Current Affairs 2013

INTERNATIONAL

Taiwan and Singapore Signed Free Trade Agreement
Taiwan signed a free trade agreement with Singapore on 7 November in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.It is first trade agreement Taiwan has signed with a member of the Association of Southeast Nations.Singapore is Taiwan’s fifth-largest trade partner and fourth-largest export market, with bilateral trade totalling US$28.2 billion in 2012.

U.S. named Nigeria’s Boko Haram ‘Terrorist’ Group
The US State Department has on 13 November officially designated Boko Haram, the Nigerian Islamist group responsible for the 2011 bombing of the UN headquarters in Abuja, as a “foreign terrorist organisation”. The designation is significant because it directs US law enforcement and regulatory agencies to block business and financial transactions with Boko Haram, which is fighting to impose Islamic law in northern Nigeria and has ties to al Qaeda. Boko Haram means “Western education is sacrilege”.

Abdullah Yameen Elected as President of Maldives
Abdulla Yameen, the candidate of Progressive Party , has been elected as president of the Maldives on 16 November .In the presidential election, Yameen defeated Mohamed Nasheed of Maldivian Democratic Party with a margin of six thousand votes.Yameen secured 51.39 percent (1 lakh 11 thousand) of votes, whereas Mohamed Nasheed received 48.61 (1 lakh 5 thousand votes).Yameen is an economist and the half-brother of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the former autocratic ruler, who ruled Maldives for 30 years.

Iran and P5+1 Group of Nations Signed The Historic Nuclear Deal
Iran and P5+1 group of Nations reached a breakthrough deal on 24 November 2013 to curb Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for limited sanctions relief.An agreement to this effect was signed at UN Headquarters in Geneva on 24 November 2013 between the Chief negotiator for the six nations, Catherine Marie Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Jawad Zarief. The interim deal for six months is intended to give time and space to the international community to work towards a comprehensive agreement.After four days of negotiations, representatives of P5+1 group of nations – the US, the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany – reached an agreement with Iran.The deal is intended as the first step in a six-month process aimed at a permanent resolution to the decade-old global impasse over Iran’s nuclear programme, and heading off the threat of a new war in West Asia.

INDIA & WORLD

India Ranked 7th In Expat Quality Life
According to the research survey commissioned by HSBC Expat and conducted by independent research company YouGov , India is placed seventh out of 37 in a list of countries ranked in terms of expat quality of life.Thailand tops the list which is dominated by Asian countries with mainland China, Singapore and Taiwan are ranked 3rd, 6th, and 8th places respectively.Others in the top 10 include Bahrain (2nd), Cayman Islands (4th), Australia (5th), Spain (9th) and Brazil (10th).The results show Asia to be the leading destination for expat quality of life, with the region also emerging as an expat social hotspot.The survey report was released on 4 November.

India and Kuwait Signed Five Agreements
India and Kuwait on 8 November discussed collaboration in petrochemicals, and Kuwaiti investments in infrastructure in India as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held bilateral talks with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah in New Delhi.After the bilateral talks , five agreements were signed including an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons, cooperation in the field of sports and youth affairs and exchange of cultural and information programmes, besides cooperation in the field of education.

India and Japan Decided To Strengthen their Cooperation in the Maritime Sector
India and Japan have decided to further strengthen their cooperation in the maritime sector as a part of the overall robust bilateral relations.The two countries on 9 November agreed to enhance their interaction through the existing forums and through port-to-port exchanges.These issues came up for a discussion between the Union Minister of Shipping Shri G.K. Vasan, and Akihiro Ohta , Minister of land, Industries and Transport & Tourism, Government of Japan.

India-Ukraine Inter-Governmental Commission Held In New Delhi
The fifth session of India-Ukraine Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation held in New Delhi on 13 November.The Commission was chaired by E. Ahamed, the Minister of State for External Affairs.The Ukrainian delegation was led by Mr. Ihor Mykolayovych Prasolov, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine.During the session current status and future prospects of cooperation in trade and investment, heavy/light industry, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, mining and metallurgy, science and technology, energy (coal, nuclear), transportation, agriculture and food processing, education, culture and tourism were reviewed.The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India, and the State Administration of Ukraine on Medicinal Products signed the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Joint Ventures and Research and Development in Pharmaceuticals and Bio-pharmaceuticals.

