Current Affairs World Scan Mugabes party loses Parliament
President Robert Mugabes party lost control of Zimbabwes Parliament. Electoral Commission results appear to confirm the unraveling of a regime that has ruled this Southern African country since independence from Britain three decades ago. The official results gave the opposition movement for Democratic change 105 seats to 93 for Mr. Mugabes ZANU PF in the 210 - seat House of Assembly. One seat went to an independent. Seven of Mr, Mugabes Cabinet Ministers have lost their seats.
Conservatives win majority in Iran
Conservatives have won a majority in Irans Parliamentary vote, but the new Houses may still give President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a tougher time ahead of next years presidential election. The Presidents reformist critics had tried to capitalise on public discontent over inflation in the worlds fourth largest oil producer but many of their leading candidates were disqualified from the race. The conservatives, who call themselves Principlists for loyalty to the Islamic Republics ideals, have taken atleast 163 seats in the 290 member House against 40 for the reformists so far. The Guardian Council, a body of clerics and jurists, barred many reformists when it screened potential candidates on criteria such as commitment to Islam and the clerical system.
UAE, Oman boycott Danish products
Supermarkets in the UAE and Oman have stopped selling Danish products to protest against the new publication in Denmark of a controversial newspaper cartoon of the prophet Muhammed. In the UAE, the Union Co-operative Society in Dubai has withdrawn all Danish products from its shelves as a mark of protest against the resurfacing of the blasphemous cartoon controversy. The recent republication of the 2005 offensive cartoons by several Danish newspapers has sparked off a series of protests and anger among Muslims around the world.
Russia warns Georgia over NATO
Russia warned Georgia and the West that it would recognise the independence of Georgias two breakaway provinces if the former Soviet state joins NATO. In a non - binding resolution unanimously approved on March 21 the state Duma (lower house) argued the government to consider the expediency or recognising the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia of Georgia joins NATO or attacks the two separatists regions. Abkhazia and South Ossetia unilaterally declared their independence in the early 1990s following their bitter armed conflicts with Georgia.
UN imposes sanctions against Iran
The UN Security Council has imposed fresh sanctions and tightened the existing ones to force Iran to abandon its uranium enrichment programme. But Teheran rejected the resolution encompassing the embargo as illegal and said it was aimed at furthering the national policies of the some member states. For the first time the resolution adopted by 15 -member council with 14 affirmative votes (Indonesia abstaining) bans trade with Iran in goods which can be used both civilian and military nuclear programmes. It also authorises the inspection of shipments to and from Iran suspected to be carrying prohibited materials by air and sea.
Colombo overcomes language problem
After a gap of several years, the government has succeeded in recruiting a number of police officers proficient in Tamil Language. 175 such police officers were recruited to serve in Eastern province as a solution to the problem faced by the Tamil- speaking people. Each police station in the East would get at least one police officer. After the escalation of the ethnic conflict post -1983, there has been a dramatic drop in the percentage of Tamil speaking officers and cadres in the Sri Lanka armed forces as well as police. Though the government has made proficiency in Sinhala and Tamil mandatory for government servants, the rule is not being implemented strictly.
Australian apology to Aborgines
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a historic apology to the Aborgines on February 13 for injustices committed over two centuries of white settlement, saying he wanted to remove a great stain from the nations soul.
The apology represented a watershed in Australias history often fraught with race relations. Many aborgines had travelled thousands of kilometres to Canberra for the occasion. And some wept as Mr. Rudd said sorry for the wrongs the original Australians endured after British settlers arrived in Sydney Cove in 1788.
Language test must for marriage visa to Britain
Inorder to protect vulnerable women from the Indian subcontinent who come to Britain through arranged marriages and find themselves exploited because they do not know English, the British government will now insist that foreigners applying for a marriage visa pass a language test. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the idea was to make sure that those who come to Britain to join their spouses were not exploited for lack of knowledge of English. There has been widespread concern over reports of exploitation of young, often semi-literate, brides from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh by their husbands or in laws. As these women cannot speak English, they are not able to approach police or social services.
Ralph Nadar joins race for American President
Consumer rights Champion, Ralph Nadar, accused by many Democrats of handing the 2000 election to Republican George W. Bush, said he was running again in this years White House Race. Mr. Nadar said that he still had a message to offer for the environment, workplace safety and against corporate interests by running as an independent candidate.
