12 March 2016 Current Affairs
10 most expensive and cheapest cities in the world
“Singapore remains the world’s most expensive city for a third year in a row, according to the latest survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). EIU’s Worldwide Cost of Living survey compares over 400 individual prices across 160 products and services including food, drink, clothing, household supplies and personal care items, rent, transportation, utility bills, private schools, domestic help and recreational costs.
Top 10 most expensive cities in the world
1. Singapore, Singapore
2. Zurich, Switzerland
3. Hong Kong, Hong Kong
4. Geneva, Switzerland
5. Paris, France
6. London, UK
7. New York, US
8. Copenhagen, Denmark
9. Seoul, South Korea
10. Los Angeles, US
Top 10 cheapest cities in the world
1. Lusaka, Zambia
2. Bangalore, India
3. Mumbai, India
4. Almaty, Kazakhstan
5. Algiers, Algeria
6. Chennai, India
7. Karachi, Pakistan
8. New Delhi, India
9. Damascus, Syria
10. Caracas, Venezuela”
Israel Kristal as world’s oldest living man
Guinness World Records on 11 March 2016 confirmed that Mr Israel Kristal of Haifa, Israel, is the world’s Oldest living man. he was born in Poland, near the town of Zarnow on 15 September 1903 to parents Moszek-Dawid and Brucha Krystztal, Mr Kristal has lived through both World Wars and survived Nazi war camp Auschwitz in the 1940s before relocating to Israel. Kristal claims the title at the age of 112 years and 178 days as of 11 March 2016. The oldest living person is Susannah Mushatt Jones (USA,born on 6 July 1899), who is 115 years and 249 days, also making her the Oldest living woman.
Cuba and EU agree to normalise diplomatic ties
The European Union and Cuba have signed an agreement to normalise diplomatic relations after two years of talks on 11 March 2016. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini witnessed the signing of the pact, which will replace a policy imposed by Europe 20 years ago that pushed for changes to Cuba’s one-party political system.
IMF and India to set-up South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center in Delhi
India and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have decided to set up South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Centre (SARTTC) in New Delhi on 12 March 2016. In this regard, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Christine Lagarde, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) is expected to become the focal point for planning, co-ordinating and implementing IMF’s capacity development activity in the region on a wide range of issues, including macro-economic and fiscal management, monetary operations, financial sector regulation and supervision, and macro-economic statistics.The centre will help address existing training requirements and respond to demand for IMF training in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, while bringing the region’s training volume on par with those of other regions. SARTTAC will offer courses and seminars for policy makers and other government agencies from the six countries.
Lt Gen Hira appointed Deputy Chief of Army Staff
Chief of Staff of Northern Command at Udhampur, Lt Gen N P S Hira, has been appointed as Deputy Chief of Army Staff and would assume office on March 14. He is presently working as Chief of Staff of Northern command at Udhampur. He commanded the Battalion in Assam (Op Rhino) during high violence period. The unit bagged 32 gallantry awards and COAS citation under his command.
LED based Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme named as ‘UJALA’
Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal on 11 March 2016 announced the name ‘UJALA’ for the LED based Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP). DELP is currently running successfully in over 120 cities across India. UJALA, an acronym for Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All, is being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL). The National LED programme was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 2015 with a target of replacing 77 crore incandescent lamps with LED bulbs. UJALA is successfully running across 12 states in India namely Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttarakhand.
Arab League declares Hezbollah group a terrorist organization
Arab League foreign ministers on 11 March 2016 declared Lebanon’s Shia movement Hezbollah a “terrorist” group, after Sunni-dominated Gulf monarchies adopted the same stance.
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