Current Affairs - January 04, 2014

Current Affairs

January 04, 2014

International Affairs

1. “World Braille Day” is celebrated today (4th January) across the world to observe the Birthday of Louis Braille. Louis Braille, born in 1809, was the inventor of braille, a system of reading and writing used by people who are blind or visually impaired. Braille became blind after an accident at the age of three. He created a language based on the patterns of raised dots on paper, which could be felt and one can read anything that is unable to see. He did this to have an access to works of literature.

National Affairs

1. Aam Aadmi Party has announced today that it would fight coming Lok Sabha elections in as many states as possible. Senior AAP leader Prashant Bhushan said the party will decide about the seats and candidates for the upcoming elections within one month. Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal today said that he will not contest Lok Sabha elections.

2. India’s largest software services company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) announced to set up the world’s largest corporate learning and development centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The corporate learning centre will have a total capacity to train 50,000 professionals every year.

3. B. G. Srinivas and U.B. Pravin Rao have been appointed as presidents of the Infosys Ltd Company yesterday. B. G. Srinivas will focus on global markets while U. B. Pravin Rao will focus on global delivery and service innovation and they will report to CEO Shibulal. Also Infosys has announced that Executive Council will cease to exist from 1^st April 2014.

4. AAP candidate is Delhi Speaker : Aam Aadmi Party proved its majority on the floor of the House, it scored yet another victory in the Delhi Assembly when its candidate M.S. Dhir was elected Speaker with the backing of the Congress, JD (U) and an Independent legislator. The convention has been to elect a Speaker with consensus among all parties.Pro-tem Speaker Mateen Ahmed asked legislators who supported the motion to elect Mr. Dhir to stand up. However, after declaring Mr. Dhir as Speaker, he once again called for a repeat of the voting process following objections by the BJP MLAs.

5. Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh on 4 January 2014 launched the total E-literacy project implemented by PN Panicker Vigyan Vikas Kendra in Thiruvanathpuram. This would act as the corner-stone of the Kerala model of development.

6. The Supreme Court on Friday expressed “displeasure” over statements made by some Union Ministers including Law Minister Kapil Sibal against its verdict on gay sex, saying it is “unwarranted” and “not in good taste” while cautioning them from doing so in future.

7. Two days after the Lokpal Bill was given assent by President Pranab Mukherjee brining into effect the legislation passed by Parliament last month, Odisha Cabinet on Friday decided to enact Lokayukta Act within a period of one month.

8. India on 4 January 2013 asked the US Embassy not to screen any movies at the American Center without obtaining a licence. The Embassy has been given a deadline to comply with the Government of India laws and Delhi Government regulations till 20 January 2014.

9. B. G. Srinivas and U.B. Pravin Rao appointed as presidents of the Infosys Ltd Company on 3 January 2014.

10. Two months after the successful launch of Mangalyaan, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is all set to make its first major launch of 2014 on Sunday– the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle(GSLV-D5)carrying India’s latest communication satellite GSAT 14.

11. India have retained the Under-19 Asia Cup Cricket title after defeating arch rival Pakistan by 40 runs in the final match at Sharjah today. While batting first Indian team set to score 315 runs for a win, Pakistan managed to score only 274 for nine in 50 overs. Indian skipper VH Zol andn star batsman Sanju Samson made centuries for the winning team.

12. Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, who performed impressive bike stunts in his latest release ‘Dhoom 3′, today appealed the Maharashtra Transport department to make motor vehicle license seekers undergo strict driving tests to ensure safety on roads.

13. Country’s largest software services firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) decided to set up the world’s largest corporate learning and development centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The corporate learning centre will have a total capacity to train 50,000 professionals every year.

14. Countdown begins for India’s crucial GSLV-D5 launch: The countdown for India’s crucial GSLV-D5 rocket powered by an indigenous cryogenic upper stage engine began at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 11.18am on 4th Jan 2014.The 49.13-metre rocket with a lift-off mass of 414.75 tonne will carry to space the 1,982-kg GSAT-14 communication satellite with applications in tele-education and tele-medicine. The rocket will lift off at 4:18 PM on 5th Jan 2014.After two failures and an aborted attempt at launching the ‘heavy duty’ rocket in the past three years, Indian Space Research Organisation scientists say they are confident of a successful launch this time.