israel

Israel

Common borders with Egypt, Jordan,Syria,Lebanon 





“OpIsrael” affects 650 Israeli websites
• In an operation “OpIsrael” online activist group Anonymous recently hacked number of websites of Israeli
state agencies and a top bank to protest against Israel’s deadly air assault on Gaza.








which among the following country has successfully tested an
upgraded version of its "Iron Dome" missile defence system?
[A]Iran
[B]Israel
[C]North Korea
[D]Syria
Israel
The Israeli air force has successfully tested an upgraded version of its “Iron Dome”
missile defence system, the Defence Ministry has said. This test constitutes a new
success in the project to strengthen the Iron Dome’s performance. Israel has
invested an enormous budget to finance the different missile defence systems that
should allow us to protect the whole of our territory within a few years. The first Iron
Dome battery was installed in March 2011 near Beersheva in the Negev desert
region, 40 km (25 miles) from the Gaza Strip, and has intercepted more than 100
rockets since then. Southern Israel is regularly targeted by rocket attacks from
Palestinian Hamas-controlled Gaza, to which it often responds with air raids. The
Iron Dome system is developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, a public
arms company based in the northern town of Haifa, and part-funded by the US. The
Israeli missile defence programme includes other systems, including Arrow, which
is for ballistic missiles, and David’s Sling, for medium-range attacks.

ASIA

LANDLOCKED COUNTRY-----HUNGARY

Vietnam does tit for tat by issuing stapled visas to Chinese passport holders

November 27th, 2012

Vietnam paid back in same terms what China did to Vietnam. The country issued stapled visas with for Chinese for passport holders on separate paper, to counter China’s map on its new e-passports showing disputed areas as part of its territory. Previously, China had issued passports with maps displaying islands in the South China Sea as part of Chinese territory.

Recently China issued passports with map showing Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as part of China for which the two countries are holding periodic talks to resolve the border dispute.

In reply to this, Indian Embassy started stamping the Chinese passports with official map of India

the following country is gearing up to find out about the state of its
people’s happiness through second Gross National Happiness (GNH) survey?
[A]Nepal
[B]Bhutan
[C]China
[D]Vietnam
Bhutan
Bhutan is again gearing up to find out about the state of its people’s happiness
through a survey, for which an exhaustive questionnaire is now being prepared. The
exercise to refine the questionnaire for Gross National Happiness (GNH) survey was
as abstract as the subject itself. The second GNH survey questionnaire has been
prepared by the Centre for Bhutan Studies (CBS).It runs into a staggering 43 pages,
with 249 questions under nine domains and 124 variables, including 10
demographic questions.





the following country, the International Union for Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) has conducted an international conference: ‘Hydro-diplomacy: A Tool
for Sharing Water Across Borders’ ?
[A]Thailand
[B]India
[C]Malaysia
[D]Cambodia
Thailand
IUCN conducted the conference: ‘Hydro-diplomacy: A Tool for Sharing Water
Across Borders’ on 31 October in Chiang Rai, Thailand. More than 100 diplomats,
political scientists, economists, and water resources professionals from over 25
countries discussed complexities and ways forward in hydro-diplomacy, in particular
in trans- boundary river basins.







ISRAEL----------HAS COMMON BORDERS WITH LEBANON,SYRIA,JORDON,EGYPT

HONGKONG

5 LAKH PEOPLE DEMOSTRATED AROUND THE MIDDLE OF 2003 AGAIGNST THE HONG KONG GOVT PLAN TO IMPOSE AN INTERNAL SECURITY LAW

myanmar

STATES OF INDIA HAVING COMMON BORDER WITH MYANMAR ----MIZORAM,MANIPUR, NAGALAND, ARUNACHAL PRADESH

Myanmar’s first Vice President Tin Aung Myint Oo resigned on 4 July 2012 due to health reasons. The move, which is expected to begin a broader reshuffle in the government, could see the appointment of some more reformers to Myanmar's cabinet.

Tin Aung Myint Oo, a former army general is widely regarded as a hard-liner. He took over as the vice president in 2011 after being selected by a bloc of military officers in the country's legislature.

The resignation of  Tin Aung Myint Oo is likely to accelerate the pace of economic change in Myanmar after the European Union and the US began lifting their longstanding economic sanctions against the country during the past several months.

the following is the winner of 2012 Amnesty
International Ambassador of Conscience Award--------]Aung San
Suu Kyi

The Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi received, the US Congress highest Civilian Honour at a ceremony organized in the Capitol Rotunda on 19 September 2012, before her meet with the US president Barack Obama. Before her, the recipient of this award includes George Washington, Pope John Paul II and Dalai Lama-the Tibetan Buddhist Leader. During her 15 year long house arrest against the military rule in Myanmar, she received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2008.

