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

February 2014

UN to Reduce its Staffs and cut Budget

United Nations on 27 December 2013 ordered to cut staff and budget under the pressure from United States and other austerity stricken industrialized powers. This is the first time, since 1945 United Nations has taken the decision to cut the staff and budget. The decision was taken because the governments of members suffer from financial crisis. After protracted negotiations, the 193-nation Assembly agreed to cut 221 staff or 2 percent at the UN headquarters and ordered a one-year pay freeze for the more than 10000 workers in New York. A two-year freeze on benefits allowance was also mentioned. The staff cut is part of the 2014-2015 UN budgets.

The members of UN have also voted to cut its budget to 5.5 billion dollars for 2014-15, which is 50 million dollars below the final spending in past two years. United States provides about 22 percent of UN budget. Apart from US, other countries like France, Britain, Germany and Japan are among the top contributors in the budget of UN. The general budget does not include UN peacekeeping activities that cost more than 7.5 billion dollars a year or to operate several major UN agencies, such as UNICEF and the World Food Programme, which are funded by voluntary contributions.

Officials banned from smoking in public places in China

According to the China’s official Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Government on 30 December 2013 banned its officials from smoking in public places. Public places include schools, offices, and hospitals, sports venues, on Public transport or any other places where smoking is banned or to smoke or offer cigarettes hen performing official duties. Also, officials cannot use public funds to buy cigarettes, and within Communist Party or in
government office tobacco products cannot be sold. The smoking ban must be displayed in meeting rooms, reception offices, passageways, cafeterias and rest rooms. The Officials have been asked to take the lead in implementing government ban on smoking in public places. China with a population of 1.35 billion has about 300 million smokers. China is the World’s largest cigarette producer and consumer. Though China’s health authorities already banned people from smoking in indoor public places in 2011, the rule is not seriously enforced or obeyed in the country. India also banned smoking in public places which covers offices, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, college campuses, bars and discos with effect from 2 October 2008. In Asia, India, Hong Kong and China have banned smoking in public places.

UK to be Europe’s largest economy by 2030

Centre for Economic and Business Research (CERB) study released in December 2013 has predicted that UK will overtake Germany as Europe’s largest economy by 2030. At present Germany is at the top spot in Europe. It cites the UK’s population growth as an aid to economic acceleration. CERB has also predicted that strong growth by emerging economies like India, Russia and Brazil will make UK to slip down on the global ranking over the next two decades. It said that UK would be the second most successful western economy after US. Germany will slip in the position of the European economy to UK in 2030 because of its faster population growth and its less dependence on other European economies. The report has echoed the recent confidence of other business groups such as the British Chambers of Commerce, BCC. The CERB released its annual World Economic League Table in which the future ranking of the economic is done depending upon the ups and downs of the global economies. CERB in its release has also said that China will take over the US economy in 2028 and India will be in the third place. CERB compiled the forecasts of growth, inflation and currency values in its league tables to the size of economies, which was measured in US dollars in 2013, 2018, 2023 and 2028. In its release CERB has said that its prediction should be treated as a caution because of the unpredictable fluctuations in currencies.

As per the released report, India will overtake Japan as the third biggest economy in next 15 years with Brazil as the fifth biggest economy. The anti-deflation strategy would lead to the weaken of Yen for the future and would affect the value of dollar of its national output. However, as far as Germany, the group said that should the euro break up, that Germany’s outlook would be much better. As for France, the CEBR said it will be one of the worst performing of the Western economies, and will be overtaken by the UK by 2018. This is because of slow growth due to high taxation in addition to the general issues of eurozone economies.

First Ministerial Level Talk held for BCIM Trade Corridor

India, China, Bangladesh and Myanmar in the third week of December 2013 held the first ever official-level discussions on the ambitious corridor to link India and China with Bangladesh and Myanmar. The BCIM corridor faced a rapid boost for the first time after it was discussed with ministerial level talk. The four member countries namely, Bangladesh, India, China, and Myanmar proposed the establishment of the BCIM Forum  for regional cooperation. Over the next six months, each country will come up with a joint study report proposing concrete projects and financing modalities, before the next meeting of the four nations in June 2014. The
next meeting would be hosted by Bangladesh. Presently, the four countries come up with an ambitious proposal that included developing multi-modal transport, such as road, rail, waterways and airways, joint power projects and telecommunication networks. As a first step, the four countries will identify realistic and achievable infrastructure projects to boost physical connectivity. The linking of all four countries by road has further strengthen the notion that this corridor would subsequently open up the whole of the northeastern region of India to Southeast Asia and China and turn it into a significant channel of trade.

