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DAILY DOSE 15^thAPRIL -2024 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Cargo ships transiting the Mediterranean and the Black Sea are encountering a growing number of incidents related to GPS jamming.
This trend has become more common since the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023.
This situation is concerning, and some merchant ships have been additionally fitted with the GLONASS satellite system (Russian) as an emergency backup when onboard GPS systems (US) are jammed.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system that provides precise location and time information to users worldwide.
GPS is owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force.

Apple issued threat notifications to iPhone users in India and 91 other countries, warning of potential attacks by mercenary spyware, including Israel’s Pegasus spyware.
The notifications, sent via email, highlighted the possibility of specific targeting due to the user’s identity or activities.
While Apple didn’t attribute the attack to any entity, it emphasized the seriousness of the warning and the rarity and sophistication of mercenary spyware attacks.
Mercenary spyware refers to sophisticated surveillance software developed and sold by private companies to governments and other entities.
Unlike traditional cybercriminal activities, mercenary spyware is often used for targeted surveillance, intelligence gathering, and espionage purposes.

India and Mauritius amended their double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) to include a principal purpose test (PPT) aimed at curbing tax avoidance.
However, the amended protocol has not been ratified or notified by the Income Tax Department.
There were concerns that investments through Mauritius might face increased scrutiny by tax authorities, potentially affecting past investments as well.
Double taxation occurs when the same income is taxed twice in two different jurisdictions before it becomes net income.
To address this issue and encourage international economic activities, countries sign Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs).
These agreements establish agreed-upon tax rates and jurisdictions for specific types of income received by tax residents of one country from another country.

NASA is now publicly distributing science-quality data from its newest Earth-observing PACE satellite.
The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite is placed in Sun-synchronous orbit.
The primary science instrument for PACE is the Ocean Colour Instrument(OCI) which is designed to measure the ocean’s colour across a spectrum from ultraviolet to shortwave infrared.
It features two polarimeters – the Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration(SPEXone) and the Hyper Angular Research Polarimeter (HARP2).
These two working together will offer complementary spectral and angular sampling, polarimetric accuracy, and spatial coverage.
It aims to provide improved atmospheric correction and a comprehensive range of aerosol and cloud science data beyond what the OCI alone could achieve.

Steps to conserve the laterite-brick remnants of Fort Emmanuel, that was built along the beachfront by the Portuguese in 1503.
Fort Emmanuel is a ruined fort located at Fort Kochi Beach in Kochi, Kerala.
It was originally built in 1503 and reinforced in 1538.
It was a symbol of the strategic alliance between the Maharajah of Kochi and the Monarch of Portugal, after whom it was named.
It was a massive structure, and the entire township was within its confines.
It greatly helped in strengthening the Portuguese occupation of the area.
Fort Kochi remained in Portuguese possession until 1683, when the Dutch colonial troops captured the territory and destroyed the Portuguese institutions.
The Dutch held the fort in their possession until 1795, when the British took control by defeating the Dutch.

6) HDFC becomes the first private bank to open a branch in Lakshadweep:

HDFC Bank opened a branch at Kavaratti Island in Lakshadweep, making it the only private sector bank to have a branch in the Union Territory.

7) American President’s Volunteer Award 2024:

Jain Acharya Lokesh Muni has become the first Indian monk to be honoured with the American President’s Gold Volunteer Service Award.
The American President’s Volunteer Service Award was established in 2003 during George Bush’s presidency.
The award is given to individuals who have provided at least 500 hours of voluntary service in the United States and whose work has positively impacted communities and inspired those around them.

8) World Cybercrime Index:

A new World Cybercrime Index, based on surveys among top experts, reveals Russia and Ukraine as primary hubs of cybercrime.
India secures the 10th position, scoring notably in impact, professionalism, and technical skills.

9) 105 Years of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre:

The Amritsar Massacre, also known as the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, remains one of the darkest episodes in India’s struggle for independence.
On April 13, 1919, General Dyer ordered his soldiers to open fire on an unarmed gathering in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, leading to hundreds of deaths and injuries.

10) India’s economy to expand by 6.1% in 2024 : Moody

Moody’s Analytics has projected a slight uptick in the Indian economy’s growth for calendar year 2024 to 6.1% from 6% in March this year, lower than the growth clocked in 2023.
The rating agency’s arm said that India’s recent consumer price inflation at around 5% was without clear evidence of a trend toward slowing price pressures.