Daily GK Updates - 9th December, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Haritha Keralam Mission launched by Kerala CM PinarayiVijayan: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has launched Haritha Keralam Mission in Thiruvananthapuram on December 8. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu launched a website of National Rail Plan, 2030 (NRP-2030) on December 8, 2016 Rail Bhawan, New Delhi, to develop the Indian Railways in terms of service in travelling and freight across the country. 

2. India to set up center of excellence at Al-Azhar University, Egypt: In order to enhance cooperation in education sector between India and Egypt, Center has decided to set up a center of Excellence in Information Technology at the Al-Azhar University which is the oldest and most prestigious the University of Egypt.

3. Vistaar appoints ex-Sebi chief C B Bhave as non-executive Chairman: Vistaar Financial Services, an MSME-focused financing firm, today said it has appointed former Sebi chief C B Bhave as non-executive Chairman and Independent Director.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Nana Akufo-Addo wins Ghana presidential election: Ghana's main opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo has won the country's presidential election with an absolute majority.

2. Harry Potter tops Amazon's best-selling books of 2016:Amazon, which started as an online book retailer, has announced Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as the best-selling book of 2016.

3. US designate India as Major Defence Partner:India and the United States vowed to expand the bilateral defence cooperation. Outgoing American defence secretary Ashton Carter met his counterpart ManoharParrikar in New Delhi for the record-breaking seventh time. 

4. Pakistan Lifts Undeclared Ban on Import of Ginned Cotton from India:Earlier from November 23, The Department of Plant Protection (DPP) of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research had banned the cotton imports from India through Wagah and Karachi port as the shipments did not fulfil phyto- sanitary conditions.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. IDFC Bank appoints Veena Mankar as Non-Executive Chairperson: The board of directors of IDFC Bank has approved the appointment of Veena Mankar as Non-Executive Chairperson, with effect from December 9, 2016, up to July 26, 2018. 

2. Two Banks of Abu Dhabi to merge as the Biggest Bank in Gulf Nation:Stockholders of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi and First Gulf Bank on December 7, 2016, approved to merge into the biggest bank of all Gulf Countries with an asset of $ 178 billion.

SPORTS:

3. PR Sreejesh Appointed as Goalkeeping Mentor of Indian Junior Hockey Team: Captain of the senior National Men’s Hockey Team and one of the finest hockey goal-PR Sreejeshkeeper in the world, PR Sreejesh has been roped in as the Goalkeeping Mentor of the India Under-21 Hockey Team from December 8, 2016.

4. 18-year-old Mumbaikar Jehan Daruvala signs for Formula 3: Young Indian racer Jehan Daruvala has been signed by Formula 3's top team Carlin for the 2017 FIA F3 European Championship. 

OBITUARIES:

5. Former NASA astronaut and Democratic US Senator from Ohio, John Glenn, has passed away at the age of 95.