Daily GK Update : 4-5th June 2017

Sports

1. Sai Praneeth wins Thailand Grand Prix Gold Title

• Indian shuttler ‘B Sai Praneeth’ (24-year) has clinched the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold badminton title by defeating Jonatan Christie (Indonesia) 17-21, 21-18, 21-19 in Bangkok, Thailand.
• This is Praneeth's second consecutive title win following the Singapore Open victory.
• Earlier, in April Praneeth has become the fourth Indian after Saina Nehwal, Kidambi Srikanth, and PV Sindhu to win a Super Series title.

Note:

• The Thailand Masters Grand Prix Gold 2017 was the third Grand Prix's badminton tournament of the 2017 BWF Grand Prix Gold and Grand Prix.
• The tournament was held at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand and had a total purse of USD 120,000.

2. Champions Trophy: India thrashes Pakistan by 124 runs

• Defending champions India thrashed Pakistan by 124 runs under ‘Duckworth Lewis method’ in Champions Trophy cricket match at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
• Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and put India to bat, India notched up 319 runs for three.
• After rain interruptions, chasing the revised target of 289 runs in 41 overs, Pakistan bundled out at 164 runs in 33.4 overs.
• Yuvraj Singh named 'Player of the Match'.

Important Dates

3. 4th June: International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

• The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is a United Nations (UN) observance each year on 4th June to protect the rights of children.
• The day was established on 19th August 1982.
• Its purpose expanded to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. 

4. World Environment Day being observed today

• The World Environment Day (WED) observed every year across the world on 5th June to encourage awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
• The theme for World Environment Day 2017 is "Connecting People to Nature" and the host country is Canada.
• The theme implores to get outdoors and into nature, to appreciate its beauty and its importance, and to take forward the call to protect the Earth.

Science & Defence

5. India successfully test-fires 1st all weather tracked-chassis QR-SAM

• Today, India successfully test-fired its first all-weather tracked-chassis Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QR-SAM) from a mobile launcher at Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha.
• QR-SAM is capable of destroying aerial targets, tanks, bunkers and short-range missiles.
• The test was carried out for validating various parameters of the sophisticated weapon system to further strengthen its air defence system.

National Affairs

6. NSDC signs pact to train more than 30,000 unemployed youth in aviation space

• The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has signed a pact with Bird Academy to train more than thirty thousand unemployed youth across various states in the aviation space.
• Now, they will set up training centers in India under the guidance of aerospace and aviation sector skill council.
• The aim of the MoU is to increase the employability of youth aspiring to work in the aerospace and aviation sector under the guidance of Aerospace and Aviation sector skill council.

7. Venkaiah Naidu launches source segregation campaign at Talkatora Stadium

• The Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has launched the source segregation campaign at Talkatora Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
• Now, The Urban local bodies of Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, and Ghaziabad will be covered in the campaign.
• under Swachh Bharat Mission, 100% door-to-door collection, transportation, and processing of solid waste targeted by October, 2019.

8. Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Savitri river at Mahad in Maharashtra

• The Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated a new bridge on Savitri River at Mahad on Mumbai-Goa highway in Maharashtra.
• The new bridge was constructed after the old British era bridge had collapsed last year due to heavy rains.
• The construction of the new bridge started on December 15 last year and it is completed in record 165 days.

9. Panchayati Raj Secy. J S Mathur releases handbook on safe child program

• Today, The Panchayati Raj Secretary J S Mathur has released a handbook and module on safe child program at a function in New Delhi.
• The handbook contains child rights and the role of panchayat members in protecting child rights among others.
• Fifty percent village panchayats are headed by women in the country and therefore it should be easy for them to prevent abuse of children.

International Affairs

10. Six Arab countries cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar

• Six countries of the Arab region (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Yemen, Libya and Egypt) have cut off their diplomatic ties with Qatar.
• This step is taken to protect the national security of the Kingdom from the dangers of terrorism and extremism.
• Qatar is a sovereign country located in Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the north- eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.

Banking & Finance

11. World Bank projects 7.2% growth rate for India in 2017

• The World Bank has projected 7.2 % growth rate for India this year against 6.8% growth in 2016.
• Now, World Bank has revised India's growth figures by 0.4% points as compared to its January forecast.
• The growth projections for China remains unchanged at 6.5% (for 2017) and then 6.3% for the next two years(2018 and 2019).

"Thought of the Day"

“If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win.”

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