1st April 2015 - Important Current Affairs updates

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International Affairs

• Former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari has won the Presidential election in Nigeria.
• He became the first opposition candidate to win the election.
• Gen Buhari beat incumbent Goodluck Jonathan by more than 2.5 million votes
• Palestine has formally attained membership of the International Criminal Court, a move that could open the door to possible war crime indictments against Israeli officials despite uncertainty over its wider ramifications.
• The IntelCenter's 'Top 10 Most Dangerous Countries' list
• This list was topped by the Middle East, with Iraq and Syria ranked No 1 and 2 respectively.
• Pakistan has emerged as the world's eighth most dangerous country in a latest analysis of the top 10 danger zones based on terrorist and rebel activity.
• Top 10 Dangerous Countries
1. Iraq   
2. Syria   
3. Nigeria   
4. Somalia   
5. Afghanistan   
6. Libya   
7. Yemen   
8. Pakistan   
9. Ukraine   
10. Egypt

National Affairs

• The Government today announced New Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-20 with an
  
  objective to boost exports and create jobs.
• This is first trade policy of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
• Aim :  To nearly double India’s exports of goods and services to $900 billion by 2020
• This FTP will introduce Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) and Services Exports from India Scheme (SEIS) to boost outward shipments.
• Announced by : Nirmala Sitharaman (Commerce Minister)
• Enforcement Directorate attaches property over 740 crore rupees of former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran in Aircel-Maxis scam case.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicate the 12,000 crore rupees modernization and expansion project at Rourkela Steel Plant to the nation.
• Punjab has launched a special mission, ‘Padho Punjab-Khedo Punjab Mission’, (Learn Punjab-Play Punjab Mission) to provide school students a separate period for playing along with studies. 
• According to this mission,  a 40 to 50 minute special period has been kept for sports during which students of middle schools will be taught various games including the one being played locally.
• Punjab Education Minister : Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema

Deaths

• Misao Okawa, The World’s Oldest Person, died today, nearly a month after celebrating her 117th birthday.
• Okawa, born in Osaka on March 5, 1898, was recognised as the world’s oldest person by Guinness World Records in 2013.

Business & Economy

• The government today raised import tariff value on gold to $385 per 10 grams and silver to $543 per kg, taking cues from firm global price trends.
• During the last fortnight of March, the tariff value on imported gold was $375 per 10 grams and on silver at $512 per kg.
• Import Tariff Value : The import tariff value is the base price at which customs duty is determined to prevent under-invoicing. It is revised on a fortnightly basis taking into account global prices. 

New Appointments

• Gulshan Rai, the Director General of Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-In), took over as India's first Cyber Security Chief today.
• Rai, who also heads the eSecurity and Cyber Law division in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, has been involved in various capacities regarding cyber security for over two decades. He is part of the Department of Electronics and IT ( DeitY).

Sports

• New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Mills has announced his retirement from all cricket.
• International Cricket Council (ICC) President, Mustafa Kamal has resigned from his post today.
• His resignation follows a public falling out with the ICC stemming from the India-Bangladesh quarter-final at the World Cup, when he had strongly criticised the umpires - even questioning their motives - over a dubious no-ball call that went against Bangladesh.
• Sania Mirza and her Swiss partner Martina Hingis enter the women's doubles semi-finals of the Miami Open Tennis.

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