DAILY GK UPDATE 12TH JULY

1.    India hold on to No. 1 ODI rankings

i. India's back-to-back title triumphs has helped the world champion team retain its top position in the ICC ODI rankings following the annual update of the list announced on Friday. 

ii. After a successful ICC Champions Trophy campaign in England, India also emerged victorious in the just-concluded tri-series in the West Indies. 

iii. The annual update was released after the conclusion of the tri-series, featuring the hosts, India and Sri Lanka

iv. India won the tri-series after beating Sri Lanka by one wicket in athrilling final on Thursday at Port of Spain. 

v. India are atop the table with 122 rating points, ahead of Australia (114) and third placed of England (112).

2.    India, Aus to hold 2nd round of talks on nuclear deal

i. India and Australia will hold their second round of discussions on uranium sale in July-end, three months after they launched negotiations for a civil nuclear cooperation agreement.

ii. The first one had happened in March when the negotiations started very well, very constructive... that is the spirit in which they will continue

iii. "It would be effectively an agreement to ensure that any Australian uranium sold to India is for peaceful purpose with appropriate safeguards in place to show that that happens under the auspices of the IAEA."

iv. In December 2011, Australia decided to reverse its ban to sell uranium to India after the ruling Labour Party's (ALP) national conference in Sydney favoured the then Prime Minister Julia Gillard's move to open up uranium sale despite India being a non-signatory to the NPT.

NOTE: i.Australia, which holds about a third of the world's recoverable uranium resources, has made it clear that it involves International Atomic Energy Agency to oversee its uranium negotiations.

ii. Australian High Commissioner to India Patrick Suckling

iii. Indian High Commissioner to Australia: Mr. Biren Nanda

iv. New Australia PM: Kevin Rudd

3.    France and Switzerland signed New Inheritance Tax Deal

i. France and Switzerland on 11 July 2013 have signed an agreement on inheritance taxes as per which Paris will help it bringing in more money.

ii. As per the agreement, the inheritances will be taxed based on where the recipient resides, but not where the deceased lived, as it is used to be earlier. 

iii. The agreement is supposed to allow France to ask Switzerland to investigate suspicious bank activity even if it does not have the suspects’ names.

iv. The new agreement will make it tuff for people living in France to escape taxes. It is worth mentioning here that France taxes inheritance progressively up to 45 per cent, compared to Switzerland’s maximum of 7 per cent.

v. France is one of a growing number of cash impoverished country which is trying to find tax hiding away in Swiss accounts.

4.    U.S. Navy landed First Unmanned Aircraft Carrier in Atlantic Ocean

i. The U.S. Navy on 10 July 2013 successfully landed a drone the size of a fighter jet aboard an aircraft carrier for the first time. 

ii. The X-47B experimental aircraft was landed to display military’s capability of US to have a computer program which can perform one of the most difficult tasks. 

iii. With the landing of Aircraft the US Navy can move forward with its plans to develop another unmanned aircraft that will join the fleet alongside traditional airplanes to provide around-the-clock surveillance while also possessing a strike capability.

iv. The X-47B will mainly would pave the way for the U.S. to launch unmanned aircraft without the need to obtain permission from other countries to use their bases.

v.  X-47B is far bigger than the Predator, and has three times the range and can be programmed to carry out missions with no human intervention.

vi. The X-47B is capable of carrying weapons and is designed to be the forerunner for a drone program that will provide around-the-clock intelligence, surveillance and targeting, according to the Navy.

5.    Carnatic musician Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana passes away

i. Eminent Carnatic musician Nukala Chinna Satyanarayana passed away following brief illness.

ii. Satyanarayana, a recipient of Padma Bhushan and several other prestigious awards, died at his residence. He was 89.

iii. Born at Anakapalle in coastal Andhra Pradesh, he started as a student of violin but attained heights of greatness as a vocalist, music teacher, author and administrator.

iv. He enthralled music lovers both in India and abroad with his soulful rendition of Carnatic music. He performed in the presence of several great personalities including late prime minister P V Narasimha Rao.

6.    India wins Tri-Nation Series

i. India have won the Tri-Nation Cricket Series in a thrilling final at Port of Spain defeated Sri Lanka by one wicket.

ii. Chasing 202 runs for a win, India overhauled the target in 49.4 overs by making 203 for nine

iii. Sent in to bat, Sri Lanka were all out for 201 in 48.5 overs. Ravindra Jadeja claimed four wickets for 23 runs.

iv. India were facing defeat at one stage with their score standing at 167 for eight.

v. But needing 15 to win off the final over, Skipper M.S. Dhoni smashed Shaminda Eranga for a six and a four and then won the game with another six with two balls to spare.

vi. Dhoni who remained unbeaten on 45 was declared man of the match. Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar bagged the Player of the Series Award

7.    India wins U-19 Tri-Series cricket title beating Australia

i. India have won the Under-19 Tri-Series cricket title. In the final at Darwin today, they thrashed hosts Australia by eight wickets.

ii. Opting to bowl after winning the toss, the Indians bowled out Australia for a paltry 75 in 24.4 overs.

iii. Indian captain Vijay Zol won Player of the Series award after a dominant performance with the bat. India finished the Tri-series tournament unbeaten.