Weekly Current Affairs Update (18th - 24th Feb), 2013

8/13/2019 Weekly Current Affairs Update (18th - 24th Feb), 2013

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Weekly Current Affairs (18thFeb to 24thFeb, 2013)

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NATIONAL

1. India, Sri Lanka ink anti-terror, tax evasion agreements

India and Sri Lanka inked two distinct pacts on fighting international terrorism and avoidance

of double taxation with the aim to enrich bilateral relationships.Both sides also talked about enhanced cooperation in a range of areas including civil nuclearenergy and the emotive issue of fishermen and rehabilitation process of Tamils in Sri Lanka

besides the 13 thAmendment of the Lankan constitution that gives autonomy to provinces. Bothnations also decided to start a dialogue b/w Commerce Secretary of India and Secretary of theMinistry of Finance and Economic Development of Sri Lanka at an early date to evolve aframework for a special economic partnership b/w the two countries.

2. Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Presented Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-

14

The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on 19 February 2013 presented a budget of 221201.19

crore rupees for the fiscal year 2013-2014 in the Vidhan Sabha. The budget presented for theupcoming fiscal year is 10.5 percent more than the budget presented in the 2012-13 fiscal year.The budget has not presented any new tax.The state finance ministry of Uttar Pradesh is led by the Chief Minister of the State AkhileshYadav himself. The new budget had levied no new taxes but estimated a deficit of 2.94 percentin the new financial year.

Important points of the state budget 2013-14

People with annual income less than 36000 rupees will be provided free houses in the state Free education for girls in degree colleges, both in government and government aided

colleges 750 crore rupees was allocated for a loan waiver for farmers.

3. Justice Usha Mehra Commission Submitted its Report to the Union Government of India

Usha Mehra Commission

The Usha Mehra Commission was constituted by the Union Government on 26 December2012 to inquire into the different aspects of the brutal rape and assault incident of the girl on 16December 2012 on the streets of Delhi. The commission was asked to submit the report withinthree months. Retired Delhi High Court Judge, Usha Mehra was the head of this commission.

4. T. S. Vijayan, the Former LIC Chief Took Over as the Chairman of IRDAT.S. Vijayan, the former LIC chief took over as the Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory andDevelopment Authority (IRDA) on 21 February 2013. Vijayan will succeed J. Hari Narayan. J.Hari Narayan completed the five-year term on 20 February 2013.The tenure for IRDA chairman is five years or till 65 years.T.S. Vijayan will take over as the Chairman of IRDA when the entire industry is facingmeltdown. The challenges which will be faced by him include taking the insurance industry torural areas as well as simplifying the insurance products.

5. The first container feeder service

The first container feeder service between Marg Karaikal Port (Tamil Nadu) and Colombo

began on Friday, with the maiden call of m.v. Tiger Bridge, a vessel of Bengal Tiger Line


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shipping company. On its maiden voyage, the vessel carried 50 laden containers. A portofficial said the feeder vessel was expected to call every alternate Friday, and later it would

become a weekly service. Prior to this, on February 8, M.T. Maple called at the newlyconstructed tankages with the first shipment of crude palmolein. The new oil tankage has acapacity of 19,000 cubic metres. Having commenced wheat exports for Food Corporation of

India (FCI), the port is getting ready to export maize. Till date, FCI has exported more than1,25,000 metric tonnes of wheat from the Karaikal Port. With the recent additions of

palmolein, crude edible oil, wheat and maize to its cargo portfolio coupled with thecommencement of the container service, Marg Karaikal Port offers a comprehensive andcompetitive logistics solution to businesses, the official said.

6. 4G broadband licence holders allowed to offer voice services

Wireless broadband airwave holders will be allowed to provide voice services if they pay anadditional Rs.1,658 crore. Reliance is the only company with nationwide fourth-generation(4G) broadband airwaves.

