Current Affairs Daily Digest – March 11 2019
1. Dipa Karmakar Gets a Barbie Modelled After Her, Complete With Bronze Medal
Dipa Karmakar, who became the first Indian female gymnast to win a bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, was recently honoured by Barbie for “breaking boundaries to inspire” the next generation girls.
Over the past years, Barbie, the fashion doll manufactured by the American toy company Mattel, has seen many avatars. The doll brand, which was launched in 1959, has transformed from featuring “pretty” dolls to Barbie being a surgeon, a news anchor, an astronaut and a president among other roles. Yet again, to celebrate its 60th anniversary this year, the company decided to honour women role models, who in their own way, have broken boundaries and stood out among the rest.
2. Hasmukh Adhia appointed Chancellor of Central University of Gujarat
FORMER FINANCE Secretary Hasmukh Adhia was appointed Chancellor of Central University of Gujarat , a week after the government nominated him chairman of state-owned Bank of Baroda.
Adhia, who retired November 30 last year, succeeds Yoginder K Alagh. He has been appointed for a term of five years.
Gujarat Central University was set up though an Act of Parliament only in 2009. SA Bari is its current vice chancellor.
3. IIT-Kharagpur team creates app to detect fake currency notes
A team of IIT-Kharagpur students has developed the code for a smartphone app that can detect counterfeit currency. The team leader explained that the app verifies a note’s authenticity, uploaded by a user, using 25 features extracted from the front and rear side of it. In the case of fake note detection, the user is also notified of failure checkpoints.
4. World Bank Signs Agreement to Provide Additional Funding of $137 million to Enhance Dam Safety in India
The World Bank, Government of India and representatives of 5 state governments of India and implementing agencies signed the loan agreement for additional financing of $137 million for the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) that will help rehabilitate and modernize over 220 selected large dams in the states of Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand.
5. Rohit joint-fastest to reach 3,000 ODI runs in a country
Indian opener Rohit Sharma became the joint-fastest to reach 3,000 ODI runs in a country after going past the landmark in the fourth ODI against Australia on Sunday. Rohit achieved the feat in India in his 57th innings, with Hashim Amla achieving the feat in 57 innings in South Africa. Virat Kohli achieved the feat in India in 63 innings.
6. President Kovind confers Padma awards
President Ram Nath Kovind Monday conferred the Padma awards on prominent personalities at a civil investiture ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Padma Bhushan was presented to Malayalam actor Mohanlal, South African politician Pravin Gordhan, former Cisco head Jhon Chambers, Parliamentarians Hukumdev Narayan Yadav, Kariya Munda and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.
Renowned journalist Kuldip Nayar was also awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously.
Padma Shri was conferred on various personalities including Chess player Harika Dronavalli, Table Tennis player Sharat Kamal, Social Workers Bhagirathi Devi and Muktaben Dagli, Actor Prabhudeva, Music Director Shankar Mahadevan, former civil servant S Jaishankar, Agriculturist Rajkumari Devi and Babaulal Dahiya, Archaeologist Dilip Chakravarty and Hematologist Mammen Chandy.
This year, 112 personalities were selected for the Padma awards, which was announced on the eve of Republic Day.The remaining awardees are likely to be conferred the honour at another function to be held later this month.
7. M Modi, Bangladesh counterpart jointly inaugurate development projects
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina jointly unveiled e-plaques for development projects in Bangladesh, through video conferencing.
Both the leaders unveiled e-plaques for the supply of buses and trucks, the inauguration of 36 community clinics, 11 water treatment plants, and extension of National Knowledge Network to Bangladesh.
8. Indian defence lab develops ‘combat drugs’ to reduce casualties in Pulwama type attacks, warfare
With 90 per cent of gravely wounded security personnel succumbing to injuries within a few hours, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO’s) medical laboratory has come up with a range of ‘combat casualty drugs’ that can extend the golden hour till the trooper is shifted to hospital.
the spectrum includes bleeding wound sealants, super absorptive dressings and glycerinated salines, all of which can save lives in the event of warfare in the jungle and high altitude areas as well as in terror attacks.
9. New visa agreement between Maldives & India comes into force
The new visa agreement between Maldives and India has come into force . The agreement will provide a liberal visa policy for Maldivians seeking medical treatment as well as education and business opportunities in India.
The visa deal will allow Maldivian businessmen and tourists to stay in India for 90 days without a visa. Maldivians with tourist visas can also stay in India for treatment if they suffer a sudden medical issue.
The agreement was reached during the visit of Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to India last December. Both the governments had agreed to implement the visa facilitation agreement after completing the required procedures.
10. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale to meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale will meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington . Bilateral, regional and global issues of common interest will be discussed during the meeting.
Gokhale arrived in the US yesterday in connection with the bilateral Foreign Office Consultation and Strategic Security Dialogue with his American counterparts, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale and Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Andrea Thompson. The Foreign Secretary is also likely to meet with senior leaders in the US administration and the US Congress.