EU granted GSP-Plus status to Pakistan

The European Union on 12 December 2013 granted GSP-Plus status to Pakistan. This move will boost the textile and other industries of Pakistan as it has given exporters a duty free access to 27 European Countries. 406 members of the European Parliament supported the move of the Union at a session in Brussels. Under this deal 75 Pakistani products would have duty-free access to European markets. The Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
government’s top priority was to gain an access into the European market as part of its economic agenda. As this status will enable Pakistan to export products of 1 billion dollars to international markets and help the textile industry of the country to earn profits of more than 1 trillion rupees. Overall, the increase in the exports will also facilitate economic growth and generate millions of additional jobs.

As per the analysts, the trade concession to Pakistan from European Union will benefit the textile and clothing industry of the country and also enable its products to compete with the products of rivals like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the two countries that have duty-free access to the bloc markets of European Union. At present the textile and clothing exports of Pakistan to the European Union constitutes of its total exports to the bloc of 9.5 billion dollars. The GSP-Plus status will provide duty free or preferential duty rate access for total 3500 products to Pakistan. Currently, the Pakistani textile exports to European Union an 11 percent duty. To get the status, Pakistan lobbied with several countries of the European Union. To get the deal done, it has held the death penalty.

Michelle Bachelet won Chile Presidential Elections

Left-wing candidate Michelle Bachelet on 15 December 2013 elected as the Chile President for a second time by a wide margin. Michelle Bachelet got 62 percent votes against 38 percent votes for Evelyn Matthei, a former minister from the governing centre-right coalition. Michelle Bachelet, candidate for a centre-left coalition of parties known as Nueva Mayoria, she first served from 2006 to 2010, but under Chile’s constitution she could not stand for a second consecutive term. The major contenders in the presidential election are Evelyn Matthei of conservative Alianza party and Franco Parisi, an independent candidate. Michelle Bachelet will succeed the present president Sebastián Piñera.The General elections were held in Chile on 17 November 2013 for the president post. The term of the president is for four years. About Michelle Bachelet

  • Michelle Bachelet, candidate for a centre-left coalition of parties known as Nueva Mayoria: 61-year old Bachelet served as Chile’s president between 2006 and 2010.

  • She is the daughter of a highranking air force officer who died from the effects of torture while a prisoner of the military junta led by Gen Augusto Pinochet.

  • Michelle Bachelet was herself tortured and spent some years in exile before being allowed to return and finish her medical studies. Bachelet held the post of health minister in Ricardo Lagos’ government and was Chile’s first female defence minister.

  • She became Chile’s first female president in 2006, and she had a stunning 84 per cent approval rating when she left office in 2010. In 2010, she was appointed the first director of the newly-created agency UN Women.

About Chile

Chile officially the Republic of Chile is a South American country occupying a long, narrow strip of land between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Chile stretches over 4300 km (2670 miles) north to south, but only 350 km (217 miles) at its widest point east to west. It is bounded on the north by Peru and Bolivia, on its long eastern border by Argentina, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. The
capital of Chile is Santiago.

Foreign companies can drill for Oil and Gas in Mexico

Enrique Pena Nieto, the Mexican President on 20 December 2013 signed a controversial law that allows foreign companies to drill for oil. The law was signed for the first time since nationalization of the sector in 1938.

The Mexican Congress passed the legislation on 13 December 2013 and was ratified by the majority of Mexican states. This legislation has changed three articles in the Constitution of the country. It allows foreign investment in oil, gas and electricity. To drill oil and gas, private companies have been allowed to sign contracts with state controlled Pemex. Pemex will get a share of the profits. The law was signed to attract investment to Mexico that will attract the investment needed to boost the falling oil output of the country. The Mexican oil production has fallen from 3.4 million barrels per day in 2004 to the current rate of 2.5 million barrels per day.

Relocation of US airbase in Japan approved

Japan on 27 December 2013 approved the relocation of the US military airbase on its southern island of Okinawa. The relocation was accepted by the Governor of Okinawa, Hirokazu Nakaima. He agreed to landfill work to develop a new base in a less densely populated part of the island. A document was signed to give a green light to the Governor of the landfill. It has paved a way to the construction of the new base on the coast.

