Daily Current Affairs Facts

• Christie's India's first ever auction sees untitled work of Vasudeo S Gaitonde being sold for 23.7 crore, highest ever (in rupees value) for an Indian artist (Saurhastra by S H Raza fetched $ 3.5 m at Christie's in London in 2010).
  2nd highest-: "Mahishasura" (by Tyeb Mehta ; 19.7 cr.) ; Bhupen Khakhar and Ganesh Pyne were some other artists whose works were sold at high prices
• Unrest in South Sudan ; two indian UN Peacekeepers killed (part on UN Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS)
  The world's newest country ( peacefully separation from Sudan in 2011 following decades of civil war) is reeling from onslaught of rebel forces which has taken control of Bor (capital of Jonglei state)
  Rebels belong to minority Nuer tribe (allegedly led by ex-vice President Riek Machar) who are locked in ethnic rivalry with majority Dinka tribe (of President Salva Kiir)
  Recent killings started following failure of an alleged coup by Riek Machar group. He was fired by the President in July, since then he is leading the power struggle
  
  
• Government of India to issue Inflation Indexed National Savings Securities-Cumulative (IINSS-C) for retail investors in December 2013.
  Inflation Indexed :- Interest rate to be paid will be linked to final combined Consumer Price Index [CPI (Base: 2010=100)].
  Interest rate will have two parts -: 1) fixed rate (1.5% per annum) and 2) inflation rate (based on CPI) . Final rate paid will be compounded in the principal on half-yearly basis.
  Aim of such instruments is to protect investors from ever increasing inflation which discourages them to go for such long maturing bonds/securities (asany profit realised would be nullified in terms of value due to inflation).
• European Space Agency launches GAIA Satellite- one of its most ambitious project. It will map the precise positions and distances to more than a billion stars giving some idea about formation of our galaxy- Milky Way.
  Launched onboard Soyuz Spacecraft from Sinnamary complex, French Guiana.
• Aam Aadmi Party recognised as State Party in Delhi by Election Commission. - read more
• Ban on mining in Western Ghats as per the report of Kasturirangan panel not to be implemented as of now as Environment ministry withdrawsits earlier notification granting in-principal approval to it.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin decrees to pardon jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. A critic of his regime, he was jailed in 2003on embezzlement, fraud and tax evasion charges.
  Former Head of oil giant Yukos, he was once the richest Russian but a critic of Putin regime and worked with his opposition
• Following protests and outcry, government files review petition in Supreme Court for re-examination of its ruling on constitutional validity of IPC Section 377 regarding Gay Sex.
  Review petition on the ground of violation of  fundamental rights (Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution).
  Government has also requested an "open court" argument as generally review petitions are decided in chamber hearing.
  Earlier in its ruling a division bench (2 Judge) had validated Section 377 which holds Gay sex an offence punishable with life imprisonment.
• • Kapil Dev, former India cricket captain, awarded Col. C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award 2013 by BCCI.
    award : a trophy, a citation, and cash prize of Rs. 25 lakh.
  • Parliament finaly passes Lokpal bill- to to create a autonomous Ombudsman which will look into allegation of corruptions on public officials including Prime minister.
    States will have Lokayauktas as similar bodies.
  • Chinese Vessel ‘MV Seaman Guard Ohio’ (under Flag of Sierra Leone) was interdicted by Indian Coast Guard in Oct,2013 for suspected involvement in illegal transactions of arms and ammunition : Defence Ministry
    It was escorted to Tuticorin port for investigation and later crew were arrested under Arms act and others.
  • Sahitya Akademi Awards for 2013 announced for 22 Indian Languages (in 8th Schedule to Constitution)
    - its a literary honour conferred to writers/poets for their outstanding works in the field of literature
    -President Sahitya Akademi :Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari
  • The U.S. Federal Reserve to slowly, beginning January, taper its purchase of government bonds by 10b$ (current- 85b$ per month) ; ripples may be felt in Indian economy.
    This monetary policy ("quantitative easing") was followed since 2008 US economic slowdown, where by Central Bank bought government backed bonds so as to infuse more and more liquidity/money into market
    Comparatively better Unemployment rate and comfortable level of inflation rate prompted this move
  • India's largest Morgue inaugurated at Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Faculty and Mortuary Block of Goa Medical College (GMC) in Bambolim.
    a live forensic autopsy auditorium and a calamity site with a capacity to accommodate 150 bodies also equips it with India's first mass disaster medical infrastructure
    Together with a full-fledged forensic academic institute, it will also be the first centre in India which has incorporated Justice Verma Committee recommendations by having a specially designed 'sexual assault crisis centre'.
