Current Affairs 12 February 2018

International Current Affairs 1. World Government Summit begins in Dubai The World Government Summit 2018 is beng held in Dubai,...

International Current Affairs

1. World Government Summit begins in Dubai

The World Government Summit 2018 is beng held in Dubai, UAE from February 11-13.

• Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE's Vice President and Prime Minister, expresses his thanks to India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit as guest of honour to the World Government Summit.
• The three-day event, which was first held in Dubai in 2013, has been described as the largest annual government summit.

National Current Affairs

2. Government releases Rs 9,940 crore to states for Smart Cities Mission

The Centre has released nearly Rs 9,940 crore to the states so far for the Smart Cities Mission, with Maharashtra accounting for the highest amount of Rs 1,378 crore, followed by Madhya Pradesh getting Rs 984 crore.

• The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has announced 99 cities for central assistance under the BJP government's flagship programme.
• The total proposed investment in these cities was Rs 2.03 lakh crore.

3. Rajnath Singh inaugurates first spoken Sanskrit centre

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh launched the Centre for learning Sanskrit language in Gujarat University in Ahmedabad.

• The centre will offer a six-month course for people on how to speak the language.
• The coordinator of the course, Atul Unagar, said it was possibly the first such course launched in India. 

Business

4. PNB signs pact with National e-Gov Services

Punjab National Bank has signed an agreement for information utility with National e-Governance Services Limited.

• The objective of the agreement is to augment the information infrastructure in India.
• The agreement will enable storing of financial information that will help substantiate defaults and verify claims expeditiously.
• This will in turn facilitate resolution in the National Company Law Tribunal in a time bound manner.

5. WhatsApp releases payment-enabled beta version in partnership with NPCI

WhatsApp has released a payment-enabled beta version of its messaging app in India.

• The exercise is being undertaken in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India, the umbrella body for digital payments.
• WhatsApp allows peer-to-peer payments through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) infrastructure.

Appointments

6. HDFC Bank appoints Rakesh Singh as private banking head

Private sector lender HDFC Bank has announced appointment of Rakesh Singh as private banking head.

• He will continue to head the bank's investment banking, capital markets and financial institutions businesses.
• Private banking is wealth management service of the bank catering to High Net Worth and ultra-HNW individuals, families and establishments, who aim to successfully manage and grow their wealth.

7. NPCI appoints Biswamohan Mahapatra as chairman

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) said it has appointed Biswamohan Mahapatra as non-executive chairman of the board for a period of two years, with effect from February 8, 2018.

• Mahapatra succeeds B Sambamurthy, who has been the interim chairman.

Points to Remember

• National Payments Corporation of India is the umbrella organisation for all retail payment systems in India.
• Founded in 2008, NPCI is a not-for-profit organisation registered under section 8 of the Companies Act 2013.

Awards

8. Modi conferred ‘Grand Collar of the State of Palestine’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the ‘Grand Collar of the State of Palestine’ by President Mahmoud Abbas.

• President Abbas conferred the honour on Mr. Modi after the conclusion of the bilateral meeting between the two leaders.
• Mr. Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to make an official visit to Palestine.

Deaths

9. Pakistan’s iron lady Asma Jehangir passes away

Pakistan’s top lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jehangir passed away due to a cardiac arrest in Lahore. She was 66.

• Known for her bold stance, Asma was the country’s symbol of resistance and a human rights activist who spoke against military dictators and abusers of law for the past five decades.
• She headed the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and remained the Supreme Court Bar Association chairperson.
• She was also appointed as UN Rapporteur in the region during the 1990s.