Daily GK Updates - 16th May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Railways to install ‘panic button’ : With a view to strengthen security of women passengers in trains, North Eastern Railway plans to deploy women police personnel on trains during night hours as well as install ‘panic buttons’ in coaches.Currently, women passengers have to depend on either on helpline numbers.Among the other measures proposed to ensure women safety are having a different colour on the women coaches.

2. Frozen Cattle Semen Station is being set up : Frozen Semen Station is being set up in Maranga, Purnea under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission with 100% contribution from the Central Government.Rashtriya Gokul Mission aims to conserve and develop indigenous breeds to increase milk productivity & was initiated in December 2014.Rashtriya Gokul Mission is a ​focused project under National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development

3. Meeting of stakeholders on ‘Samarth’ held : A meeting of stakeholders on Samarth – Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector under the Skill India Mission was held on 14th May.The broad objective of the new scheme is to skill the youth for gainful and sustainable employment in the textile sector covering the entire value chain of textiles, excluding spinning and weaving.The scheme targets to train 10 lakh persons

4. 4th Global Exhibition on Services Inagurated : President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the 4th Global Exhibition on Services and launched a portal on 12 Champion Sectors in Services in Mumbai on 15th May 2018.Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Maharashtra Government, Confederation of Indian Industry & Services Export Promotion Council took this initiative.The President also launched a portal on 12 Champion Sectors in Services.

5. Ambika Sharma to head USIBC India office : The US-India Business Council (USIBC), a premier business advocacy organisation, named Ambika Sharma as its India head.Ms. Sharma was Director General for International at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).Formed in 1975, USIBC is the premier business advocacy organization, comprised of top-tier US and Indian companies advancing US-India commercial ties.

6. Mukul Rohatgi appointed as eminent jurist : Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi has been appointed as an eminent jurist in the selection committee for appointment of the Lokpal.The post of eminent jurist in the Lokpal selection panel was lying vacant since the death of senior advocate P P Rao.Rohatgi was appointed as Attorney General of India after the Narendra Modi government assumed power in May 2014.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India gives NRs 180 million for river training : India has provided the largest sum of Rs 180.74 mn Nepali rupees for river training in Nepal to control floods that also affect India during the monsoon season.India has so far given 13 instalments since 2008 to Nepal for river training works totalling to over NRs 4.68 bn.River training & construction will carry on near the Indian border in 3 rivers – Lalbakeya, Bagmati & Kamla.

2. International Day of Living Together in Peace : The UN General-Assembly declared 16 May the International Day of Living Together in Peace.The Day aims to uphold the desire to live and act together, united in differences and diversity, in order to build a sustainable world of peace, solidarity and harmony.The Day invites countries to further promote reconciliation to help to ensure peace and sustainable development.

3. International Day of Families : International Day of Families is observed on 15^th of May every year to promote awareness of issues relating to families.This year the theme of the International Day of Families is “Families & inclusive societies”.The year 1994 was proclaimed as the International Year of Families by the UN.The symbol of International Day of Families consists of a solid green circle with an image in red.

4. First essential diagnostics list : World Health Organisation has published its 1^st essential diagnostics list, a catalogue of tests needed to diagnose the most common conditions as well as a number of global priority diseases.The step was taken to address the problem of people’s inability to access diagnostic services.List focuses on vitro tests like tests of blood & urine.

5. Mark Tully chosen for RedInk Award 2018 : Veteran British journalist and former BBC India correspondent Sir William Mark Tully has been chosen for 2018 RedInk award for lifetime achievement in journalism.Tully worked with the BBC for 30 years before resigning in July 1994. He held the position of Chief of Bureau, BBC, Delhi, for 20 years.The RedInk awards for excellence in journalism are instituted by the Mumbai Press Club.

  

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Exports rose to $25.9 billion in April 2018 : India’s exports rose by 5.17% year-on-year to USD 25.9 billion in April 2018 on back of good show by sectors like engineering, pharmaceutical & chemicals.Non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports in April 2018 were valued at USD 19.8 billion as against USD 17.7 billion in April 2017, showing an increase of 11.73%.India recorded a trade surplus in services sector at USD 6.5 billion.

2. India 3rd largest solar market in world : According to Mercom Communications India, India emerged as the third largest solar market in the world in 2017 behind China and the US.As per the report, India set a new record with 9.6 GW of solar installations in 2017, which was more than double the 4.3 GW installed in 2016.The robust growth boosted the country’s total solar installed capacity to 19.6 GW as of December 2017.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. Fastest growing black hole discovered : Scientists have discovered the fastest-growing black hole known in the universe.The energy emitted from this newly discovered supermassive black hole, also known as a quasar, was mostly ultraviolet light but also radiated x-rays.The discovery of the new supermassive black hole was confirmed using the spectrograph on the ANU 2.3 metre telescope to split colours into spectral lines.

SPORTS:

1. Dhoni to be the brand ambassador of Netmeds : Online pharmacy Netmeds has appointed cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni as its brand ambassador.The company, which has positioned itself as ‘India ki Pharmacy’, chose Dhoni due to his strong appeal across all sectors and all demographics.Netmeds currently has an inventory of 35,000 stock keeping units (SKUs) of prescription drugs and 5,000 SKUs of OTC products.

2. Shashank Manohar to serve as ICC chairman : Former BCCI president Shashank Manohar will serve a second term as the independent chairman of the International Cricket Council.Manohar, who became the first independent ICC chairman in 2016, will continue for a second two-year term following his unopposed election.During the last two years, Manohar has led to significant reform in the sport.