Daily GK Updates - 9th January, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL) signed two pacts for air services and bus manufacturing on the last day of Bengal Global Business Summit: The first MoU was signed with Bhutan’s Drunk Air for operating flights from Andal to Durgapur, Bagdogra, Bhutan and onwards to Singapore. The 2^nd MoU is for bus manufacturing at Andal in Burdwan district with China’s Zhongtong Bus Holding Company.

2. French Soldiers to march down Rajpath on Republic Day 2016 along with Indian troops: French President Francois Hollande is to be the chief guest.

3. Thermal power companies to transport fly ash free of cost to road construction site in Odisha: The decision in this regard was taken at the joint meeting between NTPC and State Pollution Control Board at Bhubaneswar.

4. Smriti Irani inaugurates 43^rd New Delhi World Book Fair: HRD Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated the 43^rd edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair which commenced here with China as the guest of honour country and a theme presentation of the cultural heritage of India.

5. President promulgated Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Ordinance, 2016: These amendments will help in dealing with the loopholes of the Enemy Property Act, 1968 and ensure that the enemy properties that have been vested in the custodian remain so and they do not revert back to the enemy subject or enemy firm.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES: 

1. South Korea’s Parliament adopted a resolution denouncing DPRK’s (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) fourth nuclear test: In the resolution, the South Korean lawmakers urged Pyongyang to scrap all plans relevant to nuclear development, saying that its reckless acts would further isolate itself from the international society and increase pressures and ostracism.

2. US introduced measures to combat recruitment of Americans to extremist groups.

OTHER UPDATES: 

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. Urjit Patel to be RBI Deputy Governor for three more years.

SPORTS:

2. Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis won 2016 with WTA Brisbane title.

3. Australia wins Hopman Cup for 1^st time in 17 years: Nick Kyrgios and Daria Gavrilova had singles wins over Ukraine to lead Australia Green to the Hopman Cup, the country’s first title in the mixed team’s event in 17 years.