Current Affairs For SSC CGL Exam

16 January, 2014

New Constitution in Egypt

• Egyptian officials announced early results indicate voters have overwhelmingly supported the country's proposed new constitution in a referendum held on the January 14 and 15.
• Officials and state media said preliminary returns showed more than 90 percent of people who took part in the two-day vote said yes to the constitution, which is supported by the military-backed government.
• Observers have said there was little doubt the new charter would be approved. Official results are expected by the end of the week.
• Election monitors report voting was mostly trouble-free, although violence between backers and opponents of ousted President Mohamed Morsi killed at least nine.
• Official results are expected by the end of the week, but observers say there is no doubt the new constitution will be approved.
• The pro-Morsi Muslim Brotherhood urged Egyptians to boycott the referendum, calling it illegitimate.
• The new constitution would replace the pro-Islamic charter adopted in 2012 under Morsi. It strips away Islamist language and would give women greater rights and strengthen the power of the military.

'Narendra Modi for PM'

• In a run-up to the upcoming national polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has launched a website to collect funds online for its campaign.

• The website that was launched in New Delhi, and has been named as ‘Modi for PM fund’.

• According to BJP president Rajnath Singh BJP has determined a limit for the donations. One can donate starting from just 1 rupee (0.02USD) to 1000 rupees (16.25 USD) and the upper limit is of 1 lakh rupees (1625.47 USD). One can donate funds using our website.

• This initiative of the party was similar to a fund-raising campaign of Common Man party that made government in Delhi state, sidelining country’s two major parties. BJP, however, denied being influenced by the Common Man party module.

Rajya Sabha seats of RPI and SSS

• BJP and Shiv Sena have jointly decided to give one seat from their Rajya Sabha quota to the Republican Party of India (RPI), their new ally in Maharashtra. The two partners have also decided to offer two Lok Sabha seats - Hatkanangale in Kolhapur and NCP chief Sharad Pawar's constituency Madha in Solapur district - to Raju Shetty's Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS), which has recently joined the alliance ahead of the upcoming general election .

• BJP head Rajnath Singh and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray finalised these decisions , in a meeting held at Singh's home in Delhi for about half hour without informing most leaders of their respective parties as well as the media. They decided that RPI chief, Ramdas Athawale, a former MP would be sent to the RS and in return his party would campaign for the alliance in Maharashtra.

• With the RPI and SS coming on board, the leaders were hard-pressed to accommodate the new partners in the seat-sharing process. In 2009, Sena had contested 26 seats while the BJP fought on 22.

Hockey World League

• At the start of the Hero Hockey World League, India’s hockey skipper Sardar Singh had promised his side wouldn’t just make up the numbers but would surprise their opponents. Its unlikely anyone took him very seriously at the start of the tournament. After the first couple of defeats, one would be even less inclined to think so.

• The draw against Germany was perhaps the first time, there appeared to be some validity to the skipper’s predictions. But, ten minutes into their game against defending world champions Australia and with a two goal to nothing lead, it is likely even Sardar would have been surprised.

• The match eventually finished 7-2 to the Australians, but at least for the first quarter of the game, India looked like pulling off the biggest upset of the tournament. The match had got off to a fast start. India had put together their first good opportunity in the opening minute of the game courtesy a move by K Uthappa and Mandeep Singh. But while the chance came to nothing, the lead eventually came in the sixth minute.

• Dharamvir Singh found space on the right, crossed to Birendra Lakra who shot on target from a tight angle. The goalbound attempt caught an Australian stick on the way to the net, but the umpires arms were pointing to the centerline all the same. Australia had a chance to pull things back when they earned a PC in the 9th minute, but PR Sreejesh cleared the high drag attempt. Australia would have known that India would come hard at them, but they still seemed unprepared for it. They made some surprisingly basic errors including in the 10th minute when they left Yuvraj Walmiki unmarked on the left flank.

Malaysia Open

• Saina Nehwal and P V Sindhu got off to winning starts in their season, notching up straight-game victories in their respective opening round women’s singles matches in the USD 500,000 Malaysia Super Series Premier .

• While eighth seeded Saina took just 36 minutes to get the better of Indonesia’s Hera Desi 21—10, 21—16 in their first ever meeting, Sindhu fought hard before prevailing 21—17, 21—18 over her old foe Lindaweni Fanetri of Indonesia in a 43-minute contest.

• Saina next faces Yao Xue of China, while world number 11 Sindhu takes on sixth seed Yeon Ju Bae of Korea in the second round at the Putra Stadium here.

• In the men’s singles, however, Anand Pawar and R M V Gurusaidutt crashed out of the event after suffering contrasting defeats in their first round matches.

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