Four Oscars for No Country for Old Men
The Coen brothers completed their journey from the fringes to Hollywoods mainstream, their crime saga No country for Old Men winning four Academy Awards, including best picture, in a ceremony that also featured a strong international flavour. British actor Daniel Day - Lewis and Frances Marion Cotillard were best lead actor and actress. The supporting actor and actress prizes went to Spains Javier Bardem and British actress Tilda Swinton.
Kenyan rivals agree to form coalition
Kenyas rival leaders have agreed to form a coalition government to end a two- month political crisis that has claimed some 1,500 lives. The former UN chief Kofi Annan held talks with President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga. Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikewete who heads the African Union and former Tanzanian leader Benjamin Mkapa also attended. Government and opposition negotiators had previously failed to agree on a power - sharing deal to resolve the crisis that erupted after Mr. Odinga accused Mr. Kibaki of rigging the December 27 Presidential elections.
Thaksin back in Thailand
In a political dream come true, Thaksin Shina Watra on February 28 received a heros welcome as he returned to Thailand after 17 - months of self-imposed exile following his ouster in a bloodless military coup. Mr. Thaksin was at the United Nations when he was toppled , and he stayed in England for most part of his exile, although he did travel to a number of other countries as well.
Madhesi leaders withdraw Terai agitation
The Nepal Government and the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) signed an eighth point agreement on February 28 ending the 16 day long Madhesh movement and clearing the way for the constituent Assembly election.
Chemical Alis execution approved
Ali Hassan al-Majid, whose execution for genocide was approved by the Iraqi Presidency after months of delay. A cousin of Saddam, Majid earned the Macabre nick name Chemical Ali for ordering poisonous gas attacks in a brutal campaign of bombings and mass deportation that left about 182,00 Kurds dead in the 1980s. On June 24 last year, Majid was condemned to hang for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes by Iraqs High Tribunal.
US prescribes Bangladesh outfit
The United States has declared Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (Huji-B) a terrorist organisation. Through an executive order, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice designated the extremist outfit as a foreign terrorist organisation and a specially designated global terrorist outfit. The group is notorious for carrying out attacks on unsuspecting targets. It is widely believed that Huji-B leader was one of the signatories of the February 1998 fatwa issued by Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden that declared American civilians legitimate targets for attack.
Samy Velu lost his parliamentary seat
Malaysian Indian Congress President Samy Velu lost his long-held parliamentary seat in March 8th general election, causing a leadership vacuum among the two million ethnic Indians, who form about eight per cent of the population in the southeast Asian country. Samy Velus defeat, at the hands of D. Jeyakumar of Parlikeadilan Rakyat, came amid a series of upset for the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition of race-based parties.
Socialist Party win election in Spain
Spanish premier Jose Louis Rodriguez Zapateros Socialist Party (PSOE) won a victory in Spains most contentious election so far. But failed to get an outright majority (176 seats). The PSOE improved its seat count from 164 to 169 in the 350-member Parliament.
Faster train unveiled in France
Frances Alstom unveiled a new generation of faster high- speed trains to keep ahead of rival siemens and Bombardier in the multi- billion dollar rail transport market. The proto type AVG, a successor to Frances hall mark TGV fast trains, will have a commercial speed of 360kmph versus 320 for current models.
China to tighten control over virtual communities
China has said that it will tighten its control and increase surveillance over virtual communities on the internet, by including cyberspace under its annual work guidelines for the first time. The countrys foremost authority on social order, the central committee for comprehensive management of public security, said supervision of virtual communities coupled with the goal of cleansing the cyber environment was among its work priorities for the current year. However, it didnot explain what exactly virtual communities and the proposed steps.
Turkey lifts ban on head scarves
The Turkish Parliament approved constitutional amendments that would lift decade - old ban on Islamic headscarves at Turkeys Universities, despite fierce opposition from the secular establishment. Headscarves have long been prohibited at universities in predom inantly Muslim but fiercely secular Turkey, a country seeking to join the European Union.