The relocation of the airbase was accepted after the Prime Minister of Japan, Shino Abe pledged an annual injection of 300 billion yen (about 2.9 billion dollar) into the island’s economic stimulate budget until 2021 fiscal.

The Governor’s nod is a breakthrough to the 1996 agreement to shut down the Futenma airbase that is located in a densely populated urban area of the island. The agreement searched for a new site for placing the new US base. The US has around 26,000 troops on Okinawa under a long-standing security alliance with Japan. Red Sea-to-Dead Sea Water sharing Deal Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians 9 December 2013.

The Dead Sea water Depleting Issue

The Dead Sea is dropping by as much as 1m (3.3ft) a year as the River Jordan is depleted for use in irrigation. The Dead Sea is so rich in salt and other minerals that humans float naturally on the surface. The area around the sea has an established tourism and health industry because of the water’s unique properties.But the Dead Sea is losing water rapidly, with some fearing the Dead Sea could dry up entirely by 2050. The scheme will pipe water from the Gulf of Aqaba off the Red Sea through a desalination plant in Jordan, sending brine to the southern-most edge of the Dead Sea. The sea water will be used to test the impact of Red Sea water being transported to the Dead Sea. It will involve the construction of a desalination plant in Jordan, projected to yield 80 million-100 million cu m of water annually. A water transfer deal will also see Israel supply water to Jordan and the Palestinian territories. The project also expected to yield hydroelectric power for use in the desalination process.

Iran has installed 1000 Second Generation IR-2m centrifuges

Iran installed a one thousand second generation IR-2m centrifuges at one of its nuclear enrichment sites. This was announced by Ali-Akbar Salehi, the Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) on 29 December 2013. Salehi is also a Vice President of Iran. As per Salehi, at present Iran have 19000 centrifuges and is developing a new generation of centrifuges, which will need all kind of tests before being into operation. As per the report of ISNA, UF6 gas has not been injected into the centrifuges in view of the ongoing talks of Iran with the six world powers on its nuclear issue. Earlier in November 2013, Iran and the six world powers together signed an interim deal under which Iran agreed to not operate its new centrifuges for next six months. But the deal doesn’t stopped Iran from developing new centrifuges. Fereidoon Abbasi, the chief of AEOI in August  2013 announced that 18000 centrifuges were available with Iran of which 10000 were operating. Salehi also said that Tehran and Moscow are discussing on the construction of four nuclear power plants in Iran.

February 2014

Abdul Kader Mullah hanged for 1971 war crimes

Islamist leader Abdul Kader Mullah of Bangladesh was executed on 12 December 2013. His execution was done at the Dhaka Central Jail at 22:01 local time. He was executed for genocides done during the Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation war with Pakistan.

He was the first person convicted by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) and the first politician to be hanged for such crimes. He was the senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) was set up in Bangladesh in 2010 to investigate on the abuses committed during the 1971 conflict. The prosecutors during his trial described him as the Butcher of Mirpur, the suburb of Dhaka where he has been alleged to carry out the crimes. He massacred unarmed civilians and killed intellectuals, who were supporting the independence from Pakistan. Apart from Abdul Kader Mullah, four other leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami have been convicted by the ICT and will face the death penalty. 42 years ago in 1971 Bangladesh broke away from Pakistan after a war after the military intervention by India, in which many were killed and about 10 million people migrated as refugees.

Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is a war crimes tribunal in Bangladesh, which was set up by the Government in 2009. The ICT was formed to investigate and prosecute the suspects for the genocide committed in 1971 by the Pakistan Army and their local collaborators, during the Bangladesh Liberation War. During the 2008 general election, the Awami League (AL) when won the election with more than two-thirds majority in Parliament set up the tribunal. The first indictment was issued in 2010.

First Country to Legalize Marijuana Trade

Uruguay on 10 December 2013 became the first country in the world to legalise marijuana for recreational use with the state taking control of the trade. In this regard Uruguay senators gave the approval for government-sponsored bill. According to the new law- Registered Uruguayans over the age of 18 will be allowed to buy up to 40 grams of the drug a month. Tourists will be excluded. The government hopes it will help tackle drug cartels, but critics say it will expose more people to drugs. With introducing new law, Uruguay became the first country in the world to have a system regulating legal production, sale and consumption of the drug.

