Daily GK Updates - 22nd November, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Swachh Delhi Abhiyan launched in Delhi

A special cleanliness drive, Swachh Delhi Abhiyan has been launched in the national capital Delhi to remove debris and garbage lying in various localities. The drive was launched by Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu and shall continue in New Delhi till the end November 2015 month.

2. UP Government’s Clean UP, Green UP initiative earns place in Guinness Book

Under state government’s green drive initiative 10 lakh saplings were planted in one day within a span of eight hours on November 7, 2015 at 10 locations in the state. This new record has surpassed the earlier record for plantation of maximum number of tree that was 8 lakh 50 thousand trees in a single day.

3. Supersonic interceptor AAD missile successfully test fired.

Indigenously developed supersonic Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile was successfully test fired from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. The interceptor AAD missile has been indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) under Ballistic Missile Defence Programme. AAD missile is capable of destroying any incoming ballistic missile at lower (endo-atmospheric) altitude, giving full-fledged multi-layer Ballistic Missile Defence system to country.     

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Mahatma Gandhi International entre inaugurated in Matale by Sri Lankan President

The President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena on 22 November 2015 inaugurated the Mahatma Gandhi International Centre (MGIC) inaugurated in Matale. The center was inaugurated as a tribute to the contribution of Mahatma Gandhi to humanity and the continuing relevance of his principles and philosophy to mankind.

2. Francois Hollande to be Chief Guest at 2016 Republic Day celebrations

The visit of Mr. Hollande to New Delhi for the mega event will be symbolic. Mr. Francois Hollande would be the 5th highest dignitary from France to be Chief Guest of Indian Republic Day parade after Prime Minister Jacques Chirac (1976), President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (1980), President Jacques Chirac (1998) and President Nicolas Sarkozy (2008).With this invitation, France now holds distinction of being the guest of honour for the maximum five times of Indian Republic Day parade followed by Bhutan (four times); Mauritius and USSR/Russia (three times each).

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Indian Junior Hockey team wins 2015^th men’s junior asia hockey cup:

India’s junior men’s hockey team has won the eight edition of Men’s Junior Asia hockey cup. In the finals played at Kuantan (Malaysia) India defeated arch rivals Pakistan 6-2 goals. For Indian team Harmanpreet Singh scored highest four goals followed by Armaan Qureshi and Manpreet Singh scoring 1 goal each. South Korea won the bronze medal by defeating Japan by 2-1 goal score in this edition of Cup. Eight international teams had participated including India, Malaysia, Japan, China, Korea, Pakistan, Oman and Bangladesh in the 8ht Men’s Junior Asia Cup. 

BUSINESS & ECONOMY:

2. Pfizer to take over Allergan in blockbuster merger deal of $160 billion:

US drugs giant Pfizer Inc. has struck upon a deal to buy Ireland based Allergan for 160 billion dollars making it the biggest pharmaceuticals merger deal in history of healthcare sector. The blockbuster merger would create the world’s biggest drug maker to be called Pfizer Plc with its headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.