Current Affairs Updates of 8th December 2013

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International Affairs

• Saarc Charter Day was observed to mark the 18th anniversary of the signing of an agreement that led to establishment of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc)
• US President Obama, first Lady Michelle Obama will attend national memorial service in honour of Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
• Ukraine's supporters of Western integration hope to draw a million people to a protest today against the authorities' decision to spurn a historic EU agreement and seek closer ties with old master Russia.
• President Barack Obama has defended the nuclear deal with Iran, saying it was the best option to protect US and Israeli national security and the agreement does not grants Tehran a right to enrich uranium.  
• Three Chinese ships entered disputed waters off Tokyo-controlled islands in the East China Sea on Sunday, the Japanese coastguard said, the first such incident since Beijing announced an air defence zone in the area last month.  
• Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has dissolved parliament and called an election after sustained protests in the capital, Bangkok.
• South Korea has declared an expanded air identification zone overlapping one recently announced by China that has sharply increased regional tensions.
• Colombia's FARC rebels declared a 30-day unilateral ceasefire Sunday and urged the government to do the same, in a surprise move after a deadly bombing blamed on the guerrillas.
• The world's chemical watchdog said Sunday that the transportation of Syria's chemical arsenal out of the country could be delayed by a few days due to technical difficulties.

National Affairs

• Arvind Kejriwal defeats three-time Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in New Delhi constituency.
• Sheila Dikshit resigns as Delhi Chief Minister.
• Vasundhara Raje, who failed five years ago on account of infighting in BJP, reinvented herself and galvanised the cadre to spearhead her party's spectacular comeback to power in Rajasthan.
• The Day for Persons with Disability (National Day for the Mentally Retarded) was observed.
• All India handicrafts week started (this is celebrated every year all over the India by the people from 8th of December to the 14th of December).
• To further ring-fence its jurisdiction from any attempts of round-tripping and money laundering activities, Mauritius has agreed to include a ‘limitation of benefits (LOB)’ clause in its revised tax treaty with India.
• The Haryana Government has decided to provide free travel facility in Haryana Roadways buses to girl students in schools, colleges and institutions.

Business and Economy

• Capital market regulator Sebi has ordered 33 entities to appear before it with regard to probes into various irregularities, after they were found untraceable and show-cause notices issued to them returned undelivered.

Deaths

• Popular Telugu comedian Dharmavarapu Subramanyam, 53, passed away on Saturday night. He was suffering from bone cancer since some months.

Sports

• South Africa clinched the three-match ODI series against India by taking an unassailable 2-0 lead after registering a 134-run win in the second one-dayer in Durban on Sunday.

Read more Daily Current Affairs updates from here 

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