21-may

Brussels migrant plan : EU

1)      Brussels may have to water down controversial plans for quotas to spread Mediterranean refugees around Europe amid growing opposition led by France, Spain and Britain.

2)      European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker unveiled the plan last week in a bid to make the rest of the 28-nation EU share the burden of frontline states like Italy, Greece and Malta.

3)      EU ministers approved an EU naval force to fight people smugglers and possibly destroy their boats in Libyan waters.

4)      The plan would see binding quotas for redistributing asylum seekers based on national criteria such as economic size, population, unemployment and the number of refugees already taken.

5)      10 EU nations out of 28 say they oppose the quotas. It includes Britain, France, Spain, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia.

6)      The quotas are part of a wider package rushed through by Brussels after nearly 800 migrants died in April in the deadliest shipwreck since the Syrian war triggered the refugee crisis.

7)      In an unprecedented crisis on Europe's southern shores, around 5,000 people have died in the past 18 months attempting to cross the Mediterranean in flimsy dinghies and rickety fishing boats in a bid to flee war and poverty.

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Migrant crisis in South-East Asia

1)      Malaysia and Indonesia would no longer turn away boat-people, a breakthrough in the region’s migrant crisis.

2)      Myanmar, whose policies toward its ethnic Rohingya minority are widely blamed for fuelling the human flow, also softened its line by offering to provide humanitarian aid to stricken migrants.

3)      Both the countries also agreed to offer them temporary shelter provided that the resettlement and repatriation process will be done in one year by the international community.

4)      Thailand did not sign on to the offer but the government said that they are still considering the plans.

5)      The Crisis :

                                i.            Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand had sparked growing international outrage for driving off boats overloaded with exhausted and dying Rohingya, as well as Bangladeshis.

                              ii.            Nearly 3,000 boatpeople have swum to shore or been rescued off the three countries over the past 10 days after a Thai crackdown on human-trafficking threw the illicit trade into chaos.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/boat-migrants-to-get-temporary-shelter/article7228895.ece

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16-may

PM Modi's China visit

1)      India and China signed 24 agreements, which would, for the first time, spur a pervasive dialogue among Indian and Chinese  states, cities and businesses as they become the key drivers of foreign policy with China.

2)      Modi’s introduction of a bottoms-up approach towards India’s engagement with China.

·         launch of the India-China Forum of State Provincial Leaders

·         According to the Prime Minister, A number of decisions can be taken quickly by the State governments. These interactions also make the State governments more sensitive and aware of the international dynamics and requirements

3)      The forum seeks China as a partner to draw State-level businesses into the global mainstream.

4)      India has decided to extend electronic tourist visas to Chinese nationals, on the Chinese government’s repeated requests to India to cut some of the security and visa regulations for Chinese businessmen and tourists.

·         The e-visa facility would enable Chinese applicants to apply for visas online a few days before they travel.

5)      The omnibus communiqué, emerged after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Li Keqiang.

                                i.            a hotline between the two Army Headquarters would be established

                              ii.            additional points along the frontiers would be opened to enable local border commanders to hold crisis-management meetings

                            iii.            Annual exchange visits between the two military headquarters and neighbouring military commands would continue

6)      The joint statement made it amply clear that outer space and nuclear energy are emerging as new areas for collaboration in the future.

7)      A Space Cooperation Mechanism had been established, which would steer a five year “outline” for partnership, which would also  over lunar and deep space exploration, between the Indian Space research Organisation (ISRO) and the China National Space Administration.

8)      The two sides would engage in peaceful use of nuclear energy — a decision that led to a conversation on China’s stance towards India within the ambit of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) during the talks.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/modis-china-visit-discusses-border-issues/article7211179.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-china-to-set-up-hotline-between-army-hqs/article7211180.ece

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What is the need for amendment of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986

1)      The law has proved to be weak and ineffective in curbing child labour.

2)      It is in contradiction with Article 21-A of the Constitution and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 that makes schooling compulsory for all in the age group of six to 14 years.

3)      The 1986 Act does not regulate adolescent labour as mandated by ILO Conventions 138 and 182.

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-on-approval-of-amendments-to-child-labour-prohibition-and-regulation-act-1986/article7211095.ece

Proposed amendments in the Act

1)      The Cabinet has approved a proposal to ban employment of children aged under 14 in all kinds of commercial enterprises.