Other awards received by Suu Kyi before the US Congress highest Civilian medal are:

1. Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in the year 1990
2. Rafto Prize in the year 1990
3. Nobel Peace Prize in the year 1991
4. The government of India awarded her with Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in the year 1992
5. The government of Venezuela awarded her with International Simón Bolívar Prize
6. The Government of Canada in 2007 awarded her with Honorary citizenship, she was among the only four people by then to receive the award
7. She won Wallenberg Medal in 2011

US eases sanctions on Myanmar
US declared easement of sanctions against Myanmar. Some travel and financial
sanctions would be eased and thus now senior Myanmar officials will now be able
to visit the United States and US will open a development office in Myanmar. The
EU is also considering a similar package.
Why USA and EU are considering an ease in sanctions over Myanmar?
The declaration for easing of sanctions against Myanmar from US as a result of the
National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi winning a seat in
Parliament and her party sweeping the by-elections for the Myanmar’s lower house of Parliament. US and EU have
been propounders of a popular and Democratically elected Government in Myanmar. With the election of Aung San
Suu Kyi in Myanmar Parliament, they are now assured that AALL IS WELL in Myanmar now.
April 5, 2012
Suu Kyi’s NLD party wins majority, main opposition in Myanmar
In Myanmar, the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) announced that its leader Aung San Suu
Kyi has won a seat in the bi-election for the country’s lower house of Parliament. NLD party has also
claimed to have swept most of the 45 Parliamentary seats for which bi-elections were held. But, this
announcement has not been affirmed officially so far. Ms Aung San Suu Kyi spent over 15 years under
house-arrest after the military annulled her party’s landslide general election victory in 1990. The NLD
contended in elections the first time since 1990.
What role did India play during the Elections?
For the first time international observers have been allowed to monitor the elections and playing its role in the
elections, India also had designated two senior election officials and its Ambassador to Myanmar to supervise the
elections.

Kachin State  is the northern most state of Burma. It is bordered by China to the north and east. The area of Kachin State is 89,041 km²(34,379 sq mi). The capital of the state is Myitkyina. Other important towns include Bhamo. Kachin State has Myanmar’s highest mountain, Hkakabo Razi, forming the southern tip of the Himalayas, and a large inland lake, Indawgyi Lake. 

The Kachin ethnic rebels, who are recently in news are found in ____________?

Myanmar
Recently, Kachin ethnic rebels in northern Myanmar said that military air attacks
against them are continuing. The Kachin, like Myanmar's other ethnic minorities,
have long sought greater autonomy from the central government. They are the only
major ethnic rebel group that has not reached a cease-fire agreement with elected
President Thein Sein's reformist government, which came to power in 2011 after
almost five decades of military rule.








Australia to lift some sanctions on Myanmar
Australia has decided to lift sanctions against Myanmar’s President and more than 200 others who are at present
under travel and financial bans.
The declaration follows a series of reforms in Myanmar in 2011.
 Australia announced that some 130 names will still continue on the restricted list, counting senior members of
the military and others alleged of human rights abuses.
The decision comes just days after British PM David Cameron and Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi
issued a mutual call for the suspension of sanctions. The EU foreign ministers are also likely to act on the issue
soon.
 Norway has also decided to lift economic sanctions against Myanmar, whilst keeping the arms embargo and
limitations on military cooperation in force.

turkey

which among the following governments has entered into a dialogue
with imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan in order to convince the
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to disarm?
[A]Saudi Arabia
[B]Turkey
[C]Afghanistan
[D]Egypt
Turkey
The Kurdish insurgency, now three decades old, has resulted in the deaths of some
40,000 people (mostly civilians) in the heavily Kurdish southeastern part of Turkey.
Last year, the conflict between the Turkish military and Kurdish guerrillas based in
northern Iraq intensified with a series of tit-for-tat attacks. Turkish security forces
killed almost 1,500 Kurdish guerillas last year alone. The PKK has sought to
establish an independent Kurdish homeland. Recently, the Turkish government has
entered into a dialogue with imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan in
order to convince the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to disarm.







Turkey cuts off 20% oil imports from Iran amid US sanctions
20% of its Oil imports from Iran have been cut-off by Turkey. This was done in the wake of US Sanctions. Turkey’s
national oil company ‘Tupras’ held that the move follows an evaluation to
reduce crude purchases from Iran by 20%.
EU, which is halting Iranian oil imports from July 1, 2012 is also taking up other
sanctions that also make it harder for other countries to import Iranian oil.
In early March 2012, US granted exemptions to financial institutions from
Japan and 10 EU nations for reducing dependency on oil imports from Iran.

Now Turkey, which imports one third of its oil from Iran is seeking a similar exemption.
Turkish asserted that it would try to make up for lower imports from Iran by buying more crude from Libya.

bangladesh

Bangladesh’s Worst-Ever Fire Accident Claimed Several Lives

The worst industrial fire accident took place on 24 November 2012 in Bangladesh at Ashulia at Savar which is approximately 30 km away from Dhaka. In the history of Bangladesh, this is the most devastating fire accident which claimed several lives. The fire which broke out due to unexplained reasons started at Tazreen Fashion near the Dhaka Export Processing Zone and soon engulfed the ground floor and first floor of the multi-storey building.

The government of Bangladesh constituted inquiry committee in order to find out the cause of this worst-ever fire accident. Concerned authorities were directed for proper medical treatment to the injured.

SHEKH HASINA----

Bangladesh scientists decoded the genome of the fungus Macrophomina phaseolinaare and confident that the breakthrough will help tackle an organism that blights valuable crop plants such
as jute, rice, cotton, maize and soybean.








Bangladesh Army foils coup attempt
 The Bangladesh foils a planned coup attempt to topple the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
 It has been announced by the Brigadier General Muhammad Masud Razzaq.
 General Razzaq said that specific information has been unearthed that some officers in military service have been involved in the conspiracy to topple the system of democratic governance and some unruly and derailed military officers have been actively engaged in the execution of the heinous conspiracy through maintaining contacts with a fugitive officer who is a Major.
 Two former army officers have been arrested so far, a manhunt has been launched for the fugitive officer while some 16 others were kept under strict military vigil.











