Daily GK Updates - 15th May, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Rajnath Singh to inaugurate meeting of NPDRR: Home Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the second meeting of National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi. It is a National Platform which promotes participatory decision making in disaster management and strengthens federal policy of the country. The theme of the meeting is Disaster Risk Reduction for Sustainable Development: Making India resilient by 2030.

2. Kerala tops in public affairs index: Kerala has secured first rank and Bihar has ranked last on this year’s Public Affairs Index (PAI), compiled on basis of a survey by Public Affairs Centre.

3. India ranks 26 in World Bank power list: India has climbed up to twenty sixth position in World Bank’s electricity accessibility ranking in the current year from 99th spot in 2014.

4. Palestine President Arrives in India: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived India on a four-day visit during which he will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Modi on key bilateral, regional and international issues, including the Middle East peace process. Ahead of President Abbas’ visit, India reiterated its “political support” to the Palestinian cause and had said it continued to assist developmental projects there.

5. India’s longest river bridge: PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate India’s longest river bridge, the 9.15-km-long Dhola-Sadiya bridge near the China border. The bridge is built over the Brahmaputra river. The design is such that the bridge can withstand the movement of military tanks.

6. Amitabh Bachchan appointed WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Hepatitis: Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan has been appointed as WHO (World Health Organisation) Goodwill Ambassador for the Hepatitis awareness programme in southeast Asia region.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Jack Ma becomes China’s richest person: Alibaba’s Founder Jack Ma has surpassed real estate and entertainment tycoon, Wang Jianlin, to become China’s richest person with a $30.9 billion fortune. Ma’s fortune has gained from a more than one-third rise in Alibaba’s share price so far this year amid growing profits. Its IPO in New York in 2014 set a record as the world’s biggest public stock offering.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. India bags 10 medals in Asian Championship: India has finished their Asian Wrestling Championship campaign on high. The Indian wrestlers overall bagged 10 medals comprising a gold, five silver and four bronze.

2. Ramit Tandon wins maiden PSA title: US based Indian squash player Ramit Tandon has won his maiden professional title in the SYS Open. Ramit defeated Kush Kumar 11-3, 11 -2, 11-3 in the final.

3. Rafael Nadal wins 5th Madrid Open title: Rafael Nadal beat Dominic Thiem 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 to win his fifth Madrid Open title and move into the world’s top four. He has been titled “The King of Clay”

4. Lewis Hamilton wins Spanish Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton won the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position to cut Sebastian Vettel’s overall lead in the Formula One championship to six points.