International
Leung Chun-ying Sworn In As Hong Kong’s New Leader
Leung Chun-ying, a millionaire property consultant seen as close to China’s communist rulers, was sworn in as Hong Kong’s new chief executive on 1July 2012 .
Cyprus takes Over EU Presidency
Cyprus takes over the European Union’s rotating presidency for the first time on 1 July 2012, amid concerns about the country’s ability to cope with its own economic problems and help steer Europe out of its financial crisis. Cyprus, which joined the European Union in 2004, is taking over the six-month rotating presidency from Denmark.
GSK to pay $3b For Health Fraud
Glaxo smith kline(GSK) would pay $3 billion and plead guilty to promoting two popular drugs for unapproved uses and to failing to report important safety data about a diabetes drug to the Food and Drug Administration, the justice department said on 2 July 2012. Government officials say it’s the largest health care fraud settlement in U.S history.
Mexico Declares National H7N3 (bird flu)Animal Health Emergency
The Mexican government declared a national animal health emergency on 2 July 2012 in the face of an aggressive bird flu epidemic that has infected nearly 1.7 million poultry. More than half the infected birds have died or been culled, the agriculture ministry said of an epidemic that was confirmed on 28 June 2012 by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). They activated a national animal health emergency… with the goal of diagnosing, preventing, controlling and eradicating the Type A, sub-type H7N3 bird flu virus.
PRI Leader Enrique Pena Nieto Elected as the New President of Mexico
The institutional Revolutionary Party leader Enrique Pena Nieto was elected as the new president of Mexico on 2 July 2012. In the presidential election held on 1 July 2012, Enrique Pena Nieto beat party of the Democratic Revolution candidate Andres Manual Lopez obrador of the total 98% votes counted , Pena Nieto bagged 38% votes, while former Mexico city Mayor Andres Manual Lopez obrador got 31% votes. Nieto succeeded felipe calderon on the top most position of the country.
Fukushima Was ‘Man-Made’ Diasater ;Japanese Probe
Last year’s Fukushima nuclear accident was a man made disaster just the tsunami that hit the plant, adamning parliamentary report said on 5 July 2012.Ingrained collusion between plant operator Tokyo Electric Power, the government and regulatory, combined with a lack of any effective oversight led directly to the worst nuclear accident in a generation.
Pakistan parliament passes bill to protect leaders from contempt
Pakistan President on Thursday signed into law a bill aimed at giving blanket immunity to top government leaders from contempt of court proceedings and countering the Supreme Court’s efforts to pressure the premier to revive graft cases against Asif Ali Zardari. Zardari gave his assent to the Contempt of Court Bill of 2012 after it was passed by the Senate and the National Assembly, the two houses of Parliament.
China, US Avoid Rocking The Boat On South China Sea
The United states and China on 12 July pledged to ease strains in their relationship emerging amid renewed disputes over the south china sea and Chinese concerns over Washington’s “pivoy” to Asia . U.S.Secretary of state hillary clinton, who met chinese foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on the side lines of the ASEAN. Regional forum meeting in Phnom Penh on 12 July 2012.
United Nations Millennium Development Goal Report 2012
United Nations Secretary General Ban ki-moon released, United Nations Millennium Development Goal 2012. Report on 2 July 2012. The report noted that three important targets on poverty, slums and water have already been met three years ahead of 2015, the target year. The target of providing clean drinking water to a substantial population of the world. In developing world the share of urban population living in slums came down to 33 per cent in 2000 from 39 per cent in 2000. The millennium development goal asserted that the developing countries. AIDS control, the developing countries have achieved tremendous fate as at the end of 2012 nearly 6.5 million people in the developing countries were receiving the antiretroviral therapy for HIV AIDS.
Thomas Lubanga Imprisoned for 14 years
International Criminal Court (ICC), located at The Hague has awarded Thomas Lubanga, a Congolese warlord, 14-year imprisonment on 10 July 2012. Lubanga had led the Union of Congolese Patriots, an ethnic militia in the violent struggle in the Ituri region and its main town of Bunia. The conflict, which began in 1999, claimed the life of about 60000 people in the country. Lubanga, who had used children as the soldiers during the violent struggle in Congo’s eastern Ituri region in 2002-2003 was convicted for war crime.
First Ever Resolution To Protect the Online Human Rights of Global Citizens.
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Geneva based human rights wing of UN, on 5th July 2012, adopted a first ever resolution to protect the online human rights of global citizens. The resolution adopted by consensus, stated that citizens of the world are as much entitled to the human rights online as they are offline. The resolution noted that there can be no double standard with regard to people’s right of fundamental freedom and since internet makes a major part of present world’s communication process, all governments must endeavor to protect the online rights of its citizens. The landmark resolution was sponsored by Sweden and co-sponsored by over 80 countries, that includes United States, Brazil, Turkey, Nigeria, and Tunisia.
Global CO2 Emission Increased by 3% in 2011
According to the report ” Trends in global CO2 emission”, global CO2 emission increased by 3% in 2011. The 3% increase in CO2 took the total amount if CO2 in air at an all time high of 34 billion tonnes. The report was released by the Europe commissions joint research centre (JSC) and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. The United states with 17.3 tonnes per capita remains one of the top CO2 emitters, while china , the world’s most popular country, has 7.2 tones per capita.
$650 m cut in U.S. military aid to Pakistan
Latest jab at Pakistan by the U.S., the House of Representatives has unanimously voted to cut American military aid to Islamabad by $650 million as Republicans sought to tamp down demands for deeper reductions. The amendment to cut the aid, which was proposed by Republican Congressman Ted Poe, passed on the floor in a voice vote. Mr. Poe had demanded a $1.3 billion cut, but settled for the $650 million cut. It will now go to Senate for approval. Pakistan is the ‘Benedict Arnold’ to America in the war on terror.
Putin signs Russia Into WTO
President Vladimir Putin on 21 July 2012 singed the bill ratifying Russia’s entry to the world trade Organization after 18 years of often acrimonious negotiations , economists have long argued that Russia needed to join the WTO as it was the only major economy outside the body. The measure making Russia the 156th WTO member will become law within 30 days .
Pakistan and US sign MoU for transporting supplies to Afghan
Pakistan and the US on 31 July 2012 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on transporting supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan through Pakistani territory after weeks of intense negotiations. The MoU states arms and ammunition for foreign troops in Afghanistan cannot be transported through Pakistan and that all cargo will be scanned in the port city of Karachi and at the border crossing points of Chaman and Torkham. The MOU will replace existing arrangements for transporting NATO supplies through Pakistani territory, which were reportedly based on a “verbal understanding”.
Rajkeshwur Purryag is Mauritius Fifth President
Rajkeshwur Purryag became the fifth president of Mauritius on 21 July. His predecessor Anerood Jugnauth resigned in March following open conflict with Prime Minister Navin Chandra Ramgoolam.
Mahama sworn as Ghana’s new president
John Dramani Mahama was sworn as Ghana’s new president on 24 July 2012.After John Atta Mills, the country’s leader, unexpectedly died at hospital in the capital, Accra. Mahama was forever changed by his boyhood experiences during 1966 military coup.The 53-year-old who had been vice president was born in Bole Bamboi in northern Ghana and holds degrees in history and communications, according to Ghanian media.