6/5/2014 Current Affairs July 2013 Study Material | FreeJobAlert.com Get Free job alerts on your mobile through SMS Click Here FreeJobAlert.com Current Affairs Current Affairs 2013-2014 – Quiz, Bit Bank, Online tests Home CA Home Current Affairs by Day Current Affairs by Month Bit Bank Previous Questions Online Tests All India Govt Jobs State Govt Jobs Bank Jobs Teaching Jobs IT Jobs IT Walkins Engineering Jobs Railway Jobs Police/Defence Jobs Notifications Latest Notifications Upcoming Notifications Latest Announcements Exam Results Interview Results Interview Schedule Exam Date Reminder Written Marks Admit Card / Call Letter To Be Announced Later Exam Results Interview Results Interview Schedule Exam Date Others Cutoff Marks & Answer Key Eligibility Syllabus Exam Pattern & Selection Process Previous Papers Interview Questions July 2013 Current Affairs Study Material INTERNATIONAL Croatia Joins The EU as 28th Member State On 1 July Croatia became the 28th member of the European Union.It is the first addition since Bulgaria and Romania joined EU in http://currentaffairs.freejobalert.com/july-2013-current-affairs-study-material/5234/ 1/23 6/5/2014 Current Affairs July 2013 Study Material | FreeJobAlert.com 2007.Croatia formally applied for EU membership in 2003. International Assistance Force In Mali Transformed into UN Force On 1 July A new United Nations peacekeeping mission for insurgent-affected Mali was launched on 1 July .The previous African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) has been transformed to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).The transfer of authority from the forces of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) took place during a ceremony in Bamako, capital of the West African country. Pakistan – China Signed 8 Agreements On 5 July Pakistan and China signed eight documents of cooperation in various areas of economy , for furthering already strong economic and technical ties between two friendly countries.The first pact signed pertained to the building of a long term project (Pak- China Economic Corridor) a 200KM tunnel which will be built at a cost of $18 billion.These agreements and MoU were signed in the presence of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Keqaing.Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal signed the pact from the Pakistani side while Chairman National Development and Reforms Commission of PRC, Xu Shao Shi inked the pact from the Chinese side. Hazem El-Beblawi Named As New Egyptian Prime Minister On 9 July Hazem el Beblawi a liberal economist and Egypt s former finance minister was named as the new Prime Minister of Egypt by the Interim President Adly Mansour.El-Beblawi is a founding member of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, Al Ahram.He has also served as the undersecretary-general at the United Nations between 1995 and 2000. Taiwan and New Zealand Signed Free Trade Agreement On 10 July New Zealand signed a free trade agreement with Taiwan.Two-way trade is worth 1.6 billion New Zealand dollars (US$1.2 billion) annually, with New Zealand exporting mainly agricultural products like milk and Taiwan shipping largely electronics.Taiwan is New Zealand’s 12th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade totalling about $120.7 million. France and Switzerland Signed New Inheritance Tax Agreement On 11 July France and Switzerland have signed an agreement on inheritance tax as part of an amended double taxation agreement. Paris hopes will help it bring in more money.Under the agreement inheritances would be taxed based on where the recipient resides, not where the deceased lived, as used to be the case. Bhutan’s Opposition Party Wins Parliamentary Elections On 14 July Bhutan’s Election Commission formally announced that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won the National Assembly elections by having secured a majority of thirty two seats.The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) won fifteen seats and was elected as the opposition party.PDP leader Tshering Tobgay is likely to be named prime minister of the new government. Bangladesh Passes Labour (Amendment) Bill 2013 On 15 July the Bangladesh Parliament passed ‘Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Bill 2013′ aimed to protect the interest and rights of the workers and ensuring their safety.The new law has seen amendments to a total of 87 sections of the Labor Act 2006. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II Signed Bill Legalizing Gay Marriage On 17 July Britain has legalized gay marriage after Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal stamp of approval.The queen’s approval was a formality.Britain became the 15th country to legalize gay marriage after a bill cleared Parliament and Queen Elizabeth II signed off on the law. Iran and Iraq Signed Gas Export Agreement On 21 July Iran has signed an agreement to export gas to Iraq, worth 3.7 billion dollars a year.The agreement was signed in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad by Iran’s Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi and his Iraqi counterpart, Abdul Kareem Luaibi. EU Declared Hezbollah’s Military Wing As Terrorist Organization On 22 July The European Union (EU) declared the military wing of Hezbollah a terrorist organization.The EU’s 28 foreign ministers reached the decision unanimously at their meeting.The Iranian-backed group plays a major role in Lebanese politics and has dominated the government since 2011.The blacklisting would mean imposing visa bans on individuals and asset freezes on organizations associated with the group. Thirty Meter Telescope Partners Signed Agreement On 26 July The partners building the world’s largest and most advanced optical telescope at Mauna Kea’s summit have signed an agreement laying the foundation for the telescope’s operation.Mauna Kea is a volcano on the island of Hawaii.The Thirty Meter Telescope project representatives from partnering institutions in the U.S., Canada, China, India and Japan signed the document.The agreement defines project goals, member party rights, obligations and benefits. It also establishes a governance structure.The telescope is a partnership of the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy, the California Institute of Technology, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, institutions in India, a consortium of Chinese institutions and the University of California. http://currentaffairs.freejobalert.com/july-2013-current-affairs-study-material/5234/ 2/23 6/5/2014 Current Affairs July 2013 Study Material | FreeJobAlert.com Liberals, Smaller Tribes Win Seats In Kuwait’s Parliamentary Elections On 27 July Liberals and candidates from some of Kuwait’s more marginalised tribes have won seats in a parliament .The ballot was the sixth since 2006 in the major oil producer, where political upheaval and bureaucracy have held up the vast majority of projects in a 30- billion-dinar (68 billion pounds) economic development plan announced in 2010.Kuwait has the most open political system in the Gulf Arab region but parliaments have been repeatedly dissolved over procedural disputes or for challenging the government in which members of the ruling Al-Sabah family hold top posts.Shiites – estimated at 20-30 percent of the population – won just eight seats in the 50-member parliament compared to 17 in the last election in December, after Sunnis in their districts ramped up a campaign to win seats. Myanmar – China Gas Pipeline Starts To Deliver Gas To China On 28 July Myanmar-China natural gas pipeline (Myanmar section) was inaugurated in northern Myanmar’s Mandalay and started to deliver gas to China.The gas pipeline stretches for 793 kilometers onshore within Myanmar’s territory with six processing stations, while the crude oil pipeline, which is nearing completion, starts from Made Island and extends onshore for 771 kilometers. Republican Turkish Party Wins Turkish Cypriot Parliamentary Elections On 29 July the centre-left Republican Turkish Party (CTP) emerged as the winner on in the Turkish Cypriot parliamentary elections, but came short of winning an outright majority.The CTP won 38.49 per cent of the vote and 21 seats in the 50-seat Parliament of the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, results showed.The nationalist National Unity Party (UBP) won 27.16 per cent and 14 seats and the centre-right Democratic Party (DP) took 23.1 per cent of the vote and 12 seats.The centre-left Communal Democracy Party (TDP) won 7.41 per cent of the vote and three seats.The CTP will now need to form a coalition government.The election was called a year early after the Government of Prime Minister Irsen Kucuk, in power since 2009.Cyprus has been divided into a Turkish northern part and a Greek south since a Turkish invasion in July 1974. Mamnoon Hussain Elected As Pakistan’s New President On 30 July Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) nominee Mamnoon Hussain was elected as the 12th President of Pakistan.Hussain emerged as a clear winner in the contest with ex-judge Wajihuddin Ahmed of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party , headed by cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan.Mamnoon Hussain has secured 432 votes whereas justice Wajihuddin (Ahmed) secures 77 votes.The presidential office of Pakistan will be vacated on 8 September 2013 by the incumbent Asif Ali Zardari, as his term of 5 years ended.Mamnoon Hussain will be administered the oath of the office on 9 September 2013. Mamnoon Hussain was born on 2 March 1940 in Agra, India.He is the textile businessman as well as politician of Pakistan.He migrated to Pakistan from India in 1954. Ireland President Signed The Abortion Bill In To Law On 31 July Ireland President Michael D. Higgins has signed the abortion bill into law. The bill, overwhelmingly passed by both houses of the Irish parliament on 12 July 2013, permits abortions only in cases where doctors deem the woman’s life at risk from continued pregnancy.