Russia & Bangladesh ink MOU’s for Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant
Bangladesh and Russia inked two MoU’s as a measure to step up co-operation to build Bangladesh’s first nuclear power plant. According to the MOUs:
 Russia will assist Bangladesh in developing the human resource required in nuclear power sector which include different tiers of managerial, technical and operational personnel, and finally developing broad-based academic and training capabilities in Bangladesh
 Information Centres will be established in Bangladesh to generate awareness among people, especially the
younger generation, on various aspects of nuclear energy and nuclear power plants, including functioning,
maintenance and safety measures in the nuclear plants
 Bangladesh has passed its first Atomic Energy Control Bill-2012 containing provisions to set up the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority in direction to build the country’s first Nuke plant in Roopur with 2 Nuclear reactors each with a capacity of 1000 Megawatt

nepal

Nepal Elected as a Board Member of the ECOSOC

Nepal was elected on 8 November 2012 as a board member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for a three year term starting from January 2013. Nepal along with seventeen other countries was elected as board members. Nepal was elected with 131 votes out of the total 194 in the UN General Assembly.

The fifty-four member ESOSOC is one of the principal organs of the UN which coordinates the economic, social and related work of the UN and its specialized agencies and institutions.

Nepal elected to UN ECOSOC board

November 11th, 2012

United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

Nepal along with 17 other countries were elected board members of ECOSOC by the UN General Assembly for a three-year term starting in January 2013.

ECOSOC is a 54 member body and is one of the principal organs of the UN.

ECOSOC coordinates the economic, social and related work of the UN and its specialized agencies and institutions.

ECOSOC has broad responsibility for some 70% of the human and financial resources of the entire UN system, including its 14 specialized agencies, ´functional´ commissions and five regional commissions

Nepal to launch nationwide malaria control programme
The Govt of Nepal to launch a nationwide programme in May 2012 in order to check the spread of malaria in Nepal.
Under the malaria control programme, the government of Nepal will provide drugs to 5 lakh people to kill mosquitoes
in malaria prone districts. As per a study, nearly 20 Million people in 65 districts in Nepal are at risk of being stricken
with malaria.










US announces $ 6million grant to Nepal
US announced a $ 6million dollar grant to Nepal. It is for the school feeding program in Nepal. It will continue to
provide mid-day meals for over 2 lakh children at 1,800 schools in 11 districts of Nepal for the next 3 years.













Nepal gets $20 million as loan from OFID
The OPEC Fund for International Development Fund (OFID) will provide a loan help of $20 million to Nepal.
 The loan is aimed at assisting Nepal’s Rural Connectivity and Community Development Project
 It will be utilized to promote rural, economic and social development through small scale infrastructure and
capacity building sub- projects




country's Constituent Assembly recently expired without
delivering a constitution-----------]Nepal








President of Nepal Ram Baran Yadav removes Prime Minister
Baburam Bhattarai
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai removed by Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav.
Why President demanded PM’s resignation?
The Parliament was dissolved over its inability to deliver a new constitution by the 27 May 2012 deadline. Thus, the
PM was directed by the president to resign as he was no longer a member of the House.

thailand

Yingiluck Shinawatra: First Woman Prime Minister of Thailand
Yingluck Shinawatra (Leader of Pheu Thai Party and Sister of ousted Premier
Thakshin Shinawatra)
Yingluck Shinawatra became the First Woman Prime Minister of Thailand
Yingluck, dubbed as Thaksin Shinawatra's political proxy, will be the 28th prime
minister of the country
General elections were the first key electoral test for Government since mass
demonstrations by Thaksin's "Red Shirt" supporters last year paralysed
Bangkok and caused the worst political violence in decades

taiwan

Ma Ying-jeou re-elected president of Taiwan
 Ma Ying-jeou has been re-elected as President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for a four year term.

 Ma had previously won the presidency by 58.45% of the popular vote in the presidential election of 2008, and
has been recently re-elected in 2012 with 51.5% of the vote.

pakistan

 successfully test-fired the nuclear-capable Babur cruise missile with a range of 700 km----Pakistan


The flood hazard in Pakistan during July 2010 is due to the flood in Indus


The United States administration has recently announced
exempting India, South Korea, and five other countries from Iran oil sanctions.
Which among the following is not a country among the five others? [A]Pakistan
[B]Turkey [C]Malaysia [D]South Africa
Pakistan Besides India, South Korea, Malaysia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey and
Taiwan got exemptions

Pakistan test fires nuclear-capable ballistic missile with a range of 1,300 kilometres
• Hatf V Ghauri missile, a liquid fuel and a nuclear-capable ballistic missile with a range of 1,300 kilometres
was test fired by Pakistan recently.
• It can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.

Bhagat Singh Chowk: Is the new name of Shadman Chowk located in the Eastern City of Lahore (Pakistan)

The Shadman Chowk in the eastern city of Lahore (Pakistan) on 29 September 2012 was renamed as Bhagat Singh Chowk on the 105th birth anniversary of the revolutionary freedom fighter and martyr, Bhagat Singh. This came up in result of the demand from the peace activists for renaming the Chowk by the name of Bhagat Singh. Noorul Amin Mengal, the District Coordination Officer directed the City District Government to rename Shadman Chowk as Bhagat Singh Chowk.

It was Shadman Chowk roundabout, where Bhagat Singh along with his two companions Sukhdev Singh and Rajguru were hanged on 23 March 1931 in the then Lahore Jail for their alleged involvement in the Lahore Conspiracy Case. Till 1947, the Chowk was named after the name of Bhagat Singh, later it was renamed to be Shadman Chowk.

