Current Affairs: February 2013 (2nd Week)
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for all competitive Examinations……..
Pope
Benedict XVI announced his Resignation because of Poor Health
Pope Benedict XVI announced on 11 February
2013 that he would resign at the end of the month. He reasoned that he was too
infirm to carry on. He is the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The
decision set the stage for the election of a new Pope before the end of March
2013.
Pope Benedict XVI is 85 years old. He had
become the Pope in 2005. The last Pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII, who took
this step in 1415 to put an end to the Great Western Split among competing
papal claimants.
Serena
Williams becomes oldest woman to be world No 1
Serena Williams on February 15 became the
oldest woman to claim the world number one ranking. Serena Williams who is aged
31 years thrashed Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic 6-3,3-6,7-5 and reached
Semifinals of Qatar Open Tennis Championship in Doha. On entering the
semi-finals, she achieved the top position after a period of two and a half
years. Serena Williams will compete against Maria Sharapova in the Semifinals
on 16 February 2013. Maria Sharapova reached semi-finals after defeating
Samantha Stosur 6-2,6-4.
Wrestling
dropped from 2020 Olympic Games list
International Olympic Committee (IOC) leaders
dropped wrestling from the program for the 2020 Olympics on 12 February 2013. In
a surprise move, the IOC executive board decided to retain modern pentathlon ——
the sport considered most at risk —— and remove wrestling instead.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity
because the decision hadn’t been announced yet. Wrestling combines freestyle
and Greco-Roman disciplines. It had 11 medal events in freestyle and seven in
Greco-Roman at last year’s London Olympics.
Wrestling will now join seven other sports in
applying for inclusion in 2020. The others are a combined bid from baseball and
softball, karate, squash, roller sports, sport climbing, wakeboarding and
wushu. They will be vying for a single opening in 2020.
The IOC executive board will meet in May in
St.Petersburg, Russia, to decide which sport or sports to propose for 2020
inclusion. The final vote will be made at the IOC general assembly in September
in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The last sports removed from the Olympics were
baseball and softball, voted out by the IOC in 2005 and off the program since
the 2008 Beijing Games. Golf and rugby will be joining the program at the 2016
Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Giuseppe
Orsi held on Bribe Charges in Indian Defence Helicopter Deal
Giuseppe Orsi, head of an Italian defence and
aerospace giant Finmeccanica was arrested in Milan on 11 February 2013 on the
charges of his alleged involvement in the bribery activity to secure an Indian
defence helicopter deal of 3600 crore rupees. He was arrested in relation to
the probe of the international corruption.
The Deal
The contract signed with Italian defence
giant Finmeccanica in February 2010 involved supply of 12 VVIP three-engine
AW-101 choppers from AgustaWestland for the Indian Air Force’s elite
Communication Sqadron. By now, three choppers have already been delivered to
India. As per the reports on the bribe scam, it’s expected that about 362 crore
rupees that is equivalent to about 10 percent of the final deal was given back
to help the Italian firm in winning the contract.
About Finmeccanica
The Finmeccanica is an Italian defence Giant
company that entered into a deal to supply 12 three-engine AW-101 helicopters
to India in February 2010. Giuseppe Orsi, now the CEO of Finmeccanica and the
then head of its Helicopter Unit was arrested on the charges of the bribe
scandal that surfaced.
Oscar
Pistorius charged for Shooting Dead his Girlfriend
Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee Blade
Runner from South Africa was charged on 14 February 2013 for allegedly shooting
dead his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, at his home in Pretoria.
Oscar Pistorius
•
Oscar Pistorius is a South African sprint runner, who turned up to be
the first double-leg-amputee, who lined up in the starting blocks with the able
bodied competitors in the men's 400 metres race during the London Olympics
2012.
