Daily GK Updates - 1st October, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Somesh Sharma is INS President: Somesh Sharma of RashtradootSaptahik has been elected President of The Indian Newspaper Society for the year 2016-17.

2. Aditya Birla Retail appoints MohitKampani as CEO.

3. Government decides to raise EPFO investment in ETF: The Government has decided to raise the Employees Provident Fund ( EPF) investment in Exchange Traded Funds (ETF) from present 5% to 10%.

4. Tirupati Airport awarded as ‘Best Tourist Friendly Airport’: Airport Authority of India's Tirupati Airport has been awarded as "Best Tourist Friendly Airport" under the category for "State Annual Excellence Awards (2015-16)" by Andhra Pradesh Tourism.

5. HCL and IBM enter 15-year partnership: HCL and IBM have entered into a 15-year partnership for automation, development and operations. This partnership will enable the both companies to focus their technical teams on native cloud and cognitive solutions, as well as industry-specific opportunities.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International day of Older Persons: 1^st October: The significance of Day is to raise awareness about issues affecting the elderly and to appreciate the contributions that older people make to society. This year, the theme is "Take a Stand against Ageism".

2. SAARC Summit ‘postponed indefinitely’: Pakistan has officially postponed the 8-nation SAARC summit 2016, after 5 countries – India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka dropped out of it. The SAARC Summit was scheduled on November 9 and 10 in Islamabad, Pakistan.

2. EU Ministers approve ratification of Paris climate Agreement: The European Union (EU) ministers have approved the ratification of Paris Agreement (on Climate Change).This decision brings the Paris Agreement closer to entering into force.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. Arundhati Bhattacharya gets year-long extension as SBI Chief.

2. IOB gets new executive director: The Centre has appointed R Subramania Kumar as Executive Director (ED) of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB).

OBITUARIES:

1. Spiritual leader Indirabetiji passed away at the age of 78: Vaishnavacharya Goswami Indira betiji, a proponent of Sanatan Dharma known for her devotion to social causes, passed away. She was 78.