DAILY GK UPDATE 13th JUNE

1.    World Bank forecast 6.7% GDP growth for India by FY'15

i. The World Bank on Thursday forecast a 6.7 per cent growth rate for India by next fiscal as exports and private investment are projected to strengthen and provide a boost to growth.  

ii. In its latest 'Global Economic Prospects' report, the IMF said South Asia's regional growth will be driven mainly by a projected pick up in India, whose GDP in factor cost terms is projected to grow 5.7 per cent in the 2013 fiscal year (ending in March 2014), and then accelerate to 6.5 per cent and 6.7 per cent in FY2013-14 and FY2014-15, respectively.

iii. The World Bank said that high-income countries will see a modest growth of 1.2 percent this year, which will firm up to 2 percent in 2014, and 2.3 percent by 2015.

iv. Also, economic contraction in the Euro Area is projected to be 0.6 percent for 2013, compared with the previous projection of 0.1 percent, while modest growth of 0.9 percent is expected in 2014, and 1.5 percent in 2015.

2.    Greece shuts public broadcaster ERT

i. Greece's government announced the immediate closure of public television and radio broadcaster ERT, in a shock move that affects nearly 2,700 jobs.

ii. Government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said "ERT is a case of an exceptional lack of transparency and incredible extravagance.

iii. Shortly after the announcement, thousands rushed to the main ERT headquarters in a northern Athens suburb to show their support.

iv. "At midnight all screens will go black, nobody knows when it will open again. This is a total shock," ERT journalist Pantelis Gonos told media persons.

v. "ERT belongs to the Greek people... It is the only independent, public voice and it has to remain public... We condemn the government's sudden decision," public sector union GSEE said in a statement.

vi. The government said all current employees will be compensated and will be allowed to reapply for a job at a revamped organisation.

3.    Pune to host Asian Athletic Championship meet in July

i. The Maharashtra government on wednesday confirmed that the Asian Athletic Championship will be held in Pune from 3rd to 7th July.

ii. The decision was finalized at the State’s Cabinet meet held in Mumbai.

iii. The State government has said that it would incur an expenditure of 18 crore rupees for this tournament.

iv. Maharashtra has agreed to host the event after Tamil Nadu and later Delhi backed out of hosting it.

4.    French Nuclear Reactors will be First Tested in China

i. Nuclear Reactors of Areva, the French company will start the production at first in China before supplying the production to Jaitapur in Maharashtra. 

ii. The French Ambassador to India Francois Richier announced that Areva will facilitate two reactors to China. These reactors are under construction.

iii. France explained that reactors like those in China will also be built up in Jaitapur.

iv. For this project, Areva and Nuclear Power Corporation of India signed a multi-billion contract, which costs around 9.3 billion US dollar.

v. The joint project will also facilitate joint collaboration for the purpose of nuclear energy. 

NOTE: i. The Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in Maharashtra includes 6X1,650 MW light water reactors which will be constructed in cooperation with France for the purpose of generation of 9900 MW of power.

ii. After being built, this will be one among the largest nuclear power generating stations of the world. 

5.       Musharraf arrested; remanded to judicial custody for fortnight

i. Former President Pervez Musharraf was formally arrested on Thursday and remanded to judicial custody for a fortnight over the 2006 killing of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Bugti.

ii. Mr. Musharraf, 69, was arrested by a team from the Crime Branch of Balochistan Police.

iii. The team was sent from Quetta to Islamabad on Wednesday after an anti-terrorism court in Balochistan rejected Mr. Musharraf’s bail application and ordered his arrest.

NOTE: i. Mr. Bugti was killed in August 2006 during a military operation ordered by Mr. Musharraf, who was President and army chief at the time.

ii. Mr. Bugti headed an armed insurgency to press for provincial autonomy and a greater share of profits from Balochistan’s natural resources.

iii. Mr. Musharraf returned to Pakistan in March after years in self-exile to lead his All Pakistan Muslim League party in last month’s general election.

6.    Ashok Shah and Vijay Chaudhary won the Award at the World Street Food Congress

i. Indian street food vendors Ashok Sah and Vijay Chaudhary won the critics award at the World Street Food Congress in Singapore.

ii. The Congress was held from 31 May 2013 to 9 June 2013. They had gone there as a part of a team of Indian street food vendors.

iii. Alongside the World Street Food Congress, a World Street Food Dialogue was also held. It discussed the responses of the national and provincial governments in India towards promoting street food vending as well as social-economic dynamics of street food vending.

7.       Eng off to a slow start against SLanka

i. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl against England in the ICC Champions Trophy Group A clash at the Oval on Thursday.

ii. While England thrashed defending champions Australia by 48 runs, Sri Lanka lost by a wicket against New Zealand in a low-scoring thriller.

iii. Sri Lanka made one change in their playing eleven from the last game, bringing in Nuwan Kulasekara for Parera.

iii.England too have made only one change, replacing James Tredwell for off-spinner Graeme Swann.

England 38/0 in 10 over’s.

8.    Australia in trouble after rain washes out CT tie against NZ

i. Australia's semi-final prospects in the ICC Champions was severely dented after their crucial Group A match against Trans-Tasman rivals, New Zealand was washed out, in Birmingham on Wednesday.

ii. Both New Zealand and Australia have garnered a point each from Wednesday's washed out encounter.

iii. New Zealand, who defeated Sri Lanka by one wicket in their tournament opener, are at the top of Group A with three points from two games, followed by England (2 points 1 match), Australia (1 point from 2 matches) and Sri Lanka who are yet to open their tally.

iv. New Zealand will now face England in their last group match, while Australia face a must-win situation against Sri Lanka in their final encounter.