Bhagat Singh

Bhagat Singh born of 28 September 1907 and hanged on 23 March 1931, was one of the greatest martyrs of the Indian Freedom Struggle against the British Empire. He has been termed as the most influential revolutionists of his time in the Indian History. Referred to be a Saheed, Bhagat singh as a teenager studied the revolutionary movements of European Countries and was attracted towards the Marxists and Anarchist thoughts.

Some of the revolutionary acts of Bhagat Singh 1. Killed the then Assistant Superintendent of Police John P. Saunders in a plot to kill the Superintendent of Police James A. Scott
2. In 1915, when the British Government planned to implement the Defence India Act, 1915 Bhagat Singh along with Batukeshwar Dutt threw 2 bombs in the visitor’s gallery of the Central Legislative Hall shouting Inquilab Zindabad and showered leaflets to with slogans against the Public Safety and Trades Dispute Bills. Both surrendered themselves in the hands of British police claiming the incident was intentional (this act was done in the influence of the news about the French anarchist who threw a bomb in the French Chamber of Deputies)

Hunger strike and Lahore conspiracy case
1. He along with few more revolutionaries went on a hunger strike of 116 days to protest against the inequalities, which were being done against the Indian Prisoners to that of the British Prisoners in the jail premises.
2. On 7 October 1930, a three hundred page judgment by the tribunal that he faced along with the duo Rajguru and Sukhdev declared their sentence of being hanged till death in the Lahore Conspiracy Case
3. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, the trio were hanged on 24 March 1931 few hours before the original time decided on the Shadman Chowk again renamed as Bhagat Singh Chowk in Lahore.

Bhagat Singh’s Dairy and Pamphlet
1. During his term in jail and by the time he was hanged, the martyr who had the habit of maintaining a dairy wrote 404 pages. Views from Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels were the prominent ones available in the dairy.
2. In the prison he also wrote a small pamphlet with title Why I am an Atheist.

Pakistani scientist Dr. Khalil Chishti released from Ajmer Jail
Who is Dr. Khalil Chisti?
Dr. Khalil Chishti an octogenarian old virologist from Karanchi, Pakistan released from Ajmer central Jail
on bail. The Supreme Court has granted him bail.
In 1992, Khalil was imprisoned in a murder case. Khalil came to visit attend a marriage at the city of his
birth, Ajmer in 1992. But he got caught in a wrangle b/w two sets of relatives; one person was shot dead. Dr Chishti
Current Affairs Published on www.gktoday.in from January 1, 2012 to
September 10, 2012
was arrested, although he dissented all through that he was but a looker-on. The trial took 18 years; in 2010 he was
awarded life-imprisonment for murder.
Now, the Supreme Court has granted him bail and but Khalil’s passport will be seized during for the bail Period and he
will not allowed to leave Ajmer. SC however, held that it would hear a fresh appeal from him to return to Pakistan.
What Dr. Khalil’s release can bring for India?









Pakistan Test Fires Hatf-II
‘Hatf-II’ a nuclear capable short range ballistic missile test fired by Pakistan
Pakistan test-fired the Hatf-II:
 Nuclear capable
 Short range 180 Kms (113 Miles)
 Surface-to-surface ballistic missile
The Hatf-II will furnish an operational level capability to Pakistan’s Strategic Forces in addition to the strategic and
tactical level capability already possessed by Pakistan. The short range ballistic missile can hit targets in India. It was
test-fired as a part of the process of substantiating land-based missile systems of Pakistan.







Pakistan approves resolution for resetting country’s troubled ties
with US
Pakistan’s parliament has collectively sanctioned a resolution for readjusting the country’s disturbed ties with the US.
Pakistan’s Parliament has demanded the government to seek from US a civil nuclear deal akin to the one extended to
India. The resolution adopted by a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the Senate contended that the Indo-US
civil nuclear agreement had "significantly altered" the strategic balance in the region.
Amongst the 14 recommendations in the resolution adopted, one of them recommends that the dialogue process with
India should be extended in a meaningful and result-oriented fashion and efforts should be made to settle the Kashmir
issue in conformity with UN resolutions.








Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam assumes ISI DG charge
In Pakistan, Lieutenant General Zaheerul Islam took over the charge of Director General of ISI (Inter Services
Intelligence). He replaced Lt. Gen. Shuja Pasha who retired.




Pakistan successfully test fires Hatf-9 Nasr missile
 Pakistan successfully test-fired a short-range Hatf 9 (Nasr) missile
 Range: 60 km
 Capable of carrying nuclear weapons
 Pakistan’s 3rd ballistic missile test since April 2012, after India successfully test-fired the inter-continental Agni 5
missile
 Pakistan already has nuclear-capable Hatf-IV with a range of 1000 km, nuclear-capable Hatf-III, with a range of
290 km





Pak successfully test-fires Hatf IV, Shaheen 1A missile
Pakistan successfully test-fired long-range Hatf IV, Shaheen 1A ballistic missile in the Indian Ocean. The missile’s range
and technical parameters have been improved while it is capable of carrying nuclear warhead.
Pakistan has tested the long-range missile just a week after India test fired its first ICBM (Inter-Continental Ballistic
Missile) Agni-V on April 18, 2012.









