Daily GK Updates - 9th July, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India and South Africa sign MoUs in four areas of co-operation: The first MoU is on cooperation in the area of information and communication technology. Another MoU calls for cooperation in the tourism sector and is being seen as an important bid to improve people-to-people ties. A third MoU calls for cooperation in grassroot innovation in the science and technology sector. While the fourth agreement has been signed for a programme of cooperation in arts and culture. The two countries have also agreed to cooperate in combating terrorism, regionally and globally.

2. India gives SUVs to Mozambique, completes delivery of $4.5 million grant: Coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mozambique, India has handed over 30 SUVs to Mozambique. With this India completed the delivery of 4.5 million US dollar grant assistance as part of supporting the institutions of this African country.

3. NirmalaSitharaman to lead business delegation to Russia: Commerce and Industry Minister NirmalaSitharaman will lead a delegation of over 110 Indian companies that will showcase their engineering prowess at a trade fair in Russia. India is the partner country for 'INNOPROM 2016', which is the largest annual international industrial trade fair of Russia. The 4-day fair starts from the coming sunday (10th july) in Ekaterinburg.

4. Kerala Government imposes 14.5% Fat tax on junk food: The Kerala government has announced its decision to impose 14.5 per cent tax on junk food on the lines of ‘Fat Tax’ imposed on such food items. This will make food items like burgers, pizzas, pasta costlier.

5. RadhikaMenon becomes the first woman to receive award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea: RadhikaMenon will become the first woman in the world to receive the Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea from the International Maritime Organisation for saving the lives of seven fishermen, whose hopes of survival were all but over.

6. PhirozVandrevala steps down as TCS Director:The country’s largest IT services firm Tata Consultancy Services stated that its non-Executive Director PhirozVandrevala has resigned from the company. However, Vandrevala, also the Vice-Chairman and MD of Diligenta, a TCS subsidiary, will continue with this role.

7. Sanjay Gupta named as the CMD of Konkan Railway.

 INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. NATO summit begins in Warsaw: The NATO summit has begun in Warsaw, Poland. In the two day Summit, the leaders of the 28 NATO Allies and many partner nations will deliberate and take decisions to enhance the Alliance’s security by strengthening its deterrence and defence, and projecting stability beyond its borders.

2. COO of Microsoft Kelvin Turner has resigned.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Serena Williams beat Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon Open 2016 to equal the record of Steffi Graff for having winning 22 grand slams.

AWARDS:

2. Ad award for Srinivasan K Swamy: The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) has announced that Srinivasan K Swamy, Chairman of R K SwamyHansa, would be the recipient of this year’s AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award.

OBITUARIES:

3. Noted Pakistani Philanthropist Abdul SattarEdhi has passed away at the age of 88.