(Current Affairs For SSC Exams) International | March, 2014

March 2014

Japan’s population dipped to record low in 2013

The Health Ministry of Japan on 1 January 2014 estimated that a quarter of the population is currently aged over 65 and the figure is expected to reach nearly 40 percent by 2060. It has estimated that the population of the country in 2013 declined by a record 244000 people. It also says that if in case the same trend persists in future, the population of Japan will lose a third of its population in next 50 years. The estimate also highlights concern over the dwindling workforce of the country. As per the estimate, 103100 babies took birth in Japan in 2013, which fell by 6000 from the births of 2012. Apart from this, the deaths of the country increased by 19000 from 2012 to 1275000 people in 2013. These deaths were the highest annual deaths since World War II. To spur growth of the population, Japan had aggressively taken measures in recent months. At present, Japan’s economy is the third biggest economies of the world after years of stagnation. Prime Minister of Japan, Shino Abe is trying to boost its economy by a combination of its quantitative easing and cash ejections, which includes higher taxes, higher government spending and longer-term structural reforms.

IRENA and ADFD planned to bring Power to Rural Communities

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) on 19 January 2014 announced approximately 41 million dollar in concessional loans for renewable energy projects in developing countries. The total combined capacity of the financed project is 35 MW and would bring reliable and sustainable power to rural communities that lack an access to modern energy services. The loan as per the plan will be dispensed to a geographically diverse countries namely Republic of Ecuador, Maldives, Sierra Leone, Mauritania, Mali and Samoa. The two institutions IRENA and ADFD have selected the projects to isolated off-grid populations in some cases it will be for the first time.

Analysis: This local economic development will stimulate in raising the living standards, as financing is one of the key issues renewable energy is facing particularly in the developing world. This is the reason because of which, the two institutions IRENA and ADFD teamed up to derisk investment in promising renewable projects. The UAE government has committed a total of 350 million dollar in concessional loans through ADFD to support the deployment and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy in developing countries. The current financing cycle is the first of seven. IRENA is assessing the socioeconomic impact and technical merit
of the projects, and ADFD is making its selection based on the Agency’s recommendation. Projects selected need to be transformative, innovative and replicable.

Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD

Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) was established back on 15 July 1971, as an independent subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Government, responsible for managing foreign aid. Over the years, it has established its position among the top development aid organizations worldwide. Since its establishment, ADFD has played an important role in advancing economic development in beneficiary countries by providing concessionary loans that enable these countries to surmount challenges, address economic problems, and improve the living standards of their people. The Fund has managed a quantum leap in its financial performance through investments and direct long-term contributions in active companies in strategic sectors of the developing countries, along with investing in a variety of financial instruments. To date, the total grants, loans provided and managed by ADFD and UAE government reached to arround AED 60 billion for financing 363 development operations in 63 countries around the world.

Lanka urged Maldives to allow its fishermen in territorial sea waters

Abdulla Yameen, the President of Maldives during his visit to Sri Lanka Colombo has been asked by Sri Lanka to allow its fisherman the facility of innocent passage through its territorial waters to the Arabian Sea. A discussion on the matter was done during a bilateral meeting between the delegations in Colombo on 22 January 2014. This is the first visit of Yameen to Sri Lanka since he assumed the office of the President. He is on a three day official visit to Colombo. Similar such request has been made by Sri Lanka to India following the cross of local fishermen of the country have to cross the international boundary for tuna fishing. Apart from this bilateral meet,Abdullah Yameen also met Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka and both sides also agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, banking and finance, agriculture, fisheries, defence and maritime sectors and education.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which is also called as the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty. It is an international agreement that came into existence of the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III), which took place between 1973 and 1982. The Law of the Sea Convention has defined the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of the world’s oceans. It also provides the rights to establish guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources to the countries. The Convention, concluded in 1982 and it replaced four 1958 treaties. UNCLOS came into force in 1994 a year after Guyana became the 60th nation to sign the treaty. At present 165 countries of the world as well as the European Union has joined the Convention. This is a data as per the membership of August 2013.