Pak SC annuls New Law Protecting the Prime Minister

Supreme Court of Pakistan annulled the new Contempt of Court Act 2012(COCA 2012) which was brought in to protect
the new prime minister from being charged with contempt and removed from his office like his predecessor Yousuf
Rza Gilani.
Previous PM Yousuf Raza Gilani was ousted from the office on the charges of contempt of court as he failed to restart
corruption investigation against President Asif Zardari.








Pakistan confers Sitara-i-Imtiaz on Gopi Chand Narang
Pakistan government conferred Sitara-i-Imtiaz honor on Urdu author, Gopi Chand Narang . The honor is the third
highest civilian honor given by the nation.
Nishan-i-Imtiaz is the highest civil honor of Pakistan which it had bestowed on former Prime Minister Morarji Desai
and matinee idol Dilip Kumar in the past.
Gopi Chand Narang was born in Dukki, Pakistan. He is an Indian scholar of Urdu language and literature, an prominent
Urdu writer, scholar, critic and linguist. He is author of many books in Urdu, Hindi and English.




Pakistan confers Nisan-i-Imtiaz on Saadat Hasan Manto
Pakistan Govt conferred its highest civilian honor Nisan-i-Imtiaz on famous Pakistani writer Saadat Hasan Manto.
Manto is popular for his Urdu short stories, especially those that explored the impact of the partition of the
subcontinent into India and Pakistan in 1947.

Some of his famous short stories include Toba Tek Singh, Bu (Odour), Khol Do (Open It) and Thanda Gosht (Cold
Meat).
Pakistan earlier conferred Sitara-i-Imtiaz on Gopi Chand Narang
Pakistan government conferred Sitara-i-Imtiaz honor on Urdu author, Gopi Chand Narang . The honor is the third
highest civilian honor given by the nation. Nishan-i-Imtiaz is the highest civil honor of Pakistan which it had bestowed
on former Prime Minister Morarji Desai and matinee idol Dilip Kumar in the past.
Gopi Chand Narang was born in Dukki, Pakistan. He is an Indian scholar of Urdu language and literature, an prominent
Urdu writer, scholar, critic and linguist. He is author of many books in Urdu, Hindi and English.










Terrorist attack Pakistan’s Kamra air base
Pakistan’s security structure was breached when terrorists belonging Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacked
Pakistan Air Force’s Minhas Base in Kamra (a two-hour drive from Islamabad). Although all the terrorists were killed in
the battle, the assault killed more than a dozen security personnel and destruction of three JF-17 thunder aircrafts. The
attack was done to avenge the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Karma air base: It is located in the North Punjab district of Attock and has Pakistan Aeronautical Complex where
Mirage and the JF-17 thunder jets are assembled.





Women's panel renamed by Pakistan
Pakistan's National Commission on the Status of Women to be known as the 'National
Commission for Women'
An autonomous body following the devolution of the ministry of women's development





Pakistan: Army coup fears loom large
 Pakistan Government calls for an urgent session of Parliament in the wake of a warning from the Supreme Court.
 The Supreme Court has said that action could be taken against the President and the Prime Minister for failing to
reopen high-profile corruption cases.
 At the same time, Pakistan Army warns Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani of grievous consequences for his
recent criticism of the military and the ISI.
 In another move, the Pakistan Army brought in Brigadier Sarfaraz Ali as the new commander of a Rawalpindibased
army unit that has traditionally played a vital role in military coups.
 Prime Minister Gilani sacked Defence Secretary Naeem Khalid Lodhi with immediate effect for gross misconduct
and illegal action. Cabinet Secretary Nargis Sethi was given additional charge of the post of Defence Secretary.
The Army officials have warned that the army will not cooperate with the new Defence Secretary.

PAKISTAN

TESTED NUCLEAR CAPABLE HATF 7 CRUISE MISSILE

Pakistan’s Parliament passes a pro-democracy Resolution
 The Parliament of Pakistan has passed a pro-democracy resolution which gives a moral booster for the
beleaguered government that is haunted by the graft issues and the so called memogate controversy.
 The resolution, introduced by a junior partner of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, was passed by a two-thirds
majority in the 342-member National Assembly.
 In the backdrop of government’s confrontation with the military and the judiciary over the memo scandal and
the reopening of high-profile graft cases, PPP’s coalition partners reposed full confidence in Pakistan Prime
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and decided that he will appear in the Supreme Court to face the contempt notice.

china

Which among the following countries has the largest recoverable resources of
Shale gas?
[A]China
[B]United States
[C]Argentina
[D]Mexico
China
China has greater incentives to develop its shale gas resources. According to the
U.S. Energy Department’s Energy Information Administration, the country’s
recoverable resources are larger than those of the United States at 36 trillion cubic
meters.

PetroChina agreed to buy Stake in Encana Natural Gas Project

PetroChina in the third week of December 2012 agreed to buy a 49.9 percent stake in Canadian firm Encana's natural gas project in Alberta for 2.2 billion dollars. The project contains supplies equivalent to nearly nine billion barrels of oil. It is considered the latest investment in an overseas oil and gas resource by a Chinese firm. PetroChina, is China’s biggest oil and gas producer.

Moreover, PetroChina announced it would buy BHP Billiton's stake in an Australian liquefied natural gas project. Significantly, another Chinese firm, CNOOC, got approval from Canadian government in December 2012 to take over oil firm Nexen.

