CURRENT AFFAIRS DAILY DIGEST – MARCH 13 2018
1. Run Adam Sports ropes in Anand as brand ambassador
Run Adam, an analytics-based sporting platform, has roped in five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand as part of its sports experts board and also as brand ambassador. Anand has been signed up as as a part of the Run Adam Sports Experts Board and also as advisor.
Ace cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni is already a part of the expert board and a mentor with Run Adam. Anand expressed happiness at being signed up by Run Adam and said he hoped to mentor chess aspirants through the app.
2. Bidya Devi Bhandari relected as Nepal president
Nepal’s first woman president Bidya Devi Bhandari has been 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.
Bhandari secured 39,275 votes while the NC’s Rai garnered 11,730 votes. Bhandari became Nepal’s first woman president in 2015. She was elected twice in parliamentary elections in 1994 and 1999.
3. RBI stops issuance of LoUs for trade credits after PNB fraud
The RBI has discontinued the issuance of Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) and Letters of Comfort (LoCs) for import trade credits. This comes after Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi’s firms allegedly defrauded PNB of $2 billion by raising overseas credit using fraudulent LoUs. An LoU is an assurance given by one bank to another to meet liabilities on a customer’s behalf.
4. Gina Haspel appointed CIA’s first female Director
US President Donald Trump has appointed Gina Haspel as the intelligence agency CIA’s first female Director after appointing outgoing Director Mike Pompeo as the Secretary of State. Prior to her appointment as the agency’s head, Haspel was serving as CIA’s Deputy Director. The US President hailed Haspel’s appointment as a “historic milestone”.
5. SC extends Aadhaar linking deadline for mobile, bank account
In a major relief to those who still haven’t linked their Aadhaar cards with bank accounts and mobile numbers, the Supreme Court on Tuesday extended the deadline from March 31 indefinitely till the final judgement in the controversial case. The apex court is hearing the case on the constitutional validity of the government’s biometrical identification scheme. However, it is still mandatory to link your welfare schemes with Aadhaar to get benefits under Article 7 before the deadline.
6. India’s tallest National Flag unfurled in Karnataka
India’s tallest National Flag was unfurled in Karnataka’s Belgaum in the presence of several schoolchildren and political leaders. The 9,600-square-foot-wide flag on an over 110-metre-tall post was unfurled by Congress leader Ramesh Jarkiholi, who said, “BJP isn’t the sole custodian of nationalism.” The flag is said to be a foot taller than the one installed along Attari border.
7. SBI lowers minimum balance charges from ₹50 to ₹15 per month
SBI has slashed charges for non-maintenance of Average Monthly Balance (AMB) for customers in Metro and Urban centres from a maximum of ₹50 per month to ₹15 per month. Similarly, for Semi-Urban and Rural centres, the charges have been reduced from ₹40 to ₹12 and ₹10 respectively. The changes, effective April 1, will benefit 25 crore savings account customers.
8. India world’s largest arms importer over last 5 yrs: Report
India was the largest weapons importer in the world over the last five years, accounting for 12% of the total global imports, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. While Russia was India’s largest supplier, accounting for 62% of the imports, imports from the US rose by 557%, making it the second largest supplier.
9. President Kovind inaugurates World Hindi Secretariat building in Mauritius
President Ram Nath Kovind has inaugurated the World Hindi Secretariat building in Mauritius on the third day of his visit to the country. He also launched the World Hindi Secretariat’s logo, an Early Digital Learning Programme as well unveiled foundation stones of a social housing project and a large ENT hospital being built with Indian assistance.
He will leave for Madagascar for the final leg of his two-nation state visit. He will become the first Indian President to visit Madagascar.
10. Assam govt proposes insurance scheme for journalists
Assam Government has proposed an insurance scheme for journalists and their families in the budget for 2018-19. The New Journalist Insurance Scheme would ensure security and protection of the journalists and their families. The government has also extended one time ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of 31 journalists of the state who have lost their lives or have been declared missing while on duty.