Latvia became the 18th member of Euro Zone

Latvia on 2 January 2014 became the 18th member of the Euro zone. The small ex-Soviet state has been preparing for the switch, since European Union finance ministers formally announced in July 2013 that Latvia could adopt the Euro. Both Standard & Poor’s and Fitch have raised the country’s credit ratings in anticipation of its euro entry. The economy of Latvia shrank by a quarter during 2008-2010, but then grew at the fastest pace in the EU, expanding by 5.6 percent in 2012, after the government slashed spending and wages and hiked taxes in one of the harshest austerity programs in Europe. Latvia has recently emerged from the financial crisis to become the EU’s fastest growing economy. Latvia gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and joined the European Union and NATO in 2004. It has a population of two million — nearly 30 percent of Russian origin — and annual gross domestic product of 28 billion dollar. Latvia became the fourth smallest member of the currency area, ahead of Cyprus, Estonia and Malta. Estonia joined the euro zone in 2011 and Lithuania aims to do so in 2015.

Emergency rule imposed in Bangkok

Bangkok. The Red Shirts riots occurred in Bangkok from March to May 2010 against the government led by the Democrat party that demanded the then prime minister Abhisit Vejjaajiva to dissolve the parliament and hold elections at the earliest. During the Red Shirt protest the protesters also fought the military forces. The riots came to an end after the surrender of the leaders of Red Shirt opposition after six day long violent clashes. Result of the antigovernment protest: The political unrest of the country has led the Thai government to issue an advisory for the tourists asking them to be vigilant and try to avoid the sites of protest. Following the recent unrest in Thailand the Indian tourists had cancelled their plans of trips to the country

Pakistan has planned 7 Nuclear Plants for 8900 MW of electricity by 2030

Pakistan on 2 January 2014 announced its plan to set up seven functional nuclear plants of 1100 MW each by 2030. The government is set to install 325 MW Chashma-4 (C-4) plant. Pakistan took this decision to combat the problem of shortage of power supply in the country. Nuclear power was set to become a major player in the country’s power sector. As per the Pakistan government, by 2030 the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) will be operating four nuclear power plants of 325 to 340 MW and seven nuclear power plants with the capacity of 1100 MW each, in addition to four units of 300 MW, producing a total of 8,900 MW of electricity. The power generated through C-3 and C-4 (650 MW) will be linked to national grid by 2016. Pakistan would install more nuclear power plants to generate 42000 MW of electricity under its Vision 2050. China has committed 6.5 billion dollar finance for the construction of a major nuclear power project in the port city of Karachi. China National Nuclear Cooperation (CNNC) has promised to grant a loan of at least 6.5 billion dollar to finance the project, which will have two reactors with a capacity of 1,100 megawatts each. Blackouts lasting more than half a day in some areas have infuriated many Pakistanis and sparked violent protests, undermining an economy already beset by high unemployment, widespread poverty, crime and sectarian and insurgent violence. Pakistan had carried out its first nuclear tests in 1998, soon after India conducted tests. Both refuse to join the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, which would oblige them to scrap atomic weapons. China has already helped supply two nuclear reactors at the Chashma nuclear power complex in Punjab, while another two are also under construction with Chinese assistance

Tunisia’s new government sworn in

New technocratic government of Tunisia that is headed by the Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa was sworn in on 29 January 2014. This ceremony has replaced the Islamist-led administration under an accord to end the political turmoil of the country. This government will also prepare for fresh elections. The former transfer of the power was approved by 149 of the country’s 193 lawmakers. This transfer happened at the Presidential palace after a parliamentary session. The new ministers of the country took oath of their offices in from of Moncef Marzouki, the President of Tunisia. This was made possible after the dominant Islamist party Ennahda
agreed to surrender power of the government, which was formed in 2013. This agreement has also pulledin the adoption of the new constitution that has been long delayed, which was adopted on 27 January 2014. The  national assembly finally adopted a new constitution three years after the Arab Spring revolution. The Parliamentary and Presidential elections will be held by the end of 2014. Apart from this, the International Monetary  Fund that has supported the new government formation of Tunisia has released more than 500 million dollar support on 29 January 2014. Due to the political instability of the country, the finances of 1.76 billion dollar loan that was agreed in June 2013 were held. The funds included disbursement of 1.76 billion dollars and 506.7 billion dollars in two years. The given released loan is the second part of the loan deal reached in 2013.

New Constitution of Tunisia passed

National Constituent Assembly of Tunisia passed the new Constitution on 26 January 2014. The Tunisian assembly passed the new Constitution with 200 votes in favour out of total 216 seats in the assembly. Assembly speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar, Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki and outgoing Prime Minister Ali Larayedh signed the document on 27 January 2014 in the assembly.

