Daily GK Updates - 20th December, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Government mulls merging cyber tribunal with TDSAT: As part of plans to merge some of the tribunals into larger entities to avoid identical functions, the government is looking to converge the Cyber Appellate Tribunal (CyAT) and Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT). According to Sources of the government   CyAT is proposed to be merged with the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) and a Cabinet note to this effect will be moved shortly.

2. PM launches major skill development projects in Kanpur: Prime Minister NarendraModi laid foundation of the first-ever Indian Institute of Skills of the country at Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh 19 December 2016. The institute is aimed at making youth more employable and self-reliant. The institute has been conceptualised by the Prime Minister during his visit to Singapore's Institute of Technical Education.

3. EPFO lowers interest rate on EPF to 8.65% for FY17: Employee's Provident Fund Organization EPFO decided to lower the interest on EPF deposits for the current fiscal to 8.65%, from 8.8% provided in 2015-16, for its over four crore subscribers.

4. India-Nepal Folk Craft Festival kicks off in Kathmandu: The five-day India-Nepal Folk Crafts Festival (INCF-2016) begins in Kathmandu, Nepal on December 19, 2016 to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries. The Main aim of the festival to promote crafts based bilateral relations and enhance cultural exchanges between the artisans of India and Nepal.

5. Justice J S Khehar appointed as the next Chief Justice of India.

6. Single tribunal to decide all inter-state water dispute: The Centre has decided to set up a single, permanent Tribunal to adjudicate all inter-state river water disputes subsuming existing tribunals, a step which is aimed at resolving grievances of states in a speedy manner.

7. Priyanka Chopra becomes Assam Tourism brand ambassador.

8. Micromax, Uber join hands to offer integrated experience: Mobile phone brand Micromax Informatics, and taxi-hailing service Uber announced a partnership that will help Micromax customers book an Uber ride on their phones without having to download application. Through the partnership, Micromax aims to push nearly 100 million devices that offer an integrated experience with Uber over the next three years.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Human Solidarity Day observed on 20^th December: The United Nations' (UN) International Human Solidarity Day is annually held on December 20 to celebrate unity in diversity. It also aims to remind people on the importance of solidarity in working towards eradicating poverty.

2. World’s oldest water sample found to be 2 billion years old: University of Toronto scientists have discovered the oldest water sample dating back to about two billion years, more than 500 million years more ancient than the previous oldest samples.

3. Harvard researchers create world’s smallest radio receiver: Harvard researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have built the world’s smallest radio receiver, made out of atomic scale defects in pink diamonds.

4. World’s first cloned goat with Cashmere wool born in China: The world's first cloned goat bearing superfine Cashmere wool was born in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The goat will be raised in a base for animal husbandry research conducted by experts from agricultural universities and academies in Inner Mongolia and southwest China's Yunnan Province.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. India beat England by innings and 75 runs, win series 4-0.

2. Atletico de Kolkata wins 2016 Hero Indian Super League beating Kerala Blasters 5-4.

3. Andy Murray wins record 3^rd BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

4. Karun Nair scores triple century in last test, 2^nd Indian to do so: Karun Nair became the second Indian to score a triple ton in Test cricket as the smashed unbeaten 303 runs off just 381 balls and powered India to their highest ever team total in Tests.

OBITUARIES:

5. Creator of Heimlich maneuver, Dr Henry Heimlich died at 96: The surgeon who created the life-saving Heimlich maneuver for choking victims has died at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati due to heart attack. He was 96 year's old.