Daily GK Updates - 26th January, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India’s 67^th Republic Day celebrated: President of France, Mr Francois Hollande was the Chief Guest of the 67^th Republic Day parade. A 76-member French Army contingent also took part in the parade. This was the first time when soldiers from a different country took part in a republic day parade in India. 

2. India and France signed MoU on purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets during President Francois Hollande’s visit.

3. Manipal Hospitals became Karnataka’s first centre for MRCP (UK) PACES examination: Manipal Hospitals Bangalore becomes the first centre in Karnataka for conducting the MRCP practical assessment of examination skills (PACES) mock exam in collaboration with UK-based Royal College of Physicians Federation.

4. International Solar Alliance headquartered in India with United Nations as Strategic Partner: PM Modi along with French President Francois Hollande laid the foundation stone of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) headquarters in National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gwalpahari, Gurgaon.

5. President’s rule imposed in Arunachal Pradesh.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa won the Presidential elections of Portugal: He is a centre-right Social Democrats candidate and a former Journalist who won the elections by securing 52% of the total votes.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. West Indies cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul retired from International Cricket.

2. FIH Hockey Stars Awards 2015 announced: The Netherlands’ Robert Van der Horst and Lidewij Welten won the men’s and women’s FIH Player of the Year awards respectively, for their performances in 2015. Goalkeeper of the Year (women)-Joyce Sombroek (The Netherlands), Goalkeeper of the Year (men)- David Harte.

AWARDS:

3. Actress Rekha honoured with 3^rd National Yash Chopra Memorial Award.

4. Kerala dentist Sanjeev Koshy honoured with Order of Australia, the highest civilian honour of Australia.

OBITUARIES:

5. Marvin Minsky, the pioneer of Artificial Intelligence died at the age of 88.

6. Hollywood actor Abe Vigoda passed away at the age of 94.