March 2014

Main features of the new Constitution

  • The new Constitution is a written one and it makes Tunisia a democracy with a civil state instead of Islamic state.

  • It recognizes the protection of citizen rights, including protection from torture, the right to due process, and freedom of worship.

  • It guarantees equality between men and women before the law and the state commits itself to protecting women’s rights.

  • It guarantees “freedom of belief and conscience,” which would permit atheism and the practice of non-Abrahamic religions frowned upon in other Islamic countries.

  • It also bans incitement to violence and declaring a Muslim an apostate — a fallen Muslim — which leaves them open to death threats.

  • The constitution enshrines the freedom of religion but Islam remains as a state religion.

Analysis

This is the first Constitution drafted and passed since the ousting of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali three years ago in 2011. The new Constitution is being termed as the most progressive Constitution in the Arab world. The passage of the new Constitution will help in usher the era of democracy in Tunisia that ushered the Arab Spring in the Arab world in 2011. Despite some drawbacks, the new Constitution is an historic compromise between identity and modernity. It can serve as a model for other countries in the region seeking a balance between an Arab-Islamic heritage and contemporary ideas of human rights and good governance. While the constitution itself will not solve the country’s persistent unemployment, rising prices, crushing debt and constant demonstrations. Yet it will move politics forward and reassure foreign investors that the country is back on track after a rocky transition. It is different from the draft Constitution of Egypt that was approved in the third week of January 2014. Egypt’s charters were quickly drafted by appointed committees and involved little public debate or input. In Tunisia, an elected assembly of Tunisian Islamists, leftists and liberals worked on a detailed roadmap for their political future. However, it was the overthrowing of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt in July 2013 that helped the various parties reach a compromise.

A deal signed on electoral reforms in Italy

Silvio Berlusconi, founder head of the Forza Italia party and Matteo Renzi, leader of Democratic Party (PD) on 18 January 2014 signed a deal on electoral reforms in Italy. Both leaders agreed to back reforms to finally make Italy more governable. Berlusconi founded Forza Italia party is center-right party of Italy while Matteo Renzi lead Democratic Party (PD) is the largest center-left party of Italy. Both leaders held two-and-ahalf hours of talks at PD headquarters in Rome

Main features of the electoral reforms deal are following:

  • Both favoured a system based on proportional representation with a large number of small constituencies each electing four or five representatives and a winner’s bonus of 15-20 percent of seats.

  • Parties winning below five percent of the vote would not get into parliament.

  • Both leaders agreed on the need for an electoral law that “favors governability and a bipolar system, and eliminates the blackmail power of the smallest parties”.

  • They also favoured a reform of the upper house Senate so that it does not merely duplicate the work of the lower house Chamber of Deputies as well as changes to the governing structure of Italy’s regions and provinces.

  • The deal struck down the system of voting for party lists of candidates and the rules that gave the largest coalition an automatic 55 percent of seats - on a national basis in the lower house and regionally in the senate. It also said voters should have the right to choose representatives, not simply vote for lists picked and ranked by party bosses.

GDP of China decelerated to 7.7 Percent in 2013-14

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of China decelerated to 7.7 percent in 2013-14. It is the slowest GDP growth rate clocked by China in last 14 years. This was revealed by the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China on 20 January 2014. The deceleration in the GDP growth was on account of poor performance of the Chinese economy in the final quarter of 2013. In the final quarter of 2013 the Chinese economy grew by 7.7 percent compared to the 7.8 percent in the third quarter of 2013. The decline in the GDP growth in the last quarter was due to fall in exports, investment and factory output. The fall in these sectors was contributed by global and domestic factors. However, the actual performance of the economy came out to be slightly better than the 7.5 percent GDP growth projected by the Chinese government. The low growth in the world’s second largest economy has caused serious anxiety across the globe and pushed down prices of Asian stocks.

Obama established Af-Pak strategic partnership office

Ahead of the drawdown of US troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, US President Barack Obama announced to establish an Af-Pak Strategic Partnership Office  (APSPO) on 18 January 2014. The objective is to oversee smooth transition and promote normalised diplomatic presence in Afghanistan and Pakistan. APSPO has been tasked to perform the specific project of supporting executive departments and agencies in
facilitating a partnership with the two South Asian countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan. APSPO will be a temporary office and would be based in Washington, Islamabad and Kabul. It would promote security and stabilisation and transitioning to a normalised diplomatic presence in both the countries. The office will also aid in coordinating the final drawdown of the Department of State’s civilian field operations and staff in Afghanistan. Besides, it will also support agencies in transitioning to a partnership with the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan in the economic, diplomatic, cultural, technology, and security fields. It will be particularly in the areas of program management, rule of law, and program oversight.