• He
won gold medals in the men's 400 metre race in a Paralympic and set a record
time of 46.68 seconds as well as he managed to create a world record in the 4 ×
100 metres relay in 41.78 seconds
One
Billion Rising Campaign launched to end the Violence against Women
The entire world came together on one
platform to raise the voice for the violence against women across the globe by
participating in One Billion Rising Campaign. This is a global campaign to rise
against violence and take a stand for the one billion women. Almost 200 hundred
countries are taking part in this campaign.
UN in its message stated that by standing
together the world can end the violence against women and girls and build a
world where all live free from harassment and fear.
In fact, the governments across the globe should
make a concrete commitment of action to end the violence against women and
girls.
Angelo
Mathews appointed Captain of the Sri Lankan Test and One-Day Cricket Team
Angelo Mathews, the Sri Lankan all-rounder
cricketer was appointed the Captain of the test and one-day cricket team of Sri
Lanka on 14 February 2013 for a period of one year. Mathews replaced Mahela
Jayawardene, who announced to quit captaincy after Sri Lanka’s tour of
Australia.
Dinesh Chandimal, the wicket-keeper batsman
was appointed as the vice-captain in the test and one-day format of the game
and will lead the country as a captain in the T20 format of the game. Lasith
Malinga was appointed as the vice-captain for the T20 team.
SEBI
ordered freezing of accounts and attachment of properties of two companies of
Sahara
Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) the
stock market regulator of India on 13 February 2013 ordered freezing of bank
accounts and attachment of properties of two Sahara group firms Sahara India
Real Estate Corporation Ltd., and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Ltd.
and its Chairman Subrata Roy as well as top executives Vandana Bhargava, Ravi
Shanker Dubey and Ashok Roy Choudhary after it failed to refund more than
24,000 crore rupees to investors. The decision from the market regulator came
after the Supreme Court of India granted it the freedom to freeze the accounts
of the two companies and attach the properties of the defaulting groups.
North
Korea conducted its third Nuclear Test and defied UN Regulations for World
Peace
North Korea on 12 February 2013 announced
success of its underground Nuclear Test. The country cleared that the
miniaturized nuclear device was detonated successfully and it also announced
that the test was an act of self-defence from the US Hostility and also
threatened stronger steps in future.
This was the third test conducted by the
country since 2006 that had defied the UN regulations in existence. The test is
reported to have conducted in the North Hamgyeong Province nearby the Punggye-ri
nuclear complex, the place where the tests of 2006 and 2009 were conducted. Due
to the past two nuclear tests of 2006 and 2009, North Korea is already facing
many sanctions over it imposed by the United Nations Security Council. This is
the first test conducted in North Korea under the leadership of Kim Jong-un.
World
Radio Day was observed to raise Awareness about the Importance of Radio
World Radio Day was observed to increase
awareness about the importance of radio.
World Radio Day was observed on 12 February
2013 to raise awareness about the importance of radio, facilitate access to
information through it and enhance networking among broadcasters. On the 18th
of December, 2012, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the 2011 resolution
adopted by the UNESCO General Conference, proclaiming the 13th of February as
World Radio Day, the day United Nations Radio was established in 1946.
Since its invention more than a century ago,
the radio serves as a channel for information and entertainment. The
multi-purpose medium is an important source of information in those areas which
are sometimes too remote to get a newspaper delivered.
Across the world, the number of radio
stations is increasing and the cost of broadcasting is decreasing. More than
ever, the radio remains an effective means to bring social change, by sharing
knowledge and providing a platform for inclusive debate.
Lyonchhen
Jigmi Y. Thinley, Prime Minister of Bhutan visited India
Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley
was on the home visit to India from 7 February to 9 February 2013. During his
visit to India he met with President of Indian Union-Pranab Mukherjee at
Rashtrapati Bhavan, Vice-President of India-Hamid Ansari, Prime
Minister-Manmohan Singh, Minister of Finance-P Chidambaram and Foreign
Secretary-Ranjan Mathai. His visit was
aimed at improving India-Bhutan bilateral relationship.