Uruguay Marijuana Law;

  • State controls the production, distribution, commerce and consumption of marijuana

  • Consumers have to be over 18and registered

  • Marijuana to be sold at licensedpharmacies

  • Sales are limited to 40g (1.4oz)per month

  • Registered users can grow upto six plants at home

  • Buyers and growers have to be over 18

  • Tourists are excluded

  • Advertising is forbidden

  • Prices will be fixed by the government

Yemen Parliament Banned use of US Drones

The Yemen Parliament on 15 December 2013 banned the use of US drones in the country after dozens of civilians were killed by the unmanned aircraft. In this regard an anti-drone motion was passed by Yemen’s parliament on 15 December 2013. The Parliament also stressed the importance of protecting innocent citizens from any airstrike as well as preserving Yemen’s sovereignty. The decision by the Yemeni parliament to ban the use of  US drones comes after one of the unmanned aircrafts mistakenly hit a wedding convey in Al - Bayda province, killing 17 Yemeni civilians and wounding about 21 others on 12 December 2013. It was the second airstrike mistake in a week after a US drone killed at least four people traveling on a road in the eastern province of Hadramout on 9 December 2013. The United States has stepped up drone strikes in Yemen as part of a campaign against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The Yemen-based al-Qaida offshoot has carried out a series of attacks in Yemen targeting state institutions, the military and foreign missions in the country. However, the US drone strikes have mistakenly hit civilian targets several times in the past two years. The Yemeni people staged several rallies this year to demand an end to the US drone strikes in the country.

Defence spending to be increased by Japan

Japan under the hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has decided on 17 December 2013 to increase its spending on defence by about 5%  over a period of 5 years (2014 –2019). This is the biggest increase in defence spending in 22 years, although much of the growth reflects higher import costs due to a weaker yen. Abe’s government also decided to review Japan’s ban on weapons exports. This means that Japan could revive struggling defence contractors like Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. The decision to increase defence spending to 24.6 trillion yen (239 billion dollar) was in response to China’s ever increasing military budget. Besides, the decision has come at a time when the tensions between Japan and China have soared over the ownership of tiny islands in East China Sea. The tiny islands in Japan are known as Senkaku and in China as Diaoyu. The increase in defence spending would include an additional purchase of F-35 fighters, made by Lockheed Martin Corp, as well as two more Aegis warships, bringing the total to eight.
Japan will also be buying the tilt-rotor Osprey surveillance aircraft, built by Boeing Co and Textron Inc’s Bell Helicopter unit, and drones including Northrop Grumman Corp’s Global Hawk.

Japan’s defence plan included a five-year military buildup plan and a 10-year defence guideline. According to the plan, there is a need for stronger air and maritime surveillance capabilities. It also improved ability to defend far-flung islands through setting up a marine unit, buying unarmed surveillance drones and putting a unit of E-2C early-warning aircraft on Okinawa Islands in the south.

Japan’s 10-year guidelines also mark a shift from its Cold War posture of defending against a Russian attack from the north, toward a potential conflict with China to the west and south.

The defence plan cuts Japan’s tanks by 400 to 300 over 10 years, while adding some faster, more maneuverable combat vehicles that could be flown in, say, to retake islands. The new policy outline also calls for Japan to beef up its ability to defend against ballistic missile attacks, such as from unpredictable neighbor North Korea.

An Analysis

The new defence plan of Japan is an update of the defence posture that was last reviewed in 2010 under the Yoshihiko Noda government. Until 2010, past governments had stretched the limits of a post-war Pacifist Constitution that renounced war and said Japan will never have an army or navy. Pacifist Constitution of Japan put a limit on the participation of Japan in defence related matters. Under the current interpretation of Japan’s
pacifist constitution, Japan’s armed forces are not permitted to fight on behalf of friends or allies unless the Japanese themselves come under direct attack.

Prime Minister Shizo Abe wants to change this policy which constraints Japan from involving in collective self-defence. The change in the stance of Japan should be seen in the light of China’s increasing military strength and assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region. This has led to increasing calls for Japan to participate in international peace and security operations. In the two decades through last year, Japan remained the sixth-biggest military
spender, just behind Britain, with outlays rising 13 percent in constant 2011 dollar terms, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. By contrast, China’s defence spending exploded more than five-fold, vaulting the country to second place from seventh.

