Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 08 January 2016

:: NATIONAL ::

India identified handlers of Pathankot attack in Pakistan

India has identified the four handlers of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e- Mohammad (JeM), who were in touch with the six terrorists.
India has shared the telephone numbers and the identity of the handlers with Pakistan and has asked it to act on these individuals.
Those identified by the Indian agencies are JeM founder Maulana Masood Azhar, his brother Abdul Rauf Asghar, Ashfaq Ahmed and Kashim Jaan.
While Azhar oversaw the operations, his brother Asghar and two others were in touch with the terrorists.
India has also given the details of two types of Pakistan- made drugs — Neuro Bedoxine and Dicloran — found on the bodies as evidence.
The government also decided to constitute a high-level committee to study the gaps in security along the Pakistan border, especially on the Punjab frontier.
It is through a riverine stretch in the Bamiyal sector of Gurdaspur district that the terrorists involved in the Pathankot attack as well as the July 27 attack on the Dinanagar police station are believed to have sneaked into Indian territory.
Experts of the Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee have been tasked with finding solutions to detect intrusions from a riverine route.
India awaits “prompt and decisive” action from Pakistan against the perpetrators of the Pathankot attack, the government said, for the first time linking the action to Foreign Secretary talks between the two countries scheduled for January 15.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passes away

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away of multiple organ failure, after a prolonged illness, and was buried with state honours in his home town of Bijbehara.
In the evening, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders met Governor N.N. Vohra to assure him about the continuation of the government under the leadership of Mr. Sayeed’s daughter Mehbooba Mufti.
The BJP, the ally of the PDP, said that while no discussion on the succession had taken place, there was “in principle” no objection to Ms. Mehbooba’s name.

Amitabh Kant will become new CEO of NITI Aayog

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed Amitabh Kant as the chief executive oicer of NITI Aayog.
The appointment will take effect after Mr.Kant retires from service in March.
A 1980 batch Kerala cadre IAS officer, Mr.Kant is currently serving as the Secretary in the Department of Industrial policy and Promotion in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Mr.Kant, who was earlier the CEO of India’s largest industrial infrastructure project - the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation – has been the Industry Secretary since March 2014.

Amitabh Bachchan is likely to be new face of Incredible India campaign

Actor Amitabh Bachchan, brand ambassador of Gujarat tourism, is the government’s first choice as the new face of its ‘Incredible India’ campaign after actor Aamir Khan ceased to be its mascot.
Tourism Ministry believes that the veteran actor as a “non-controversial” figure.
Mr. Khan, whose comments on perceived intolerance in the country had invited flak from the BJP, ceased to be the mascot for the campaign.
It was the private agency which hired him. Since the contract with the agency is no more, the arrangement with the actor no longer exists.

:: INTERNATIONAL ::

U.S. and China come close over North Korea

The U.S. said it considered the latest nuclear explosion carried out by North Korea a matter of national security, and declared that it would stand steadfast in its alliance commitment to South Korea.
North Korea has repeatedly threatened the U.S. and has described the latest nu- clear test a response to “U.S. aggression.”
Mr. Kim, unlike his late father, is not particularly sensitive to Chinese concerns. However, though its influence over the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is diminishing, China remains a crucial player which can calm the situation.
The U.S. is also exploring new sanctions and considering strengthening the existing sanctions against.
The U.S. also said it was open to talking to North Korea in the Six Party format.
The talks, started in 2003 but aborted in 2009, involved China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Russia, and the U.S. Washington wants the talks to restart but with a predetermined objective of dismantling the nuclear apparatus of North Korea and also hopes China will take the initiative.
North Korea has been unwilling to accept that. U.S. has ruled out any review of the U.S. position on this.

Srilanka will start consultation for domestic mechanism

The Sri Lankan government will next week begin consultations on the design of domestic mechanism that will look into the allegations of human rights violations.
Foreign minister said a special session of Parliament on Saturday would form a constitutional council, a committee consisting of the entire House, that would begin “the serious business” of consulting people and drafting a new Constitution for Sri Lanka which will reflect the aspirations of all Lankans.
United Nations Development Programme’s Director for Sri Lanka, Joern Soerensen, and Norwegian Ambassador signed an agreement for the benefit of the recently-resettled communities in jaffna in Northern Province.
The Norwegian government would support the UNDP in improving access to justice and providing livelihood opportunities of the communities.
The Sri Lankan Cabinet gave its approval for returning 984 acres of private land in Jaffna to its original owners. This is expected to benefit about 2,000 displaced families.

:: BUSINESS and ECONOMY ::

Bears dominate the market due yuan’ devaluation

Global shares tumbled for a sixth day on Thursday and oil prices slid to levels not seen since the early 2000s, after China guided the yuan lower and Shanghai shares tumbled by 7 per cent, igniting fears of competitive devaluations across Asia.
Less than half an hour after the market opened, Chinese stock trading was suspended for a second time this week.
Brent crude prices skidded over 5 per cent to an almost-12- year-low of $32.16, with worries over weaker demand from China adding to a persistent drag on prices caused by oversupply and near-record output levels.
European stock markets followed Asia lower, with the pan- European FTSEurofirst 300 index down 2.3 per cent and the euro zone’s blue-chip Euro STOXX index falling 2.5 per cent.
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) set the yuan midpoint rate at 6.5646 a dollar, 0.5 per cent weaker than the previous day’s fix.
That was the biggest decline between daily fixings since August and the eighth day in row the PBOC had set a lower guidance rate.
Spot yuan fell to 6.5956 to the dollar, its weakest since February 2011. Offshore yuan rates hit a record low of 6.7600 to the dollar, before erasing its losses after suspected intervention by authorities.
The 30-share benchmark Sensex lost 554.50 points, or 2.18 per cent, to fall below the psychological 25,000 mark. It ended the day at 24,851.83 after hitting a low of 24,825.70 during intra-day trades.
The rupee was also under pressure as foreign funds continue to exit emerging markets and move toward safer assets.
The currency lost 11 paise to close the day at 66.93 a dollar as compared with the previous close of 66.82.

Further slide in the oil prices

Oil fell below $33 a barrel on Thursday for the first time since April 2004 as a fall in Chinese shares rattled investors already concerned by near-record production and massive stockpiles of unwanted crude and refined products.
Oil prices have fallen by around 70 per cent since mid-2014, hurting oil companies and governments that rely on crude revenue.
China let its yuan currency slip, sending regional currencies and stock markets globally tumbling. The offshore yuan fell to its lowest since trading started in 2010.
China’s stock markets were suspended less than half an hour after opening after sharp falls triggered a new circuit-breaking mechanism for a second time since its introduction this week.