Daily GK Updates - 18th December, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Meghalaya launches India’s first social audit law: Meghalaya state has become the first Indian state to operationalize ‘The Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Services Social Audit Act, 2017’, a law that makes a social audit of government programmes and schemes a part of government practice. It was launched by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma at a national convention in Shillong.

2. PM Modi dedicates Tuirial Hydropower project to the nation: PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 60-megawatt Tuirial hydroelectric power project from Aizawl, Mizoram.Now, the Mizoram had become the third power- surplus state in the north-east after Sikkim and Tripura. Prime Minister also inaugurated the Shillong - Nongstoin Rongjeng Tura road. The hydropower project would produce ‘251 million units’ of electrical energy every year.

3. Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates eastern India’s First CNG Station for scooters: The Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has inaugurated eastern India’s first compressed natural gas (CNG) stations for scooters in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. He also inaugurated CNG-run scooters and CNG stations for three-wheelers at Chandrasekharpur and Patia area in Bhubaneswar. The CNG stations were part of GAIL’s Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga and City Gas Distribution (CGD) projects in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. International Migrants Day 2017 observed globally: The UN’s (United Nation) International Migration Day(IMD) is being observed every year on 18th December to protect the rights of migration workers and members of their families. The theme of this year is Safe Migration in a World on the Move.

2. WHO Certifies Gabon as Polio-Free: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Gabon (central African country) "polio-free country", given the lack of new reported or suspected casesThe UN health agency nonetheless recommended taking the necessary steps to continue monitoring for possible signs of the disease. Since 1988, Cases of polio have decreased by 99%, when polio was endemic in 125 countries and 350,000 cases were recorded worldwide.

3. Sebastian Pinera wins Chile's presidential election: Former president Sebastian Pinera has won Chile's presidential election. With 98.44% of the ballots counted, Pinera had won 54.57% in the run-off vote, to 45.43% for senator Guillier. He has replaced Michelle Bachelet. Sebastian Pinera was President of Chile between 2010 and 2014 too.

OTHER UPDATES

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. World Inequality Report 2018:  India’s top 1% earners received 22% of national income in 2014. Since the beginning of deregulation policies in the 1980s, the top 0.1 per cent earners have captured more growth than all of those in the bottom 50 per cent combined.

SPORTS:

1. India wins 10 medals in Wushu Sanda Asian Cup: India has won 10 medals (5-Silver and 5 Bronze) in the first Wushu Sanda Asian Cup in Guangzhou, China. The Silver medal winners were: Praveen in 48kg, Mukesh Chaoudhary (70kg), Rajender Singh (90kg), Arunpama Devi (60kg) and Vishakhaptnam Malik (70kg).The bronze medals were won by Uchit Sharma (52kg), L Budhdhachandra Singh(56kg), Rajani Deori (75kg), Y Sanathoi Devi (52kg), and Pooja Kadian(65kg).

2. India beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets; win series 2-1: The hosts India have clinched the One-Day International (ODI) series 2-1 against Sri Lanka and recorded their eighth successive win in a bilateral contest.Earlier, India defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the third and final cricket ODI at Visakhapatnam.The victory target of 216 runs was overhauled by making 219 for 2 in 32.1 overs.Player of the Series: Shikhar Dhawan.

3. Sushil Kumar & Sakshi Malik win gold at Commonwealth Wrestling Championships: India’s Sushil Kumar clinched the gold medal at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships, in South Africa. He defeated Akash Khullar (New Zealand) in the final of the 74kg freestyle category. India’s Parveen Rana won a bronze medal in the same category. Sakshi Malik won the gold medal in the women's freestyle category. She defeated Tayla Tuahine Ford (New Zealand) by a score of 13-2 in the final.

4. PV Sindhu settles for silver at Dubai World Badminton Superseries Finals: Indian shuttler P V Sindhu lost to Yamaguchi in the final in Dubai World Badminton Superseries. She went down fighting against Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in three games, 21-15 12-21 19-21.

5. Former Brazil midfielder Kaka announces retirement from football: The former Milan and Real Madrid midfielder, Kaka, announced his retirement from football. Kaka won 92 caps for Brazil, scoring 29 goals and featuring at three World Cups, forming part of the squad that lifted the trophy in 2002.