Iran has halted Uranium Enrichment activities

Iran has started halting the Uranium enrichment and has begun down-blending Uranium enriched to higher level. The steps were taken on 20 January 2014 by Iran to limit its nuclear programme as per an interim deal with the world powers. This report was confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran has halted enrichment work of the uranium and paved ways to suspend some sanctions imposed on it by the
European Union and the United States. The deal with the world powers has asked Tehran to power down the key nuclear equipment for six months, which will be followed by the easing of crippling sanctions imposed on it. The report of IAEA has also mentioned that Iran has started diluting its stockpile of uranium, which was enriched to the fissile concentration of 20 percent. This level took Iran closer to its capability of production of fuel for an atom bomb. It also confirmed that Iran has started converting some of its reserves into oxide for production of reactor fuel making it less suitable to manufacture bombs. IAEA has confirmed that Iran has ceased enrichment of uranium above 5 percent U-235 at the two cascades at the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP) and four cascades at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP), which were previously used for this purpose.

Sheikh Hasina sworn-in as Bangladesh Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina along with her Cabinet of 49 Ministers was sworn-in before President Abdul Hamid at the Bangabhaban (the President’s House) on 12 January 2014. Sheikh Hasina was sworn-in as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the third time. The new Cabinet has 29 Ministers, 17 State Ministers, and two Deputy Ministers. She had won an overwhelming majority in the Bangladesh general election held in January 2014 by defeating
opposition party, Jatiya party. The Awami League has secured absolute majority in the 10th Parliament elections by bagging 232 seats – 105 contested and 127 uncontested. The Jatiya Party was declared as the
second largest party in the parliament bagging 33 seats – 13 contested and 20 uncontested. While the majorities in the new Cabinet are from Awami League, the rest are from Jatiya Party, Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, and Jatiya Party (Manju).

UK’s first public university to accept fees in Bitcoin

Cumbria University of UK became the first public university to accept fees in digital currency, Bitcoin. A system for processing the payments is already operational. The payment of fees through Bitcoin will be only applicable to two new courses on the roles of complimentary currencies in economic systems, which will be taught from summer this year at the Institute for Leadership and Sustainability (IFLAS). The University said it hoped that the acceptance of Bitcoins on these courses would lead to learning by doing. The University supported Bitcoin due to its speed and cost, others due the new era of financial freedom it could enable. Cumbria is
thought to be the first public university in the world to accept the currency, although a private University in Cyprus announced last year that it would do so.

What is Bitcoin

Bitcoin is an online currency and payment system which enables the international transmission of funds. Though thousands of merchants worldwide accept this “cryptocurrency” – so called because it uses cryptography to
guarantee its security – it has often been associated with illicit activity, most notably with the online illegal drug market called Silk Road.

How Bitcoin work: Bitcoin is often referred to as a new kind of currency. Each of the millions of Bitcoin currently in existence is represented by a unique online registrationnumber.

To receive a Bitcoin, a user must also have a Bitcoin address - a randomly generated string of 27 to 34 letters and numbers - which acts as a kind of virtual post box.

Invitation to Iran withdrawn by UN to attend Syria Peace Conference

Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of United Nations on 20 January 2014 withdrew the invitation for Iran to join the peace conference on Syrian crisis. This action was taken following the Tehran’s step to back the plan to form a Syrian transitional government, which is the basis of the conference. Apart from this, the other reason for the withdrawal of the invitation is reports that indicate the political opposition of Syria saying, until the Secretary General retracts the invitation to Iran, it would withdraw from the talks. US have also suggested to UN headquartered in New York that it could support Iran’s participation if it explicitly declared support for the action plan. Peace Conference on Syrian Crisis has been planned to end the nearly three-year old civil war of Syria voicing deep disappointment. The one week long conference opening will take place in Montreux, Switzerland on 22 January 2014 and its foundation for the negotiations between the Syrian parties will begin on 24 January 2014 in Geneva. The peace conference is the biggest diplomatic effort to end the three-year conflict. Earlier, after Foreign Minister Javad Zarif’s assurance to UN that his country understands the basis of the talks in full implementation of an action plan, which was adopted in the so-called Geneva Communique of 2012 allowed UN to invite Iran to attend the conference. The Geneva Communique of 30 June 2012 remains the internationally agreed framework for ending the crisis and calls for a transitional government to lead to free and fair elections.

