Daily GK Updates - 10th June, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. ISRO’s scientists discover an ‘EPIC’ planet : A team from the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, has spotted for the first time a distant planet six times bigger than Earth and revolving around a Sun-like star about 600 light years away.Both the planet and the star have been named EPIC.EPIC 211945201b (or K2-236b) is the name given to the planet and the host star is named EPIC 211945201 or K2-236.

2. Supply chain of Jan Aushadhi stores : The government is strengthening back-end supply chain of over 3,600 Jan Aushadhi stores to ensure availability of low-cost generic medicines.It plans to set up warehouses to serve as regional hubs to these stores to boost supplies.Each store is being connected via a software system to track the real-time position of medicines so that there is no paucity of drugs at any location.

3. Govt to showcase mineral blocks : The mines ministry in July will showcase mineral blocks to be auctioned in the current financial year to attract potential investors.The minister of mines has decided to organise 4th National Conclave on Mines and Minerals for showcasing blocks which will be auctioned by the states.The Centre has asked the states to give representations for showcasing blocks that would be auctioned.

4. 8 States to implement ‘Ayushman Bharat’ : Eight States and four Union Territories have signed MoUs with the Union Health Ministry to implement the government’s ambitious national health protection mission — Ayushman Bharat.Ayushman Bharat aims to provide a cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family annually to 10 crore vulnerable families.The scheme will be available at the point of service in public and private empanelled hospitals.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. UNSC elects 5 members for two-year term : The United Nations General Assembly voted to elect Germany, Belgium, South Africa, the Dominican Republic and Indonesia for a two-year term in the Security Council starting on Jan. 1, 2019.The council is the only U.N. body that can make legally binding decisions and has the power to impose sanctions and authorize the use of force.The General Assembly elects five new members in a year.

2. India, Uzbekistan review bilateral ties : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 10 met Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.The two leaders reviewed the full range of bilateral ties, especially ways to boost economic and cultural links.India and Uzbekistan are set to route their trade through the Iranian port of Chabahar.

3. India, China to set up new mechanism : India and China have decided to set up a new “people to people mechanism” to build on the momentum in bilateral ties from the Wuhan Summit.The decision to step up people to people contacts was announced by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.It will be headed on the Indian side by the External Affairs Minister and on the Chinese side by the State Council and Foreign Minster.

4. India, China to jointly identify project : India and China agreed that they will jointly move forward in identifying a specific project in the area of capacity building in Afghanistan.Detailed discussions with China were held on bilateral and global issues on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.India and China have agreed that they will move forward in identifying a specific project initially.

5. Agreements between India and China : India & China have signed 2 bilateral agreements on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.Under the MoU, China would provide hydrological information to India  regarding Brahmaputra River during the flood season.2006 Protocol on Phytosanitary Requirements for Exporting Rice from India to China was amended to include export of non-Basmati varieties of rice from India.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. FinMin may transfer 5 sick CPSE shares : The Finance Ministry is planning to transfer shares of five sick Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) to the SNIF fund to meet Sebi’s minimum 25 per cent public shareholding.These companies have time till August 21 to meet the 25% public share holding norm.Shares would be transferred on a proportionate basis to the fund to bring down government stake in these CPSEs to 75 per cent.

SPORTS:

1. Anu Kumar wins men’s 800m at : Middle distance runner Anu Kumar claimed a gold in the men’s 800m and Arpandeep Kaur Bajwa grabbed a bronze in the women’s discus throw at  the Junior Asian Athletics Championships.Indian athletes have already won three gold medals, one silver and nine bronze medals at the event.India won their third gold of the competition through Uttarakhand based runner Anu.

2. New Zealand women make record ODI score : New Zealand women’s cricket team posted the highest ever total in One-day cricket by scoring an incredible 490 for four against Ireland in the first match in Dublin.The total posted by the women’s team is the highest ever in ODIs including men’s matches.In men’s cricket, the highest total in ODI is 444 for three, made by England against Pakistan in August 2016 at Nottingham.