7. Districts told to use biological methods in mosquito controlCoimbatore district has already begun rearing Gambusia affinis, a species that originated fromthe U.S. that can adapt to local water conditions. These fish are to be introduced in all unusedwells in rural and semi-urban areas besides in freshwater such as stagnant ponds and slow-moving streams before the mosquito breeding season in order to maximise its impact. Whileindigenous larvivorous species such as haplochilus and barbus were also available, this specieshad low tolerance to changes in temperature and oxygen levels.

8. India seeks Britains help in helicopter deal probe

PM Manmohan Singh conveyed to the U.K. PM Mr. Cameron its serious concerns atallegations of unethical means used to secure the Rs.3,600-crore helicopter deal forAgustaWestland, on his visit here in India. Mr. Cameron promised all possible help, assertingthat it had one of the strongest anti-bribery laws in the world. They also held talks on wide-ranging talks which included key issues of nuclear energy cooperation, security, terrorism andtrade.AgustaWestland NVis an Italian multinational helicopter design and manufacturingcompany, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Finmeccanica. It was formed in July 2000 whenItalian Finmeccanica and British GKN merged their respective helicopter subsidiaries(Agusta and Westland Helicopters) to form AgustaWestland, with each holding a 50% share.Finmeccanica acquired GKN's stake in AgustaWestland in 2004.

9. Centre takes steps to notify Cauvery final awardA day before the expiry of the deadline set by the Supreme Court, the Centre on Tuesday tooksteps to notify the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal allocating the quantumof waters to the Cauvery basin States of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala and Unionterritory of Puducherry. The CWDT order attempts to settle the 120-year-old dispute on thesharing of the Cauvery waters. Karnataka has opposed the gazette notification of the finalorder. The CWDT order determined the usable quantum of the Cauvery waters at LowerColeroon Anicut site on the basis of 50 per cent dependability to be 740 tmc ft (thousandmillion cubic feet). Of this, Tamil Nadu has been allocated 419 tmc ft, Karnataka will get 270tmc ft, Kerala 30 tmc ft and Puducherry 7 tmc ft. Further, the final order has reserved 10 tmcft. for environmental protection and 4 tmc ft. for inevitable seepage into the sea. In a distress

year, the allocated shares shall be proportionately reduced among the basin States and


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Puducherry. The order shall supersede the agreements of 1892 and 1924 between the thenGovernment of Madras and the Government of Mysore so far as it is related to the Cauveryriver system. It shall come into operation on the date of publication of the tribunals decision inthe official gazette under Section 6 of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956, as amendedfrom time to time.

The final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) notified by the Centre hassettled the definition of a normal year, water year and irrigation season which has been a boneof contention between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.A normal year shall mean a year in which the total yield of the Cauvery basin is 740 tmcft; awater year shall mean a year commencing on June 1 and ending on May 31 and theirrigation season shall mean the season beginning on June 1 and ending on January 31 of thenext year.

10. Dabhol-Bangalore gas pipeline of GAIL goes on stream

GAIL (India) commenced delivery of gas through its 1,000 km-long Dabhol-Bangalorepipeline on Monday. The pipeline, built at a cost of Rs.4,500 crore, has a total capacity of 16

mmscmd. It would facilitate the use of gas as a source of energy or feedstock for industrialuses.

INTERNATIONAL

1. China assumes control of Gwadar Port

China has taken control of Pakistans Gwadar Port located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf justoutside the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Previously, the control of the port waswith Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) which was recently transferred to the ChinaOverseas Port Holding Company.

2. Rafael Correa re-elected as Eucador President

Mr. Correa (48) has brought surprising stability to an oil-exporting nation of 14.6 million witha history of unruliness that cycled through seven Presidents in the decade before him. SinceMr. Correa took office in 2007, the United Nations says Ecuadors poverty rate has droppednearly five percentage points to 32.4 per cent. With the help of oil prices that have hoveredaround $100 a barrel, he has raised lower-class living standards and widened the welfare statewith region-leading social spending. Mr. Correa has been widely condemned for using criminallibel law against opposition news media and for such strong-arm tactics as seizing Ecuadorsairwaves virtually at will to spread his political gospel and attack opponents.