  • Cabinet approves "India Inclusive Innovation Fund' an initiative of Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises.
    Fund : Initial Proposal 500 crore(min.) and 5,000 cr (Max.) ; initial Central Goverrnment contribution- 100cr.
    aims promoting grass-root innovations by backing enterprises developing innovative solutions meant primarily for poor and marginalised Indians excluded from physical and institutional access to basic services.
    i.e it will be a type of social investment which will not only provide social returns but also modest economic returns (i.e. its a "for-profit" entity)
  • Angela Merkel finally elected as new German chancellor (for third term ) after her party Christian Democrats Union (CDU) struck 'grand coalition' deal with centre-left rival party Social Democrats (SPD).
    Her party had secured highest number of seats but didnot get an outright majority in September elections ( http://goo.gl/BbhF4g ) to Bundestag, Germany Parliaments's lower house
    She will be Germany's only third post-war chancellor to win a third four-year term [1st- Helmut Kohl (1982-1998) and 2nd-Konrad Adenauer (1949-1963)]
    President : Joachim Gauck
  • Ukraine signs $15bn deal with Russia - to buy Ukrainian bonds of this value in addition to reducing the price of its gas supplies to Ukraine by 1/3rd.
    Seen as a lifeline to save economic crisis in Ukraine ; also it will take it more closer to Russia than EU
    Ukraine has seen massive protests recently as its pro-Russian President refused to sign economic deal with EU.
  • • The Union Cabinet clears community-neutral 'Communal Violence Prevention Bill 2013'. The bill reduces the role of the legislatures while increasing that of public servants in the handling of riots. 
    • The maiden Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) in Indian water is to take place in the Bay of Bengal - off the Indian coast - from December 19-22, 2013. 
    • US commodities market regulator CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) appoints Sayee Srinivasan as acting Chief Economist.
    • West Indian spinner Shane Shillingford has been suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for illegal bowling action. He is suspended until he remedies his bowling action that now exceeds the arm-bending limit of 15 degrees.
    • MK Goel selected by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) to be the new Chairman and Managing Director of Power Finance CorporationLtd (PFC). The final decision is subject to clearance by Power Ministry and the Central Vigilance Commission.  
    • Petroleum Ministry conferred on 'National E-governance Awards 2012-13' by CSI for implementing project Lakshya to improve LPG distribution. 
    • Government approves "in principle" the setting up of the Greenfield airports across the country. These low-cost small airports will provide better air connectivity to the tier-II and tier-III cities.
    • Senior BJP leader L K Advani releases collection of three books (compilations of his blog posts): My Take, Rashtra Sarvopari, and Drishtikon.
    • 18th December observed as Minorities Rights Day by National Commission for Minorities, India.
      To mark the day in 1992 when United Nations promulgated the “Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities”
      It proclaims : “States shall protect the existence of the National or Ethnic, Cultural, Religious and Linguistic identity of minorities within their respective territories and encourage conditions for the promotion of that identity.”
    • 18th December is also observed as "International Migrants Day" to mark the occasion when UN General Assembly adopted the "International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families".
      To disseminate information on human rights and fundamental freedoms of migrants and take steps to ensure their protection.
    • • Michelle Bachelet wins presidential election in Chile; to succeed the incumbent President Sebastian Pinera in March 2014.  
      • Vijay Diwas observed on December 16 across India. The day is celebrated annually to commemorate the victory of Indian Armed Forces over Pakistan in 1971 that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
      • Harsh Kumar Bhanwala appointed as the 'Chairman' of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard). He succeedsPrakash Bakshi as such.
      • Irrfan Khan honoured with the 'Best Actor' award for his exceptional performance in the film 'The Lunchbox' at the 10th edition of DubaiInternational Film Festival (DIFF). Another Indian Sandeep Ray bags the 'Best Director' award for his Bengali film Shirno Bahu (Thin Arms).
      • Ethiopian Atsedu Tsegay (men) and Kenya's Gladys Cherono (women) win Delhi Half Marathon 2013. The race covered a distance of 21 kmsbetween JN Stadium and Central Secretariat.
      • Mahesh Mangaonkar becomes the first Indian squash player to win the 6th IMET Open, PSA World Tour Challenger 5 event, held in Bratislava(Slovakia).  
      • Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung recommends imposition of President's rule in Delhi as no party or coalition is ready and capable to form government. Though parties are free to come forward any time to form government having proved majority.