Daily GK Updates - 17th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  C P Joshi elected as Rajasthan assembly speaker : Senior Congress leader C.P. Joshi (68-years) elected as speaker of the 15th Rajasthan Assembly. Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh administered the oath of office.Mr. Joshi has been elected from the Nathdwara assembly constituency.

2.  PM Modi to visit Gujarat inaugurates the Global Trade Show : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Global Tr ade Show in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.Global Trade Show has been organized as a part of Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit 2019 to be held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, On Friday.The main theme of this edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit will be “Youth Connect 2019: Shaping A New India - The Story of Billion Dreams”.Prime Minister inaugurates newly constructed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel- SVP Institute of Medical Sciences in Ahmedabad.

2. India’s Satyarup becomes world’s youngest mountaineer to climb 7 peaks, 7 volcano summits : Mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta conquered Antartica's highest point, Mount Sidley.With this feat, he became the first Indian and youngest man (35 years and 262 days) to climb the seven highest peaks and volcanic summits across all continents.Australia's Daniel Bull had done it at the age of 36 years 157 days.According to the in-Reach Satellite, Communicator Satyarup was carrying, he summited Mount Sidley at a temperature of minus 40-degree Celsius.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Yohei Sasakawa to get Gandhi Peace Prize for 2018 : The Union government has announced the names of the winners of the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2015-2018.The Gandhi Peace Prize 2018 will be given to Yohei Sasakawa, Goodwill Ambassador of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for Leprosy Elimination.For 2017, the award is given to Ekai Abhiyan Trust for their contribution to education for rural and tribal childrenFor 2016, the award has been jointly given to Akshaya Patra Foundation for providing mid-day meals to children across the country and Sulabh International for its work towards the emancipation of manual scavengers.

2.  UK PM Theresa May wins the no-confidence vote : British Prime Minister Theresa May has won a confidence vote by 325 votes to 306 - a majority of 19, averting a general election.After her win, Ms May called on MPs to put self-interest aside and work constructively together to find a way forward for Brexit.PM Theresa May (leader of the Conservative Party) was appointed by the Queen on 13 July 2016.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. SBI, other banks agree to finance Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Corridor :  A consortium of banks led by State Bank of India (SBI) has agreed to lend 8,500 crore rupees finance for Nagpur-Mumbai 'Samruddhi Corridor' expressway project.Other lenders include Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of Maharashtra as well as the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India.The estimated cost of the project, being constructed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, is around 50,000 crores, of which around 26,000 crores are required for the construction of the expressway.

SPORTS:

1. Mohammed Ali Qamar appointed Women’s Boxing team Coach : Mohammed Ali Qamar (38-years) has taken over as the chief coach for the country’s female boxers. He has replaced veteran Shiv Singh. Qamar won India’s first Commonwealth Games gold medal in boxing. Qamar’s CWG gold came in the 2002 Manchester edition in the light flyweight category.

2. Chennai’s Gukesh crowned world’s second youngest grandmaster : Tamil Nadu lad D Gukesh has become 2nd youngest Grand Masterin the world and the youngest Indian to achieve the feat at 12 years, 7 months and 17 days, erasing the mark set by his state-mate R Praggnanandhaa (in June 2018).Now, Gukesh becomes India’s 59th Grand Master.Ukraine’s Sergey Karjakin remains the youngest-ever GM, having achieved the feat at the age of 12 years and seven months in 2002.

OBITUARIES:

1. Malayalam Director Lenin Rajendran passes away :  Noted Malayalam director & screenwriter Lenin Rajendran (67-years) passed away at a private hospital in Chennai.He was a five-time recipient of the Kerala State Film Awards and also received the International Federation of Film Critics Award for the best Malayalam film for his film ‘Makaramanju’.He was also chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation.