NEWS ABOUT INDIAN STATES for MARCH 2013

INDIAN STATES NEWS

HARYANA

· HARYANA RECEIVES KRISHI KARMAN AWARD FOR 2ND CONSECUTIVE YEAR ON 17 JANUARY 2013. The award was given by the President Pranav Mukherjee to Haryana Chief Minister Bhoopinder Singh Hooda for the honour of highest wheat producing state. It produced 130.69 lakh tonnes with productivity of 5182 kg/hectare during 2011-12

· HARYANA TO LAUNCH LIVESTOCK MISSION to address problems pertaining to livestock.

· 10 PERCENT RESERVATION TO ECONOMICALLY WEAKER PERSONS APPROVED.

MADHYA PRADESH

· Over 5 lakh hectares of land brought under Horticulture in three years in M.P.

· M.P. government proposes 15 Eco-sensitive Zones Around Wildlife Parks, Sanctuaries.

· Election commission announces date i.e. 28 February 2013 for assembly polls in Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya.

UTTARAKHAND

· Uttarakhand to get three new municipal corporations.

Uttar Pradesh

· Partnership summit held in Agra from 27-29 January 2013.

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MISCELLANEOUS NEWS of MARCH 2013

MARCH 2013 MISCELLANEOUS NEWS

SAUDI KING GRANTS WOMEN SEATS ON ADVISORY COUNCIL

Saudi Arabia's king granted women seats on the country's top advisory council for the first time early in January, 2013, giving them a long-awaited toehold in the ultraconservative kingdom's male-dominated political system.

SINGAPORE’S 1ST WOMAN SPEAKER OF INDIA’S ORIGIN

Indian-origin politician Halimah Yacob scripted history on January 14, 2013 by becoming the first woman Speaker of Singapore's Parliament, replacing Michael Palmer who was forced to quit over extra-marital affair.
She assumed charge at the start of the sitting of the House.
The 58-year-old Halimah, an Indian-origin Muslim, resigned on January 13, 2013 as Minister of State for ministry of social and family development. She filled the position vacated by Palmer, former  People's Action Party MP who stepped down on December 12, 2012.

Halimah was nominated by Prime Minister Lee Hsien

Loong to be elected as speaker. Halimah, a former labour lawyer, is a member of Parliament from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).

OBAMA CLEARS $ 633 BILLION DEFENCE BUDGET

US President Barack Obama has signed into law a $ 633 billion defence bill that authorizes spending on the war in Afghanistan and enhanced security for missions worldwide. Obama said he was signing it to ensure that the US will continue to have the "strongest military in the world."

RUSSIA PLANS UNMANNED MOON MISSION IN 2015

The Russian Space Agency says it will send an unmanned spacecraft to the moon in 2015 from a new launch pad in the country's Far East. Roscosmos Head Vladimir Popovkin told Russian news agencies on January 15, 2013 that the rocket booster would deliver a 500-kilogram space exploration vehicle with up to 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of scientific equipment that would search for water and take soil samples.

UN CALLS FOR PROBE INTO N.KOREA’S RIGHTS CONDITIONS

The United Nations human rights commissioner Navi Pillay has called for an international investigation into decades of serious human rights abuses in North Korea. In a rare statement on the country, Pillay said it had 'one of the worst - but least understood and reported-human right situations in the world'. She said that there had been no sign of progress under new leader Kim Jong-un.

PAK DEVELOPING SMALLER, LIGHTER N-WARHEADS

Expanding its nuclear arsenal at a rapid pace, Pakistan is now aiming to develop smaller and lighter atomic warheads more suitable for use on missiles, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist has said. Pakistan is expected to surpass Britain's nuclear stockpiles in a decade, the journal said. "Pakistan has shown clear signs of its intention to grow its nuclear arsenal.

Most recently the country has begun to increase its plutonium production capabilities, with two new plutonium production reactors under construction, as well as a new chemical reprocessing facility" the journal said.

become judges in Kuwait

NOW WOMEN CAN BECOME JUDGES IN KUWAIT

Women empowerment in Kuwait has been given a major boost after the justice ministry accepted applications from women for the position of prosecutors.

CHINA  TO OFFER FIVE-YEAR VISAS TO ATTRACT TALENTED FOREIGNERS

In a bid to attract talented foreigners, China will start issuing multiple-entry visas, valid for up to five years instead of the present one year. The move which was endorsed by five ministry-level departments in September, stipulates that four groups of international professionals can benefit from the new long-term visa. All foreigners working in China are issued one year 'permanent resident' visas.

SLENDER WIN FOR NETANYAHU

Israel's hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on January 23, 2013 won a narrow victory at the polls with his position practically secure for the time being but stunning results have seen his right wing bloc's strength severely diminished. He will have to scramble for support outside his natural allies.

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ABBREVIATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS of MARCH 2013

ACRONYMS

C.B.E.C.- Central Board of Excise and Customs

C.E.S.T.A.T.- Customs, Excise and Service Tax Tribunal

D.G.H.S.- Director General Health Services

L.A.C.- Line of Actual Control

(This is the line dividing India and China on the northern border)

L.A.C.C.F.E.D.- Labour and Construction Cooperative Federation

L.O.C.- Line of Control

N.A.C.O.- National Aid Control Organisation

N.B.S.A.- The News Broadcasting Standards Association

N.E.A.R.- National Council for Applied Economic Research

N.C.R.B.- National Crime Records Bureau

N.I.P.F.P.- National Institute of Public Finance and Policy

N.M.E.W.- National Mission for Empowerment of Women

O.E.C.D.- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

U.N.I.I.-I.O.G.I.P.- United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan

APPOINTMENT / ELECTION / NOMINATION

JACK LEW 

US President Barack Obama on January 10, 2013 nominated his chief of staff, as the next Treasury Secretary, praising him as an expert on the pressing national issues of the US government spending cuts and deficit reduction. Lew succeeds Timothy Geithner and takes the lead on difficult negotiations with Congress on how to cut the nation's massive debt and rein in spending a new central challenge for Obama's second term.

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PEOPLE WHO PASSED AWAY in MARCH 2013

DEATHS

EUGENE PATTERSON

Eugene Patterson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning editor and columnist who helped fellow Southern whites understand the civil rights movement, eloquently reminding thesilent majority of its complicity in racial violence, died on January 12, 2013 evening at his Florida home. Patterson was editor of the Atlanta Constitution from 1960 to 1968, winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1967.

AARON SWARTZ

Internet activist and computer prodigy Aaron Swartz, who helped create an early version of the web feed system RSS and was facing several criminal charges in a controversial fraud case, has committed suicide at age 26, authorities said on January 12, 2013.

Actress, V. J. Sophiya Haque Passes Away in London

Indian actress and popular V. J. Sophiya Haque died in a hospital in London on January 17, 2013. She was 41. Haque was suffering from pneumonia and was undergoing tests during which she is believed to have developed a clot in her lungs and passed away in her sleep. She shot to fame in the 90s and also acted in films like The Rising : Ballad of Mangal Pandey, Pehli Nazar Ka Pehla Pyar; Love at First Sight, Hari Puttar : A Comedy of Terrors and some others.
       

TAMIL WRITER M. S. UDAYAMURTHY

Noted Tamil writer and social activist MS Udayamurthy died on January 21, 2013 following cardiac arrest, family sources said. He was 85. Author of several

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PEOPLE IN THE NEWS (MARCH 2013)

FIRST BLACK, PRESIDENT IN LINE OF PARTY IRE OVER WHITE MALE CABINET

The first black US President is coming under fire from some of his own Democratic Party for naming a stream of white men to key cabinet and leadership posts in his second administration. President Barack Obama on January 10, 2013 named Jack Lew as his treasury secretary, the fourth white male he has named to the most prized cabinet posts in recent weeks.

Lew's nomination follows Obama's pick of senator John Kerry to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. He has also named former senator Chuck Hagel to be Defence Secretary and John Brennan to head the Central Intelligence Agency. Against this, he lost the first Hispanic woman in the cabinet when labour secretary Hilda Solis announced her resignation on January 9, 2012. And in December, 2012 Lisa Jackson, who is black, announced she was stepping down as head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

"It's embarrassing as hell," New York Democrat Charles Rangel, one of the most senior black members of Congress, said of the Obama appointments. New Hampshire Democratic senator Jeanne Shaheen, whose state has the only all-female delegation in Congress, described the appointments as 'disappointing'.

"We need a government that looks like America so we can address the concerns that we hear from across the spectrum," she said. Republicans joined in the criticism with former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee accusing Obama of waging a 'war on women', using the same words Democrats coined to criticize Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney during the election campaign last year.

PERSONS IN THE NEWS

BUZZ ALDRIN [Moon man Aldrin eyes India for space mission]

Buzz Aldrin, the legendary astronaut who along with Neil Armstrong boarded the historic Apollo 11 in 1969 to become the first to set foot on the moon, is now on a new kind of mission. The American hero wants to bring English speaking countries together to improve efforts on space exploration. To begin with, the rocket scientist, who turned 83 on January 20, 2013, is keen on meeting India's former President APJ Abdul Kalam. Aldrin believes that  Buzz Alclrisn US and India can cooperate on solar dynamics and experiment on energy conservation differently.

ARRD BERA

Gabbard also overshadowed the swearing in of Ami Bera, who is only the third Indian-American to be elected to the US Congress after Dalip Singh Saund, a Sikh-American from California, and Bobby Jindal, who was raised Catholic. Bera is said to be a Unitarian universalist.

In fact, the 113th Congress that was sworn in on January 3, 2013 is the most diverse in US history, including a record 101 female lawmakers, of whom 81 are in the House of Representatives and 20 in the Senate.

The US Congress also has 43 African-American law makers, 31 Latinos, 12 Asian-Americans, and 7 openly gay or bisexual members, broadly starting to reflect the demographics of the country.

MUKESH AMBANI 18TH RICHEST MAN IN WORLD 

Indian business magnate Mukesh Ambani is the 18th richest person in the world with a personal wealth of $ 24.7 billion in 2012, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a daily ranking of the world's 100 wealthiest individuals. Mexican telecommunications magnate Carlos Slim remained the world's richest person last year holding a personal fortune of more than $ 70 billion, it said. Ambani, 55, Chairman and MD of Reliance Industries, has also retained his position as the world's richest Indian for the sixth year in a row and increased his ranking from 19th to 18th position and personal wealth from $ 21 billion to $ 24.7 billion in the world, the Index showed.

US SWEARS IN 1ST HINDU LAWMAKER INTO HOUSE

•   Tulsi Gabbard takes oath on the Bhagwad Gita
•  Ami Bera becomes third PIO in Congress Congress woman Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii was the cynosure of all eyes on January 3, 2013 as she became the  first  'practicing Hindu' in the House of   Representatives that has already seen members  of  every other faith. Tulsi  took  her oath on the Bhagwad Gita  to  reflect her abiding  faith  as  a practicing Hindu. She was administered oath by House speaker John Boehner holding her personal copy of the Gita, after which she hit the airwaves with such force that she is already being spoken for the US Senate, where a seat from Hawaii fell vacant in December, 2012 following the death of veteran law maker Daniel Inouye.

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March 2013 News 35: BARACK OBAMA INAUGURATES HIS SECOND TERM

BARACK OBAMA INAUGURATES HIS SECOND TERM

US President Barack Obama inaugurated his second term on January 21, 2013 with an ardent call for unity, but warned his foes that their absolutism must not thwart action on climate, immigration and gun control.

Obama was publicly sworn in for another four White House years before a flag-waving crowd of an estimated one million, and then delivered an inaugural   address   in which poetic power veiled clear signs of a liberal governing agenda.

"We   do   not believe that in this country freedom is reserved   for   the lucky, or happiness for the few," Obama said on January 21, from the Stars and Stripes-draped West Front of the US Capitol building, the epicenter of America's political divides.

The President repeatedly used the 'We the People' preamble to the US constitution to suggest how to reconcile America's founding truths and the current discord and dysfunction of its embittered political system. "Decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay," said Obama, flexing the freedom of a leader, who no longer needs to face voters.

However, he sketched over foreign policy, disdaining 'perpetual war' and promising diplomatic engagement backed with military steel-without dwelling on specific crises like Iran.

Earlier, in the briefest ceremony on January 20, 2013, with family gathered in the White House, Obama took the oath of office shortly before noon, as required by law.

The intimate swearing in met the legal requirement that presidents officially take office on January 20. Because that date fell on a Sunday this year, the traditional public ceremonies surrounding the start of a President's term were put off to Monday (Jan. 21, 2013) which coincides this year with the birthday of revered civil rights leader Martin Luther King. The oath of office was administered by US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

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March 2013 News 34: PHILIPPINES TAKES CHINA TO UN OVER SEA ROW

PHILIPPINES TAKES CHINA TO UN OVER SEA ROW

Philippines has taken China to a United Nations tribunal to challenge its claim to most of the South China Sea, including Philippines territory, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said on January 22, 2012.

"The Philippines has exhausted almost all political and diplomatic avenues for a peaceful negotiated settlement of its maritime dispute with China... we hope that the arbitral proceedings shall bring this dispute to a durable solution," del Rosario said at a news conference.

del Rosario said Manila had told Beijing's ambassador about the decision to take China to an arbitration tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), a 1982 treaty signed by both countries.

Philippines in its submission says Beijing's so-called 'ninedash line' outlining its territorial claims over most of the sea, including waters and islands close to its neighbours, is illegal, according to del Rosario.

It also demands that China "desist from unlawful activities that violate the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the Philippines under the Unclos", he added.

China's territorial claims overlap those of Philippines as well as Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.

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March 2013 News 33: IRAN PLANS TO SEND MONKEY INTO SPACE

IRAN PLANS TO SEND MONKEY INTO SPACE

Iran will try again to send a live monkey into space after a previous attempt failed in 2011, media reports said on January {15, 2013 quoting the space chief, who gave a launch date of before mid-February.
"The final tests for launching the capsule, carrying a monkey, have been completed," Iran's Space Organisation Chief Hamid Fazeli said. He said the launch would take place during a 10-day period starting January 31, which marks the 34th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, the state TV website reported.
Iran has already sent small animals into space-a rat, turtles and worms-but its previous attempt to send a live monkey into space failed in 2011, which was announced without explanation. Fazeli said monkey project would help Iran "implement the preparations of sending a man into space," which officials say is scheduled for 2020.

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March 2013 News 32: CHINA COMMANDS HELICOPTERS TO BE READY FOR COMBAT

CHINA COMMANDS HELICOPTERS TO BE READY FOR COMBAT

Amid rising tensions with Japan over the disputed islands, Chinese army in a bid to scale up battle readiness has ordered armed helicopters to shift focus from logistics missions and gear up for combat operations.

The People Liberation Army (PLA) planned to change the strategy of its army aviation unit as more and more armed helicopters joined the service, PLA Daily which is the official newspaper of the military quoted by army aviation.

The focus of army aviation unit will be shifted from logistics missions to combat ones, from building capacity for non-war military actions to core military actions.

The unit will work  on major missions such as long distance tasks, large scale off-shore operations, attack coordination with other units and large scale airborne operations and that unit will also aim to improve its operation capability based on IT.

Both China and Japan have scaled up military operations after the escalation of the dispute over the islands called Diaoyu by China, Senkakus by Japan.

The PLA move comes in the backdrop of recent military drills conducted by Japanese army helicopters to defend the islands.

Chinese military exercises in recent months involving ships and aircraft focused on taking the islands and retaining them.

While naval ships of both the countries patrolled the waters of the islands, the two also scrambled aircraft earlier to intercept surveillance planes.

Conflict over the islands escalated after Japan, which retained the administrative control over the islands, bought them from a private party.

Objecting to the move, China sent its ships into the island waters.

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March 2013 News 31: TALIBAN VOWS WAR IF US DRAGS AF-EXIT

TALIBAN VOWS WAR IF US DRAGS AF-EXIT

Meanwhile, the Taliban on January 5, 2013 warned of prolonged war in Afghanistan if any foreign troops stay after the end of 2014, as Kabul and Washington prepare to discuss the 'residual' American security presence.

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March 2013 News 30: TURKEY ASSUMES ROLE TO BROKER AF-TALIBAN PEACE

TURKEY ASSUMES ROLE TO BROKER AF-TALIBAN PEACE

Turkey is emerging as the new player in the unfolding Afghanistan peace process. As Afghanistan and Pakistan work on a peace road map, with the active assistance and blessings of the U.K. and the U.S.A. Turkey has stepped in, even offering to host senior Taliban leaders released by Pakistan for reconciliation talks with the Afghan government.

INDIA STAKE

Although India is not part of the deal, India will be deeply affected by the outcome of whatever political process is implemented in Afghanistan. And with a strong presence on the ground in Afghanistan, India will be keen to ensure that its own red lines about the accommodation of Taliban in a future Afghan government are respected.

Therefore, Shivshankar Menon, National Security advisor, will travel to Turkey in February for talks on Afghanistan with his counterpart, Muammer Turker, as well as foreign secretary, Feridun Sinirlioglu. India is likely to lay out a few of its own perceptions-first, that the US withdrawal should be accelerated.

The December Trilateral Summit During the December trilateral Summit of Asif Zardari, Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Gul in Ankara, a proposal was floated to invite the Taliban to set up office in Turkey. This would be similar to the help given by Turkey to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Sources said that Turkey would probably not go as far as to allow Taliban to open an office, but they would be willing to let peace talks between Taliban and Afghanistan happen in their country. But Turkey's involvement may not go down well with many groups inside Afghanistan. Certainly Dostum and the Uzbeks, as well as the Hazaras, say analysts, would have reservations, which would need to be managed if this initiatives is to go through.

The Taliban tried, unsuccessfully, to open an office in Qatar in 2011-12. In the revived peace initiative through a roadmap, the west has pushed for a Taliban office in Saudi Arabia, given that country's old connections with the extremist group. However, sources said, Pakistan prefers Turkey as a neutral venue more than Saudi Arabia. This is significants because Saudi Arabia is generally believed to be Pakistan's premier patron, apart from the US. But Saudi Arabia has been seen to be taking a tougher line on extremist and terrorist ideology of late, which may have tilted the balance for Turkey. Pakistan's comfort level with Turkey is very high, its army taking inspiration from their Turkish counterparts for years. Pakistan's Interest Pakistan's  army  chief, General Kayani too is reportedly keen to achieve some kind of a peace breakthrough in Afghanistan, which would preserve Pakistan's interests. Kayani, just 9 months shy of retirement, has reportedly come under fire from his colleagues for the mess in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

In recent years, Turkey has also expanded its own foreign policy initiatives-through the so-called Arab uprising, Turkey has projected itself as a successful Islamic democracy.

Muslim Brotherhood found an early home in Turkey, though Syria, a close neighbour, refused to legitimize the group.

Turkey is becoming an important partner for India as well, building convergences between two rising economies. Recently, Turkey offered to be a transit country for the international north-south corridor connecting South Asia with Central Asia and beyond to Russia and even Europe.

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March 2013 News 29: TOP FIVE RICHEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

TOP FIVE RICHEST COUNTRIES RANK   COUNTRY  GDP PER CAPITA

1.      Qatar          $ 98,900

2.      Liechtenstein      $ 89,400

3.      Luxembourg       $ 80,600

4.      Bermuda   $ 69,900

5.      Singapore $ 59,000

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March 2013 News 28: RESPECT CEASEFIRE, DE-ESCALATE TENSION SAYS UNITED NATIONS TO INDIA & PAKISTAN

RESPECT CEASEFIRE, DE-ESCALATE TENSION SAYS UNITED NATIONS TO INDIA & PAKISTAN

The UN has urged India and Pakistan to respect the ceasefire and 'de-escalate' tensions over the recent cross-border firings through dialogue.

The United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) made the plea even as it received a complaint from Pakistan which claimed that Indian troops had allegedly crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and 'raided' a border post on January 6. India has denied it has crossed the LoC.

"UNMOGIP is aware that the Pakistan Army and Indian Army are in contact via the Hotline and urges both sides to respect the ceasefire and de-escalate tensions through dialogue," the UN observer force said in a statement to PTI.

The ceasefire has been in place along the LoC since 2003.

However, "no official complaint has been received either from the Pakistan Army or Indian Army" regarding the January 8 clash in which two Indian soldiers were killed, it said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's spokesperson Martin Nesirky said at the daily briefing on January 9, 2013 that the UN observer mission had not received any complaint from either side over the January 8 clashes.

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March 2013 News 27: TOP 10 AIR-POLLUTED MEGA CITIES

TOP 10 AIR-POLLUTED MEGA CITIES

City   Pollution

1.      Lahore, Pakistan 200

2.      Delhi, India 198

3.      Karachi, Pakistan193

4.      Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 157

5.      Kolkata, India 148

6.      Greater Cairo, Egypt 138

7.      Dhaka, Bangladesh 134

8.      Mumbai, India 132

9.      Lagos, Nigeria 122

10.    Beijing, China 121Annual Mean PM10 Level (µg/m3)

Only cities with over 5m population considered.

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March 2013 News 26: PASSIVE SMOKING MAY TRIGGER DEMENTIA

PASSIVE SMOKING MAY TRIGGER DEMENTIA

Passive smoking increases risk of severe dementia, according to a new study carried out in China which has determined such a link for the first time.

An international study by scientists in China, the UK and 4 the US found a link between passive smoking and syndromes of dementia.

The study of nearly 6,000 people in five provinces in China found that people exposed to passive smoking have a: significantly increased risk of severe dementia syndromes.

Passive smoking, also known as 'second-hand' smoke or Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS), is known to cause serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer.

The study was published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

It is not clear as to what will be the political fallout of the Supreme Court's order against Ashraf as this is probably the first case of an incumbent Prime Minister being ordered to be arrested in a corruption case. In March last year, the Supreme Court had declared all contracts signed by the government for 'rental power plants' as illegal and directed authorities to take legal action against those responsible for clearing the projects, including Ashraf.

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March 2013 News 25: SUPREME COURT TOLD THAT EVIDENCES NOT SUFFICIENT TO ARREST ASHRAFT

SUPREME COURT TOLD THAT EVIDENCES NOT SUFFICIENT TO ARREST ASHRAFT [Anti-corruption watchdog say it will take time to find proof; apex court terms explanation unsatisfactory]

The head of Pakistan's anti-corruption watchdog told the I Supreme Court on January 17, 2013 that he did not yet have 1 enough evidence to move against the prime minister and 15 others on accusations of graft.

Chief justice ordered all accused of corruption in power projects dating back to 2010 be arrested.

His order sparked panic about an alleged judiciary military plot to derail elections due by mid-May.

The court order has fanned instability in the country as it 1 edges towards what would be the first democratic transition of power between two civilian governments at upcoming elections.

The economy is struggling, Taliban and other violence is at a high, the rupee is sinking, there is an appalling energy crisis and fledgling peace gains with India appear in jeopardy following five cross-border killings in a week.

RAJA ASHRAF HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN NATIONAL POLITICS SINCE 1988 BUT LOST PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS UNTIL 2008 POLLS

During this time he was dogged by controversy over a power generation scheme.

After his nomination as prime minister, Dawn called him as Rental Raja, a reference to failure

He denies charges but investigations are on.

This is the First time a Prime Minister has been ordered to be arrested by the court .

NAB Chairman Fasih Bokhari told Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary that the investigations take time to find evidence to prosecute those allegedly involved.

Chaudhary dismissed NAB's report as unsatisfactory. On January 17, 2013 a defiant NAB told the Supreme Court it was a constitutional court and therefore was not able to investigate the case.

"Our mandate is to ensure the judgement is implemented. We have based the entire judgement on documentary evidence", hit back Chaudhary.

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March 2013 News 24: POLITICAL CRISIS IN PAKISTAN PAK SC ORDERS ARREST OF PM ASHRAF

POLITICAL CRISIS IN PAKISTAN: PAK SC ORDERS ARREST OF PM ASHRAF

Pakistan on January 15, 2013, was plunged into a fresh political crisis with the Supreme Court ordering the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf for allegedly receiving bribes in power projects.

Already rocked  by fiery cleric Tahirul Qadri's ongoing protest seeking dissolution of provincial and national assemblies, Pakistan appeared headed for uncertainly with the court setting a 24-hour deadline for authorities to implement its arrest orders that may cost a second Prime Minister to lose office in less than a year. Ashv, 62-year-old Ashraf, who became Prime Minister after the exit of Yousuf Raza Gilani in June last year, has been accused of receiving kickbacks and commission in the Rental Power Projects (RPPs) case as federal minister for water and power.

Gilani had to quit in the midst of a raging battle with the Supreme Court over his refusal to write to Swiss authorities to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari there. After Ashraf assumed power, the government wrote to Swiss authorities.

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March 2013 News 23: PAKISTAN GIRL MALALA TOP NAME OF 2012

PAKISTAN GIRL MALALA TOP NAME OF 2012

Pakistani school girl Malala Yousufzai, who was shot in her head by Taliban, has become the top name of 2012 along with Apocalyse, reflecting a growing fascination with 'end-of-the-world' scenario, which emerged as the top word.
Korean rapper Psy's infectious viral hit song 'Gangnam Style' was the top phrase of the year, according to the 13th annual global survey of English language done by Global Language Monitor, which analyses the latest trends in word usage and their cultural impact, Apocalypse was followed by deficit, Olympiad, Bak'tun, and meme. Completing the top 10 were MOOC, the Cloud, Omnishambles, Frankenstorm and obesogenic. The top 10 names of 2012 were Newtown and Malala (tie), Xi Jinping, Kate Middleton, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, London Olympics, Higgs Boson, Europe (EU/Eurogeddon), Felix Baumgarter (skydiver) and Senkaku Islands, says Global Language Monitor which analyses latest trends.

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March 2013 News 22: CHINA FIRM ON ABSOLUTE MEDIA CONTROL

CHINA FIRM ON ABSOLUTE MEDIA CONTROL

• Scribes' protests leave Communist Party unfazed.

• Govt. calls US support interference.

Unlike democratic countries like India, the UK, the USA etc., the media in China is absolutely under the control of the government and censorship there is resorted to despite journalistic protests and an outcry from the democratic world.

A rare protest by journalists of a state-run Chinese weekly against official control started on January 8, 2012 amid tacit support from other media outlets not-with-standing the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC)'s assertion that it had an 'absolute and unshakeable' control over them.

Separately the Chinese foreign ministry also denounced the US for expressing support for the journalists' agitation against the press censorship for saying it amounted to interference in China's internal affairs.

“China is opposed to any country’s, any person’s interference in internal affairs in any form” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told the media in Beijing.

His comments came in response to state department spokesperson Victoria Nuland’s statement that the US has long defended and supported the right of media freedom for Chinese journalists and for international journalists in China.

While several media outlets backed the journalists, news portals carried a state-sanctioned editorial criticizing the journalists. But, they added a disclaimer saying that the piece did not mean that they shared the views expressed in it, the report said.

Journalists of the Southern Weekly, a Chinese language weekly published from Guangzhou, in an unprecedented move, held a demonstration outside their office protesting against the interference by a Communist Party official.

Reports from Guangzhou said the protests continued and police intervened to stop scuffles between scribes and a small group of government supporters.

But the most decisive response came from the CPC, which in a memo circulated to various media units firmly stated that the official media would remain in its complete control. "The party has absolute control of China's media.
This basic principle is unshakeable," the memo issued to party chiefs and media officials said.

Earlier China had shut the website of a leading pro-reform magazine on January 4, 2012 apparently because it ran an article calling for political reform and constitutional government, sensitive topics for the Communist Party which brooks no dissent.

Yanhuang Chunqiu (China Through the Ages) is an influential Beijing magazine that features essays from reformist retired officials. In a message posted on its official Sina Weibo microblog, the magazine said that it had been informed that the site's registration had been cancelled and that it had not been given a reason.
Wu Si, the magazine's chief editor, did not answer calls seeking comment.  Attempts to open the website (www.yhcqw.com) bring up a cartoon picture of a policeman holding up a badge and the message that the site has been closed.

However, the article written in the form of a new year's message, is still up on the magazine's microblog.

"In more than 30 years of reform, the abuses caused by political reform lagging economic reform have become daily more visible, and the factors for social instability have gradually accumulated. Promoting reform of the political system is an urgent task," the piece says.

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March 2013 News 21 CHINA CLAIMS DISPUTED ISLANDS AS ITS OWN ON MAP

CHINA CLAIMS DISPUTED ISLANDS AS ITS OWN ON MAP

In the midst of maritime tensions with several neighbours, China for the first time has published maps of over 130 islands of South China Sea as well as the disputed islands with Japan linking them with the Chinese mainland.

STRONG REACTIONS

Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan strongly contest China's claims on the South China Sea islands. Publication of maps with Chinese claims in e-passports had already drawn strong reactions from Vietnam and Philippines.

The new vertical maps have marked clearly the major South China Sea islands and demonstrated their geographic relations with surrounding island countries as well as surrounding islands and islets, Xu Gencai, chief editor of Sinomaps Press said. In the bottom left corner, there is also a zoomed illustration of the Diaoyu Islands called Senkaku islands by Japan, displaying their positional relations and those of their affiliated islets with the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

The new maps will not be available to the public until the end of January, the Xinhua report said. "The maps will be very significant in enhancing Chinese people's

awareness of national territory, safeguarding China's marine rights and interests and manifesting China's political, diplomatic stance," Xu said.

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