Kalyan
Kumar Chakravarty Appointed As the Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee
appointed Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty as the chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi on 12
February 2013. Kalyan Kumar Chakravarty is the IAS officer of 1970 batch and
retired from the designation of Secretary to Government of India. Kalyan Kumar
Chakravarty will retain his position till 31 December 2017. Chakravarty also
served in Madhya Pradesh government. He had also remained member-secretary of
Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts and director general of the National
Museum, New Delhi apart from vice chancellor of the National Museum Institute.
Lalit Kala Akademi
Lalit Kala Akademi or the National Academy of
Fine Art is fine art institution of Government of India with an objective to
promote, develop as well as spread the culture of Indian fine art. It receives
funds from Ministry of Culture.
MCX-SX,
the Third National Stock Exchange Made its Debut in India
MCX-SX, the third bourse on the equities and
equity derivatives trading block debuted on 11 February 2013. It is the third
national stock exchange of India after Bombay Stock Exchange and the National
Stock Exchange. MCX-SX started its trading in shared of 1116 listed companies
against 1665 companies in National Stock Exchange and 5191 companies in Bombay
Stock Exchange.
Indian
Tennis Players Association formed to address the concerns of Tennis Players
Indian Tennis Players Association (ITPA), a
collective body of Indian Tennis players was designed on 11 February 2013. The
ITPA would be responsible to represent the concerns and professional interests
of its members. The association is being constituted as there exist no
particular structure in tennis to represent or address the issues of the tennis
players in India. The modeling of the ITPA is done on the basis of (Association
of Tennis Professionals) ATP and will operate on the basic principle of self governance
and consultative dialogue, to arrive at decisions that impact the professional
tennis of the country. Jaidip Mukerjea is elected as the interim President of
the body and will be on the post till the formative period of ITPA and until
the general body and general council meets formally.
India
maintained their Number One Spot in the ICC ODI Championship Table
India maintained their number one spot in the
ICC ODI Championship table in the latest rankings issued in Dubai on 11
February 2013. Both India and England have same 119 rating points, but England
lags behind on the basis of decimal points. Australia and South Africa follow
the top two teams closely with 116 and 112 points respectively.
Among the batsmen, South African run machine
Hashim Amla is at number one followed by fellow countryman AB Devilliers.
India’s Virat Kohli is at number three followed closely by the skipper Mahendra
Singh Dhoni. Among the bowlers, Pakistan off spinner Saeed Ajmal maintains his
top billing followed by Mohammad Hafeez. In the All rounder’s category,
Pakistan skipper Mohammed Hafeez is the leader followed by Bangladesh’s Shakib
Al Hasan.
Afzal
Guru’s Secret Hanging Was Called Operation Three Star
Operation Three Star: Code name given to
secret plan for executing Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist Afzal Guru in Tihar Jail
on 9 February 2013. Operation Three Star started on 4 February 2013, just a day
after the President of India Pranab Mukherjee rejected mercy plea of Afzal
Guru. A few top officials of Home Ministry were aware about secret Operation
Three Star.
Afzal Guru was hanged on 9 February 2013 at 8
AM in Tihar Jail, New Delhi. Afzal Guru was guilty of conspiring as well as
providing shelter to terrorists who attacked Indian Parliament on 13 December
2001. Hanging of Mumbai terror attack militant Ajmal Kasab was called Operation
X. he was hanged at Yerwada Central Jail on 21 November 2012.
Ranchi
Rhinos Beat Delhi Waveriders to Win Inaugural Hockey India League
Ranchi Rhinos beat Delhi Waveriders 2-1 to
win the inaugural Hockey India League (HIL) in the match at Astroturf Hockey
Stadium on 10 February 2013. Apart from winning the trophy, Ranchi Rhinos took
away 2.5 crore Rupees. Runners-up Delhi Waveriders on the other hand, pocketed
1.25 crore Rupees.
Uttar Pradesh Wizards that completed in the
third place took away 75 lakh Rupees. Uttar Pradesh Wizards defeated Punjab
Warriors 4-3 to claim third position. Mumbai Magicians player Sandeep Singh hit
maximum goals (11) in the tournament.
