Daily GK Potion – 19th November 2014

  1. IBM launches new email service ‘Verse’
    • IBM has launched a new e-mail application ‘Verse’ for enterprises that integrates social media, file sharing and analytics to help increase productivity.
  2. Microsoft emerged as world’s second most valuable company
    • Microsoft has overtaken oil giant Exxon Mobil to become the world’s second most valuable company.
    • iPhone maker Apple Inc is world’s most valuable company.
  3. Infosys BPO sacks CFO; CEO submits resignation
    • Infosys BPO on Tuesday asked its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Abraham Mathews to resign from the service for not complying with the code of conduct of the company.
    • “This departure is in keeping with the company’s goal of setting the highest standards of corporate governance and adhering to the letter and spirit of the company’s code of conduct,” the company said.
    • The company also announced the resignation of the current CEO of Infosys BPO Gautam Thakkar with effect from November 30, for taking the responsibility on moral grounds.
  4. OECD ups growth projection for India to 6.6 per cent for 2015-16.
  5. World Bank approves $285 million to fight Ebola
    • The World Bank has approved a grant of $285 million to finance the three west African countries hardest hit by the Ebola crisis.
    • The grant is part of the nearly $1 billion of financing previously announced by the World Bank for Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, reports Xinhua.
    • According to the World Health Organisation, as of November 14, 2014, 14,413 Ebola cases have been registered in eight countries since the outbreak, with 5,177 deaths.
  6. India announces $75 million line of credit to Fiji
    • India announced a $75 million line of credit to Fiji for a co-generation power plant.
    • India also announced a $5 million fund to develop its villages.
    • Both countries agreed to expand their defence and security cooperation.
    • PM also announced a visa-on-arrival for Fijians and assistance projects that included a Parliament library and doubling the scholarships and training slots in India for people from Fiji.
  7. ISRO conferred Indira Gandhi prize for peace, disarmament
    • Indian space agency ISRO will be conferred the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2014 in recognition of its contribution in strengthening international cooperation in peaceful use of outer space.
  8. Pandit Jasraj conferred with Sumitra Charat Ram Award 2014 for Lifetime Achievement
  9. Mudgal Panel gives clean chit to N. Srinivasan
    • The Mudgal panel gave a clean chit to International Cricket Council chairman N. Srinivasan in the Indian Premier League corruption scandal.
    • Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra and Gurunath Meiyappan held guilty of betting.
  10. India has world’s largest youth population: UN report
    • With 356 million 10-24 year-olds, India has the world’s largest youth population.
    • China is second with 269 million young people, followed by Indonesia (67 million), the US (65 million) and Pakistan (59 million), Nigeria with 57 million, Brazil with 51 million, and Bangladesh with 48 million, the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) State of the World’s Population report said