Current Affairs - December 27, 2013

Current Affairs

December 27, 2013

1. China to be world largest economy in 2028

i. China is expected to overtake the US in 2028 to become the world’s largest economy while India is predicted to overtake Japan that year for the third place in the same league, a London-based economic and business research group has said.

ii. The Center for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) said Thursday in its annual report that China’s gross domestic product (GDP) in dollars would overtake the US in 2028, the China Daily reported Friday.

iii. Based on CEBR’s forecasts, India will overtake Japan in 2028 to become the world’s third largest economy. “Japan is likely to follow a weak currency policy for the foreseeable future which means that its GDP in dollar terms gets overtaken by India earlier than we had previously expected,” the report said.

iv. The annual report issued by the CEBR, a leading economic consultancy in Britain, covers the 30 largest economies in the world.

2. Ethnic fighting intensifies in South Sudan; many killed, thousands displaced. International efforts underway to seek a peaceful solution.    

Violence erupted 12 days ago between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir (Dinka ethnic) and those backing his ex-deputy Riek Machar (Nuer ethnic).

More than 50,000 civilians have sought refuge at UN compounds in South Sudan.

3. Kejriwal welcomes all to Ramlila Maidan

i. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal Friday said everyone was welcome to the Ramlila Maidan on Saturday when he takes oath as Delhi’s chief minister.

ii. Kejriwal and six cabinet ministers will be sworn in at the head of a minority govt.

iii. “Many people (are) asking me for passes for tomorrow’s oath ceremony. No passes needed. All are welcome. It’s (your) programme,” he tweeted. “My family will also sit (among the) public

4. Tharoor PETA’s ‘person of the year’

i. Union Minister of State for HRD Shashi Tharoor has been chosen as “Person of the Year” by animal rights campaigner PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) for initiating steps for animal protection.

ii. Tharoor used the power and prestige of his office to advocate for the protection of animals, a PETA release said.

iii. He had encouraged the National Council of Educational Research and Training to examine PETA’s Central Board of Secondary Education approved-’Compassionate Citizen humane’ -education programme for incorporation into its textbooks.

Note: Actors Hema Malini and R Madhavan were previous recipients of PETA India’s Person of the Year Award, the release added.

5. Anna Hazare unwell, not to attend Kejriwal’s swearing-in ceremony

i. Anna Hazare on Thursday said he would not be attending his one time protégé Arvind Kejriwal’s swearing-in ceremony in Delhi on Saturday owing to ill-health.

ii. “I am not well,” Hazare said when asked whether he will be travelling to Delhi on December 28 to attend the ceremony.

iii. The Delhi Chief Minister-designate had said earlier in the day that he would personally invite his “guru” Hazare for the ceremony.

6. Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to have constitutional status. It will replace the earlier collegium system which dealt with the appointment and transfer of judges to the higher judiciary.  

The JAC Bill seeks to set up a six-member body under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of India.

7. Deepika Kumari clinches her 6th consecutive individual title at the 34th National Archery Championships held at Jamshedpur, while Atanu Das claims the men's individual title.  

Jharkhand emerges overall winners with 10 gold, two silver and five bronze medals.

SSCB and Punjab took the second and third spot respectively. 

8. J.N.Choudhury appointed as the Director General of National Security Guard (NSG) while Arvind Ranjan becomes the Director General of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Each has replaced the other in the alloted capacity.

9. Arun Tiwari appointed as the new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Union Bank of India. 

10. Airtel offers free Facebook access in 9 regional languages

i. Bharti Airtel will offer free access to social networking site Facebook in nine regional Indian languages to its pre-paid customers across the country for a limited period.

ii. “…it will offer free Facebook access in nine regional Indian languages to its pre-paid customers across India,” Bharti Airtel said in a statement.

iii. The company said its customers, who are Facebook users on the mobile (browser or app), will be able to access Facebook in Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

iv. “A limited period offer, Airtel will allow customers to access Facebook free-of-cost with a cap of 30 MB/ month to add joy to the festivities,” the statement added.

v. The company said the interface is compatible with feature, Java, Android, iPhone & Windows devices alike.

11. CNG, piped gas prices hiked in Delhi NCR

i. Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL), which supplies compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped cooking gas in Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad, has hiked prices.

ii. The CNG price would be revised by Rs 4.50 a kg in Delhi and Rs 5.15 a kg in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. The new retail price would be Rs 50.10 a kg in Delhi and Rs 56.70 a kg in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad.

iii. Similarly, the new consumer price of piped cooking gas to households in Delhi has been revised from Rs 27.50 per scm to Rs 29.50 per scm (up to consumption of 30 scm in two months).

12. Atul Sarpotdar leader of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena died

i. Atul Sarpotdar, the leader of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) died on 26 December 2013 after a brief illness. He was of 51. Due to illness he was admitted to Leelavati Hospital in suburban Bandra on 25 December 2013 due to blood sugar-related problems.

ii. He is now survived by his wife and a son. Raj broke away from Shiv Sena to join Raj Thackeray.

iii. Sarpotdar was an old associate of MNS chief Raj Thackeray, when Thackeray was leading Bhartiya Vidyarthi Sena, the student’s wing of Shiv Sena. He was the General Secretary and Chief Coordinator of Marathwada in MNS.

13. India vs South Africa 2nd test: Start of 2nd day’s play delayed due to rain

i. The start of the second day’s play in the second and final cricket Test between India and South Africa was today delayed due to rain today.

ii. Play was to start half and hour earlier than scheduled after a curtailed opening day yesterday.

iii. Only 61 of the regulation 90 overs were bowled on the first day with India reaching 181 for one.

iv. The two teams had played out a thrilling draw in the opening Test.