Peshawar, largest reservoir of polio in world: WHO

Peshawar in Pakistan had the largest number of polio cases in the world in 2013. This was revealed by World Health Organisation (WHO) in a global analysis for polio cases on 17 January 2014. The analysis by World
Health Organisation (WHO) further said that Pakistan is the only polioendemic country which reported more polio cases in 2013 than in 2012. Pakistan reported 83 cases in 2013 compared to 58 cases in 2012. In 2013, 369 cases were reported worldwide. In Pakistan, 59 cases were from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), 10 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and seven each from Punjab and Sindh. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, of which Peshawar is the capital and adjoining tribal districts, has been found to be the polio hotspot in Pakistan. All the polio cases reported from Pakistan are type-1 cases. No report of type-3 polio cases has been reported from Pakistan. The analysis by WHO suggested that viruses from Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal, Lahore and Multan are closely related with each other. This reflects a common source of outbreak because of a significant immunity gap in the central region of Punjab. As a result, the most immediate epidemiological challenge is to control this transmission in the region. At the same time, building super high immunity in southern districts of the province is needed to reverse previous trends of transmission moving to the south after the central region outbreak.

No Lost Generation initiative has been launched by United Nations and its humanitarian partners on 10 January 2014 to save millions of Syrian Children from loosing generation amidst the civil war in the country. The Since past three years, Syria is engaged into the civil war and due to this more than one million children are leading their life as refugees. Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of United Nations has added his support to the campaign Initiative has been launched by UN refugee agency (UNHCR), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Vision, Save the Children, and other NGO partners. No Lost Generation emphasizes that saving a generation of potential leaders, teachers, engineers, doctors and – above all- peacemakers - protects the prosperity of an entire society. The No Lost Generation initiative has sought international aid of 1 billion dollar to help the children of Syria by not allowing them to lead their life of despair, broken futures and diminished opportunities. Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has asked the world for massive and immediate international support at the period of crisis in Syria. This move of UN has come ahead of the Syria donor conference on 17 January 2014 in Kuwait. The 1 billion dollars will be channeled through the UN agencies and their partners into the programme in partnership with Governments and local communities by practical opportunities to:

  • Deliver safe education

  • Protection from exploitation

  • Abuse and violence

  • Psychological support

  • Peace building efforts

  • Avert the loss of an entire generation with activities and interventions

  • To offer more opportunities for social cohesion and stability in an already volatile region by restoring their hopes

The programme initiative will also include the strengthening and community-based child protection systems to respond the needs of the girls, boys and families from highly risk of abuse, exploitation, neglect and violence, while protecting children against such risks. It will also include access of quality education to them via formal and non-formal approaches by introducing accelerated curricula for those children, who are out of the school, vocational, and teacher training and other initiative programmes. It will also create safe environments to reduce the exposure of children’s to such risks. Since the crisis of Civil war began in Syria nearly three years ago, more than one million children from Syria have become refugees of which more than 425000 are under the age of five. The vast majority of these refugees have fled either to Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt and Iraq. Among them, around 8000 children have been identified as being separated from their families.

Three Transgenders got government jobs in Pakistan

The Sindh government in Pakistan employed three transgendered persons in different departments on 31 January 2014. This is for the first time that three transgenders have been employed in Pakistan. Sindh Minister for Social Welfare and Development, Rubina Qaimkhani confirmed appointment of Riffay Khan, Muskaan and Anjum. Riffay holds a masters degree, whereas Muskaan and Anjum have both completed their schooling up
to matriculation. According to official estimates there are around 500000 gender confused people in Pakistan and these include eunuchs, hermaphrodites, transsexuals, transvestites and homosexuals in addition to castrated men. In 2011 the Supreme Court of Pakistan gave a ruling that transgenders should be issued national ID cards and registered as voters and allowed to cast votes which they did in the general elections in May 2013.

