DAILY GK UPDATE 18th JUNE

1.    MOU signed for DPR on Patna Metro

i. The Bihar government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a consult
ant – Rites Ltd - for feasibility study and Detailed Project Report preparation for the proposed 30-km Patna Metro railway project
ii. The MOU was signed between the Rites Ltd Director (Projects) Arbind Kumar and Urban Development Secretary S Siddarth on Monday.

iii. Under the agreement, RITES Ltd will be required to submit the feasibility report by September, 2013 and DPR by December, 2013, they said.

iv. In its scope of works, the consultant will be required to identity the mass transit corridors on the basis of detailed traffic demand assessment study, topographic survey, soil survey at 500 meters interval on the proposed stretch among other measures, they said.

2.    China Developed the Fastest Computer of the World Called Tianhe-2

i. A survey conducted by Top 500, revealed on 17 June 2013 that the Chinese supercomputer is the fastest computer of the world. This Chinese supercomputer is called Tianhe-2 and it replaced US machine called Titan, which was earlier said to be the fastest computer of the world.

ii. Tianhe-2 is a supercomputer developed by China's National University of Defense Technology.

iii. It achieved the processing speeds of 33.86 petaflops (1000 trillion calculations) per second on a benchmarking test conducted by Top 500 survey of supercomputers. It surpassed the rival, Titan (the US computer) which achieved the processing speed of 17.59 petaflops per second.

iv. Almost all the parts of Tianhe-2 are developed in China, apart from the main processors which are designed by Intel, the US firm. 

v.  The cost of this supercomputer is 100 million US dollar. 

vi. The peak performance speed of this computer, according to National University of Defence Technology, is 54.9 quadrillion operations per second.

NOTE: i. However, it is important to note that US is still leading in overall supercomputer rankings. 252 systems of US make it to the list of top 500 supercomputers of the world. 

ii. The Top 500 list is produced two times in a year. The supercomputers in this list are rated on the basis of their speed of performance in a benchmark test which is conducted by experts from US as well as Germany.

3.    Subramanian Ramadorai Appointed Chairman of AirAsia India

i. Subramanian Ramadorai, former head of the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), was appointed as the Chairman of AirAsia India

ii. Subramanian Ramadorai, at present is the Advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the national council on skill development.

iii. He also holds the rank of cabinet minister in the Government of India. 

iv. He is the Vice-Chairman of TCS. 

v. With the appointment of S. Ramadorai, majority of AirAsia board now consists of Tata Group representatives

vi. AirAsia is a joint venture company along with Arun Bhatia of Telestra Tradeplace and the Tata Group. Mittu Chandilya is the head of operations of AirAsia India. 

4.    Govt launches schemes for free generic drugs at health centres

i. Union Health Ministry's ambitious schemes of providing free generic drugs at government health care centres have been launched after being put on hold last year due to financial constraints.

ii. The initiatives, called 'Free Drug Service' and 'Free Diagnostics Service' under the National Health Mission, are aimed at sprucing up health care facilities in the country.

iii. The Health Ministry has written to the states to take advantage of this scheme under which they can access funds from the central government by following certain guidelines laid down by it.

iv. The scheme was one of the government's keystone projects of the 12th Five Year Plan.

v. The state should have adopted Standard Treatment Guidelines and provide for prescription audits to ensure rational use of drugs and it should name the initiative as 'National Health Mission-Free Drug Service' or 'National Health Mission-Free Diagnostic Service' or its translation in Hindi or regional language.

5.    World's highest wind tunnel to open in Dubai

i. The world's highest wind tunnel, standing 20 meters tall and five meters wide, is set to open in Dubai this summer.

ii. InFlight Dubai's glass wind tower will beat its rivals in the United States at 15.8 meters and in Singapore at 17.2 meters, a report in The National said.

iii. Four high-powered fans will push air into the tunnel, creating wall-to-wall airflow with enough lift to support up to about 115 kilograms of weight in flight.

iv. The tower will be housed in a four-storey building that should be completed by next month.

v. Since there is no parachute involved, the tunnel will provide a perfect way for beginners to experience the sensation of floating.

vi. Apart from securing the record for highest vertical wind tunnel, the team at InFlight Dubai will also organise a record attempt for the most jumpers in a vertical wind tunnel at one time.

6.    Pinki Sonkar to flip coin at Wimbledon

i. Pinki will be representing New York-headquartered Smile Train, the world's largest cleft lip and palate non-profit organisation, which has been picked as the charity partner to perform the flip of the coin at the men's singles final event this year.

ii. Pinki Sonkar has been chosen to toss the coin ahead of the marquee match on July 7

iii. Smile Train aims to provide free surgeries to people born with cleft lip and palate.

iv. Doctor Subodh Kumar Singh, who performed Pinki's cleft surgery in 2007, will be travelling with her to London.

v. The 11-year-old Pinki will travel from her native village in India to London to share her story with the world. Her trip will connect three countries worldwide -- the United Kingdom, the United States and India -- as they come together to celebrate her remarkable journey

vi. Pinki will meet the players and will be assisted in her on-court duties by Andrew Jarrett, Championships' Referee, and the Chair Umpire.

vii. After the formalities, she will watch the match, and her day includes lunch in the Competitors' Restaurant.

viii. During her stay in London, Pinki will partake in additional events in honor of the tournament, including meeting with many of Smile Train's supporters.

Note: i. In 2007, Pinki was given the opportunity through Smile Train to receive a life-changing free cleft repair surgery, which was captured in the Oscar winning documentary short, Smile Pinki

ii. Since the film, she has continued to grow, thrive post surgery and live a life free of shame and isolation. Her story has become an example to others, and she has brought hope to those born with cleft.

7.    Australia qualify for World Cup

i. Substitute Joshua Kennedy scored late in the game as Australia laboured their way to the 2014 World Cup with a 1-0 victory against Iraq in Sydney on Tuesday.

ii. Australia clinched second place in Asian qualifying group B with 13 points to book their ticket for Brazil 2014 along with group winners Japan (17 points), who qualified a fortnight ago.

iii. Oman is third on nine points ahead of their final game with Jordan (five).

iv. The Socceroos were far from glorious against bottom side Iraq, but are now at the third straight World Cup.

8.    Sri Lanka beat Australia to reach semi-finals

i. A disciplined Sri Lanka set up a semifinal date with India in the ICC Champions Trophy as they knocked out holders Australia by posting a 20-run win, with veteran Mahela Jayawardene caressing his way to an unbeaten 84-run knock here Monday.

ii. Jaywardene made his runs off 81 balls to propel Sri Lanka to 253 for eight in their 50 overs, leaving Australia with a near impossible task of chasing down the target in 29.1 overs to ensure a semifinal berth at the Kennington Oval.

iii. Australia couldn't achieve the target in the required overs and were eventually all out for 233 in 42.3 overs.

9.    Champions Trophy: England vs S Africa in 1st semi-final,

Lanka to take on India in 2nd semi-final

i. In the ICC Champions Trophy's first semi-final tomorrow, co-hosts England will take on South Africa at the Oval.

ii. The second semi final will be played between Sri Lanka and India at Cardiff on Thursday. The final match of the competition is slated for June 23 at Birmingham.