KAMLA NAGAR, DELHI - 110007 ANIMATION | VFX tel. - CHANGE

DECEMBER 2011
Syria: Russia and China veto UN
Resolution
Russia and China on 5 October 2011 vetoed UN Security Council
draft resolution recommending sanctions against Syria for the
ongoing crackdown on Protesters.The resolution was moved by
EU (European Union) member countries and backed by USA.
There were nine votes in support of the resolution while two
votes were against of it. Four countries abstained themselves
from the voting. India along with other member countries of IBSA
(Brazil and South Africa) abstained from voting. Lebanon was
the fourth nation to abstain.
This was the second attempt by the western countries to bring a
resolution on the Syrian unrests. Russia and China opined that
the threat of sanction was not the best solution for the problem.
At present, there are five nations which have veto power at
present. These nations are Russia, USA, UK, France and China
(often referred as P-5 nations; they are the permanent members
of Un Security Council). Among these five, if any nation exercises
his Veto power on any resolution moved by Un security council,
it could not be implemented.
Syria Draft constitution to be Ready
in 4 months
President Bashar al-Assad of Syria on 15 October 2011
announced the creation of an ad hoc committee tasked with
preparing a new Constitution within four months. President
Assad issued a decree establishing the national committee to
draft a new Constitution in a period not exceeding four months
from the date of its creation. The 29-member committee is headed
by former Justice Minister Mizhar al-Annbary.
A new Constitution has been a key demand of a protest
movement that erupted on 15 March 2011, initially calling for
greater freedoms and later demanding the ouster of the Assad
regime.
Russia Launches Space Freighter
Russia on 30th October launched a spacecraft carrying supplies
to the International Space Station (ISS), the Russia’s Federal
Roscosmos space agency said. The Soyuz-U carrier rocket with
Progress M-13M spacecraft blasted off from the Baikonur Space
Centre at 11:11 GMT.
Progress will deliver food and a small satellite Chibis-M, to study
lightnings and thunderstorms in the Earth’s atmosphere,
Roscosmos said.
The ISS crew currently comprises NASA astronaut Michael
Fossum, Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov, and Japanese
astronaut Satoshi Furukawa. They are expected to return to the
Earth aboard a Soyuz carrier rocket Nov 22.
It is the first launch of a Progress series cargo ship since a crash
on August 24, first in over three decades of the regular launches.
The probe revealed that the launch vehicle’s third-stage engine
shut down prematurely and later it was discovered that the
problem was caused by a low fuel feed, and all engines currently
in stock were returned to the manufacturer for inspection.
50.8 Billion Economic and Trade
Cooperation Between China and Russia
China became Russia’s biggest trading partner. The exports and
imports between these two nations touched 50.8 billion US dollars
from January to August 2011. The year 2011 marks the 10th
anniversary of the signing of China-Russia Good neighborly,
Friendly Relations and Cooperation Treaty.
On 7 October 2011, at a meeting on customs cooperation, Russia
and China agreed to seize the new opportunities for speedy
development of bilateral relations to achieve the bilateral trade
targets of 100 billion dollars before 2015 and 200 billion dollars
before 2020.
Egypt & Israel agree to Swap Prisoners
Egypt and Israel on 24 October 2011 reached an agreement to
swap an alleged Israeli spy for 25 Egyptians held in Israeli jails.
Egypt agreed to release Ilan Grapel and at Egypt’s request, Israel
agreed to free 25 Egyptian prisoners. Grapel is a former
paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces. Ilan Grapel was arrested
on 12 June 2011 on suspicion of spying.
Egypt Military Gives in to Parties:
Amends Election Law
Egypt’s military council on 8 October 2011 amended a contentious
election law to allow parties to contest a third of the seats in
Parliament reserved for independents. Egypt’s military decided
to cancel Article 5 of the election law, which reserved a third of
seats for independents. The three-round Parliamentary election
will start on 28 November 2011, which will be the first since an
uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak on 11 February
2011.
The amendment to the election law was made after political parties
warned the military, that they would boycott the poll if the article
allowing only independent candidates to contest a third of seats
were not amended. Political groups feared the law could allow
supporters of Hosni Mubarak to return to power.
In September 2011, Egypt’s caretaker cabinet had announced that
three rounds of elections will start on 28 November and made
amendments to the contentious election law. This will be the first
parliamentary election since the overthrow of President Hosni
Mubarak in February this year.
Egypt’s military council is acting as a caretaker government until
the parliamentary elections are over.
INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE
US Military Chaplains Free to Perform
Same-Sex Marriages
US military chaplains are authorised to perform same-sex
marriages in jurisdictions that recognise such unions, the
Pentagon said.
The new guidance took effect Sep 20, when the ban on openly
homosexual or lesbian individuals serving in the armed forces –
known as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – officially ended.
‘A military chaplain may participate in or officiate any private
ceremony, whether on or off a military installation, provided that
the ceremony is not prohibited by applicable state and local law,’
Under Secretary of Defense Clifford Stanley said in a memo
released.
‘Further,’ the memo added, ‘a chaplain is not required to participate
in or officiate a private ceremony if doing so would be in variance
with the tenets of his or her religion.’
Participation by military chaplains in a same-sex wedding ‘does
not constitute’ Defense Department support for gay marriage,
the Pentagon said.
Same-sex unions are legal in Vermont, Massachussets,
Connecticut, Iowa, New York, New Hampshire and the District of
Columbia.
With the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, gay rights activists have
set their sights on repeal of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act,
which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
US Issues Worldwide Travel Alert
The United States on 1 October 2011 issued a world-wide travel
alert to its citizens, warning of a heightened risk of violence in
the wake of the killing of key al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki.
The US-born radical Islamist cleric was killed by US drones in
Yemen on 30 September 2011. The state department has warned
that his death would provide motivation for retaliation against
US interests. US-born propagandist Samir Khan was also killed
in the drone attack.
US issues travel alert warning of terror attacks in India
The USA on 18 October 2011 issued a travel alert to its citizens in
India, warning them of possible terror attacks in the country
during the holiday season. The State department in its statement
urged the US citizens to maintain a heightened situational
awareness and a low profile and to be careful while visiting public
places. The places, such as markets, trains, buses, religious sites,
hotels and restaurants were defined as public places. The travel
alert will expire on 20 January, 2012.
Palestine Wins Full UNESCO
Memembership
Palestine won the membership of UNESCO (United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) on 31 October
2011 with 107 votes in favour and 14 votes against. There were
52 abstentions. Eighty-one votes were required for approval with
173 UNESCO member delegations present. The USA, Canada,
Germany, The Netherlands, Australia and the Czech Republic
voted against. Britain, Italy and many Pacific and Caribbean island
nations absented themselves from the voting. India, Russia,
Brazil, China, South Africa and France voted in favour.
UNESCO is the first UN agency Palestine has joined as a full
member. UNESCO protects historic heritage sites and works to
improve world literacy and cultural understanding. Its
headquarters are located at Place de Fontenoy in Paris, capital of
France.
In fact, Palestine is seeking full membership in the UN (United
Nations), but USA has threatened that it will veto it unless there
is a peace deal with Israel. Full membership of UNESCO is a small
but crucial step forward for the Palestine in its attempts to achieve
international recognition and statehood. However, the issues of
borders of an eventual Palestine state, security troubles and
other disputes remain unsolved.
Remains of 10000Yr Old Giant Sloth
found
Scientists have found bones in Brazil that belonged to a 20-foottall
sloth that lived some 10,000 years ago. The bones were
found in Minas Gerais state. The giant sloth probably lived in
the Holocene epoch. The fossil, which according to the experts
belonged to the species Eremotherium laurillardi, was
discovered by pure chance in the countryside by a farmer.
The experts have not been able to determine whether the fossil
was of a male or female. But it was a herbivorous adult that could
stand on its two hind legs and use its long claws to grab leaves
and fruit from high tree branches.
‘It’s an incredible discovery and of great value to science – a
prehistoric mammal that opens new and much wider perspectives
for study,’ said geologist Carlos Borges, director of the Dinosaur
Museum in Uberaba.
World’s Largest Gold Coin Unveiled In
Australia
The world’s largest gold coin, weighing a massive 1,000 kg has
been unveiled at the Perth Mint in Australia to mark the opening
of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
in the Western Australia capital. The Perth Mint produced it in
time for the Queen’s visit to the city in Western Australia for the
CHOGM meet. The giant coin weighs more than one tonne, is
99.99 per cent pure gold and is worth A$53.5 million (£35.1m). It
bears the image of The Queen on one side and a leaping kangaroo
on the other. It is nearly 80cm in diameter and 12cm thick.
Myanmar Amnesty to Free Thousands
of Prisoners
Myanmar on 11 October 2011 announced an amnesty for more
than 6,300 prisoners.This follows an appeal by the government
appointed Human Rights Commission in Myanmar to free
prisoners. Earlier, Myanmar’s National Human Rights Commission
chairman Win Mra had called for the release of prisoners.
The decision by the Government of Myanmar is aimed at
persuading the West to end sanctions that have hurt the regime.
The elections in 2010 brought a civilian-led government in place
of the military rule. Still, the military retains control of key positions
and most of the candidates who won in the election were justretired
members of the armed forces. It was alleged that the
election was rigged in the favour of the members of armed forces.
The government is intolerant to political dissidents in Myanmar
and according to an estimate, there are 2000 political prisoners,
which include pro-democracy activists, government critics and
journalists.
Hindu Temple in Pakistan Reopens
after 10 years
A historic Hindu temple has reopened after 10 years in Pakistan’s
Peshawar city after a woman devotee fought a long legal battle.
It was reopened due to the efforts of the Hindu community. The
Hindu community celebrated Diwali in the temple at Gor Khutthri
area.
Kamla Rani, granddaughter of a temple priest, was happy that
the temple was reopened for worshippers. ‘I am very happy that
my mother, though very old, fought legal battle to reopen this
temple for Hindu worshippers,’ she was quoted as saying.
Her mother Phool Wati had filed an application with the Peshawar
High Court to reopen the temple for worship. Peshawar High
Court ordered reopening of temple for worship only and the
archaeology department has control over it.
Chennai Transgender Model to Compete
in International Pageant
Chennai based transgender model Malaika, 28, will represent
India in the Miss International Queen 2011, a beauty contest for
members of the community to be held in Thailand in November
2011. The annual competition has been held every year since
2004 by Tiffany’s Show Pattaya Co. Ltd. in partnership with the
Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Malaika, who has done a catering and hotel management course,
said, ‘Today there are transgender community members who
have become role models and with the level of recognition they
are receiving from the society, many of them are excelling in
various fields ranging from arts to even entertainment.’
‘I wanted to show to the world that members of the transgender
community can perform the same way as any other female model,
which is why I decided to take part in this competition,’ Malaika
added.
Jaya, general manager at Sahodaran, an NGO working for men’s
sexual health, said, ‘Malaika, an active member of Sahodaran
since 1998, is the first transgender from India to participate and
represent the country in the beauty contest.’
Jaya said the aim of the beauty contest was to create a public
platform for the transgender community, create awareness about
the rights of sexual minorities, and change the perceptions of the
general community towards transgenders.
25300 Jobs in a Day! Mumbai Creates
Guinness Record
Mumbai based NGO Swabhiman Sanghatana on 13th October
said it has created a new Guinness World Record by giving jobs
to 25,300 unemployed youths, including physically challenged.
The appointment letters were issued on 12th Oct from various
private and cooperative banks, call centres, private companies,
trading and business organisations, malls and shopping plazas,
depending on the qualifications of the applicants.
The effort was recognised by Guinness World Records director
Rob Molroy, who awarded the coveted certificate to Swabhiman
Sanghatana head Nitesh Rane as thousands of youths cheered.
A Sanghatana office-bearer said that the preparations for the
NGO’s job fair started several weeks ago. This included tapping
various organisations for different types of jobs they could offer
to the youths, and then contacting several thousand unemployed
youngsters and asking them to submit applications for the same.
The starting salary for the jobs offered is around Rs.75,000 per
annum and above, depending on the merits and qualifications of
the individual, Sanghatana officials said.
Pact Signed to Sponsor 5000 Indonesian
Orphans
The UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) has signed an agreement
with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to jointly
sponsor 5,000 Indonesian children orphaned by various tsunamis
that have hit the island chain.
The pact was signed by Mohammed Khalifa Al Qamzi, Secretary
General of RCA and Ambassador Atta Al Manan Behkit, Assistant
Secretary General of OIC for Humanitarian Affairs.
Al Qamzi said the RCA will join programme of OIC partners to
sponsor the victims of tsunami, indicating that the two sides
also discussed setting up of a partnership to provide drinking
water to the victims of drought in the Horn of Africa.
CHANGE THE ONLY CONSTANT THING : We Bring You More Informative And Detailed Coverage Every Month 23