DAILY GK UPDATE 12TH MARCH

1. India & Mauritus Sign MoUs on Health & Tourism

i. India and Mauritius today signed three Memorandums of Understanding during the state visit of President Pranab Mukherjee. 

ii. One MoU was on persons with disabilities and senior citizens.
iii. Second on co-operation in the field of health and medicine.
iv. Third was on co-operation in the field of tourism.

NOTE: i. Mauritius celebrated its 45th Independence Day on 12 March 2013.

ii. The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee was the chief guest at the 45th Independence Day celebrations of Mauritius. 

2.    UK opened Mobile Visa Application Facility in Goa

i. The UK Government on 12 March 2013 opened its first ever Mobile Biometric Clinic (MBC) in Goa.

ii. The Mobile Biometric Clinic is meant to save the time of locals from travelling to distant places like Mumbai to apply for visa to the country.

iii.  Mobile Biometric Clinic is an initiative by the UK Border Agency providing convenience to the citizens of Goa with the localised option of applying for a UK visa.

About Mobile Biometric Clinic (MBC)

i. MBC is a new and optional service, which for an additional fee allows applicants who are residing in Goa to submit their UK visa application and biometric data using a mobile facility in the state. 

ii. The MBC uses the UK Border Agency’s mobile Biometric Enrolment System (BES) equipment to take biometric data (finger scans and digital photograph). 

iii. The service is delivered by the UK Border Agency’s commercial partner, VFS Global.  

    

3.    Iran and Pakistan launched Gas Pipeline Project

i. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardarion 11 March 2013 launched a 7.5 billion dollar gas pipeline project which will link Iran's gas pipeline to that of Pakistan.

ii. The inauguration ceremony of gas pipeline project was held in Iran's Chabahar city and attended by ministers and senior officials from Iran and Pakistan.

iii. With the launch of pipeline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asserted that West has no right to obstruct Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project that has nothing to do with Iran's nuclear issue.

About the gas Pipeline

i. Iran has constructed 900 km of the 1600-km pipeline on its soil. 

ii. Both Iranian and Pakistani firms have undertaken the construction of the remaining part in Pakistan. 

iii. Tehran has agreed to lend Islamabad 500 million, dollar a third of the estimated 1.5 billion dollar cost of the Pakistani section of the pipeline. 

Controversy with the project

i. The project provoked several warnings of sanctions from the US. Washington stated that the pipeline would enable Tehran to sell more gas, undermining efforts to step up pressure over its nuclear activities. 

ii. As per US, if this deal is finalized for a proposed Iran-Pakistan pipeline, it would raise serious concerns under our Iran Sanctions Act.

iii. US State Department's advise saying Pakistan to better look for other energy options instead of the Iran gas project.

4.    President of India appointed Judges in the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir

i. President of India, Pranab Mukherjee appointed Ali Mohd. Magrey and Dhiraj Singh Thakur as the Judges of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. 

ii. The appointment of judges’ by the President took place in confirmation to the powers conferred in Article 95 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. 

iii. President also appointed Rabstan, Bansi Lal Bhat and Janak Raj Kotwal as the Additional Judges of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, in their order of seniority.

iv. All these additional judges will serve the Court for a period of two years and from the day when they will assume the charge of their respective offices.

5.    Hardeep Singh Puri awarded by exemplary service to humanity by UN Chief

i. Former Permanent Representative of India to United Nations, Hardeep Singh Puri has received the Thomas Jefferson Eternal Vigilance award for his exemplary service to humanity.

ii. The award was presented by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at a function in New York. US Congresswoman Carolyn B Maloney also presented the same award to Pakistan's former envoy to the UN Abdullah Hussain Haroon.

iii. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Ban ki Moon stressed on the need to find a unified vision, with respect and friendship amongst nations, so humanity may better enjoy peace and prosperity

6.    David Beckham Named Richest Footballer of the World

i. David Beckham was named as the richest footballer of the world, according to the Goal Rich List 2013.

ii. David Beckham has a total income of 175 million pound. 37-year-old Beckham is the biggest brand in the world now, leaving behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. 

iii. The Goal Rich List 2013 revealed that the worth of Beckham is 60 million pound more than Messi. 

NOTE: At the third position is Ronaldo, aged 28 years. He earned a total of 112 million pound in his career. Wayne Rooney, the Manchester United and England striker made it to the list of Top Ten with a total of 50 million pound.

7.    India beat Pakistan Azlan Shah hockey tournament

i. India beat Pakistan 3-1 in their next round-robin match on Tuesday, to keep their chances alive in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Malaysia.

ii. This was a must-win clash for India because the new-look team had lost its first couple of games against Australia and South Korea.

iii. Australia and Malaysia lead the table – with six points from two games.