr in India: BMW will be investing Rs 130 crore in India to enhance operations, taking its total investment in the country to Rs 1,250 crore. The investment will go into BMW group operations, including Motarrad as well as the financial services arm.