Daily GK Updates - 17th June, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Government approves Rs 2,070-crore highway project in Punjab: The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs 2,070-crore highways project in Punjab under its hybrid annuity mode to ensure faster movement of traffic between Chandigarh and Ludhiana.

2. Andhra Pradesh to start internet-based phone service: Andhra Pradesh is perhaps the first State to have obtained a telecom licence and it can issue phone numbers starting with the ‘797’ series from August this year.

3. SupriyaSahu appointed as Director General of Doordarshan: SupriyaSahu was appointed as Director General of Doordarshan on 15 June 2016.She will be the full-time director general of the state-run broadcaster after two year as the post was lying vacant since July 2014.

4. Sunil Mittal elected chief of International Chamber of Commerce: Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has been elected as the head of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), based in Paris, France.

5. Suresh Chandra appointed as Union Law Secretory.

6. Piyush Goyal launches VidyutPravah and Urja mobile app in Goa to enhance consumer connectivity:Union Minister of State for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal has launched ‘URJA’- Urban JyotiAbhiyaan Mobile app on the side-lines of ongoing two day Conference of Power Ministers at Cansaulim in South Goa. 

7.  Thailand PM Chan-ocha arrives in Delhi on a three-day visit to boost ties between both the Nations: Prime Minister of Thailand, Prayuth Chan-ocha, arrived in New Delhi for a three-day visit aimed at reviewing bilateral relations. Prayuth is visiting the country on an invitation of Prime Minister NarendraModi. He is accompanied by his deputy, five senior ministers and a 46 -member business delegation.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Peter Thomson elected as President of 71^st United Nation General Assembly: The United Nations General Assembly elected Peter Thomson, Permanent Representative of Fiji, as President of its upcoming 71st session.

2. North America to have its first sanctuary for Dolphins: Baltimore’s National Aquarium has announced its plan to create an Oceanside dolphin sanctuary. This will be first of its kind sanctuary for the marine mammals in North America.\

OTHER UPDATES:

OBITUARIES:

3. Famous TV actress Ann Morgan Guilbert dies: Famous Television actress Ann Morgan Guilbert died on 16 June 2016 after battling with cancer. She was 87.