13th Feb 2014 Current Affairs Updates for Competitive Examinations

13th Feb 2014 Current Affairs Updates for Competitive Examinations

1. ATMs to soon give cash without bank account too
i. People without a bank account in India would soon be able to withdraw cash from an automated teller machine (ATM) with the use of mobile technology, Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan announced here on Wednesday.
ii. At present, only bank account holders can withdraw cash from an ATM.
iii. "We have recently approved the in-principle setting up of a payment system which will facilitate the funds transfer from bank account holders to those without accounts through ATMs," Rajan said while speaking at the Nasscom India Leadership Forum on financial inclusion and technology.
iv. The RBI governor said cashing out is important for remittances, because the country has a large recipient population, most of whom do not have access to formal banking services.
v. The Nachiket Mor Committee suggests the creation of Payment Banks as a step towards this goal. Other suggestions include inter-operable business correspondents who will get the scale economies to serve in remote locations, and the usage of NBFCs as banking correspondents.

2. India ranks 140 in World Press Freedom Index
i. India has been ranked 140th in the list of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index 2014, whereas China and Pakistan were placed at 175th and 158th position respectively.
ii. India has been ranked 140th in the list of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index 2014, whereas China and Pakistan were placed at 175th and 158th position respectively.
iii. Finland has been ranked first in the list followed by the Netherlands and Norway.
iv. The ranking of the US has dropped to 46th position from last year’s 32nd, while China has been ranked at the 175th position and Pakistan at 158th.
v. Pakistan remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists as besides the armed groups, the country’s intelligence agencies, especially the ISI, also represent a danger, the report said.
vi. The 2014 index underscores the negative correlation between freedom of information and conflicts, both open conflicts and undeclared ones, the report said.

3. South Africa issues Nelson Mandela stamp
i. South Africa's postal service has issued a commemorative stamp with a portrait of Nelson Mandela on the 24th anniversary of his release from prison during white minority rule.
ii. The postal service said on Tuesday that it printed five million copies of the silver stamp, which costs about USD 4.50 and comes in a folder with information about Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader who became South Africa's first black president in 1994.
iii. It says the stamp is available at all 1,591 post offices in South Africa and that stamp collectors around the world can buy it online.
iv. Mandela spent 27 years in prison and was released on February 11, 1990. He died December 5 at the age of 95.

4. Jail, fine for propagating hatred against HIV affected
i. Any person found guilty of spreading or propagating hatred against people living with HIV/AIDS will face strict punishment of imprisonment up to two years and a maximum fine of Rs one lakh, according to a proposed legislation.
ii. The new bill introduced in the Rajya Sabha today seeks to protect rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS and end discrimination against them through stringent penal measures.
iii. The bill provides for protection to those infected by HIV and AIDS from denial of employment and harassment of any kind, besides provision of medical treatment while ensuring confidentiality and privacy while providing HIV and AIDS related services.
iv. The bill also provides protection to such persons from being subjected to an HIV test without their informed consent.
v. It also aims to prohibit certain specific acts of HIV- related discrimination, provide for informed consent for undertaking HIV test or treatment and also for disclosure of HIV status to ensure confidentiality and privacy.
vi. India is estimated to have 2.39 million people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), the third highest after South Africa and Nigeria.

5. Yuvraj big winner at IPL-7 auction
i. The two day player auctions for the 2014 edition of the Indian Premier League has begun today.
ii. The auction has started on a competitive note with Royal Challengers Bangalore buying Yuvraj Singh for Rs 14 cr while Delhi Daredevils using the right of first refusal to retain big hitter Kevin Pietersen for Rs 9 cr. Among other big players at the auction are Dinesh Karthik who got sold to Delhi Daredevils for Rs 12.5 crore.
iii. Eight franchisees are bidding for 514 players with Rs 274 cr as the total available purse.
iv. Delhi Daredevils has also bought Murali Vijay for Rs 5 crore. Virendra Sehwag who has been Delhi's mainstay has been sold to Kings XI Punjab for Rs 3.2 cr. Mitchell Johnson was bought by Kings XI Punjab for Rs 6.5 crore while Jacques Kallis was bought by KKR for Rs 5.5 crore.
v. Indian pace bowler Zaheer Khan was sold to Mumbai Indians for Rs 2.6 crore.
vi. Cheteshwar Pujara was bought by Kings XI Punjab for Rs 1.75 crore through Right to Match.
vii. Robin Uthappa was bought by KKR for Rs. 5 crore.
viii. Brad Hodge was bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 2.40 crore.
ix. Manoj Tiwary was bought by Delhi Daredevils for Rs 2.8 crore.
x. Indian spin bowler Piyush Chawla has been picked up by by KKR for Rs 4.25 crore while his counterpart Pragyan Ojha was retained by Mumbai Indians for Rs 3.25 crore.

6. China and Taiwan hold first official level talks since 1949
i. China and Taiwan began their first official-level talks since the end of the brutal Chinese civil war in 1949 on 11 February 2014.
ii. The talks were held at the Nanjing between Wang Yu-chi, head of Taiwan’s mainland affairs office and his Chinese counterpart Zhang Zhijun. The talks are part of a four day trip.
iii. The talks are perceived as an attempt to facilitate wider exchanges and building cross-strait relations and a confidence building exercise. Bilateral relations of the two nations have improved following the election of Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou in 2008.

7. Vinod Sawhny appointed CEO of Reliance Communications
i. Vinod Sawhny was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Reliance Communications (RCom) on 10 February 2014. Vinod Sawhny will succeed Gurdeep Singh.
ii. Gurdeep Singh has been given additional responsibility of consumer business comprising DTH and consumer broadband business.
iii. Punit Garg will continue as CEO of Indian Enterprise and IDC business. Bill Barney also continues as CEO of Reliance Globalcom comprising Flag Telecom, Vanco and Yipes.