Daily GK Updates - 3rd June, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Deccan Queen completes 88 years of service : India’s first superfast train, Deccan Queen express from Mumbai to Pune has completed 88 years on June 1, 2018.

Also known as ‘Queen of Deccan’ the train started on June 1, 1930.This was the first deluxe train introduced on the railway to serve 2 important cities of the region.

2. Conference of Governors, LGs : A two day Conference of Governors and Lieutenant Governors (LGs) will be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan from 4th June.This will be the 49th such Conference which will be presided by President Ram Nath Kovind.

The first Conference of Governors was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1949. It was presided over by C. Rajagopalachari, then the Governor General of India.

3. Maharashtra govt unveils ‘sandbox’ : The Maharashtra Government has announced the opening up of a ‘sandbox’ to boost start-ups.Sandbox is seen as a safe zone to test financial innovation which sees a limited rollout of new products to select customers.Reserve Bank panel had recommended introducing a “regulatory sandbox” to foster financial technology innovation.

4. Andhra introduces scheme for natural farming : The Andhra Pradesh government launched a Zero Based Natural Farming (ZBNF) scale-out scheme, aimed at benefitting around six million farmers by 2024.The state agriculture department also signed a MoU in this regard, with the Sustainable India Finance Facility (SIFF).The SIFF will extend financial and investment support to the farmers.

5. Padma Shri award given to Tommy Koh : Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the Padma Shri award, one of India’s highest civilian awards, to former Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh in Singapore.Koh was among 10 ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) receipts of the prestigious award.Koh has served as Singapore’s ambassador to the US and the UN.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. US vetoes Arab-backed UN draft resolution : The United States vetoed an Arab-backed UN draft resolution calling for measures to protect the Palestinians.Ten countries including China, France and Russia voted in favor of the draft put forward by Kuwait on behalf of Arab countries at the Security Council.Four countries Britain, Ethiopia, the Netherlands and Poland abstained.

2. Cuba, US to restore direct postal service : Cuba and the US have agreed to permanently restore the direct postal service between the two countries.This service allows the postal delivery of mail, parcels, and express courier deliveries on direct flights between Cuba and the United States, and through post offices in both countries.The direct postal service between the two neighbouring nations was suspended by Havana in 1968.

3. Sushma Swaraj to visit South Africa : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has left for South Africa on a five-day visit.During the visit, Mrs Swaraj is expected to have meetings with top leadership of South Africa.The Minister will participate in the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting on 4th and chair the IBSA Foreign Ministers Meeting.

4. Lamar Gets His Pulitzer Prize for ‘DAMN’ : Kendrick Lamar received the Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album “DAMN”.Lamar became the first nonclassical or jazz musician to win a Pulitzer for music.Lamar had also notched four Grammys including best rap album this year for “DAMN”.

5. Giuseppe Conte sworn in as Italian PM : Giuseppe Conte was sworn in as prime minister of Italy’s new populist government.Conte will head a government of ministers from the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) and the far-right League Party.The first populist coalition in a founding EU member has raised concerns in some European quarters.

6. Pedro sworn in as Spain’s Prime Minister : Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez has been sworn in as Spain’s Prime Minister by King Felipe VI.Spain is the eurozone’s No. 4 economy and an influential member of the European Union (EU).Mr. Sanchez (46) is Spain’s seventh Prime Minister since the return to democracy following the death of dictator Gen. Francisco Franco in 1975.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Infosys completes acquisition of WongDoody : The country’s second largest IT services firm Infosys has completed the acquisition of US-based WongDoody.WongDoody Holding Company is a US-based digital creative and consumer insights agency.WongDoody has clients across industries like telecommunications, consumer electronics, healthcare and consumer packaged goods.WongDoody is headquartered in Seattle and has an office in Los Angeles.

DEFENCE:

1. Indian Navy sends ship to Socotra island : Indian Navy launched ‘Operation Nistar’ to evacuate 38 stranded Indians around Socotra island located close to the horn of Africa between the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.The Navy has already deployed its ship INS Sunayna as part of the ‘operation Nistar’ to evacuate the Indians.Indian seafarers have been stranded due to Cyclone Mekunu.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. Successful launch of observation satellite :China successfully launched a new Earth observation satellite which will be mainly used in agricultural resources research and disaster monitoring.A scientific experiment satellite named Luojia-1 was sent into space at the same time.The Gaofen-6 satellite was launched on a Long March-2D rocket.