4th MARCH CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. World Wild Life Day: 3 March

World Wild Life Day was celebrated all over the world on March 3 to create awareness about the world’s wild animals and plants and safeguard them. 

• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) announced 3 March, as UN World Wildlife Day, to mark the date on which the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed.
• The theme for World Wildlife Day 2018 is: “Big cats: predators under threat”.

2. India, Russia, Bangladesh sign pact for Rooppur atomic plant

Indian companies can now participate in construction and installation works in the “non-critical” category for the Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.

• The Rooppur project is the first initiative under an Indo-Russian deal to undertake atomic energy projects in third countries.
• This will also be the first time Indian companies will be able to participate in a nuclear power project abroad.
• India is not a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and hence cannot participate directly in construction of atomic power reactors.

3. India has the third highest number of billionaires in the world

With 31 new Indians on the list, India comes third after China and USA on Hurun's Global Rich List 2018.

• However, China with 819 names and USA with 571 are way ahead in terms of number of billionaires.
• The total number of Indians on that list is 131, but if Indian-origins are considered then the tally would move up to 170.
• The Hurun Rich List 2018 ranked 2,694 billionaires from 68 countries and 2,157 companies.

4. List of Agreements signed visit of President of Vietnam to India

MoU on Economic and Trade Cooperation.

• Work Plan for the years 2018-2022 between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam.
• MoU on Cooperation between the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership, India (GCNEP) and the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM).

Points to Remember

• Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia.
• Tran Dại Quang is the President of Vietnam. Nguyen Xuan Phuc is the Prime Minister of Vietnam.
• Hanoi is the Capital of Vietnam while Dong is the Currency.

5. Armen Sarkisian Elected Next Armenian President

Armenia’s parliament on March 2 elected Armen Sarkisian as the country’s next president.

• Ninety lawmakers voted in favor of the 64-year-old Sarkisian, a former prime minister and currently the country’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.
• Sarkisian succeeds Serzh Sarkisian, who opposition leaders say could now become prime minister and continue to wield power.

Points to Remember

• Armenia  is a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia.
• Yerevan is the Capital of Vietnam while Dram is the Currency.

6. SBI Life Insurance appoints Sanjeev Nautiyal as MD, CEO

Private life insurer SBI Life Insurance has appointed Sanjeev Nautiyal as the managing director and chief executive officer of the company for two years.

• The appointment is subject to regulatory approval.
• Nautiyal took over the post from Arijit Basu and was the chief general manager of State Bank of India (SBI)'s Ahmedabad circle until now.
• He had started his career as a probationary officer in SBI in 1985.

7. Shatrughan Sinha wins lifetime achievement award in United Kingdom

Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to the fields of arts and politics at a ceremony in the UK's Parliament complex in London.

• The annual 'Political and Public Life Awards', now in its 12th year, recognize individuals who have made a significant impact on public life or made a difference in their local communities.
• Sinha, who started his career as an actor in late 1960s, has to his credit over 225 Hindi feature films besides several in other Indian languages.
• A member of the ruling BJP, he represents Bihar state's Patna Sahib Constituency in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament.

8. India beat Pakistan to win Snooker Team World Cup

The Indian combine of Pankaj Advani and Manan Chandra staged a remarkable recovery to beat Pakistan in the final of the inaugural IBSF Snooker Team World Cup.

• After being 0-2 down in the best-of-five final, India found themselves in a deeper hole at 0-30 down in the third frame, but won the next three sets to win the game.

9. Noted Odia Bhajan singer Arabinda Muduli passes away

Noted Odia Bhajan singer Arabinda Muduli passed away following a cardiac arrest. He was 56.

• A musician, singer and lyricist, Muduli enthralled the audience with devotional songs and had won the hearts of millions of people in Odisha and elsewhere.
• Born on September 1, 1961 at Khanati in Khordha district, he was a devotee of lord Jagannath and sang only Bhajans.
• He was a disciple of legendary bhajan singer Bhikari Bal.