Daily GK Update - 5th and 6th July 2015

Microsoft to develop digital villages, cyber-security centre in Maharashtra

(i) Software giant Microsoft has agreed to develop ‘digital villages’ and a ‘smart MIDC’ (industrial colony) in Maharashtra under state’s flagship ‘Make In Maharashtra’ initiative. 

(ii) It was announced by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after he met Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella during his visit to company’s office in Seattle, US. 

(iii) The location of the smart MIDC is yet to be decided. Microsoft will also set up cyber-security centre in Maharashtra’s IT hub Pune and also agreed to adopt a tribal village in Melghat district in order to provide ‘tertiary health services’.

(iv) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also met Boeing CEO Raymond Conner and discussed expansion of MRO operations at its plant in the industrial facility of Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport (MIHAN) in Nagpur.

Adani Group inks MoU with Tamil Nadu Government to set up 650 MW solar power plant

(i) Adani Group has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tamil Nadu Government to set up 650 Mega Watt (MW) solar power plant in Ramanathapuram district. 

(ii) The group will set up five solar power units at a cost of 4,536 crore rupees. Around 70 per cent of the investment will be through internal accruals, while the reaming investment will be from institutional investors and debt. 

(iii) Besides Tamil Nadu, Adani group is setting up solar plants different states across India including in Rajasthan (5,000 MW), Jharkhand (10,000 MW) and Gujarat (5,000 MW).

US wins Women’s FIFA World Cup for 3rd time

(i) United States (US) won the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It is overall third world cup title of US.

(ii) In the World Cup final match played at Vancouver, Canada US defeated Japan by 5-2 goals score. 

(iii) 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Awards 

Golden Ball Award:  Carli Lloyd (US), Amandine Henry (France), Aya Miyama (Japan). 

Golden Boot Award: Celia Sasic (Germany), Carli Lloyd (US), Anja Mittag (Germany). Golden Glove Award: Hope Solo (US). Young Player Award: Kadeisha Buchanan (Canada). 

Fair Play Award: France.

Chile wins Copa America title 2015 of football for first time 

(i) Chile won South America’s most prestigious football trophy, the Copa America title 2015 for the first time. 

(ii) It is Chile’s first ever international trophy in Football. 

(iii) In the final match played at Santiago de Chile, the hosts defeated 14 times champion Argentina by 4-1 goals in the penalty shootout as regular match had ended in a goal-less draw. 

Acclaimed Pakistani Urdu novelist Abdullah Hussain passes away

(i) Acclaimed Pakistani Urdu novelist Abdullah Hussain passed away in Lahore due to blood cancer. He was 84. 

(ii) He had received worldwide fame after the publication of his masterpiece Urdu novel and greatest contemporary works of Urdu fiction Udas Naslain in 1964. 

(iii) UNESCO had published a translation of this novel called The Weary Generations.

(iv) His other famous novels are Baagh, Nadaar Loag and short stories Nashaib and Faraib. 

(v) Awards: He was honoured with Adamjee Award, Prime Minister’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2015).

Lewis Hamilton wins 2015 Birtish Grand Prix of F1

(i) Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain won 2015 Birtish Grand Prix of Formula One (F1). 

(ii) This was his fourth victory of the season and his second of Birtish Grand Prix. With this victory Hamilton became second British F1 driver to win Birtish Grand Prix two times after David Coulthard.

(iii) The drivers ranking after British Grand Prix 2015 : 

Lewis Hamilton (Britain) of Mercedes. 

Nico Rosberg (Germany) of Mercedes. 

Sebastian Vettel (Germany) of Ferrari. 

Felipe Massa (Brazil) of Williams. 

Valtteri Bottas (Finland) of Williams. 

7th Position:  Nico Hulkenberg (Germany) of Force India. 

9th Sergio Perez (Mexico) of Force India. 

Top 5 Teams 

Mercedes. 

Ferrari 

Williams 

Red Bull. 

Force India.

Renowned US actress Diana Douglas passes away

(i) Renowned US actress and model Diana Douglas passed away in Los Angeles due to cancer. She was 92. 

(ii) She had modelled on the cover of Life Magazine in 1943. Some of her famous movies are The Indian Fighter; Planes, Trains and Automobiles; The Days of Our Lives. 

(iii) Her last appearance was Runs in the Family in 2003 and retired from acting in 2008. 

(iv) She had married famous US actor Kirk Douglas in 1943 and is mother of Oscar winning actor Michael Douglas and Joel Douglas.

India retains South Asian Basketball Championship

(i) Defending champions India have retained the South Asian Basketball Championship (SABA) title. It was the 4th edition of the Championships. 

(ii) In the final match of played at Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka they defeated Sri Lanka by 93-44 score. 

(iii) With this win India qualified for the FIBA Asia Championship which will be hosted by China in September 2015. 

(iv) Results of SABA title 2015: India (gold), Sri Lanka (silver) and Nepal (bronze).