3. Pakistan court takes suo motu notice of Hazara killingsThe Supreme Court took suo motunotice of the killing of Hazara Shias in Quetta and issuedsummons to the Attorney General of Pakistan and Advocate General of Balochistan. The apexcourt decision came in the wake of considerable criticism of the superior courts for turning a

blind eye to sectarian violence. After the January 10 serial blasts in Quetta which left over 80Hazara Shias dead, questions were asked about the Supreme Courts silence on the issue,

particularly given the frequency with which it has used its suo motupowers.

4. Egypt ruling party forces out Editor

Hani Shukrallah, Editor of Egypts largest English-language news website the state-ownedAhram Online, and a fierce critic of the Brotherhood has been forced out from his job,

allegedly by allies of the Muslim Brotherhood. Ahram Online is the web-based English-


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1. The first one will harmonize the FDI/FII categories keeping in mind that not all FIIinvestment is short-term, and FII investments above a particular threshold should bedeemed FDI.

2. The second sub-committee would look to fortify Know Your Client (KYC), and processrelated issues. This has been mooted to do away with the registration need of FIIs with

SEBI, once KYC is strengthened.The panel discussed the feasibility of entrusting the responsibility of KYC to QualifiedDepository Participants (QDPs) after elevating them to a custodial depository participant(CDP).

3. Infosys to list on NYSE EuronextInfosys got listed on NYSE Euronext London and Paris markets, becoming the first Indiancompany to be admitted to trade on the leading global bourse.

PERSONS

1. SEWA founder Ela Bhatt conferred with Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

Self-Employed Womens Association of India (SEWA) founder Ela R Bhatt has beenconferred with the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for the year2011.The Prize has been awarded to Bhatt for her lifetime achievements in comprehensivelyempowering women in India and elsewhere through grassroots entrepreneurship.

2. Ratan Tata Awarded the Life Time Achievement Award 2012 by Ernst & Young

Ratan Tata, the former head of Tata Group was awarded the life time achievement award 2012by Ernst & Young on 21 February 2013. He was given away the award for displaying greatrole for the Indian businessmen on global business level.The entrepreneur of the year (2012) award was given away to Adi Godrej, Godrej GroupChairman. It is important to note that entrepreneur of the year award is an only business awardwhich is based on self-nomination.Also, Ernst & Young announced names of successful entrepreneurs in various categories andthese awards were given away to TT Jagannathan, Chairman, TTK Group; Francisco DSouza,Chief Executive Officer, Cognizant Technology Solutions; Cyrus S Poonawalla, ManagingDirector, Serum Institute of India and Onkar S Kanwar, Chairman and Managing Director,Apollo Tyres.

AWARDS

1. Viswanathan Anand wins Grenke ClassicWorld chess champion Viswanathan Anand scored an emphatic victory over GermanArkadij Naiditschto clinch the Grenke Chess Classictrophy.

2. Ela Bhatt honoured with Indira award

President Pranab Mukherjee presented the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament andDevelopment for 2011 to social activist Ela Ramesh Bhatt, Founder of the Self-EmployedWomens Association (SEWA) at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Bhatt founded Sewa in 1972 with 600women. Under her leadership, it has grown an organization with 13 lakh members, playing a

pioneering role in the empowerment of women.


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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Europa

About Europa:

Moon of Jupiter 6th closest moon of Jupiter Smallest of Jupiters 4 Galilean satellites Discovered in 1610 by Galileo Galilei Slightly smaller than Earths MoonComposition:

Primarily made of silicate rock Likely has an iron core Thin atmosphere composed mainly of oxygen Surface is composed of water ice and is one of the smoothest in the Solar System.Time Line:

1610 Discovered by Galileo Galilei 1979 Studied by the Voyager mission 1989 The Galileo mission was launched which provided the bulk of the present datathat we have on Europa. 2022 JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer), the next mission to Europa by the European Space Agency.

