Daily GK Updates - 10th August, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi launches ‘Yaad Karo Kurbani’ celebrations: Prime Minister NarendraModi has launched YaadKaroKurbani (remember the sacrifices) celebrations at the birthplace of freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad at Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh. The YaadKaroKurbani is a 15-day programme aimed to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement (QIM) and 70 years of Independence.

2. PM Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalitha jointly dedicated Kundankulam Nuclear Plant Unit-1 to the nation: The first unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant has jointly dedicated to the nation by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, Prime Minister NarendraModi and Russian President Vladimir Putin through video conferencing. It has been built with Russian expertise following a pact between the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Soviet leader Mikahil Gorbachev in November 1988.

3. NITI Aayog ties up with US EIA to set up a portal on energy data: NitiAayog has inked a pact with US Energy Information Administration (EIA). The think tank is working to develop India's energy data agency which would take 3-4 years to develop. The web portal will host all the data related to energy sector including oil & gas, coal, solar & thermal energy etc.

4. Government to set up committee to review e-commerce rules: The government has decided to set up a committee to look into all issues including foreign direct investment norms pertaining to the fast-growing e-commerce industry in the country. The committee will be headed by the NITI Aayog CEO Mr. Amitabh Kant.

5. First Solar India commissions 130 MW of solar power plants in AP, Telangana: The local subsidiary of the Nasdaq-listed First Solar, First Solar Power India, has announced the commercial operation of 80 MW and 50 MW solar power plants in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

6. Maneka Gandhi kicks off a campaign to mark 11 August as Daughters’ Day:The Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched a social media campaign to mark the Daughters Day to be celebrated on 11th August 2016 by tweeting a picture with her daughter-in-law and grand-daughter.

7. NHAI signs MoU with IIT Kharagpur for Research Project: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IIT-Kharagpur for the research project on Laboratory and Field investigations on Paneled Cement Concrete Pavements for Highways.

8. Rajeev Krishnan appointed as Managing Director of Max Hypermarkets India.

9. ACC has approved appointments of four GMs as Executive Director in various banks: The Appointment Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved appointments of four G Ms as Executive Directors in various banks.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. China launches a satellite to get accurate images of earth: China has launched a new high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging satellite Gaofen-3 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in northern Shanxi Province.

2. TakehikoNakao re-elected for second term as ADB President: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors has unanimously re-elected TakehikoNakao as President of ADB for a further 5 years beginning on 24 November 2016.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. Dinesh Kumar Khara appointed as the MD of State Bank of India.

SPORTS:

2. England Speedster James Anderson dethrones R Ashwinfron the top spot in ICC Bowlers Ranking.

OBITUARIES:

3. Yesteryear Tamil Actress Jyothilakshmi passed away at the age of 63.

4. Veteran Tamil writer-producer Panchu Arunachalam passed away.