1st to 7th October::: International Affairs:::: •In an unprecedented degree of co-operation between Ireland and Britain, the two governments today signed a historic visa agreement that will allow international tourists to apply for one travel permit to visit both countries. •Prime Minister Narendra Modis commitment to improve health services and his focus on ending open defecation has ‘impressed’ Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates who said it is ‘inspiring’ to see India move to the forefront of providing such services to the underprivileged. •After al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden was killed by US special forces in Pakistans garrison town of Abbottabad, his body was kept in a heavy black bag of 300 pounds of iron chain and dropped into the sea, former CIA director and defense secretary Leon Panetta has said. •Amid escalation of cross-border firing in Jammu and Kashmir, top military officials of India and Pakistan today discussed the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and International Border but failed to address the issue. •DGMO Indian Atmy - Lt Gen Vinodh Bhatia at Wagha •DGMO Pakistan Army - Gen Aamer Riaz •The Islamic State group is about to capture the Syrian border town of Kobani, Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today, as outgunned Kurdish forces struggled to repel the extremists with limited aid from U.S.-led coalition airstrikes. •The iconic Yal Devi Express from Colombo to Jaffna will resume its run on October 13th, some 25 years after the link was suspended during the height of the Sri Lankan civil war. •US President Barack Obama has declared fight against Ebola a top national security priority and said that authorities would increase screening for the virus at airports both in America and in West Africa. •The Pentagon has spent as much as USD 1.1 billion on US military operations against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria since the mission began in mid-June, including more than USD 62 million alone in Navy airstrikes and Tomahawk cruise missiles. •6 October is World Habitat Day. This day is set aside annually to recognize the basic right of all humanity to adequate shelter, and to encourage grassroots action toward ending poverty housing. • The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1985 that the first Monday in October would be World Habitat Day. •Hong Kong started to return to work today after more than a week of pro-democracy protests disrupted the Chinese-controlled city, with the protest movement facing a test of its stamina after more clashes with police and pro-Beijing opponents. •The Breast Cancer Awareness Month is marked across the world every October, to increase awareness on early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease, says WHO. •Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. •There are 1.38 million new cases and 4,58,000 deaths from breast cancer each year. •Terming the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong as illegal, China today warned that the agitation that has paralysed the city would end up creating havoc in the former British colony. •In recent days, protests have been staged in Hong Kong in the name of seeking real universal suffrage, causing traffic jams, fewer tourists, the stock market plunge and the suspension of schools and stores. •World Animal Day (4th October 2014) celebrated across the globe. •Indias intellectual property regime is fully compliant with WTO norms, the government said today, two days after the two countries decided to set up a high-level working group on IPR during Prime Minister Narendra Modis US visit to sort out the contentious issue. •Islamic State militants (also known as ISIL) claimed the beheading of a British aid worker Alan Henning, and suggested an American hostage may be killed next, in what they said was retaliation for the U.S.-led campaign against the group. •This is the fourth beheading of a Western hostage by the jihadist group, beginning with the killing of American journalist James Foley in August. •Ahead of the APEC summit at Beijing next month, China has mobilised an army of over 850,000 vigilantes to be on the look out for terrorists, adding teeth to the countrys war on terror, specially against militants from the restive Xinjiang province. •The Australian cabinet has given its approval for fighter jets to join the US-led military action against Islamic State targets in Iraq. •Over 2 million Muslims from around the world gathered at a desert hill near Mecca in Saudi Arabia in an act of faith and repentance during the climactic emotional and spiritual moment of the annual hajj pilgrimage. •Saudi Arabia has made contingency plans in the event of an Ebola outbreak, including deploying medical staff at airports and setting up isolation units as nearly three million Muslims from across the world flock to perform the hajj pilgrimage. •The UN launched a mission to prevent the worldwide spread of Ebola as the US hunted for people who came in contact with the first African diagnosed with the deadly virus outside the continent. • UNMEER - UN Mission on Ebola Emergency Response • Special representative for the UNMEER - Anthony Banbury •1st October is International Day for Older persons. •Thousands have joined pro-democracy protests demanding China to withdraw plans to vet candidates for the next Hong Kong leadership election in 2017, which have spread in Hong Kong on Chinas 65th National Day. •Pakistan has decided to introduce electronic voting machines (EVMs) in two years before the next general elections due in 2018. •Underscoring its commitment to the UNs body on gender equality and women empowerment, India has contributed USD 1 million to the organization for the current financial year.
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 05:07:06 +0000
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