Daily GK Updates - 15th March, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Asia Pacific Regional Conference (IACP) inaugurated: Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the two-day Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in New Delhi. The theme of the conference is "Challenges to Policing in 2020 - How is Cyber Space shaping our approach to Cybercrime and Terrorism, how do we perform within it and take advantage of it".

2. India offers Madagascar USD 80 million LoC: India has decided to offer Madagascar a USD 80 million Letter of Credit (LoC) for agriculture and mechanization. Madagascar is straddled in the Indian Ocean and alongside the strategic Mozambique channel. The island country is the fourth largest in Africa, in terms of size. Madagascar is also a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

3. India ranks 78th on energy transition index: India has been ranked at 78th among 114 countries on the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) energy transition index. The index listed countries based on their ability to balance energy security, environmental sustainability and affordability. The overall list was topped by Sweden, followed by Norway at the 2nd position and Switzerland at the 3rd rank.

4. IATA partners with civil aviation ministry: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the National Aviation University to enhance human resource availability in India’s aviation industry. The 3 parties to the MoU formalised this partnership on sidelines of Wings India 2018. India is expected to be 3rd largest aviation market in the world.

5. AYUSH Drug QOL-2C for Cancer Patients: Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has undertaken the development of a coded drug AYUSH QOL-2C for cancer patients. The clinical studies were conducted at St. John’s Medical College, Bengaluru and AIIMS, New Delhi in breast cancer patients. The study was also conducted at Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Jaipur in lung cancer patients.

6. Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between India and Iran: The Union Cabinet has approved an Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income between India and Iran. The Agreement will stimulate flow of investment, technology and personnel from India to Iran & vice versa. The agreement will improve transparency in tax matters and will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. First-ever female director of CIA: Gina Haspel, the newly nominated first-ever female director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is a career intelligence officer with more than 30 years' experience. Ms. Haspel, 61, has extensive overseas experience and has served as chief of the station on several postings. Her leadership positions in Washington include deputy director of the National Clandestine Service - the CIA agent that co-ordinates clandestine operations - and chief of staff for the director of the National Clandestine Service.

2. India and Madagascar ink deal: India and Madagascar have signed an agreement under which, both the countries will explore various ways of co-operation in the field of defence. An amended air service agreement was also signed to support efforts towards improving connectivity between the two countries. The Madagascar President decorated President Ramnath Kovind with second highest civilian honour Grand Cross.

3. Damascus the cheapest and Singapore the costliest city in the world: New Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai are among the cheapest cities in the world, according to an Economist Intelligence Unit’s “The Worldwide Cost of Living” survey. Syria’s capital, Damascus is the cheapest city in the world. Singapore is the world’s most expensive city.

The Worldwide Cost of Living is a biannual survey that compares 400 individual prices across 160 products and services.

4. Finland is the happiest nation on earth-UN Report: Finland has overtaken Norway to become the happiest nation on earth, according to the UN’s 2018 World Happiness Report. Burundi in East Africa is the unhappiest place in the world. For the first time, the UN also examined the happiness levels of immigrants in each country. The World Happiness Report is an annual publication from the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

OTHER UPDATES

DEFENCE:

1. IAF lands its heaviest aircraft, C-17 Globemaster, in Arunanchal Pradesh: The Indian Air Force (IAF) for first time flawlessly landed its largest transport US-manufactured aircraft, C-17 Globemaster at strategic Tuting Advanced landing ground in Arunachal Pradesh. The landing of this aircraft is seen as part of IAF’s move to strengthen its overall operations in the border state. The aircraft is used for airlift missions, transporting troops and cargo.

BUSINESS / ECONOMY:

1. Amazon’s debit card launched: Amazon.com Inc launched its first-ever debit card in Mexico, part of a push to encourage shoppers without bank accounts to buy online. Part of the challenge is attracting consumers who are wary of online fraud and do not have access to credit and debit cards. Less than a third of adults in Mexico have credit cards, according to a 2017 government report.