Ø  The Child Labour Prohibition Act, 1986, imposes the ban on only 18 hazardous industries.

2)      Exception : work done in family enterprises and on farmlands, provided it is done after school hours and during vacations.

3)      The proposed amendment Bill will be in sync with the Right to Education Act that guarantees children aged between six and 14 the right to go to school.

4)      The Cabinet has barred employment of adolescents (14 to 18 years) in hazardous occupations and processes in the chemical industry and mines.

5)      The changes provide for stricter punishment for employers for violation.

Ø  there is no penalty for parents for the first offence

Ø  the employer will be liable for punishment even for the first violation

6)      Opposition :

                                i.            Child rights activists had argued that the definition of family enterprises can include matchbox making, carpet weaving and gem-polishing industries where child labour is in high demand.

                              ii.            They have also argued that the new norms can be used to deny education to the girl child who will be stuck with household work.

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4-apr

Iran Nuclear Agreement

1)      The joint comprehensive plan of action(JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear programme announced by Iran and the EU 3+3 (the United Kingdom, France, Germany along with China, Russia and the United States) is a significant breakthrough that will have long-lasting implications globally.

2)      A “framework agreement” will take forward twin objectives of reducing Iran’s nuclear capabilities for civilian use only, while lifting financial sanctions imposed by the U.N., the European Union and the United States.

3)      Steps to be taken by Iran :

                                i.            ramping down its uranium enrichment capabilities and stockpiles of enriched uranium : bring uranium stocks down from 10,000 kg to 300 kg LEU (low enriched uranium)

                              ii.            reducing the number of centrifuges : Iran will reduce the number of installed centrifuges by two-thirds

                            iii.            allowing for thorough inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency : All the excess stockpile and nuclear parts will be kept at an IAEA-monitored location

                             iv.            giving up nuclear reprocessing : turn its nuclear facility in Fordow into an R&D facility for 15 years

4)      What will Iran get in return?

Ø  the U.N., the U.S. and the EU will withdraw all sanctions that have crippled the Iranian economy for years

India's response to deal

1)      India hailed the agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group — U.S., U.K., France, Russia, China and Germany,  calling it a “significant step” towards a comprehensive settlement.

2)      Problems faced by India due to sanctions :

a)      Even the most normal transactions had become very tedious for Indian businesses, from insurance to raising capital, every deal faced international hurdles.

b)      Extremely high Balance of Trade problems : India and Iran have an annual bilateral trade of about $14 billion. India has been unable to pay Iran about $8.8 billion for oil due to sanctions.

c)      India had to cut its oil imports from Iran, and in March 2015 halted oil imports altogether for the first time in more than a decade in order to keep its international commitments.

3)      Once the deal is finalised, India could stand to benefit greatly :

a)      A significant withdrawal of sanctions,  would benefit our economic engagement greatly

b)      Economists are predicting India-Iran trade could double.

c)      In the short run, the big advantage for India could be a further reduction in the price of oil that India used to source at a much higher quantity pre-2012, when Iran was India’s second biggest supplier.

1.      http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/breakthrough-on-iran/article7065659.ece

2.      http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-welcomes-agreement-over-irans-nuclear-programme/article7064169.ece

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Centre extends deadline for implementation of NFSA for third time

1)      The Centre has given another six months to the States for rolling out the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

Ø  The deadline has already been extended twice earlier.

2)      Only 11 States and Union Territories have so far implemented the Act passed in 2013.

Ø  only Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi and Chandigarh have so far implemented the Act

3)      NFSA, 2013 aims at providing a legal entitlement to 5 kg of subsidized foodgrains a person per month at Rs 1-3 a kg to two-thirds of the country’s population.

4)      The Centre had warned the States that it would stop the supply of subsidized APL foodgrains if they failed to meet the April deadline.

5)      To ensure proper distribution of PDS supplies,  the Centre had decided to give a fixed cash amount of Rs. 87 per quintal, to be contributed equally by the Centre and the State, to ration shop dealers.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-extends-national-food-security-act-rollout-deadline-again-by-6-months/article7066437.ece

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30-mar

European countries to join AIIB : A boost to China's "One belt One road" initiative

1)      European countries, including Germany, France, Britain, and now Russia along with Australia agreed to join the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Ø  It has imparted a new sense of realism to Beijing’s Silk Road plans.

