Daily Current Affairs Updates: 06 December 2013

Daily Current Affairs Updates: 06 December 2013

1) Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela died at 95: Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first elected black president, a legendary anti-apartheid fighter and Bharat Ratna awardee died early Friday, at his home in the suburb of Houghton in Johannesburg, following a lengthy illness. He was 95. He was the first black South African to hold the office of President from 1994 to 1999, and the first elected in a fully representative multiracial election.

2) India mourns the death of Mandela: India mourned the death of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, saying he was a “giant among men” and a “great friend of India” whose life and work will remain a source of inspiration for generations to come. Government also announced a five-day state mourning as a mark of respect to Nelson Mandela.

3) Malala wins UN Human Rights Prize: Pakistani teenage activist Malala Yousafzai, who survived a Taliban assassination attempt last year, has been awarded the 2013 UN Human Rights Prize, an honour previously given to icons like late Nelson Mandela in recognition of outstanding achievement in human rights. The prize is awarded every five years and has previously been bestowed on Amnesty International and former US President Jimmy Carter. Apart from Yousafzai, the other five winners of the award are son of freed slaves who works to eradicate slavery Biram Dah Abeid of Mauritania, campaigner from Kosovo for the rights of short statured people Hiljmnijeta Apuk, President emeritus of the World Federation of the Deaf Liisa Kauppinen, former President of the Morocco Association for Human Rights Khadija Ryadi and Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice.

4) Telangana draft Bill approved by Union Cabinet: The Union Cabinet on 5 December 2013 approved the 10 districts Telangana draft Bill. The 29th state of India, Telengana will consist of ten districts, whereas Andhra Pradesh will have 13 districts. Hyderabad will be the common capital for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for a period of 10 year. Both the states will have special status under Article 371-D of the Constitution for equitable opportunities for education and public employment.

5) South Africa thrash India by 141 runs in the 1st ODI: Hosts South Africa produced a clinical all-round performance as they crushed India by 141 runs runs in the first one day international taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

6) India to host Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017: In a landmark development for Indian football, the country was awarded the right to host the 2017 Under-17 FIFA World Cup on Thursday by the world governing body of the game in its executive committee meeting in Brazil. South Africa, Ireland and Uzbekistan were the other countries in the running for the right to host the tournament. By virtue of being the host country, India will take part in the 24-nation tournament for the first time in its history.

7) RBI hits the jackpot with dollar deposit scheme: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s out-of-the-box move to woo dollar deposits by protecting banks from currency risks has been a big hit. Banks have managed to mobilise $34 billion in foreign currency deposits since the special swap scheme was flagged off in September. This is much higher than the sums raised by the Resurgent India Bonds (RIBs) of 1998 ($4.2 billion) and the India Millennium Bonds ($5.5 billion). The inflows have given the rupee a much-needed breather from its steady slide over the past year.

8) All-India bank strike on Dec 18:  United Forum of Bank Unions, an umbrella organisation of bank officers’ and employees’ unions, will go on an all-India strike on December 18 to press for a halt to the ongoing banking reforms and immediate wage revision in the banking sector.

9) M.S. Bhaskar nominated on Canara Bank board: Central Government has nominated Mocherla Sairam Bhaskar as part-time non-official director on the Canara Bank board.

10) Nation paid homage to Ambedkar on Mahaparinirvan Diwas: Nation paid homage to Dr. B R Ambedkar on his 58th Mahaparinirvan Diwas on Friday. Floral tributes were paid to the father of the Indian Constitution at his portrait in Parliament House complex, New Delhi. Lakhs of people thronged Chaityabhoomi, the final resting place of Bharat Ratna Dr. B R Ambedkar at Shivaji Park in Dadar, Mumbai on his 56th death anniversary.

11)  British visas now only through e-payment: Indians seeking British visa will have to pay the visa fees online through debit or credit cards or via e-wallet.

12) Japan to abandon nuclear power phase-out:  Japanese Government will call nuclear energy an “important” source of power in an upcoming energy plan, abandoning a policy of phasing it out, Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi was quoted as saying on Friday.

13) Airtel CIO exits: Bharti Airtel's Group Chief Information Officer Jai Menon has exited amidst allegations of violating the company’s code of conduct.