US exempts India, China From Iran Oil Sanctions
The US has on 29 November exempted some countries, including India and China, from the tough Iranian sanctions for reducing their dependence on Iranian oil. Secretary of State, John Kerry announced in a statement in Washington that other countries which have significantly reduced the purchases of Iranian crude oil are the Republic of Korea, Turkey, and Taiwan and these have qualified for an exception to sanctions under the National Defence Authorisation Act.This move came after the decision made by US President Barack Obama that there is sufficient supply of non-Iranian oil for countries to continue to reduce import of oil from Iran.This is the fourth time that these countries have qualified for an NDAA exception as a result of their continued significant reductions in the volume of crude oil purchases from Iran or their end to such purchases.

NATIONAL

Medical Council of India Reconstituted
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India on 6 November reconstituted the Medical Council of India (MCI) with 68 members as per provisions contained in the Indian Medical Council(Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2013.Among the 68 members of the Council, 29 members  will represent the Universities/ Health Sciences Universities, 23 members  will be nominated by the Central Government in consultation with the States, eight members will be nominated by the Centre, seven members will representing the Registered Medical Graduates of the states, and one  member will be nominated by the Central Government representing the UT Administration of Daman and Diu. All the members would hold  office for four years.

National Portal On Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Launched
Union Minister of Minority Affairs K Rahman Khan on 11 November launched a National Portal on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad .The portal was inaugurated to mark 125th birth anniversary of the great national leader- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.This portal is an initiative to digitise the heritage of the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, and make his life and legacy available online. Along with a biographical account on Maulana Azad, the portal contains titles and information on over 20 books written by Maulana Azad, in Urdu and English, as well as information on over 45 books written on Maulana Azad in Urdu, Hindi and English.

India Poised To Become The Largest Provider of  Global Talent
According to the Ficci-EY Report on ‘ Higher Education in India: Vision 2030 ‘ released on 13 November , India is poised to become the largest provider of global talent with one in four graduates in the world a product of the Indian system.The report further outlines that by 2030, the emergence of a robust higher education system would enable India to augment its gross enrollment ratio (GER) to 50%, with a student enrollment of more than 70 million across the higher education system; reduce disparity in GER to 5 percentage points across states, gender and various social groups and emerge as a better informed and evolved society, leading to improved social indicators including better health and sanitation, life expectancy, and law and order.India would also emerge among the top 5 countries in the world in terms of research output, with an annual R&D spend of US$140 billion; have more than 20 universities among the global top 200 and become a global destination for higher education.

Government Released Postage Stamps On Sachin Tendulkar
Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal on 14 November released specail edition postage stamps on cricketer Sachin Tendulkar at a felicitation ceremony to mark his 200th and final cricket test match at the wankhede stadium in Mumbai.Tendulkar is the second living person after Mother Teressa to get a postage stamp in his honour.

STATES

Kannur Declared First Zero Landless District in the Country
Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh on 1 November declared Kannur in Kerala as the first zero-landless district in the country.Kannur District Authorities provided land to as many as 11118 beneficiaries, including 85 families belonging to the Scheduled Tribes category.The prestigious Zero Landless programme of the United Democratic Front was flagged off by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in October 2013.

RAF Academy of Public Order inaugurated in Meerut
Ministry of Home Affairs on 9 November inaugurated RAF Academy of Public Order in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. This academy will train personnel of Rapid Action Force along with selected members of other paramilitary forces and civil police. Public administration, riot control, crowd management, disaster management, human rights, media management and first aid to the victims are some of the core issues on which focussed training will be provided to troupes. Besides, security persons moving on to peace missions under the United Nations, will also be provided necessary training in the Academy.

India’s First Private Rapid Metro Service Started Operation From Gurgaon
Rapid MetroRapid Metro-India’s First Private Metro service started operation from Gurgaon, Haryana on 14 November.Rapid Metro is India’s first fully privately financed Metro system connecting NH-8 to Delhi Metro via Cyber City, Gurgaon.Rapid Metro, with an elevated route and six stations with a frequency of every four minutes, can carry 800 passengers in each trip. The 5.1 km long route covers six stations-Sikanderpur, Phase-2, Belvedere Towers, Cyber City, Moulsari Avenue and Phase 3. The Rapid Metro is using a common ticketing system with Delhi Metro.Rapid Metro is a metro rail system in the Indian city of Gurgaon, Haryana, linked with the Delhi Metro system’s Yellow Line.  Built and operated by Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon Limited (RMGL), the system is India’s first fully privately financed metro.

Union Cabinet Approved For Legislative Council In Assam
Union Cabinet on 28 November 2013 approved a proposal to create a Legislative Council in Assam.According to the Article 169 of Constitution of India, Parliament can create or abolish the Legislative councils in States.According to the proposal, the Legislative Council will have 42 members. As per Article 171 of the Constitution, the total number of members in the Council of a state having such a House shall not exceed one third of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly of that state.

