Gk Update 26th June 2013

1. Today is "International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking". The theme this year is, "Make Health Your New High in Life, Not Drugs".

2. The Indian Army on Wednesday launched a website-suryahopes.in— to provide updates on the where abouts of people stranded in disaster-hit Uttarakhand. The site also provides information about the location of people, helpline numbers, lists of those rescued and their current location.

3. Prime Minister Manmohan Singhalong with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday flagged off the first train connecting Banihal in Jammu region with Qazigund in Kashmir Valley. It has been constructed at a cost of Rs 1,691 crore.

4. Oprah Winfrey was named the most powerful celebrity on Wednesday by Forbes, heading the six women and four men who make up the top 10. Singer Lady Gaga came in second, followed by director/producer Steven Spielberg and singers Beyonce and Madonna.

5. Reliance Capital has roped in Japanese financial behemoths Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and Nippon Life Insurance as minority partners to boost its quest for banking license.

6. Gujarat Info Petro Ltd, a subsidiary of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, has signed an agreement with Cason Engineering Plc, Hungary, in pursuant to the MoU signed during the Vibrant Gujarat Summit-2013, for a gas monitoring system.

7. Pipavav port, the first private sector port of India located in Saurashtra, Gujarat, remained at the top most position for second year in a row in FY13 on the basis of quantity.

8. Uttarakhand and Gujrat governments have announced Rs 10 and 5 lakh respectively as ex gratia for families of Helicopter Crash victims.

9. Qatar has a new Emir. 33 year old Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamd Al Thani took over the reigns of the gulf nation from his 61 year old father Sheikh Khalifa Hamad Bin Thani in Doha yesterday. He is the youngest ruler in the Gulf Arab world. 

10. The Assam government has decided to promote religious tourism in the state and the ongoing "Ambubachi Mela" at the famous Kamakhya Temple is the first step in this direction.

11. Shri Krishna Chaudhary, IPS has been appointed as Director General, National Disaster Response Force and Civil Defence (NDRF&CD). He will succeed P M Nair who retired on 31st May this year.

12. Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd (TCGL) has won the prestigious "CNBC Awaaz Travel Award 2013" for the best state tourism board for a second time in row in Mumbai on Monday. The award was received by Vipul Mittra, State Principal Secretary, Tourism, Civil Aviation and Pilgrimage.

13. CEO of Bharti Walmart, Indian arm of global retail giant Walmart, Raj Jain has resigned from the company after heading the company for nearly six years. Ramnik Narsey, Senior Vice-President for Walmart International will serve as interim leader for India.

14. Drugmaker Strides Arcolab said its combination of artemether and lumefantrine tablets has received the WHO's pre-qualification for malaria treatment.

15. Two Indian origin women Jalak Jobanputra and Shelly Kapoor Collins have been named in the list of ‘Forty Women to Watch over 40’ list that recognises women who made it clear that global citizenship and entrepreneurial innovation is not limited to the young.

16. Rupee slumps to a record low of 60.72 against dollar; Sensex down by 77 points to close at 18,552.

17. Former international player V Hariharan has been appointed as secretary of the All India Chess Federation while Bharat Singh was named Chief Executive Officer at the AGM held in Chennai on Monday.

18. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was named captain of the ICC's Team of the Champions Trophy, which has four other Indians including stylish batsman Shikhar Dhawan.

19. AND IN WIMBLEDON: Mahesh Bhupathi and his Austrian partner Julian Knowle move to the second round of men's doubles.