Still, given China’s annual double-digit increases in defence spending, Japan will have to rely heavily on cooperation with its close ally, the United States, and others in the region just to maintain the status quo. Indeed, Abe’s national security strategy calls for Japan not only to upgrade its cooperation with the United States but strengthen ties with strategic partners including South Korea, Australia, Southeast Asian countries and India. Abe and leaders of Southeast Asian countries called at a Tokyo summit in the second week of December 2013 for freedom of the air and sea.

This was a veiled reference to China, which has territorial disputes with several countries in the Association of South East Asian Nations.

South Korea expanded its defence zone in disputed area with China

On 8 December2013 South Korea expanded its defense zone in the East China Sea, also called Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). This is the first time South Korea took such a step in response to the decision taken by China to set a defense zone of its own in the disputed area of East China Sea on 23 November.

This has increased regional tensions; as now South Korea has expanded its defense zone beyond the southern edge of its present zone. On 23 November China took a unilateral decision to establish East China Sea Air Defence Identification Zone. It changed the status quo creating apprehensions of frictions and tensions among the littoral countries that include Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The ADIZ when expanded will overlap with the areas of China’s Defence Identification Zone. The 23 November decision had displeased South Korea as well as Japan because it included the disputed Diaoyu or Senkaku islands.

These are claimed by both Japan and China. Moreover the Chinese Defence Zone includes the submerged Leodo reef which is currently owned by South Korea. Both Japan and South Korea have contested the Chinese zone as China claimed that it had reported at least 12 aircrafts of Japan and the US.

February 2014

Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ)

It is a defined area in international space either on water or land, within which aircrafts reaching the territorial space of the related nation are tracked and observed for national security. They go beyond a country’s airspace so that a country can respond to foreign aircrafts and events like hijackings in time.The first Air Defence Zone was established by the US immediately after the Second World War. Now several countries have such zones
including India.

New sanctuary to be build to save World’s rarest Javan Rhinos

Indonesian Government announced to build a new sanctuary to save World’s rarest Javan rhinos. The new sanctuary will be carved out of the Ujung Kulon National Park. Ujung Kulon National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated on the western tip of Indonesia’s main island of Java. It will encompass 12,600 acres of lush rainforest, freshwater streams and mud holes in the park. In Indonesia Javan rhinos are locally termed as Abah Gede or the Great Father. As per the latest report of the International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN), decline in the strength of rhino’s had reached to the level of extinction. There are thought to be only around 50 of the rhinos in existence. Poaching in particular represents a severe threat, with rhino horns used in traditional Asian medicine. It fetches higher prices in the black market despite a lack of scientific evidence showing horn has any medicinal value. Recently, Asia has stepped up efforts to save the region’s dwindling rhino populations. There was a conference held in October 2013 with representatives from several countries on the issue in the western Indonesian island of Sumatra. Countries including Indonesia, Nepal and India, pledged to take steps to increase their rhino populations by three percent annually

All unfilled munitions by Syrian Government have been destroyed

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on 6 November 2013 said that the unfilled (Category 3) munitions declared by the Syrian Government have been destroyed. The international chemical
weapons watchdog (OPCW) has completed the key stage towards destroying, the chemicals weapons of Syria. The OPCW has also verified the destruction of some chemical weapons production facilities, which has been rendered inoperable during the first phase of the mission. These activities were conducted at the Homs cluster of sites that had remained inaccessible for some time due to security reasons. The joint United Nations-OPCW team is aimed to remove toxic chemicals from Syria by the end of the year for destruction at sea and destroy the entire program by mid- 2014.

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which entered into force in 1997. As of today the OPCW has 190 Member States, who are working together to achieve a world free from chemical weapons. They share the collective goal of preventing chemistry from ever again being used for warfare, thereby strengthening international security

8 economic zones to be set up in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment on 5 December 2013 announced plans to start eight export processing and industrial zones across the country. These economic zones will begin operations in 2014. As per the Investment Promotion Minister of Sri Lanka, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana these zones will attract foreign investment and will provide economic development to the rural areas. The largest of the eight zones will be in Vavuniya in the North, which will revive the economic activities after the civil war. The three of the economic zones will be at Hambantota in the south. The Government of Sri Lanka has invested heavily to develop the region as a
commercial and industrial hub.