Hery Rajaonarimampianina declared as the President of Madagascar

Hery Rajaonarimampianina, a former Finance Minister of Madagascar on 17 January 2014 was declared as the new President of the nation. His election as the President came as the result of the elections conducted on 20 December 2013 with an aim to restore democracy in the nation. Hery Rajaonarimampianina was officially declared as the president of the country by Francois Rakotozafy, the president of the electoral court. He was successful in garnering 53 percent of votes in the elections. The announcement of the results was delayed due to a pending court ruling over the allegations of irregularities in voting. The allegation was made by his rival Robinson Jean Louis, who was the candidate of the ousted President Marc Ravalomanana. Louis has won 46.51 percent of the votes. About half of eight million eligible voters were successful in casting their votes. Hery is backed by Andry Rajoelina, who staged a coup in 2009 against the then president Marc Ravalomanana. This coup attempt pushed Madagascar into a political and economic crisis. The ousted President Ravalomanana has gone to South Africa into an exile. Madagascar was suspended by the African Union and Southern African Development Community. With thios election, might be possible that the country will be allowed back into the regional; bodied. The World Bank in its report on Madagascar estimated that the political crisis of the country cost it around 8 billion dollar in lost growth. In 2012, the economy of the country grew just by 3.1 percent, which made it to lag behind most African nations.

March 2014

Russia and China to conducted war games in the Mediterranean Sea

Russia and China will conducted their first ever naval war games in the Mediterranean Sea from 1 February 2014. The joint naval drill, involved Russia’s heavy nuclear missile cruiser Peter the Great and Chinese frigate Yancheng. The main purpose of the drill is to enhance the interoperability of Russian and Chinese combat ships for joint operation in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Russian and Chinese warships will perform joint manoeuvring, in the course of which the Russian cruiser will set up a smokescreen and ship-borne helicopters of the two vessels will practise landing on each other’s deck. On 7 January 2014, both countries escorted the first consignment of Syrian chemical weapons materials that has left the country on a Danish ship. This became the first practical interaction between the Russian and the Chinese navies. In July 2013, Russia and China
held a three-day joint naval military exercise. The Naval Interaction-2013 in the open waters off the Port of Vladivostok, Russia. It became China’s largest overseas military exercises in terms of the number of troops deployed outside its territorial waters. In recent years, the Chinese navy has participated in a series of joint exercises in the Pacific and Indian oceans, while Chinese ground forces have taken part in land war games organized by the SCO.

Russia blocked UN Statement on air-strikes in the city of Aleppo in Syria

Russia on 8 January 2014 blocked a statement of UN Security Council that condemned the Syrian Government’s use of air-strikes against civilians in the city of Aleppo. The city of Aleppo, which once was a business hub of the country, has now been divided between the rebel and government forces. UN condemned the use of barrel bombs and scud missiles by the forces of President Assad, which has killed more than hundreds of people. Russia by being joined by China and has vetoed three Security Council resolutions that has condemned the government of Syria and has threatened it sanctions. Russia on 19 December 2013 opposed a similar statement that would have condemned attacks on the civilians by the troops of Syrian government. The council failed to reach an agreement on 8 January 2014 following the amendments that was proposed by Russia. As per an
UN diplomat, the proposed amendment has been designed to rob the statement of any reference to what has happened in Aleppo. The statement was British drafted and had councils express of outrage on the airstrikes of the government troops in the city of Aleppo in which more than 700 people have been killed leaving behind approximately 3000 people injured since 15 December 2013. Till now, more than one lakh people been killed and numerous have been forced to flee from Syria in a period of three years of civil war in the country.

USA allowed Sikh military men to wear turban

USA allowed the Sikh military men to wear turbans, head scarfs and other religious clothing with their uniform. USA updated its policy on 23 January 2014. This move is likely to improve military job prospects for members of the Sikhs community in USA. Although, the ban has not put off completely, instead USA army has put some relaxation. Citing the security issues and military discipline, it has granted individualised accommodations to serve in the U.S. Army while wearing turbans and maintaining beards in a neat and conservative manner, both in accordance with operational requirements and their Sikhs religious beliefs. Whenever a service member requests such an accommodation it could be denied only if an official determines that mission accomplishment needs outweigh the need of the service member and each request will be assessed on a case by- case basis. The Sikhs community was also allowed to wear protective equipment, including helmets and gas masks, in conformity with safety requirements.

Malaysian Government to introduce high-tech ID cards

Malaysian Government announced on 13 January 2014 to introduce high-tech ID cards for foreign workers. The cards will be introduced by the end of December 2014. These biometric identity cards are being introduced to control the influx of illegal foreign workers. The new ID cards, embedded with high tech chips, would ensure only legal foreign workers are working in the country. The cards will store identification documents of the holder and could be examined easily by the security personnel. The cards will come in different colours to indicate various sectors of employment. The ID cards will have barcodes that will allow enforcement officers to scan them using a smart phone to access the workers’ details. These security elements are important to prevent fraud and forgery of the card. Malaysia depends heavily on foreign workers to strengthen its tourism and infrastructure industry. Currently, more than 2.25 million foreign workers are registered in the country. The workers from countries like India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Cambodia constitute the main workforce in Malaysia.