The CNOOC-Nexen deal valued at15.1billion dollars, was China's largest overseas takeover. It shows the increasing Chinese influence on the Canadian oil and gas industry

China successfully performs landing on aircraft carrier ‘The Liaoning’

November 27th, 2012

China successfully conducted first landing of a fighter jet on its first aircraft carrier ‘the Liaoning’. China purchased the aircraft carrier fromUkraine.
The successful flight landing also marked the debut of J-15 as China’s first generation multi-purpose carrier-borne fighter jet.

About J-15:

• designed and made by China
• can carry multi-type anti-ship, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, as well as precision-guided bombs.

The current advancement comes as China and Japan are embroiled in a dispute over islands they both claim. The dispute over the East China Sea islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China,
has impacted bilateral relations. China is also confronted in a similar maritime territorial dispute with Vietnam and the Philippines in the resource-rich South China Sea

MAJOR ETHNIC PEOPLE ---HAN


falun gong is a spiritual movement in china against the chinese authorities

China irked by India-Japan-US meet

November 2nd, 2012

Strategic Analyst and media outlets of China have expressed chariness at the India, Japan and the U.S. trilateral meet held in New Delhi describing it as aimed at wielding pressure on China over its regional aspirations.

Why China is wary of this trilateral meet?

• Strategic Analyst and media in China are of the view that this meet has been held to exert strategic pressure on China.
• As per them, the US wants to suppress the economic rise of China and therefore it is looking for financial support from other countries.
• They see Japan’s role in this meet is to put strategic pressure regarding ongoing tensions over the disputed Diaoyu or Senkaku islands in the East China Sea.
• They view India as one who wants to gain from building further pressure so that China softens its stance over border issues with India. 

Xi Jinping: China’s new leader

Xi Jinping, elected as the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Xi Jinping is the paramount leader of the People’s Republic of China, who holds the positions of:

• Vice President of China
• General Secretary of the Communist Party of China
• Chairman of the Central Military Commission
• President of the Central Party School
• The first member of the CPC Politburo Standing Committee, China’s de facto top power organ.

Who is a paramount leader in China ?

• Literally "the highest leader of the party and the state", refers to the political leader of China in modern Chinese political science.
• Xi Jinping.

Who is the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China ?

• The leader of the Party and the highest ranking position.
• Xi Jinping.

Who is the President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) ?

• The head of state – ceremonial figurehead since 1982
• Hu Jintao
• At present: 
• President of the PRC: Hu Jintao
• Vice President of the PRC: Xi Jinping

Who is a Chairman of the Central Military Commission ?

• Commander-in-chief of the armed forces
• Xi Jinping

Practically the absolute power is held more or less collectively by the members of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China with the General Secretary acting as a first among equals figure
.

China cuts 2012 growth target to 8-yr low of 7.5%
China has set its GDP growth target at 7.5 percent for 2012, down from 8% in 2011.
This is the first time the Govt has lowered its growth target after keeping it around 8% for seven consecutive years. The government has set the main theme of this year’s economic and social development as “make progress while maintaining stability”. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held that the GDP growth target has been as a move investors anticipated so that Beijing has some economic leeway to rebalance the economy and defuse price pressures in the run up to a leadership change later in 2012.





China to introduce new ‘talent visa’

China is planning to bring in a fresh visa regime titled "talent introduction" in an attempt to pull more skilled
professionals from abroad. A draft law in this respect has been submitted to the China’s top legislature.













“BALIKATAN”: US, Philippines hold joint military exercises in South China Sea
Named “Balikatan”, the annual Joint military exercises b/w the US and the Philippines are getting under way in the South China Sea, even as Manila remained locked in a stand-off with Beijing over a disputed shoal. The yearly exercise,will continued till April 27, 2012.
What is the strategic element behind this year’s exercise?
The exercise takes place every year but, this year they are different because the context within which they are taking place has changed. This year the Exercise Balikatan is taking place off Palawan, near parts of the South China Sea, which both Philippine and China claim. The games are happening at a time when tensions are already high between China and the Philippines over disputed territorial rights in the South China Sea.
So, Mutual Military Exercise by US and Philippines in the disputed region b/w Philippines and China!!! Thus, China’s eyebrows raised…
What is the issue?









‘Escaped China activist in US protection’
Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng is under US protection in Beijing after a dauntless escape from 19 months under house arrest, in a drama that endangers to erupt new tensions b/w the two governments.
Who is Chen Guangcheng?
A civil rights activist in the People’s Republic of China. He drew International attention to human rights issues in rural areas.Chen lost his sight at an early age.
 September 2005 to March 2006: Placed under house arrest for organizing and publicizing a class-action lawsuit against the government of Linyi Prefecture, Shandong Province, for excessive enforcement of the One-child policy, officially euphemistically called "family planning policy". Chen exposed harsh illegal measures by local authorities when enforcing the one-child policy, where family planning officials from Linyi municipal authorities in Shandong forced thousands of people to undergo sterilization or to abort pregnancies.
During his trial, Chen’s lawyers were forbidden access to the court, leaving him without a proper defender.
Chen’s case received sustained international attention, with the U.S. State Department, the British Foreign Secretary, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International issuing appeals for his release; the latter group designated him a prisoner of conscience.
 2006: Named to the ‘Time 100’
 2007: Laureate of the Ramon Magsaysay Award
 September 8, 2010: Chen was released from prison after serving his full sentence, but remained under house arrest or "soft detention" at his home in Dongshigu Village.
 April 22, 2012: Chen escaped his house arrest and was reported to have fled to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.







