Important Current Affairs of 9th July

NATIONAL:

Indian business man becomes first expat in Sharjah to get UAE’s permanent residency.

• UAE-based Indian business tycoon Lalu Samuel has become the first expat in Sharjah to get the gold card permanent residency.

• Unlike the long-term visa of 5-10 years for businessmen and talented individuals, the gold card gives permanent residency of the UAE to the holder.

• The Kingston Group chairman was handed over the gold residence card by Brigadier Arif Al Shamsi, Director-General of residency and foreigners affairs in Sharjah, the Gulf News reported Monday.

About Kingston Group:

• The Kingston Holdings owns one of the largest manufacturing companies in the Middle East that comprises several manufacturing units that process plastic and metal.

Odisha state government implemented the Centres Witness Protection Scheme 2018.

• The Odisha state government implemented the Centre’s Witness Protection Scheme 2018. Naveen Patnaik led Odisha govt. informed the Orissa High Court on 6 July. By this Odisha became the first State to implement the Scheme.

On December 5 2018, Supreme Court has directed all States and Union Territories to endorse the Central scheme on Witness Protection Scheme-2018. It said that the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018 shall be the 'law' under Article 141 and 142 of the Constitution, till the enactment of suitable parliamentary or state legislations on the subject.

Reason for implementation:

The move comes after an informant sought protection for his life and property as he was a witness in a murder case under Kodala police station area in Ganjam district in the Orissa HC. A Single Judge Bench of Justice Biswajit Mohanty directed the petitioner to approach the competent authority in the district concerned for protection under the scheme.

Categories of the Scheme:

Under the scheme, the state govt. included three categories of witnesses as per threat perception.

Category A: This category consists of those cases where threat extends to the life of witness or family members during an investigation, trial or thereafter.

Category B: Cases where the threat extends to safety, reputation or property of the witness or family members during the investigation or trial.

Category C: Cases where the threat is moderate and extends to harassment or intimidation of the witness or family members, reputation or property during investigation, trial or thereafter.

Provisions of the Scheme:

The scheme includes different features including protective measures that ensures that:

♦ protection and Change of identity

♦ the witness and the accused do not come face to face during probe

♦ relocation of witness

♦ confidentiality and preservation of records and recovery of expenses among others

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS:

Hero MotoCorp appoints Rajat Bhargava as head of EV business.

• India's largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp on Tuesday appointed Rajat Bhargava as the head of its new 'Emerging Mobility' business unit. Hero created the unit to give an impetus to new mobility trends such as Electric Vehicles, the company said. Currently, Bhargava is the Head of Strategy & Performance Transformation and Global Business at the company.

SPORTS:

Vinesh Phogat won gold medal in the 53 kg category at the Grand Prix of Spain 2019.

• India’s top wrestler Vinesh Phogat won her first gold medal after shifting to 53kg category and Divya Kakran claimed the top honours in the 68kg category at the Grand Prix of Spain 2019 at Madrid, Spain. In the championship, India finished second with 130 points in team championship behind Russia which secured 165.

Vinesh defeated Dutch rival Jessica Blaszka at the finals. She is one of India’s medal hopefuls at the 2020 Tokyo Games. She won gold medal at the Jakarta Asian Games. Vinesh had competed in Asian Championship and won bronze. She played in Dan Kolov and won silver respectively in the 53kg category.

Brazil won the Copa America2019 title.

• Brazil won its first Copa America 2019 title since 2007. It defeated Peru and secured 3-1. The team already owns the fifth and ninth Copa América trophy.  The event was hosted by Brazil.

• Everton was named player of the final and also finished as one of the tournament's top scorers with three goals. Dani Alves, Brazil's right-back, was awarded the player of the tournament.

• The last time they won the Copa América was in 1989. Then it played against Uruguay at the Maracanã. Brazil's only other title since 2007 came in the 2013 Confederations Cup

Copa America 2019:

• The 2019 Copa América was the 46th edition of the Copa América, the international men's association football championship. It was founded in 1916.

• It was organized by South America's football ruling body CONMEBOL. It was held in Brazil and took place between 14 June to 7 July 2019 at 6 venues across the country.

• Uruguay is the Copa América's most successful nation with 15 titles.

Chanu wins gold at Commonwealth Senior Weightlifting C'ship.

• Former world champion Mirabai Chanu won a gold medal on the opening day of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship on Tuesday. The Indian contingent won 13 medals that included eight gold, three silver and two bronze medals in senior, junior and youth categories. Mirabai lifted a total of 191kg in the senior women's 49 kg event.