Daily GK Update: 9th December 2022

 National & International Appointments

1. Sushmita Shukla becomes first VP, COO of Federal Reserve Bank of New York

• The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has appointed Indian-origin, Sushmita Shukla (54) as First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of bank, effective March 2023.
• Her appointment was approved by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
• It is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks which, together with the Board of Governors in Washington, DC, make up the Federal Reserve System.
• It is the largest Reserve Bank in terms of assets and volume of activity.

 National & International Appointments

2. Pottery Barn signs Deepika Padukone as brand ambassador

• American furniture retailer, Pottery Barn has signed Deepika Padukone as a brand ambassador, to promote the company’s international expansion
• She will also work with the company's in-house design team in San Francisco to co-create a capsule collection, that will be launched in 'Fall 2023'
• In July 2022, Pottery Barn launched its online retail website for India, in partnership with Reliance Brands.
• It has launched its first retail store in Ambience Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.

 National & International Organizations

3. CEO of LVMH, Bernard Arnault becomes the world's richest person: Forbes

• According to the Forbes, Chief executive of Louis Vuitton's parent company LVMH, Bernard Arnault and Family replaced Tesla CEO, Elon Musk to become the world richest person.
• As of December 9, 2022, the personal wealth of Bernard Arnault is $186.1 billion and net worth of Elon Musk is $185.0 billion.
• But as per the Bloomberg's Billionaires Index, the Tesla CEO is still estimated to be the world's wealthiest person with a net worth of $171 billion (As of 9th Dec 2022).

 Summits & Conferences

4. 9th World Ayurveda Congress and Arogya Expo 2022 inaugurated in Goa

• 9th World Ayurveda Congress was inaugurated today at Panaji, Goa on 8th Dec 2022.
• The event was attended by the Minister of State for Tourism and Shipping, Ports and Waterways, Shripad Naik.
• Aim: To showcase the efficacy and strength of the AYUSH systems of medicine at the Global level.  
• The third edition of the ‘Ayushman’ comic book series was also released at the event.
• The market size of AYUSH in the country has grown from $3 billion in 2014 to over $18 billion now.

 National Affairs

5. 27th edition of International Film Festival of Kerala kicks off

• The 27th edition of International Film Festival of Kerala has been started at Nishagandhi auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram on 9th December, 2022.
• The event was inaugurated by Kerala CM, Pinarayi Vijayan and presided by Minister, VN Vasavan.
• Iranian director Mahnaz Mohammadi, who fights for women's freedom in Iran has bagged the Spirit of Cinema Award 2022.
• It is one of the distinguished film festivals of India, which is hosted by the Kerala Chalachitra Academy. 

 Defense

6. INS Kochi, Kavaratti and Sumedha participate in IFR-22

• INS Kochi, Kavaratti and Sumedha have participated in the maiden International Fleet Review (IFR), organised at Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.
• The ships has taken part in a variety of activities that was conducted as a part of BN IFR-22 from 06 to 09 December 2022.
• In 2022, the IFR-22 was organised by Bangladesh Navy, to commemorate the Birth Centenary of Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and to celebrate Golden Jubilee of Independence of Bangladesh.

 National & International Appointments

7. Tata Sons' N Chandrasekaran appointed Chair of B20 India

• The government has appointed Tata Sons Chairman, N Chandrasekaran as the Chair of Business 20 (B20) India.
• He will lead the business agenda during India's G-20 presidency.
• The B20 is the official G-20 dialogue forum with the global business community.
• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has been appointed as the B20 India Secretariat by the Indian government to lead the B20 India process.
• CII has assumed charge of B20 India Secretariat on 1 December 2022.

 Banking & Finance

8. RBI signs Currency Swap Agreement with Maldives Monetary Authority

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has signed a Currency Swap Agreement with the Maldives Monetary Authority under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework.
• This agreement has enabled the Maldives authority to make drawals in multiple tranches up to a maximum of 200 million dollars from the RBI.
• The agreement will provide swap support as a backstop line of funding for short-term foreign exchange liquidity requirements. 

 National & International Appointments

9. NABARD named KV Shaji as new chairman

• K V Shaji has been named Chairman of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
• He had served as NABARD’s Deputy MD till May 21, 2020.
• Prior to joining NABARD, he worked with Canara Bank, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Kerala Gramin Bank (country’s largest regional rural bank).
• From 2013 until 2017, he served as the Chairman of Kerala Grameen Bank.
• He is an agricultural graduate with a PGDM in Public Policy from IIM Ahmedabad.

 Banking & Finance

10. ADB approves $780 mn loan for Chennai's metro rail network

• The ADB has approved the financial aid of $780 million to build new lines for Chennai’s metro rail.
• Focus: Improve the network’s connectivity with bus and feeder services.
• The project will construct an elevated section between Sholinganallur to SIPC, underground section between Lighthouse and Meenakshi College and system component (between Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus to Okkiyam Thoraipakkam).
• The ADB was established in 1966.
• ADB Members: 68 

 State Affairs

11. Assam Cabinet approves bill to create Safai Karamchari Commission

• The Assam Cabinet led by CM, Himanta Biswa Sarma has approved a bill to set up a Safai Karamchari Commission.
• The cabinet has also renamed the Dergaon Police Academy as Lachit Barphukan Police Academy.
• In addition to this, cabinet has also approved decisions related to providing maternity benefits, monitoring drug prices, protecting Safai Karmacharis’ rights and filling up vacancies in the Forest Department.

 State Affairs

12. UP Governor to inaugurate Universal Coverage Day 2022

• Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry will organize a two days conclave commemorating Universal Coverage Day 2022 at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on 10th December 2022.
• The conclave will be inaugurated by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Patel.
• Universal Health Coverage aims to provide promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative access of health services.
• It also ensures that people do not suffer financial hardship while paying for these services.

 Important Dates

13. International Anti-Corruption Day 2022: 9th December

• International Anti-Corruption Day is observed annually on December 9 to raise public awareness on malpractice of corruption and its effects.
• 2022 Theme: Uniting the world against corruption
• The UN General Assembly has adopted the UN Convention against Corruption on October 31, 2003 and designated Dec 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day.
• According to the UNDP, the approximately US$13 trillion that governments spend on public spending, up to 25% is lost to corruption.