Daily GK Updates - 27th February, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. India ranks 47th on Inclusive Internet Index: In a report ‘Inclusive Internet Index’ published by Facebook and EIU, India ranked 47th out of 86 countries when it comes to inclusive Internet and connectivity for all. Sweden stood at first place, followed by Singapore and the US. According to the index, the Internet is empowering, especially to citizens in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

2. Uma Bharti launches second project of Swajal Yojana: Union Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Uma Bharti launched the Swajal pilot project at Village Bhikampura in Rajasthan. Besides ensuring the availability of clean drinking water to every household around the year, the project would also generate employment. Swajal is a community-owned drinking water programme for sustained drinking water supply. Under the scheme, 90% of the project cost will be taken care by the Government and the remaining 10% of the project cost will be contributed by the community.

3. RISE scheme update: The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) will get the largest chunk of loans on offer under Revitalising Infrastructure and Systems in Education (RISE). This shifts funding mechanism to CFIs in higher education from grant assistance to loans to assure more funds, greater accountability. RISE scheme was announced in Union Budget 2017-18. It aims to lend low-cost funds to government higher educational institutions.

4. Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein arrives in India: King of Jordan Abdullah-II bin Al-Hussein has arrived in India on a 3 day visit. This will be his second visit to India after his visit along with Queen Rania in 2006. The two sides are expected to sign a number of memorandums of understanding and agreements in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation. India is Jordan’s fourth largest trading partner with bilateral trade worth $1.35 billion.

5. JP Nadda rolls out free viral load tests for HIV: Health minister JP Nadda has launched the free Viral Load Tests, which measure the quantity of virus in the body. The move is likely to benefit 12 lakh people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in the country. The test is of immense importance to monitor the effectiveness of treatment of patients taking lifelong anti-retroviral therapy.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. New Deputy PM of Australia: Michael McCormack elected new Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. He has replaced former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. The leader of the National Party automatically becomes deputy prime minister under the terms of the coalition agreement with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Liberal party.

2. Saudi military leaders replaced: Saudi King Salman has sacked his military chief and a number of other top commanders in a shakeup apparently aimed at overhauling its Defense Ministry. The changes were made on the recommendation of the minister of defense, who is the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

3. US to overtake Russia as top oil producer: According to International Energy Agency, U.S. will overtake Russia as the world’s biggest oil producer by 2019 at the latest. U.S. crude oil output rose above 10 million barrels per day late last year for the first time since 1970s, overtaking top oil exporter Saudi Arabia. US oil is also increasingly being exported, including to the world’s biggest and fastest growing markets in Asia.

4. Saudi Arabia allows women to join military: Saudi Arabia has for the first time opened applications for women to join its military. The women, however, will not be given combat roles but will work in security. To apply, women will need to fulfill 12 requirements besides obtaining their guardian’s approval. Decision to recruit female soldiers is one of many reforms enhancing women’s rights introduced in recent months by Saudi Arabia.

OTHER UPDATES

DEFENCE:

1. Uttarakhand to host 13th Surya Kiran Exercise: India and Nepal will hold the 13th edition of Surya Kiran joint military exercise in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand in a couple of months. The military exercise will include training on jungle warfare, anti-terrorism combat as well as disaster response activities. The announcement came days after Army chief Bipin Rawat visited Nepal to attend a function to mark the Army Day.

BUSINESS/ ECONOMY:

1. Google brings Symptom Search feature to India: Google India has rolled out its feature called “Symptom Search” in India that lets users find quality health information on their smartphones. Google in collaboration with a team of doctors from Apollo Hospitals will add tailor-made information about commonly-searched symptoms in its Search. The project aims to provide quality healthcare information which can be accessed by a billion Indians

SPORTS:

1. Youngest captain in International Cricket: At 19 years of age, Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan is set to become the youngest captain in the history of international cricket. The World’s No.1 ODI and Twenty20 International bowler, Rashid will lead Afghanistan after regular skipper Asghar Stanikzai was diagnosed with appendicitis. Rashid is also the youngest player to be ranked No.1 in the ICC’s Player Rankings across formats.

2. Bangladesh appoints Courtney Walsh as coach: Bangladesh has named former West Indies cricketer Courtney Walsh as the interim coach for upcoming tri-nation Twenty20 series. Walsh, who has been Bangladesh’s bowling coach since 2016, takes over as interim coach from former Zimbabwean cricketer Richard Halsall. Position of Bangladesh’s head coach had been vacant since Oct, when Chandika Hathurusingha quit after three years at the helm.