China conducts a massive military exercise near Indian border
Near Indian border, China conducted a massive military exercise in the high altitude Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, during which it has for the first time tested the multi-role J-10 fighter jets. The People’s Liberation Army, PLA Air Force conducted ground attack training over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau






China offers $8 billion loan to South Sudan
China has offered $8 billion in loan to South Sudan to fund a broad range of infrastructure projects over the next 2 years. The funds would be used to build roads, bridges and telecom network. China wants to maintain good relations both with Sudan, its established friend and with the South Sudan which became independent in 2011.







China’s defence

China to increase defence spending by 11.2% in 2012. Thus China will for the first time take its annual military expenditure beyond $100 bn. The objective of this is to modernize its Army against the milieu of a vague regional environment.

 This proposed budget will be more than 3 times India’s defence expenditure of $36 billion in 2011-12 budget.
 As per Analysts the main focus of China’s military spending is directed towards deployments:
 In the South China Sea – where disputes have surfaced with many of China’s neighbours
Against the increasing U.S. activity in the Asia-Pacific
Towards Taiwan, which has historically been the PLA’s (People’s Liberation Army’s) focus but has started to retreat as a priority with the recent warming in Cross-Strait relations.









china--us


Wen Jiabao to get “Best Friend of American Worker” Award
A US maritime workers’ union the Boston-based International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) named Chinese Premier Wen Jiabo as the “Best Friend of American Worker”. This award was conferred on Mr. Jiabaofor China’s “great contribution” to producing more job opportunities for Americans.The Chinese ambassador to the US Zhang Yesui received the award on Mr. Jiabao’s behalf




Typhoon Haikui hits East Coast of China
Typhoon Haikui hit the east coast of China. The other two typhoons which hit China were Damrey and Saola. A severe typhoon generally has continuous maximum wind speed of b/w 150 and 184 km/h (93 and 114 mph). Atyphoon has maximum sustained winds of b/w 118 and 149 km/h (73 and 93 mph).

China on 16 September 2012 signed 16 major agreements with Sri Lanka in Colombo on a range of issues, from visa exemption and marine development to economic and technology cooperation. China also promised to expand investment and increase imports from Sri Lanka. China and Sri Lanka agreed that holders of diplomatic and service passports of the other nation will be exempt from visa requirements. China-Sri Lanka bilateral trade volume reached 3.14 billion dollars in 2011. After the civil war, Sri Lanka needs to rebuild its infrastructure, which offers great opportunities for China, while China also seeks to increase overseas investment

CHINESE MISSLES

After the signing of Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance, and Mutual Assistance in 1950, the Soviet Union assisted China's military R&D with training, technical documentation, manufacturing equipment, and license-production of Soviet weapons. In the area of ballistic missiles, the Soviets transferred R-1 (SS-1), R-2 (SS-2), and R-11F to China.^[1] The first Chinese ballistic missiles were based on Russian design, which was originally based on the German V-2 rocket. Since then, China has made many advances in its ballistic missile and rocket technology. The space-launch Long March rocket has its roots in the Dong Feng missile.

[edit]Dongfeng missiles

[edit]Dongfeng 1 (SS-2)

First of the Dong Feng missiles, the DF-1 was a licensed copy of the Soviet R-2 (SS-2) Sibling missile.^[2] The DF-1 had a single RD-101 rocket engine, and used alcohol for fuel with liquid oxygen (LOX) as an oxidizer. The missile had max range of 550 km and 500 kg payload. Limited numbers of DF-1 were produced in the 1960s, and have since been retired.^[1]

[edit]Dongfeng 2 (CSS-1)

A Dongfeng 2 (CSS-1) at the Beijing military museum

The DF-2 is China's first medium-range ballistic missile, with 1,250 km range and 15-20 kt nuclear warhead. It received the western designation of CSS-1, CSS means China Surface-to-Surface (missile).^[3] Some western observers claim that the DF-2 is a copy of the Soviet R-5 (SS-3) SHYSTER, as they have similar range and payload.^[4] Others attribute the design to Chinese specialists Xie Guangxuan, Liang Sili, Liu Chuanru, Liu Yuanwei, Lin Shuangwei, and Ren Xinmin. The first DF-2 failed in its launch test in 1962, leading to the improved DF-2A. The DF-2A was used to carry out China's first nuclear ballistic missile test at Lop Nor in 1966, and was in operational service since late 1960s. All DF-2 were retired from active duty in the 1980s.^[5]

[edit]Dongfeng 3 (CSS-2)

Main article: DF-3A

The DF-3 is often considered China's first "domestic" intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). After the Soviets refused to provide China with R-12 (SS-4) missile design, China decided to develop their own IRBM in early 1960s.^[6] The design has been attributed to both Tu Shou'e [屠守锷] and Sun Jiadong [孙 家栋], and the missile as produced at Factory 211 (Capital Astronautics Co. [首都航天机械公司], also known as Capital Machine Shop [首都机械厂]. The 2,500 km DF-3 was originally designed with 2,000 kg payload to carry an atomic (later thermonuclear) payload. A further improved DF-3A with 3,000 km range (~4,000 km with reduced payload) was developed in 1981, and exported to Saudi Arabia with conventional high-explosive warhead.^[7] Most DF-3/DF-3A's have been retired, with 30-40 remaining and scheduled to be replaced by DF-21.^[8]

[edit]Dongfeng 4 (CSS-3)

