26 December 2012 Current Affairs
China launches world’s longest high-speed rail
China launched service on the world’s longest high-speed railway on 26 December 2012 with trains scheduled to run 2,298 kilometres between Beijing and Guangzhou in about eight hours.Travelling at an average speed of about 300 km per hour, the service would cut the journey time from more than 20 hours by conventional trains.
Shinzo Abe Elected Japan’s New Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe, the conservative leader of Japan was elected as the prime minister of the country by lower house of the Parliament called the House of Representatives, on 26 December 2012. Shinzo Abe took oath to rebuild Japanese economy as well as mend the coalition with US.The lawmakers in Japan voted in favour of Abe by 328 votes. Opponent Banri Kaieda, the newly chosen leader of DPJ received merely 57 votes.
Narendra Modi sworn in Gujarat CM for 4th time
Narendra Modi, who led the BJP to an emphatic victory in the assembly elections, was sworn in as Gujarat chief minister for the fourth consecutive time on 26 December 2012.He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by governor Kamla Beniwal at an impressive ceremony at Sardar Patel Stadium.Modi was sworn in along with seven ministers of Cabinet rank and nine ministers of state.
Mohamed Morsi signs Egypt’s new constitution into law
Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi signed into law a new constitution shaped by his Islamist allies, a bitterly contested document which would help end political turmoil and allow him to focus on fixing the economy.
Justice Usha Mehra to probe Delhi gang-rape case
The government was formed a committee of enquiry under justice Usha Mehra to reconstruct the events leading to the 16 December Delhi gang-rape, identify lapses by police and other agencies and fix responsibility for the crime..The decision was taken 26 December 2012 at a meeting of the cabinet committee on political affairs, finance minister P. Chidambaram
12th plan GDP growth target lowered to 8%
The government has decided to slash its annual economic growth target for the next five years to eight per cent from 8.2 per cent earlier.
AP IT Industry touches INR 50,000 crore
IT Industry in Andhra Pradesh (AP) has achieved a turnover of INR 53,246 crore. The turnover comprises 76% from exports (INR 40,646 crore) and 24% (INR 12,600 crore) from the domestic market. The growth rate of the industry in AP – 16% – is at par with the national average. Another important milestone for the IT industry in AP has been crossed in 2012. Direct employment crossed 300,000 for the first time; the industry today provides employment to 13.3 lakh people, of which direct and indirect employment is 3,18,624 and 10,12,769 respectively.
Shinzo Abe sworn in as Japan’s Prime Minister
On 26 December Shinzo Abe, the conservative leader of Japan sworn in as Japan’s new Prime Minister .This is his second term as Prime Minister six years after he ruled as Prime Minister for a short stint of one year.Abe was also prime minister in 2006-07 .
Pakistan Recognised the Republic of Kosovo
On 26 December Pakistan Government officially recognised Kosovo as an independent state, almost five years after it declared independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008. Pakistan is the 98th country among the 193 U.N-member states to recognise Kosovo .Kosovo is a small south east European state lies between Albania, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro.