Daily GK Update - 16th December 2014

1. Taliban storm Pakistan military school

i. Taliban gunmen stormed a military school in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar , killing 20 students and one soldier, the highest-profile militant attack to hit the troubled region in months, officials said.

ii. Taliban spokesman Mohammed Khurasani claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone call to media, saying that six suicide bombers had carried out the attack in revenge for the killings of Taliban members at the hands of Pakistani authorities.

iii. A Pakistani hospital official says around 100 are feared killed in a Taliban attack on a school in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

2. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo re-elected for another four year term

I. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was re-elected for another four-year term. 

ii. He was re-elected after Japan's ruling coalition (Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito) won a two thirds majority in the Snap elections held for the Lower House (House of Representatives) of the Bicameral legislature, the National Diet.

iii. Abe’s party Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won 290 seats and its coalition partner Komeito won 35 seats together garnering a total of 325 seats out of 475 seat of Lower House

3. US senate confirms Vivek Murthy as Surgeon General.

i. Thirty seven-year-old Indian-American physician Vivek Hallegere Murthy has been confirmed as the 19th Surgeon General of America by U.S. Senate.

ii. The upper house of US Congress confirmed Mr. Murthy’s nomination by 51 votes to 43 more than year after President Barack Obama had nominated him to this top administration post on public health issues in November 2013 which saw a strong opposition from the powerful pro-gun lobby National Rifle Association (NRA).

iii. He is youngest person and first person of Indian-origin to hold the post.

4. Six new ministers inducted in Telangana State Cabinet

i. Six new ministers were inducted into Telangana State cabinet by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao. 

ii. The ministers took the oath of office and secrecy at the Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad.

iii. List of the ministers

1. Thummala Nageswara Rao (Former MLA of Khammam)

2. Charlakola Lakshma Reddy (MLA from Jadcherala constituency, Mahabubnagar district)

3. Azmeera Chandulal (MLA from Mulugu, Warangal district)           

4. Jupally Krishna Rao (MLA from Kollapur,Mahabubnagar district)

5. Allola Indrakaran Reddy (MLA from Nirmal, Adilabad district)      

6. Talasani Srinivas Yadav (MLA representing Sanathnagar, Rangareddy) 

5. India third on black money list.

i. As India continues its pursuit of suspected black money stashed abroad, an international think-tank has ranked the country third globally with an estimated USD 94.76 billion (nearly Rs 6 lakh crore) illicit wealth outflows in 2012.

ii. As a result, the cumulative illicit money moving out of the country over a ten-year period from 2003 to 2012 has risen to USD 439.59 billion (Rs 28 lakh crore).

iii. Russia is on the top with USD 122.86 billion, followed by China at the second position (USD 249.57 billion) in terms of the quantum of black money moving out of a country for 2012 — the latest year for which these estimates have been made.

6. Gujarat announces Rs. 1,100-crore relief package for farmers

i. The Gujarat government on Monday announced a relief package of Rs. 1,100 crore for farmers in the State.

ii. The package includes Rs. 600 crore worth of subsidy on interest for agriculture loans and Rs. 500 crore on power bills.

iii. This year, the district cooperative banks and nationalized banks have disbursed loans to the tune of Rs. 2,100 crore. The interest on this amount is Rs. 1,200.

7. IRCTC tops 2014 Google search in India

i. The Indian Railways’ official website, IRCTC, was most searched in Google by people in India in 2014. The search engine company has released the list of most searched and trending words.

ii. E-commerce website Flipkart, PSU lender SBI Online, e-tailer Snapdeal and PNR status were other most searched words.

8. French star Thierry Henry retires

i. Former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry announced his retirement on Tuesday, ending a 20-year career in which he earned a place in the pantheon of modern greats.

ii. Henry was a member of the France teams that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship. 

iii.  Henry netted 26 goals that season and went on to score 226 times in 369 appearances for Arsenal from 1999 to 2007, winning seven trophies.

9. Viswanathan Anand won London Classic

i. Five-time chess world champion Viswanathan Anand won his maiden London Classic title after defeating British Grandmaster Michael Adams in the fifth and final round on Monday.

ii. The victory confirms Anand's presence in elite chess for some time.

iii. Anand matched Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and Anish Giri on points and then has the superior tie-break to clinch the title.

Message - 

BA family remembers NIRBHAYA on her second martyrs day. She lost her body to keep her soul alive, alive for a purpose, for a change, for a revolution. But after two years of this blot on the destiny of Indian women something has changed , changed for worse. The roads are not much more than an abyss for Women who are adored as Durga but Raped as a commodity. Please respect Girls, You are here because of her. Let's bring a change in your mentality and make this world an Eden for all of us.

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