China marked arrival of the Year of the Horse

China on 31 January 2014 marked the arrival of its Year of the Horse, which is celebrated across the world by Chinese people. This is the Chinese Lunar New Year is the only traditional day of holiday for the people of China. The Chinese Lunar New Year is also the largest annual mass migration on the earth as hundreds of millions of people of China head back to their home towns to spend the festival with their families. A call for ethnic harmony among the people living in China was issued by Xi Jingping, the President of China on this day to mark the greetings to the people in his Lunar New Year. This day is marked by riotous displays of fireworks, which is thought by people that it scares off the evil spirits and brings good luck in return.

Al-Qaida linked forces declared Fallujah as new State

The Iraq government has lost control of the strategic city of Fallujah after being captured by Al-Qaeda linked forces. Fallujah was located on  the west of Baghdad. Militants now control the south of the city. Fighting erupts after government troops broke up a protest camp by Sunni Arabs in the city of Ramadi on 4 January 2014. They have been accusing the Shia-led government of marginalising the Sunnis. The army has surrounded Fallujah, which is just 65km west of  the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. It is located in the vast Sunni-dominated area and is largely desert province of Anbar. Fallujah borders Syria, where ISIL fighters are also battling to topple President Bashar al-Assad. The Prime Minister on 6 January 2014, Nuri al-Maliki appeals to the tribes and people of Fallujah to expel the terrorists from the city in order to spare themselves the risk of armed clashes. The old Al-Qaeda in Iraq has regenerated itself as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also called  the Islamic State of Iraq and theLevant (ISIL). During the last few months, ISIS has become a magnet for Sunni jihadists around the world. ISIS’s victories in Iraq are a sign of the growing strength of ISIS in the region. The move is another sign that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has not been able to maintain control of the country since the  United States withdrew its troops in 2011, failing to reach an agreement with the Maliki government to leave behind a residual force.

Penal Code Article on rape amended by Morocco Parliament

The Parliament of Morocco on 23 January 2014 unanimously amended an article of the penal code that allowed rapists of underage girls to avoid prosecution by marrying their victims. Country has amended the code following lobbying of activists seeking better protection of young rape victims. The Article 475 of the penal code that generated unprecedented public criticism. Issue came to public prominence in 2012, when a 16-year-old Amina Filali killed herself after she was forced to marry with the rapist. A prison term of one to five year is mentioned to anyone who abducts or deceives a minor is given in the Article 475. Its second clause says that in case the victim gets married with the culprit than he cannot be prosecuted. This clause provides prosecutors to defend themselves. The right groups have welcomed the amendment. Gender inequality and violence against women in Morocco are the subjects of frequent demonstrations in the capital Rabat. This amendment was proposed first by the Islamist-led government of the country in 2013. Earlier, Morocco passed a new family
code in 2004, which was more progressive for the rights of the women than the past.

China aircraft carrier completed tests in disputed South China Sea

China’s first aircraft carrier on 1 January 2014 successfully finished a series of tests during a training mission in the disputed South China Sea and has returned to port. It has completed a 37-day deployment, which was carried out amid mounting regional tensions. Japan in December 2013 drilled off the coast of the Hainan Island. As per the regional military officers and analysts, the December’s drill marked not only the first time China has sent a carrier into the South China Sea but also it was the first time that its maneuvered with the kind of strike group of escort ships US carriers deploy. Liaoning, the aircraft carrier carried more than 100 tests, which includes its combat systems. At present it is docked at the Qingdao’s port northern city. Liaoning is a Soviet-era ship, which was bought from Ukraine in 1998. It has been re-fitted in the Chinese shipyard and has been a symbol of naval build-up of china. It went into service in September 2012. The military budget of China has seen a first double digit increase after two decades. The admirals’ plan of China is to develop a full blue-water navy, which will be capable of demanding the growing economic interests as well as the disputed territory in South and East China seas. Provoking the international reactions, China in November 2013 declared its air defence rights over most of the part of the East China Sea. It also claims maximum part of the South China Sea.

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