National referendum on new draft of Constitution in Egypt

The Interim President of Egypt, Adly Mansour on 14 December 2013 announced 14-15 January 2014 as the date for national referendum on the new draft of the constitution. The 2012 Constitution, which was approved by the Islamist dominated Parliament, under the ousted President Mohamed Morsi will be replaced by the new draft Constitution. The Islamist drafted constitution in existence was approved by a referendum in December 2012, with 64 percent of the votes. Amr Moussa, the head of the constitution drafting panel said that the draft constitution is a balanced constitution that provides freedoms, rights and separation of powers. As the new Constitution of Egypt protects the freedom of belief, opinion and creation, which preserves intellectual property rights, and provides gender equality. It bans the political parties on religious lines and provides for equality of
citizens. The amended draft was submitted to Mansour on 3 December 2013 by the drafting committee.

The draft of the new constitution was prepared by a 50 member panel. Under the transitional roadmap after the ouster of Mohamed Morsi, the former President of Egypt in July 2013, the amended Constitution needs to be approved by a national referendum. A successful referendum vote would be followed by elections. The constitutional drafting committee, during the amendment process decided to leave the decision on President Mansour that whether to hold presidential or parliamentary elections first.

Chinese Satellite System opened completely for Asian neighbours

China on 27 December 2013 welcomed the Asian countries to use its home grown BeiDou Navigation System for navigation system for free. China is intended to widen the use of its home grown BeiDou Navigation
System, which already has 16 satellites. China is keen to develop BeiDou satellite as an alternative to the American Global Positioning System (GPS) and Russian GLONASS. GPS has been active since the 1970s and has satellites in orbit. The satellites have been operating for more than two decades. BeiDou launched the first of its current generation satellites only five years ago. GPS (Global Positioning System) comprises 30 satellites, while BeiDou already has over sixteen and is going to have another forty in orbit by the time the network is complete in 2020, at a cost of another 6 billion dollar. The greater the number of satellites, the easier it is for the system to calculate location, time and velocity of moving objects. In this scenario, China offers the use of its satellite for free to its neighbouring countries on the lines of American GPS. The focus will be on countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and particularly in South and Southeast Asia, where the satellites has offered the highest accuracy. China is developing Stations in Pakistan to improve the service there. By January 2014, Thailand will
become the first country in 2014 to build a satellite station based on BeiDou, with both countries signing a 319 million dollar deal. The successful deployment of BeiDou means the increasingly potent Chinese armed forces will have an accurate, independent navigation system. It has a vital technology for guiding the missiles, warships and attack aircraft that allow Beijing to claim great power status. The system, which was first launched in 2011 for use only by the government and military, has over the past year begun to be widely deployed for civilian uses domestically. Currently, 80 per cent of passenger buses and trucks in China are using the system. The
Chinese State Council, or Cabinet, said in a September report that the domestic satellite navigation industry would be valued at 400 billion Yuan i.e. 4 lakh crore rupees by 2020. BeiDou is the only satellite navigation
system that offers telecommunication services. That means that, apart from giving users location and time information, BeiDou can also send users’ information to other people and communicate with users via text messages.

China launched the first satellite for the BeiDou system in 2000 and a preliminary version of the system has been used in traffic control, weather forecasting and disaster relief work on a trial basis, since 2003. More than
1000 BeiDou terminals were used after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake to provide information from the disaster area. The system was also used during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2010 Shanghai Expo to
pinpoint traffic congestion and supervise venues. The global satellite navigation segment has become a crowded marketplace over the past decade, and looks to become even more so. Russia recently completed its constellation of Glonass satellites  (though it has since lost one). Europeis unrolling its Galileo system, while other countries such as India and Japan plan to develop at least regional navigation networks.

WTO revises Bali draft

The World Trade Organization on 6 December 2013 agreed to allow countries to provide subsidy on staple food crops without any threat of punitive action. The WTO has issued a revised draft of the Bali Package which addresses India’s concerns on food security. The decision has taken during the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference Bal, Indonesia. After tough negotiations over the past four days in the face of India’s unrelenting stand on the food security issue, the 159-member WTO reached a historic agreement that will boost global trade by one trillion dollars. The deal allows nations such as India to fix a Minimum Support Price for farm produce and to sell staple grains to the poor at subsidised rates. It also permits countries to store  food grains to meet contingency requirements. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, was represented the India at the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference. The conference was held in Bali, Indonesia from 3 to 6 December 2013.