Main article: DF-4

The DF-4 "Chingyu" is China's first two-stage ballistic missile, with 5,550-7,000 km range and 2,200 kg payload (3 Mt nuclear warhead). It was developed in late 1960s to provide strike capability against Moscow and Guam. The DF-4 missile also served as basis for China's first space launch vehicle, Chang Zeng 1 (Long March 1). Approx. 20 DF-4's remain in service, and are scheduled to be replaced by DF-31 by 2010-2015.^[9][10]

[edit]Dongfeng 5 (CSS-4)

Main article: DF-5

The DF-5 is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), designed to carry a 3 megaton (Mt) nuclear warhead to distance up to 12,000 km. The DF-5 is a silo-based, two-stage missile, and its rocket served as the basis for the space-launch vehicle Fengbao-Tempest (FB-1) used to launch satellites. The missile was developed in the 1960s, but did not enter service until 1981. An improved variant, the DF-5A, was produced in the mid 1990s with improved range (>13,000 km). Currently, an estimated 24-36 DF-5A's are in service as China's primary ICBM force.^[11][12]

[edit]Dongfeng 11 (CSS-7)

A DF-11 TEL.

Also known as the M-11 (export), the DF-11 is a road-mobile short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) designed by Wang Zhenhua at the Sanjiang Missile Corporation (also known as the 066 Base) in the late 1970s. The DF-11 has range of 300 km and 800 kg payload. An improved DF-11A version has increased range of >825 km.^[13] China is known to have exported DF-11s to Pakistan, which served as the basis for the Shaheen-1 and Shaheen-2 missiles. The range of the M-11 does not violate the limits set by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Unlike previous Chinese ballistic missiles, the DF-11 use solid fuel, which greatly reduces launch preparation time (15-30 min). Liquid-fueled missiles such as the DF-5 require up to 2 hours of pre-launch preparation. Estimates on the number of DF-11s in service vary between 500 to 600.^[14][15]

[edit]Dongfeng 15 (CSS-6)

Main article: DF-15

Also known as the M-9 (export), the DF-15 was developed by the CASC China Academy of Rocket Motor Technology (ARMT), previously known as the 5th Aerospace Academy. The missile is a single-stage, solid-fuel SRBM with 600 km range and 500 kg payload. During the 1995-1996 Taiwan strait crisis, the PLA launched 6 DF-15's in an "exercise" to demonstrate the missile's capability. Although the DF-15 is marketed for export, its range would violate the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) agreement, and thus no DF-15 has been exported to date. Approx. 300-350 DF-15's are in service with the PLA Second Artillery Corps today.^[16][17]

[edit]Dongfeng 21 (CSS-5)

Main article: DF-21

The DF-21 is a two-stage, solid-fuel, medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) developed by the 2nd Aerospace Academy (now China Changfeng Mechanics and Electronics Technology Academy) in late 1970s. It was the first solid-fueled ballistic missile deployed by the Second Artillery Corp. The missile carries a single 500 kt nuclear warhead, up to 2,500 km range. The DF-21 also served as the basis for the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) JL-1 (CSS-N-3),^[18] used on the XIA-Class SSBN. In 1996, an improved variant, the DF-21A, was introduced. Currently, an estimated 60-80 DF-21/DF-21A are in service.^[19][20]

[edit]Dongfeng 25

Main article: DF-25

The mobile-launch DF-25 was a two-stage solid-fuel missile with a range of 1,700 kilometers. Development was cancelled in 1996.

[edit]Dongfeng 31 (CSS-10)

Main article: DF-31

The DF-31 is China's newest road-mobile, solid-fuel ICBM developed by the 4th Aerospace Academy (now Academy of Rocket Motor Technology / ARMT). The DF-31 has range of 8,000+ km, and can carry a single 1,000 kt warhead, or up to three 20-150 kt MIRV warheads. An improved version, the DF-31A, has range of 11,000+ km. The DF-31 was developed to replace many of China's older ballistic missiles, and served as basis to the new JL-2 (CSS-NX-4/CSS-NX-5) SLBM. Approx. 30 DF-31/DF-31A are estimated to be in service.^[21][22]

[edit]Dongfeng 41 (CSS-X-10)

Main article: DF-41

Dongfeng 41

Western analysts speculate that China may be developing a next-generation ICBM, known as the DF-41, with 12,000-14,000 km range, armed with single, 3, 6, or even 10 MIRV warheads. DF-41 has yet to be displayed in public

The Dongfeng-41  is a Chinesenuclear solid-fueled road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile 







3000-year-old pillar has been inscribed on a UNbacked heritage list for astronomy. It is located in China




China successfully tests LOX/kerosene engine
China successfully tested its new 120-tonne-thrust Liquid OXygen (LOX) and kerosene engine for its new generation carrier rocket- the Long March-5.
The engine:
· High-performance
· High-pressure staged combustion cycle engine
· Non-toxic
· Pollution-free
· Highly reliable
Powerful than the 75-tonne-thrust engine used in the launch of Shenzhou spacecraft, the institute said.
China comes second after Russia, to use the core technologies for an LOX/kerosene high-pressure staged combustion cycle rocket engine. Long March-5 expected to make its maiden journey in 2014.







China inks economic pacts with North Korea which includes the Development of SEZs
China signed economic agreements with North Korea to enhance the bilateral economic co-operation.
The development of two special economic zones in North Korea is part of the agreement. Both countries also signed agreements on agricultural co-operation and electricity supply.






China initiates action against traders who tortured Indian Traders
 China has initiated criminal proceedings against five local suspects, responsible for the torture of two Indian businessmen, who has been brought to Indian Conciliate at Shanghai.