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INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONALINTERNATIONALINTERNATIONALINTERNATIONALUS House of RepresentativesUS House of RepresentativesUS House of RepresentativesUS House of RepresentativesUS House of Representatives

passed the Defence Bill 2013passed the Defence Bill 2013passed the Defence Bill 2013passed the Defence Bill 2013passed the Defence Bill 2013

US (United States) House of

Representatives on 20 December

2012 passed the Defence Autho-

rization Act of 2013. The bill was

passed with a 315-107 vote amid

chaos over the fiscal cliff negotia-

tions and the threat of drastic de-

fense spending cuts. The Defence

Authorization Act of 2013 covers

the cost of ships, aircraft, weap-

ons and military personnel as well

as the war effort in Afghanistan. It

consists of 528 billion dollars for

the Defense Departments base

budget, 17 billion dollars for de-

fense and nuclear programmes in

the Energy Department and 88 bil-

lion dollars for the war in Afghani-

stan. The bill tightens sanctions on

Iran and increases security for U.S.

diplomatic missions after the at-

tack on U.S. Consulate in

Benghazi, Libya. It also requests

the Pentagon to report to Congress

regarding the conflict in Syria on

possible military options.US (United States) House of

Representatives on 20 December

2012 passed the Defence Autho-

rization Act of 2013. The bill was

passed with a 315-107 vote amid

chaos over the fiscal cliff negotia-

tions and the threat of drastic de-

fense spending cuts. The Defence

Authorization Act of 2013 covers

the cost of ships, aircraft, weap-

ons and military personnel as well

as the war effort in Afghanistan. It

consists of 528 billion dollars forthe Defense Departments base

budget, 17 billion dollars for de-

fense and nuclear programmes in

the Energy Department and 88 bil-

lion dollars for the war in Afghani-

stan. The bill tightens sanctions on

Iran and increases security for U.S.

diplomatic missions after the at-

tack on U.S. Consulate in

Benghazi, Libya. It also requests

the Pentagon to report to Congress

regarding the conflict in Syria on

possible military options.

Parliament in Italy dissolvedParliament in Italy dissolvedParliament in Italy dissolvedParliament in Italy dissolvedParliament in Italy dissolved

President Giorgio Napolitano

on 22 December 2012 dissolved

Italys Parliament following the res-

ignation of Prime Minister MarioMonti on 21 December 2012. The

Parliamentary elections are sched-

uled to be held on 24-25 February

2013. Since taking office in No-

vember 2011, the Prime Minister

and his non-party team of minis-


2/10


http://www.civilservicesmentor.com http://upscportal.com2828282828



ters implemented economic aus-

terity measures in the form of cuts

in spending and tax hikes. The

election was triggered after Silvio

Berlusconis party center-rightPeople of Freedom party (PdL)

withdrew support from Montis

government. Italian government

under the leadership of Mario

Monti brought forward a series of

austerity reforms backed by EU

and business leaders. Italys pub-

lic debt is increasing and economy

is in a kind of turmoil. But majority

of Italians, frustrated by benefit

cuts, tax hikes and unemployment,

do not appear convinced.

WHO approved VaccineWHO approved VaccineWHO approved VaccineWHO approved VaccineWHO approved Vaccine

Manufacturing PracticesManufacturing PracticesManufacturing PracticesManufacturing PracticesManufacturing Practices

The World Health

Organisation (WHO) in the third

week of December 2012 approved

the manufacturing practices being

adopted by the private vaccine

manufacturing pharmaceutical

companies of India. This approval

was given to Indian Pharmaceuti-

cal companies after an intensive

four days audit of the vaccine

manufacturing facilities across the

country was concluded by a 16-

member multi-nation team that

was headed by WHO officials. The

team comprised officials from

China, EU, the US FDA, Thailand,

Sweden and France. WHO gave

its clearance to the procedures

adopted by the Indian National

Regulatory Authority (NRA) or the

Drug Controller Generals Office

(DCGO). The audit team also

cleared that the proceduresadopted by the Central Drugs

Standard Control Organisation

(CDSCO) and institutions affiliated

to it meet the prescribed interna-

tional standards and the proce-

dures inculcated in production

were stringent enough to ensure

that the vaccines produced by In-

dian companies were safe, high in

quality and efficacious.