2)      Consequences of this move :

                                i.            If implemented, it is likely to shift the global balance of economic power towards Eurasia.

                              ii.            The decision of key European powers along with South Korea to join the bank, overriding strong objections from the United States, has split the Atlantic Alliance on this issue.

3)      What is "One belt One Road"?

a)      China’s “One belt One road” initiative envisages connecting the Pacific coast with Europe by an extensive transport, cyber and energy network along the Eurasian corridor.

b)      Interlinked with the land route, China wants to establish the 21st century Maritime Silk Road (MSR) , which would connect China with a string of ports, from where would radiate economic corridors, in Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and Africa. The MSR would terminate in Europe.

4)      China advocate, in reference to the AIIB, the creation of a regional hub for financial cooperation, apart from strengthening pragmatic cooperation in monetary stability, investment, financing, credit rating and other field.

5)      China consider this as the emergence of a multi-polar world.

6)      China’s ‘One belt One Road’ initiative requires massive investment, including finance from the $40 billion Silk Road fund, which the Chinese have separately established.

7)      ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative, backed by a solid financial institutional network, once implemented, is expected to accelerate the shift of geo-economic power away from the United States, towards Eurasia.

Ø  More than 4.4 billion people, or 63 per cent of the global population countries, are expected to benefit from China’s game changing plans.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/russia-australia-netherlands-to-join-aiib/article7046453.ece

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Yemen crisis

Present situation : Saudi Arab led campaign in Yemen

1)      Saudi warplanes bombed Huthi rebels in Yemen, launching an Arab military intervention in support of its embattled President.

2)      The rebels and their allies within the armed forces had been closing in on main southern city Aden where President Mansour Hadi has been holed up since fleeing the rebel-controlled capital Sana’a last month.

3)      Huthi rebels advance had raised fears in Saudi Arabia that the Shia minority rebels would seize control of the whole of its Sunni-majority neighbour and take it into the orbit of Shia Iran.

4)      Iran condemned the Saudi led intervention against its coreligionists as “a dangerous step” that violated “international responsibilities and national sovereignty.”

5)      Riyadh’s move is the latest front in a growing regional contest for power with Iran.

Ø  The contest is also playing out in Syria, where Tehran backs Mr. Assad’s government against mainly Sunni rebels

Ø  It is also being played in Iraq, where Iranian-backed Shia militias are playing a major role in fighting

1.      http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/14-civilians-killed-following-saudiled-intervention/article7037609.ece

2.      http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/riyadhled-campaign-will-be-over-in-days-yemen/article7041521.ece

Yemen crisis

1)      Yemen is in the grip of its most severe crisis in years, as competing forces fight for control of the country.  

2)      The tussle for power in Yemen has serious implications for the region and the security of the West.

Who is fighting whom?

1)      The main fight is between forces loyal to the beleaguered President, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, and those allied to Zaidi Shia rebels known as Huthis, who forced Mr .Hadi to flee the capital Sanaa in February.

2)      Yemen's security forces have split loyalties, with some units backing Mr Hadi, and others the Huthi and Mr Hadi's predecessor Ali Abdullah Saleh.

3)      Mr Hadi is also supported in the predominantly Sunni south of the country by militia known as Popular Resistance Committees and local tribesmen.

4)      Both President Hadi and the Huthi are opposed by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

5)      The picture is further complicated by the emergence in late 2014 of a Yemen affiliate of the jihadist group Islamic State, which seeks to eclipse AQAP.

Saudi intervention

1)      After rebel forces closed in on the President's southern stronghold of Aden in late March, a coalition led by Saudi Arabia responded to a request by Mr Hadi to intervene.

2)      The coalition comprises five Gulf Arab states and Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan and Sudan.

Implication of the crisis around the world

1)      Yemen crisis can greatly exacerbate regional tensions.

2)      It also worries the West because of the threat of attacks emanating from the country as it becomes more unstable.

3)      The conflict between the Huthi and the elected government is also seen as part of a regional power struggle between Shia-ruled Iran and Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia.

Ø  Gulf Arab states have accused Iran of backing the Huthi financially and militarily

4)      Yemen is strategically important because it sits on the Bab al-Mandab strait, a narrow waterway linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, through which much of the world's oil shipments pass.

Ø  Egypt and Saudi Arabia fear a Huthi takeover would threaten free passage through the strait.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29319423