About World Trade Organization

WTO was established with the signing of the Marrakesh Agreement/ Marrakesh Declaration at Marrakesh, Morrocco in 1994. WTO came up as a replacement of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). GATT was overseeing the rules of commerce since 1948. GATT covered trade in goods, whereas WTO deals with trade of inventions, designs and services too.

Muslim Brotherhood Declared a Terrorist Group

Egypt’s ruling Government declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group. The decision came on 25 December 2013. The decision came after government officials blamed the Brotherhood for a suicide bombing at a police headquarters in north of Cairo that killed 16 people. Egypt’s leaders were in conflict with the movement since July 2013, when the military deposed Mohamed Morsi as a President. Mohammed Morsi was a former
head of Muslim Brotherhood and Egypt’s first democratically elected President. Government has vowed to treat anyone as a terrorist, who belongs to Muslim Brotherhood or even take part in its activities. 23 Muslim Brotherhood supporters were arrested on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization. A Cairo Court has already banned activities by the Muslim Brotherhood and has issued orders for dissolving it and frozen its
assets

Marijuana recreational pot legalized in Colorado and Washington

The two states of United States, Colorado and Washington, became the first to legalize Marijuana recreational pot. The legalisation of Marijuana as a recreational pot in these two US States will become effective from 1 January 2014. Voters in Colorado and Washington approved recreational pot in 2012. Medical marijuana is legal and regulated in 19 United States and in most of them private consumption of cannabis is not classified as a crime. Outside the US, Uruguay also legalized the marijuana recreational pot in 2013. The market for medical marijuana was huge in 2013 and it is projected to grow in 2014 with recreational pot added in Colorado
and Washington.

About Marijuana

Marijuana is a plant containing a psychoactive chemical, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in its leaves, buds and flowers. Cannabis is also major type of psychoactive chemical, THC. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug by American adults. Marijuana’s effect is less harmful than those of most drugs like alcohol and tobacco. US marijuana policy is unique among American criminal laws in being enforced so widely and harshly.

China ‘s unmanned Lunar Probe- Chang’e-3

China on 2 December 2013 successfully sent an unmanned lunar probe with a robotic rover to soft land on the Moon, and to explore moon’s surface. The probe Chang’e-3 was launched into orbit aboard an enhanced Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. The mission was the 25th launch of the Long March-3B, which is the most powerful launch vehicle in the Long March fleet. Chang’e-3 comprises a lander and a Moon rover called ”Yutu” (Jade Rabbit). The Chang’e-3 mission is the second phase of China’s lunar program, which includes orbiting, landing and returning to Earth. It follows the success of the Chang’e-1
and Chang’e-2 missions in 2007 and 2010. The lunar probe will land on the Moon in mid-December 2013 according to the plan. So far, only the United States and the former Soviet Union have soft-landed on the Moon. India’s Chandrayaan-1, which was credited to have discovered water in the lunar surface made a hard  landing on the Moon.

Two year cross-party budget Bill Signed in US

Barack Obama, the President of US on 27 December 2013 signed a two year bipartisan federal budget bill to avert the risk of shutdown of the Government in January 2014. He signed the Bill, while holidaying in Hawaii at the end of the year. This legislation was passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives earlier this month. The Bill was drafted by a cross-party budget committee, which was set up after 16-day government shutdown in October. The bipartisan Bill has been crafted by Congressman Paul Ryan and Snator Patty Murray. He also signed a defense spending bill that includes the ways of altering the way of the sexual assault in the military. The bill has made it easier to transfer the detainees out of Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba. He has also signed six other Bills. With this signing 52nd National Defense Authorization Act has been converted into a law. The US Congress now has time till 15 January 2014 to pass the fiscal spending bill of 1.012 trillion dollar for 2014. Top four Republicans in the Senate, who are in the minority in the upper chamber has voted to block the consideration of the budget Bill. The bill aims to shave up to 23 billion dollars from the nation’s 642 billion dollars annual budget deficit. It also rolls back 63 billion dollars in military and domestic spending cuts automatically imposed in January when Democrats and Republicans failed to reach a budget compromise.

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