With this approval India be-

came the first country in 2012 topass the stringent levels of seven

indicators that is put forward by

the WHO that is made much more

stringent every time conducted by

a team of 12 international experts

headed by a member of

WHO. India at present is a major

vaccine producing country with 12

major vaccine manufacturing fa-

cilities and the vaccines formu-

lated and manufactured in India

are used in national and interna-

tional markets of nearly 150 coun-

tries of the world. In case of

measles every second child of the

world is vaccinated using the vac-

cine produced in India. At present

India manufactures 30 different

types of vaccines that include

Hepatitis, measles and polio. This

approval from WHO had made the

12 manufacturing units of India

eligible for supplying the vaccines

to international bodies like

UNICEF, WHO, World Bank, GatesFoundation, Clinton Foundation,

and GAVI.

Iran Declared ExtractingIran Declared ExtractingIran Declared ExtractingIran Declared ExtractingIran Declared Extracting

Complete Data from theComplete Data from theComplete Data from theComplete Data from theComplete Data from the

Captured US DroneCaptured US DroneCaptured US DroneCaptured US DroneCaptured US Drone

Iran declared on 5 December

2012 that it had extracted data

from the US intelligence drone

which was caught spying on its

military sites as well as oil termi-

nals. Iran had declared on 4 De-

cember 2012 that the US spying

drone was captured. US however

put down the claim on thegrounds that there were no evi-

dences to support this

assertion. Iran had announced

that it had captured the US

ScanEagle drone which was found

flying over the Gulf waters. The

incident further highlighted the

tensions in Gulf while Iran and US

are attracting attention to the mili-

tary capabilities in oil exporting

regions in an argument over the

disputed nuclear programme of

Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary

Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that

they had extracted the information

from the drone completely. IRGC

further also mentioned that this

drone was spying and gathering

the military information on trans-

fer of oil from the petroleum ter-

minals of Iran. The primary expert

terminal of Iran is located at Kharg

Island.

UN Approved New Debate onUN Approved New Debate onUN Approved New Debate onUN Approved New Debate onUN Approved New Debate on

Arm Treaty opposed by U.S.Arm Treaty opposed by U.S.Arm Treaty opposed by U.S.Arm Treaty opposed by U.S.Arm Treaty opposed by U.S.

Gun LobbyGun LobbyGun LobbyGun LobbyGun Lobby

The U.N. General Assembly

on 24 December 2012 voted over-

poweringly to restart negotiations

on a draft international treaty to

regulate the 70 billion dollar glo-

bal trade in conventional arms, a

pact the powerful U.S. National

Rifle Association has been lobby-

ing hard against. U.N. delegates

and gun control activists have

complained that earlier in July2012 talks collapsed largely be-

cause U.S. President Barack

Obama feared attacks from Re-

publican rival Mitt Romney before

the 6 November 2012 election if

his administration was seen as

supporting the pact, charge U.S.


3/10





officials have denied. But after

Obamas re-election in November

2012, his administration joined

other members of a U.N. commit-

tee in supporting the resumptionof negotiations on the treaty. On

24 December 2012 the 193-nation

U.N. General Assembly voted to

hold a final round of negotiations

on March 18-28 in New York. The

foreign ministers of Argentina,

Australia, Costa Rica, Finland, Ja-

pan, Kenya and the United King-

dom - the countries that drafted

the resolution - issued a joint state-

ment welcoming the decision to

resume negotiations on the pact.

There were 133 votes in

favour, none against and 17 ab-

stentions. A number of countries

did not attend, which U.N. diplo-

mats said was due to the Christ-

mas Eve holiday. Among the top

six arms-exporting nations, Russia

cast the only abstention in last

months vote. Britain, France and

Germany joined China and the

United States in the disarmament

committee in support of the same

resolution approved by the Gen-eral Assembly. The main reason

the arms trade talks are taking

place at all is that the United States

- the worlds biggest arms trader,

which accounts for more than 40

percent of global transfers in con-

ventional arms - reversed U.S.

policy on the issue after Obama

was first elected and decided in

2009 to support a treaty. Obama

administration officials have tried

to explain to U.S. opponents of the

arms trade pact that the treaty un-der discussion would have no ef-

fect on gun sales and ownership

inside the United States because

it would apply only to exports.