Pandit
Ravi Shankar Honoured With Posthumous Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award
Pandit Ravi Shankar, the sitar legend was
honoured with the posthumous Lifetime Achievement Grammy award. His daughter
sitarist Anoushka Shankar accepted the award on his behalf on 9 February 2013
ahead of the Grammy’s show that took place in Los Angeles on 10 February 2013.
Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones attended the
pre-Grammy ceremony at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre for accepting the honour
which was given to their deceased father. Pandit Ravi Shankar died on 11
December 2012 at 92 years of age.
Pandit Ravi Shankar was in the list of seven
other artistes named for Lifetime Achievement Award honourees and this also
included Carole King and the Temptations. The Indian sitar legend also won best
world music album Grammy for The Living Room Sessions Part 1. Pandit Ravi
Shankar’s daughter Anoushka Shankar was also nominated in this category for
album Traveller.
Finance
Minister P Chidambaram launched Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme in Mumbai
Finance Minister P Chidambaram on 9 February
2013 launched the much-awaited Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme in Mumbai.
The move will encourage new investors to put their money in the stock market.
The scheme, which was announced in the Budget 2011-12, seeks to provide tax
benefits to first-time investors in stock market. Under the scheme, an
individual with an income of less than 10 lakh rupees would get tax incentives
for investing up to 50000 rupees in the stock market.
As per the notification issued by the
Securities and Exchange Board of India on the scheme, there would be a lock-in
period of one year on investments made under the scheme.
Asoke Kumar Mukerji Appointed As the
Next Permanent Representative of India to the UN
Asoke Kumar Mukerji was appointed as the next
Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations on 13 February 2013.
Mukerji replaced Hardeep Singh Puri who retired in February 2013 after the
tenure of two years.
Asoke Kumar Mukerji was chosen by the Ministry
of External Affairs of the Union Government of India. At present, Mukerji is
Special Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry. He also served as the
Consul General in Dubai as well as the Deputy High Commissioner in London.
Asoke Kumar Mukerji was the private secretary to External Affairs Minister
Salman Khurshid.
Other important
current affairs in a nutshell…..
*
England defeated host New Zealand in the third and last Twenty20 Cricket match
played at Wellington on 15 Feb 2013 to win the series 2-1.
*
NASA scientists discovered the youngest black hole in Milky Way in Feb 2013.
This youngest black hole is 1000 years old and 26000 light years away from
Earth.
*
Data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry reported that Inflation
went down to its three year low of 6.62 percent in January 2013.
*
A flyby Asteroid 2012 DA14 would pass from the ring of geosynchronous weather
and communications satellites above the earth on 15 Feb 2013.
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Mohan Parasaran, the Additional Solicitor General was on 13 February 2013
appointed as the Solicitor General of India after Rohinton Nariman resigned.
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Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) acquired stake of Navistar International
Corporation in two joint ventures on 12 February 2013.
*
Lydia Ko, the teenager became youngest winner of a women's European Tour golf
event by winning at New Zealand Women's Open in Christchurch on 10 February
2013.
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Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Appointed Subodh Kumar Agrawal and
K. Raghu as its new President and Vice-President on 12 Feb. 2013.
*
Horacio Zeballos defeated Rafael
Nadal to win his first ATP World Tour trophy in VTR OPEN 2013 on 10 February
2013 in Vina del Mar, Chile in Men’s Singles.
*
NASA on 9 February 2013 announced that its Mars rover Curiosity drilled into
Mars’ surface. The drilling took place first time on 8 February 2013.
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The largest saltwater crocodile of the world, named Lolong died in Philippines
on 10 February 2013. Lolong measured 6.17 metres or 20.24 feet.
*
Manipur on 15 February 2013 decided to issue a complete ban on sale and
consumption of tobacco products in the state.
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Sources
said the Department of Posts, which has a strong foot print in rural areas, has
appointed Ernst and Young (E&Y) as the consultant for the proposed ‘Post
Bank’.