Amy Winehouse sweeps Grammys
British Pop singer Amy Winehouse, whose rapid decline into an abyss of drug abuse shocked fans last year, won five Grammy Awards on February 10 after taking a break from rehab to perform at the show from London. But Jazz Veteran Herbie Hancock was the surprise winner of the coveted album of the year award for all -star Joni Mitchell Tribute River : The Joint Letters, preventing Ms Winehouse from enjoying a historic clean sweep of the four Grammy prizes. Ms. Winehouses Back to Black and Wests Graduation, both commercial and critical success, were considered the front - runners for album of the year.
Fidel Castro steps down
Fidel Castro steps down as the President of Cuba on Jan.19, 2008 at the age of 81. He held a world record longevity in office due to his unshakable self-confidence and the ability to lead the country to victory from defeat. Castro dodged everything his enemies threw at him in almost 50 years in power, including assassination plots, a US -backed invasion and a punishing US trade embargo.
Palestinians breach Israeli blockade
Israels effort to enforce a blockade around Gaza suffered a major setback when tens of thousands of Palestinians flooded into Egypt after demolishing large parts of the border wall. Reacting to the virtual Israeli siege of Gaza over a few days in the third weeks of January, Palestinian militants blew up dozens of holes in the wall demarcating Gazas border with Egypt. Deprived of essential commodities, Palestinians crossed into Egypt in droves. The unexpected Palestinian move appeared to have pushed Israel on the back foot. Israeli authorities decided to isolate Gaza to deter attacks by Qassam rockets launched by Palestinian groups from the coastal strips.
Blast killed 60 in Algeria
Explosions in the Algerian capital, Algiers, have targeted U.N. Officers and the constitutional court killed atleast 60
persons. Algeria has faced a number of bomb attacks in 2007. More than 50 persons died when a suicide truck bomber drove his vehicle into a coast guard base in September. It was the worst of a series of bombings in the capital and other major Algerian cities this year. All the past attacks were claimed by Al- Qaeda.
China unveils 300 kmph train
The first bullet train designed and manufactured in China with a speed of 300km per hour rolled off the production line on December 22. The train was the latest model in the countrys China Railway High Speed (CRH) series. Previously, Chinas fastest indigenously - developed trains ran at a speed of up to 250km per hour. Those trains, which debuted on April 18, 2007 serve the Beijing Harbin, Beijing - Shanghai and Beijing - Guangzhou routes. Japan drops humback hunt Japan has suspended the first humback whale hunt in seas off Antarctica since the 1960s. In doing this, the government has backed down in an esclalating international battle over the expansion of its hunt. Japan dropped the planned talking of 50 humpbacks - which have been off - limits to commercial hunting since 1966 - on the urging of the U.S. , the chair of International Whaling commission. Kenyas Kibaki re-elected Kenyas Mwai Kibaki was re-elected President of Kenya after tight election but his opposition challenger accused him of stealing victory, promoting fears of widespread unrest. Election Commission of Kenya said official results credited Kibaki with 4,584,721 votes to the 4,352,993 mustered by opposition challenger Raila Odinga. Nepal monarchy to disappear In a landmark move, Nepals interim parliament voted to abolish the Worlds last Hindu monarchy, putting its stamp of approval on an agreement between the Maoists and the government to end the current political stalemate. The motion was passed by a majority of 270 votes against three in the 329 member parliament. The decision to declare Nepal a democratic federal republic will, however, be subject to ratification by the constituent Assembly to be elected by mid- April. Pro- Thaksin party wins in Thailand The Pro-Thaksin Peoples Power Party has emerged as winner in Thailands general elections, on December 23, though it failed to get an absolute majority in the 480 seat lower house of parliament. Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in a bloodless coup last year in September and has been in England in self-imposed exile. Thaksin owns the Manchester City Football Club. He is still widely popular with the masses in Thailand. PPP campaigned on a platform of bringing Thaksin back from exile in London.
Super cyclone killed hundreds in Bangladesh
The Supercyclone Sidr ripped through Bangladeshs Southern Coastline in the second week of November killed hundreds of people and cause the destruction of property. The strongest -ever wind accompanied by high tidal surge after the 1991 great cyclone in which 1,40,000 persons died, also left thousands of persons injured and scores of houses and crop fields damaged. Hundreds of fishing boats have failed to return to the shore as yet. The deadly cyclone cut off communications and electricity all over Bangladesh.