About Arms Trade TreatyAbout Arms Trade TreatyAbout Arms Trade TreatyAbout Arms Trade TreatyAbout Arms Trade Treaty

The Arms Trade Treaty is the

name of a potential multilateral

treaty that would regulate the in-

ternational trade in conventional

weapons. The treaty was negoti-

ated at a global conference underthe support of the United Nations

from 2 July 27 July 2012 in New

York. Arms Trade Treaty is part

of a larger universal effort that be-

gan in 2001 with the adoption of a

non-legally binding program of

action at the United Nations Con-

ference on the Illicit Trade in Small

Arms and Light Weapons in All Its

Aspects in 2001. This program was

formally called the Programme of

Action to Prevent, Combat and

Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small

Arms and Light Weapons in All Its

Aspects (PoA).

Queen Elizabeth Became FirstQueen Elizabeth Became FirstQueen Elizabeth Became FirstQueen Elizabeth Became FirstQueen Elizabeth Became First

Peacetime British Ruler toPeacetime British Ruler toPeacetime British Ruler toPeacetime British Ruler toPeacetime British Ruler to

Attend Cabinet MeetingAttend Cabinet MeetingAttend Cabinet MeetingAttend Cabinet MeetingAttend Cabinet Meeting

On 18 December 2012,

Queen Elizabeth became first

peacetime British ruler ever since

1781, who attended the cabinet

meeting. Though she did not take

part in any deliberations, but she

participated in the cabinet meet-ing as an observer and a listener.

Queen Elizabeth remained seated

on the chair which is usually oc-

cupied by the prime

minister. Historians believed that

Queen Elizabeth became the first

monarch in the history to attend

any cabinet meeting, after George

III did that. Factually, George I had

abandoned joining the cabinet in

1717. Nevertheless, QueenElizabeths father George VI had

attended the cabinet meeting dur-

ing World War II.

UK Prime Minister David

Cameron seated towards the right

side of Elizabeth and foreign sec-

retary William Hague seated to-

wards her left. George Osborne,

Chancellor of the Exchequer was

seated just opposite to her. In the

cabinet meeting, the PM first wel-

comed the Queen formally before

spelling out objectives of the cabi-

net meeting. The first agenda of

the meeting was about law

amendment on the succession to

royal chair. The agenda was basi-

cally allowing the first born girl to

be head of the state, even if she

had younger brother. Though

Queen Elizabeth had attended the

cabinet meeting, but academics

were of different viewpoints on

whether Queen should have at-

tended the meeting or not. Atpresent, Britain has a tradition of

monarch allowing a weekly audi-

ence to PM in order to receive pri-

vate as well as confidential brief-

ing. But actually, the Queen just

rubber stamps the ministerial de-

cisions, maybe sometimes in pres-

ence of the Privy Council.

China Held largest Air ForceChina Held largest Air ForceChina Held largest Air ForceChina Held largest Air ForceChina Held largest Air Force

Drill involving 100 FighterDrill involving 100 FighterDrill involving 100 FighterDrill involving 100 FighterDrill involving 100 Fighter

planesplanesplanesplanesplanes

China held one of its largest-ever airforce drill involving about

100 multi-types fighter planes,

amid heightened tensions with

Japan over territorial dispute in

the East China Sea.East China Sea.East China Sea.East China Sea.East China Sea. The air com-

bat exercises were held under in-

formation conditions at an airport


4/10





in southwest China for 11 days in

the month of November 2012

which involved over 100 fighters

of over 10 different types and sup-

port staff.

