Daily Current Affairs, 14th March 2018

1)  Scientist Stephen Hawking Has Died Aged 76

•Stephen Hawking, the brightest star in the firmament of science, whose insights shaped modern cosmology and inspired global audiences in the millions, has died at the age of 76.

•He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world.

2)  Home Minister Rajnath Singh Inaugurates Asia-Pacific Regional Conference Of IACP

•Home Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the two-day Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in New Delhi.

•The theme of the conference is "Challenges to Policing in 2020 - How is Cyber Space shaping our approach to Cybercrime and Terrorism, how do we perform within it and take advantage of it". 

3)  Bidya Devi Bhandari Re-Elected As Nepal President

•Nepal’s first woman President Bidya Devi Bhandari was re-elected for a second term in office with an overwhelming majority.

•Incumbent President Bhandari, the Left alliance’s candidate, was elected with more than a two-thirds majority as she defeated her Nepali Congress (NC) rival Kumari Laxmi Rai in the presidential election.

4)  Saudi Arabia Cabinet Approves Nuclear Power Program National Policy

•Saudi Arabia's Cabinet has approved the national policy of its atomic energy programme, as the kingdom prepares to award contracts for its first nuclear power plants. The policy insists on limiting nuclear activities to peaceful purposes and calls for enhanced safety measures as well as the use of best practices for radioactive waste management.

•Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, is seeking nuclear power to diversify its energy supply mix in order to free up oil to boost exports.

5)  Gina Haspel Appointed CIA's First Female Director

•Gina Haspel, the newly nominated first-ever female director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is a career intelligence officer with more than 30 years' experience.

•Ms. Haspel, 61, has extensive overseas experience and has served as chief of the station on several postings. Her leadership positions in Washington include deputy director of the National Clandestine Service - the CIA agency that co-ordinates clandestine operations - and chief of staff for the director of the National Clandestine Service.

6)  Book Signed By Tagore Auctioned For USD 700

•A signed hardcover copy of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's 'The King of the Dark Chamber'- the English translation of his famous Bengali play 'Raja' - has been sold for USD 700 at an auction in the US.

•Signed on a prefatory page in fountain pen by Tagore, the Bolpur edition of the book was published by The Macmillan Company in 1916.