CONFERENCES

Delhi To Host 12th Edition Of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014
The 12th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention to be held in Delhi from 7th to 9th January 2014 .The theme of the convention is -Engaging Diaspora – Connecting across Generations- with a special focus on the younger generation.One of the focus areas of the PBD this year is a Youth PBD on 7th January 2014 to open new horizons of a strong network of young overseas Indian.This was announced by Shri Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs on 5 Novemeber 2013 in New Delhi.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Bihar Health Worker Martha Dodray Gets ‘ UN ‘ Award For Polio Work
Martha Dodray, a health worker from Bihar on 6 November won the global UN Award for her commitment and dedication to eradicate Polio in India.United Nation has conferred the UN Frontline Workers Global Leadership Award to Martha Dodray.The award was given in recognition of the roles to individuals, organizations, and corporations played in supporting the work of the United Nations’ to advance global peace, justice, and prosperity. The United Nations Foundation and the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) honored recipients of the 2013 Global Leadership Awards at the annual Global Leadership Dinner in New York City.

Indian-American Doctor Rahul Jindal Gets Prestigious US Award
An Indian-origin doctor ,Eminent transplant surgeon and philanthropist , Rahul Jinda has been selected for prestigious “Outstanding American by Choice” award for his valuable contribution to US health sector.He was honoured by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on 13 November .The initiative recognises naturalised citizens who have made significant contributions to both their community and their adopted country.Jindal, who recently received the Leadership Award from the International Leadership Foundation, has been appointed the Commissioner on Service and Volunteerism.

‘ RGIA ‘ wins ‘ Best Cargo Airport Award
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Hyderabad being managed by GMR Group has been adjudged the ‘Best Cargo Airport of The Year’ at the recently concluded 40th Annual Convention of Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) held at Jaipur.This is the second year in a row that RGIA has won the accolade for its cargo operations.

CSIR Scientist Rajesh S. Gokhale Gets ‘ Infosys Prize 2013 ‘
The Infosys Prize 2013 in Life Sciences is awarded to Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Director, CSIR-Institute of Genomics & Integrative Biology,on 13 November for his work in the field of lipid metabolism in tubercle bacilli.Each year two million people are infected and die of tuberculosis (TB) and there will be 10 million new patients every year. Dr. Gokhale discovered biochemical networks and new paradigms necessary for the synthesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) cell envelope coat that makes these bacteria escape host immune systems.

Prof. CNR Rao and Sachin Tendulkar Selected for ‘ Bharat Ratna ‘ Award
The Government of India on 16 November decided to confer, the ‘ Bharat Ratna ‘, the highest civilian award on eminent scientist Prof CNR Rao (Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao) and cricket player Sachin Tendulkar.
Sachin Tendulkar :- Sachin will the youngest recipient of the award.He is also the first sportsperson to be chosen for the honour.He will also become the ninth person from Maharashtra to join the exclusive club of 43 Bharat Ratna awardees till date, which includes a galaxy of presidents, prime ministers, Nobel laureates, scientists and artistes.The award was announced hours after Tendulkar retired from international cricket following India’s victory over the West Indies in a Test in Mumbai on 16 November.Tendulkar received the Arjuna Award in 1994 for outstanding sporting achievement, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 1997, India’s highest sporting honour, and the Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan awards in 1999 and 2008, respectively, India’s fourth and second highest civilian awards.
Prof CNR Rao :- He is the third scientist to be awarded the highest civilian award– Bharat Ratna, a crowning glory of his inexorable list of outstanding achievements.Before Rao, C V Raman and former President A P J Abdul Kalam were bestowed with the award.Rao, founder of the Bangalore-based Jawharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, has served as Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council to Prime Minister under different regimes, a manifestation of immense faith different governments have placed in him.A renowned scientist and an institution builder, Rao has worked mainly in solid-state and structural chemistry.He was also conferred with Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan by Government of India and Karnataka Ratna by the Karnataka State Government.He was awarded the Hughes Medal by the Royal Society in 2000, and he became the first recipient of the India Science Award, instituted by the Government of India, for his contributions to solid state chemistry and materials science, awarded in 2004.He has become the first Indian to reach the h-index of 100, reflecting the enormity of the body of his published research work.
* Rao, a Kannadiga and Sachin, a Maharashtrian have got India’s highest civilian award together.After engineering genius Sir M Vishweshwaraiah and the Hindustani music great Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, CNR Rao is the third Kannadiga to get Bharat Ratna. Sachin is the 6th Maharashtrian to get the same honour.