2. NASA discovers Youngest Black Hole in Milky Way:

NASA has claimed to have discovered the youngest black hole, named W49B, in Earthsgalaxy or the Milky Way.The black, located within a supernova remnant, was formed by a rare supernova explosion of amassive star. The agencys Chandra X-ray Observatory captured its images which is located26,000 light-years away.The remnant is estimated to be about 1,000 years old. It is very young as compared to theaverage age of a black hole in the Milky Way which ranges b/w 17,000 and 21,000 years. Theagency is still to confirm the event.The formation of this black is very unusual as most supernova lead to the formation of aneutron star (a small and highly dense body comprised almost entirely of neutrons). Theseneutron stars are identified by their unique X-ray characteristics which were not found inW49B indicating that it has instead formed a black hole.

3. Fragments of meteorite found in Russia

Russian scientists have found fragments of the meteorite which struck the Urals region. The

space rock, estimated to measure 17 metres across, exploded over the Russian city ofChelyabinsk, releasing 20 times more energy than the U.S. nuclear bomb dropped onHiroshima. Its shockwaves injured 1,200 people and damaged thousands of homes. Geologistsfrom the Urals Federal University (UFU) discovered tiny fragments of the meteorite on the iceof Chebarkul Lake near a six-meter hole presumably made by the meteorite.

SPORTS

1. Nadal beats David Nalbandian to grab Brazil Open 2013

Spains tennis star Rafael Nadalvanquished Argentinas David Nalbandianto win the 2013Brazil Open title.


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2. Milos Raonic Won Third Consecutive SAP Open 2013 Singles Titles Beating Tommy

Haas

Milos Raonicon 17 February 2013 won SAP Open 2013 at San Jose defeating Tommy Haas inthe championship match. Milos Raonic completed the tournament with 6-4, 6-3 victory over

Haas.Raonic won third straight SAP Open singles titles. With this victory, he became first player tograb the trophy for three years consecutively, since Tony Trabert in 1953-55.On the other hand, in SAP Open 2013 doubles final, Xavier Malisse and Frank Moser beatLleyton Hewitt and Marinko Matosevic 6-0, 6-7(5), 10-4 to lift the trophy.

About Milos Raonic

Milos Raonic has the 13th world ranking. After this victory, he has four career titles out of which three came from San Jose only.

Before winning the SAP Open 2013 singles titles, he has also won SAP Open 2011 andSAP Open 2012 singles titles.

Milos Raonic is basically a Canadian professional tennis player.3. Australian Cricketer Lisa Sthalekar retires

Lisa Sthalekar, one of the best all-rounders that women cricket has seen, announced herretirement from international cricket, a day after Australia won its sixth World Cup.

She scored 416 Test runs, 2728 ODI runs and 769 T20 runs and has two World Cups (2005 and 2013)

Sthalekar was also the first woman to score 1000 runs and take 100 wickets in ODIs. She has claimed 23 wickets in Tests, 146 in ODIs and 60 in T20s. She is currently ranked No. 1 T20 all-rounder and bowler in the world and Holds the No. 2 ranking for ODI all-rounders and bowlers. She was also a part of the winning teams in the ICC Womens World Twenty20 in 2010 and 2012.

4. Anand ends five-year title drought

Vishwanathan Anand won against Arkadij Naidistch to claim the Grenke Chess Classic for hisfirst all-play-all tournament-title in almost five years in New Delhi, but stays at sixth in theworld rankings.

5. Milos Raonicwins 3rd

consecutive ATP SAP Open title

Top seed Milos Raonic captured his record-tying third consecutive ATP SAP Open title,defeating German fourth seed Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-3 in the final insane Jose. Raonic, ranked

13th, joined Tony Trabert, the 1953-1955 champion, as the only players to win the event threetimes in a row.

6. Blade Runner accused of killing girlfriend

South African paraolymics hero Oscar Pistorius better known as Blade Runner insisted he didnot intend to kill his girlfriend after being accused of shooting her repeatedly through a locked

bathroom door in what prosecutors said was a premeditated Valentines Day murder.

Documents

Weekly Current Affairs Update (18th - 24th Feb), 2013