AFP award to honour Kate Webb
The News Agency, Agence France- Press has launched an award to celebrate the life and career of legendary foreign correspondent Kate Webb, who chronicled the wars, disasters and coups that forged modern Asia. The Kate Webb Award was set up in memory of the reporter who died of cancer in May. She covered many of Asias Seminal events of the past four decades, including the fall of Saigon in 1975, the rise of Khmer Rouge and the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. The grant, which will be run by the AFP Foundation will be announced each year on March 24, Kates birthday. Webb worked for AFP for 16 years, covering Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, South Korea and Afghanistan.
Pakistan suspended from Commonwealth
Pakistan was suspended from Commonwealth countries association, pending the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in that country. The decision was taken on November 22 by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG). Suspension essentially means Pakistans exclusion from governmental commonwealth meetings and other inter-governmental activities. The CMAG decision was endorsed by the Head of the Delegation meeting in the first executive session, soon after Queen Elizabeth II addressed the formal Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit, 2007 held in Kampala,
Uganda.
Labour sweeps polls in Australia
Australias Labor leader Kevin Rudd, a Mandarin - speaking former diplomat, swept into power in national elections on November 24 on a wave of support for generational change, ending 11 years of conservative rule. Conservative Prime Minister John Howard failed to win even his own parliamentary seat, which he has held since 1974. He is the first prime minister since 1929 to lose his constituency. Mr. Rudd, (50) presented himself as a new generation leader by promising to pull Australian combat troops out of Iraq and sign the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, further isolating Washington on both issue.
Russia tops in literacy test
Russian Children ranked first in overall reading achievement with the highest score of 565, closely followed by their peers in Hong Kong, Canada and Singapore (the worst result showed by South Africa was 302). This is the findings of The Progress in International Reading Literacy study, conducted in 2006 by Boston College. The study assessed ability to read and comprehend literary and informational texts of 215,000 fourth grade students of about 10 years of age from 40 countries. The brilliant performance of Russian children has been the result of great strides in primary schooling in Russia as the country bounced back from the post-Soviet crisis of the 1990s. Neither India nor China took part in the Project.
Chavezs referendum defeated
Voters in Venezuela narrowly defeated a proposed overhaul to the constitution in a contentious referendum over granting President Hugo Chavez sweeping new powers. It was the first major electoral defeat in the nine years of his Presidency. Voters rejected the 69 proposed amendments 51 to 49 percent. The defeat slows Mr. Chavezs Socialist - inspired transformation of the country. Venezuela, once a staunch ally of the United States, has become a leading opponent of the British administrations policies in the developing world.
U.S. report clears Iran on N-weapons
American Intelligence Agencies undercut the White House on December 3 by disclosing that Iran has not been pursuing a nuclear weapons development programme for the last four years. The disclosure make it harder for President George Bush and Vice-President Dick Chenny to make a case for a military strike against Iran. It also makes it more difficult to persuade countries such as Russia and China to join the U.S. Britain and France in imposing a new round of sanctions on Tehran. The U.S. National Security Estimate disclosed that Tehran had halted its nuclear weapons programme in 2003 and had not restarted it. Two years ago, the estimate reached a different conclusion saying Iran was still developing its nuclear weapons programme.
Malaysian Indians protest for equal rights
A group, called the Hindu Rights Action Force, on November 25 defied a court order and staged a rally in Kulau Lumpur, protesting against the alleged marginalisation of the ethnic Indian minority in Malaysia. The group had mobilised at least a few thousand activists in a rare show of defiance by the members of the community. The rally for equal rights was actually planned as part of a move to submit a petition to the British Embassy. Malaysian Indians today member about eight percent of the countrys population.
India rejects OIC comments
India has rejected the comments on Jammu and Kashmir in the final document of the recent organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) summit at Dakar, Senegal, saying the forces has no locus standi in matters concerning its internal affairs. The Secretary General of the 57 - member Organisation, Ekmeleddin Ibansoglu, described Kashmir as a pressing and burning political dispute. India also took exception to the OICs concern over the alarming increase in discriminate use of force and gross violation of human rights committed against innocent Kashmiris and regret that India was not allowing a fact - finding mission to visit the state.
