Current Affairs : December 2014 Bangladesh and Bhutan sign agreements on trade and land allocation Share on emailShare on facebookShare on twitterShare on printShare on google December 8, 2014No comments Bangladesh and Bhutan have signed two agreements. The two signed agreements are Agreement on TRADE: It will allow the two neighbouring countries to enjoy duty-free export of 90 items to each other. Earlier, Bhutan enjoyed duty-free export of 74 items from their country to Bangladesh. Allocation of a land: Allocation of a land at Dhaka city’s Baridhara diplomatic enclave to Bhutan for the construction of its embassy. Agreement on TRADE was signed by Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Bhutan’s Economic Affairs Minister Norbu Wangchuk. While Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and his Bhutanese counterpart Rinzin Dorje inked the deal on the land allocation. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay witnessed the agreement signing ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office. Bangladesh will allow duty-free import of bolder that will be used for the construction of Padma Bridge, a mega infrastructure project of Bangladesh. China rejects UN mediation to resolve South China Sea dispute with Philippines Share on emailShare on facebookShare on twitterShare on printShare on google December 8, 2014No comments South-China-Sea Dispute China has rejected UN arbitration to resolve the South China Sea (SCS) maritime dispute with its Philippines. China instead has asserted that this maritime dispute should be settled through direct bilateral negotiations. China’s rejection comes before the deadline to respond to UN mediation sought by the Philippines to arbitrate its maritime dispute with China over the South China Sea. China has alleged that Philippines is attempting to resolve the dispute through “compulsory arbitration” by the UN Convention on Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), without exercising the option to settle it through direct talks. China’s approach to UN’s mediation of border disputes China has claimed that they have settled its land boundary disputes with almost all of its neighbours (except India and Bhutan) and has delimited its maritime boundary in Beibu Bay with Vietnam. In this case, China has mentioned that they are defending their sovereign right to choose a means of dispute settlement of its free will. China has even alleged that the Philippines is misusing “compulsory arbitration” to resolve this dispute. Background In 2013, Philippines had approached the UN, questioning China’s claims to the Spratly islands (called Nansha islands by China) and the waters around them. UN Arbitral Tribunal appointed to deal with the case had asked China to submit its counter-memorial before 15th December 2014. Mahaparinirvan Din of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar observed on 6th December Share on emailShare on facebookShare on twitterShare on printShare on google December 7, 2014No comments dr-br-ambedkar President Pranab Mukherjee led the nation in paying homage to architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. B R Ambedkar, on his 59th death anniversary which is observed as ‘Mahaparinirvan Din’. Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh also offered tributes to the Dr Ambedkar. The function began with a prayer by Buddhist monks. The programme was organised by the Ambedkar Foundation, an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Many functions are being organised across the country to mark the day. In Maharashtra, rich tributes were paid to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar by thousands of followers from all over the state who converged at his memorial ‘Chaityabhoomi’ near Shivaji Park in Dadar, Mumbai.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 09:53:17 +0000