The visit is part of regular high-level dialogue mechanisms to review bilateral relations, exchange views on major foreign policy and security-related developments and coordinate respective positions on issues of common interest.
11. Mohammad Shtayyeh named as Palestinian PM
Mohammad Shtayyeh has been named as Palestinian Prime Minister by President of Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas. A member of the West Bank’s dominant Fatah party is a long time ally of Abbas.
The announcement comes six weeks after Rami al-Hamdallah tendered his resignation from the post and of his unity government to President Mahmoud Abbas, underscoring the failure of Hamas and Fatah to implement a power-sharing deal.
12. World Bank to provide 250 Million dollar for NRETP to boost Rural incomes in India
World Bank to provide 250 Million dollar for the National Rural Economic Transformation Project (NRETP) to boost Rural Incomes across 13 States in India.
The Agreement was signed by Mr. Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Government of India and Mr. Hisham Abdo, Acting Country Director, World Bank India, in New Delhi .
13. Assam’s Shiva Thapa wins silver at GeeBee Boxing Tournament in Finland
Three-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa (60 kg) has brought laurels to Assam and the country by winning silver at the 38th GeeBee Boxing Tournament in Finland’s Helsinki .
India’s Kavinder Singh Bisht (56kg) struck gold while four others including Thapa claimed silver medals to end a fine Indian campaign at the tournament on Sunday.
Besides Shiva Thapa, the other silver medallists are Govind Sahani (49 kg), Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Mohammed Hussamuddin (56 kg) and Dinesh Dagar (69 kg).
14. Prajnesh Gunneswaran stuns Nikoloz Basilashvili at Indian Wells
In tennis, Indian qualifier Prajnesh Gunneswaran achieved the biggest win of his career when he stunningly knocked world number 18 Nikoloz Basilashvili out of the Indian Wells ATP Masters event in the USA.
Playing his maiden singles main draw at this level, Prajnesh secured a hard-fought 6-4, 6-7, 7-6 victory over the Georgian in two hours 32 minutes. Prajnesh will next face world number 89 Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic in the third round.
15. Acko conferred with Golden Peacock award for innovative product
ACKO General Insurance a new-age digital insurance company, was awarded the coveted Golden Peacock Innovative Product Award – 2019, for their contextual microinsurance product -“Ola Ride Insurance”. The award was presented to Biresh Giri, Appointed Actuary & CRO, Acko in the presence of global business leaders at the recently held event in Dubai.
Acko introduced the revolutionary Ola Ride Insurance – a first of its kind in the Indian market – in March 2018.
16. 14thCII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnerships to be held in New Delhi on March 17 – 19
Ministry of Commerce & Industry will be organising the 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnerships, in association with Confederation of Indian Industry and EXIM Bank of India in New Delhi from March 17-19, 2019.
The event will mark the deepening of India-Africa economic and business ties and pave the way for a whole range of cross-border project partnerships. The annual Conclave, since its inception in 2005, brings senior Ministers, policy makers, officials, business leaders, bankers, technologists, start-up entrepreneurs and other professionals from India and Africa on a common platform in a spirit of partnership.
17. Japan announces Rs 22 lakh for Kolkata museum
The Japanese government announced a donation of some Rs 22 lakh ($31,800) to the Rabindra Bharati Museum in a bid to strengthen historical and cultural ties with India.
To refurbish the Japan Gallery of the museum, a MoU will be signed between the Consul General of Japan in Kolkata, Masayuki Taga, and the Vice Chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University, Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury.
18. World Bank to help Sri Lankan farmers tackle climate change
The World Bank approved a $125 million loan for Sri Lanka to help small farmers improve productivity and tackle climate change.The programme will benefit more than 470,000 small farmers in six provinces in the dry zone of the country, selected for being most exposed to climate impacts.
19. India hunt for 5th straight title at SAFF Women’s Championship
The Indian women’s football team will be gunning for their fifth consecutive title when the SAFF Women’s Championship kicks off . Six teams are taking part in this edition. Indian eves are scheduled to take on the Maldives and Sri Lanka in the group stage on March 13 and 17, respectively.
20. RBI slaps penalties on 36 major banks for non-compliance in SWIFT operations
The Reserve Bank on Friday said it has imposed penalties worth Rs71 crore on 36 public, private and foreign banks for non-compliance with various directions on time-bound implementation and strengthening of SWIFT operations.
SWIFT is a global messaging software used for transactions by financial entities. The massive Rs14,000-crore fraud at the PNB was a case of misuse of this messaging software. The banks include, Bank of Baroda, City Union Bank, HSBC, ICICI Bank, SBI and YES Bank.
The penalties, ranging from Rs1 crore to Rs4 crore, were imposed by orders dated 31 January, 2019, and 25 February, 2019,
