Current Affairs - December 28 2013

Current Affairs

December 28, 2013

International Affairs

1. The United Nations General Assembly has approved a USD 5.53 billion budget for 2014-2015, about one per cent lower than that of the previous biennium.

2. China on Saturday formally endorsed an easing of the country's strict family planning policy to allow couples to have two children if either parent has no siblings.

3. Civilian employees of the United Nations Mission in Liberia have clashed with the United Nations armed peacekeepers in a protest over what they claim are unfavourable work conditions.

National Affairs

4. Activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal (45) took oath as Delhi's 7th Chief Minister at historic Ramlila Maidan. He is the 4th youngest CM of India.

5. No Ministers & officials in Delhi Govt will use red beacon, as per decision of 1st meeting of the cabinet presided over by CM Arvind Kejriwal.

6. No PSO and escort vehicle to be provided to officials. Security to be allowed based on threat perception.

7. The 3-day long Rajgir Mahotsav organized by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation and Nalanda district administration begins today.

8. President Pranab Mukherjee unveiled a giant statue of Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji at Kalwa junction in Maharashtra today.

9. Today is the 128th Foundation Day of Indian National Congress; It came into existence at its 1st session in Bombay in 1885.

10. Defence Minister AK Antony celebrates his 73rd birthday today.

11. 3-day long Rajgir Mahotsav organized by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation, Nalanda district administration began today.

12. Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday indicated that the Maharashtra govt would reconsider its decision to reject a judicial commission’s report on Adarsh housing scam, a day after Rahul Gandhi ticked off the state govt over the issue.

13. Nine political parties, including the ruling BJD, on Saturday demanded the Centre to immediately release Rs 5,000 crore for rehabilitation and restoration after Cyclone Phailin.

14. Union Minister of State for HRD Shashi Tharoor has been awarded with the “Person of the Year” award by animal rights campaigner PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) for initiating steps for animal protection. Tharoor used the power and prestige of his office to advocate for the protection of animals, as per PETA release. Earlier, Hema Malini and R Madhavan won the PETA India’s Person of the Year Award.

Appointments

15. Arvind Kejriwal takes oath as the Delhi CM. He also announced the portfolios of the six other members of his Cabinet.

The portfolios allocated today include:

Arvind Kejriwal: Home, Power, Finance, Vigilance, Services and all other departments not allocated to others

Manish Sisodia: Education, Higher Education, Public Works Department, Urban Development, Local Bodies, Land & Building and Revenue

Somnath Bharti: Tourism, Law, Administrative Reforms, Art & Culture

Saurabh Bhardwaj: Food & Supply, Environment, Transport, Election

Rakhi Birla (she is the youngest member): Women & Child, Social Welfare, Women's Safety, Languages

Girish Soni: Development, Employment, Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes

Satyendra Kumar Jain: Health, Industries, Gurudwara

Deaths

16. Veteran Hindi actor Farooq Sheikh, who is best remembered for his performances in films like ‘Garm Hava’, ‘Shatranj Ke Khiladi’, ‘Chashme Buddoor’ and ‘Kissi Se Na Kehna’, passed away yesterday after suffering a heart attack in Dubai. He was 65. Farooq Sheikh was in Dubai apparently for a concert when he suffered the heart attack on Friday night. He worked with Directors like Satyajit Ray, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Muzaffar Ali.

Sports

17. Faced with the tricky issue of how to deal with the possible re-entry of banned former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi into Rajasthan Cricket Association, the BCCI on Saturday decided to become a party in the Supreme Court case challenging the RCA polls and get its position clarified.