DAILY GK UPDATE - 21st March 1. World Forestry Day observed today i. World Forestry Day or International Day of Forests is celebrated worldwide every year on 21st of March at the international level in order to increase the public awareness among communities about the values, significance and contributions of the forests to balance the life cycle on the earth. ii. In 1971, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), declared March 21st as World Forestry Day. iii. It is an opportunity for people to learn and reflect on the importance of forests in their day-to-day lives. This is important because forestry is often seen as being far removed from everyday life. iii. The largest forest cover in India is in Madhya Pradesh, which has 77700 square km. this is followed by Arunachal Pradesh that has 67410 square km of forest cover. Note: International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination and World Poetry Day are also being observed today. 2. RBI Deputy Governor K C Chakrabarty resigns i. KC Chakrabarty, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India, has quit three months ahead of completion of his term. ii. Chakrabarty was appointed as Deputy Governor in June 2009 for a period of three years. In 2012, he got an extension of two years. iii. Known for his strong views on the efficacy of CRR (cash reserve ratio) as a tool for monetary management, he was involved in verbal duel in 2012 with the then SBI Chairman Pratip Chaudhuri, who wanted its abolition. iv. His extended term was to end on 15th June 2014. v. Chakrabarty is also the Chairman of the Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran. He also heads the Advisory Committee of College of Agricultural Banking (CAB). vi. He was the CMD of Punjab National Bank and Indian Bank before joining the RBI. 3. Kuwait to host Arab Summit for first time i. Kuwait is set to organize the Arab Summit 2014 for the first time in the country from March 25 to 26. ii. The summit, which is now in its 25th year, will gather the members of the Arab League and leaders from across the Arab world. iii. This years summit, being held under the slogan Solidarity for a Better Future, will be presided by the Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah. iv. The two day event will focus on the core issues of Arab integration, co-operation and co-ordination, as well as the latest developments in the region. v. For the first time, a representative from the new nation of South Sudan will attend the summit, to give a report on the progress the country is making on its journey towards stability and prosperity. Note: The Arab Summit intends to provide a springboard for Arab integration. The resolution of conflict in Syria and alleviating suffering will continue to be a key focus of the summit. Kuwait has hosted several regional and international events over the past few months, reflecting Kuwaits pivotal role in the promotion and consolidation of cooperation and solidarity among Arab states, including the Arab-Africa Summit and the GCC Annual Summit. 4. Ukraine, European Union sign agreement on closer ties i. The European Union leaders and Ukraine’s interim Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, have signed several chapters of a landmark agreement meant to boost political ties between the two sides. ii. The signature by Ukraine and the European Union of several chapters in a landmark association agreement shows how important the relationship between the two sides is, EU President Herman Van Rompuy says. iii. He said: Signing political part (of) EU-Ukraine association agreement symbolizes importance of relations and will to take it further. iv. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite had said earlier that the bloc “is ready to help Ukraine every day ahead.” “(The signature) is symbolic and de facto support to Ukrainian people and its government — politically, economically,” she told journalists in Brussels. 5. Aditi Khanna became first women President of Indian Journalists Association i. Aditi Khanna was unanimously elected as the first women President of Indian Journalists’ Association (IJA) in London. ii. This appointment of a lady as the President has happened for the first time in the 67-years long history of IJA. iii. Aditi Khanna is the London based correspondent for the Press Trust of India. Apart from Aditi, the Rupanjana Dutta, the Associate Editor of Asian Business Publication was appointed as its general secretary. About Indian Journalists’ Association (IJA) i. Indian Journalists’ Association (IJA) was set up just before Indian independence in May 1947. ii. The association was encouraged actively by VK Krishna Menon, who was also the first High Commissioner of Independent India in Britain. iii. He allowed the then IJA members to use the India League premises near the Fleet Street and the Indian High Commission. IJA in London uses India Club premise for its meetings that was founded in the same premises after the Independence. 6. UNSC voted on a resolution condemning illegal Libyan oil export i. UN Security Council (UNSC) unanimously voted in favor of a resolution 2146 (2014) that condemns the illegal (illicit) export of Libyan crude oils. The Security Council also imposed sanctions on vessels carrying illicit oil shipments. ii. The Council has also called on the countries to prohibit ships carrying illegal Libyan oil cargo from entering their ports. It has asked them to return the oil found on seized vessels to Libya. iii. The resolution of the Security Council has also authorised UN member states to inspect any vessel that it suspects for illegal carriage of Libyan oil after coordinating with the ship’s flag state. Background i. Security Council’s resolution was unanimously adopted under the Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The 15-member body condemned attempts to illicitly export crude oil from Libya. ii. The new resolution has requested Libya to pass on the information to the Security Council Committee that oversees the arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze imposed in the country by resolution 1970 (known as the 1970 Committee) of any vessels transporting crude oil illicitly exported from Libya. 7. India, Singapore win 2014 UN Water for Life award i. India and Singapore won the 2014 edition of the UN-Water “Water for Life” Best Practices Award for their sustainable practices of water resources, authorities said on Friday. ii. The award was announced by the United Nations Office during an official ceremony to mark World Water Day 2014 on Friday. iii. “The winners this year are excellent examples of two organisations that tackle future challenges in a sustainable way,” said Michel Jarraud, chair of UN-Water at the ceremony held in the United Nations University. iv. The prize is awarded yearly for “best water management practices” and “best participatory, communication, awareness-raising and education practices”. v. This year’s “best water management practices” went to the International Water Management Institute (IWMI)-Tata Water Policy Programme, a project based on water scarce across India. vi. Singapore-based “NEWater programme”, which can meet 30 per cent of Singapore’s daily water needs, won the “best participatory, communication, awareness-raising and education practices” for its strong social component and enduring partnerships in its manifold and remarkable water management practices. 8. Indian journalist wins top digital activism award i. Indian journalist Shubhranshu Choudhary, who launched a unique grassroots communication platform in 2004 in Chhattisgarh called CGNet Swara to give voice to millions of tribals, was awarded a prestigious award for digital activism at the Barbican in London Thursday evening. ii. Choudhary was one of four nominees for the award given by Index on Censorship, a prominent London-based campaigning organisation for freedom of expression, which gives awards every year to “recognize the bravest journalists, artists, campaigners and digital innovators from around the world”. iii. Besides Choudhary, the other three nominees for the ‘Digital Activism Award’ (decided by public vote) were former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, Chinese social network FreeWeibo and operation system TAILS. Note: CGNet Swara is a mobile-phone service that allows people to upload and listen to hyper-local reports in their local language, providing a communication outlet for tribals and others that usually do not find space in the mainstream media. Reported stories are moderated by journalists and become available for playback online as well as over the phone. 9. World T20: Netherlands stun Ireland, enter Super-10 i. Netherlands defeated Ireland by six wickets in their last Group B qualifying match of the ICC World Twenty20, in Sylhet on Friday. ii. Set a mammoth 189 for four by Ireland, Netherlands needed to chase down the target in 14.2 overs to qualify for the Super—10 but the Dutch men managed to overwhelm the score in 13.5 overs, eventually finishing on 193 for four. Brief Scores: Ireland: 189 for 4 in 20 overs (Andrew Poynter 57, William Porterfield 47; Ahsan Malik 2/26). Netherlands: 193 for four in 13.5 overs (Stephan Myburgh 63, Tom Cooper 45, Wesley Barresi 40 not out; Kevin O’Brien 2/29
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 15:54:46 +0000
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