In recent days, China is hold-

ing multi-military exercises involv-

ing land, air and naval forces on

variety of locations practicing cap-

turing islands and holding on to

them. Aircraft which took part in

the drill came from 14 separate

units and included Chinas most

modern jet fighters, the J-10 and

J-11, along with older models and

two-seater Sukhoi Su-30sSukhoi Su-30sSukhoi Su-30sSukhoi Su-30sSukhoi Su-30swhich

was purchased from Russia. The

exercises are a clear demonstra-

tion of Chinas vastly improved

military capabilities that have

frightened other Asian nations and

are encouraging a changed US fo-

cus on the region. Chinas navyalso for the first time launched and

recovered aircraft from the

countrys first aircraft carrier, a re-

furbished Ukrainian craft that will

be armed with J- 15 fi gh te r-J- 15 fi gh te r-J- 15 fi gh te r-J- 15 fi gh te r-J- 15 fi gh te r-

bombers,bombers,bombers,bombers,bombers, a Chinese adaptation of

the Russian Sukhoi Su-33.

President Mohamed MorsiPresident Mohamed MorsiPresident Mohamed MorsiPresident Mohamed MorsiPresident Mohamed Morsi

signed Egypts Controversialsigned Egypts Controversialsigned Egypts Controversialsigned Egypts Controversialsigned Egypts Controversial

ConstitutionConstitutionConstitutionConstitutionConstitution

Egyptian PresidentMohamed Morsi on 25 December

registered voters participated. The

remaining 90 were appointed by

Mohamed Morsi, the Islamist

president. It was expected to draft

a law for legislative elections forthe dissolved lower house that

have to be held by the end of Feb-

ruary 2013. The National Salvation

Front opposition coalition said it

would vie for seats in the parlia-

ment, which has powers under the

new charter that could hamper

Morsis ability to govern.

European Union imposed StiffEuropean Union imposed StiffEuropean Union imposed StiffEuropean Union imposed StiffEuropean Union imposed Stiff

Sanctions on Trade with IranSanctions on Trade with IranSanctions on Trade with IranSanctions on Trade with IranSanctions on Trade with Iran

European Union (EU) im-

posed stiff sanctions on trade with

Iran in a move aimed at further iso-

lating it over the controversial

nuclear program. The fresh sanc-tions directed against Irans bank-

ing, shipping and industrial sectors

came into effect from 22 Decem-

ber 2012. These are considered to

be the toughest EU measures and

include bans on financial transac-

tions, sales to Iran of shipping

equipment and steel, and imports

of Iranian natural gas in addition

to the existing ban on import of

Iranian crude oil.

Britain would Pull Half of itsBritain would Pull Half of itsBritain would Pull Half of itsBritain would Pull Half of itsBritain would Pull Half of its

Troops from AfghanistanTroops from AfghanistanTroops from AfghanistanTroops from AfghanistanTroops from Afghanistan

The Prime Minister of Britain,

David Cameroon on 19 December

2012 announced that Britain has

planned to withdraw more than

half of its troops back from Af-

ghanistan by 2013 and all-foreign

2012 signed into law a new Islam-

ist-drafted constitution which will

help end political disorder and al-

low him to focus on fixing the

weak economy. Mohamed Morsisigned a declaration enforcing the

charter late after the official an-

nouncement of the result of a ref-

erendum approving the basic law,

Egypts first constitution since

Hosni Mubaraks overthrow. The

passing of the constitution meant

Egypt could now move to a new

stage that should bring security

and stability for the people. The

body, known as the Shura coun-

cil, will temporarily be able to pass

laws until a new parliament hasbeen elected within the next few

months, after the adoption of an

election law. Two-thirds of the

members of the 270-seat council

were elected earlier this year in a

vote in which only 12 per cent of


5/10





forces of the country would be

pulled out by 2014. The Prime Min-

ister informed to the commons

that 3800 troops, who were de-

ployed at Helmand Provincewould be back by end of the year

2013 leaving 5200 troops behind.

Overall, 9500 troops from Britain

are out of home out of which 500

are waiting to be back to home

before the Christmas of 2012. The

troops would be returning home

in relatively two even steps in 2013

and 2014. The decision was made

because of the success that the

British Forces and the Afghan Na-

tional security Forces accom-

plished in the region. By the time

the British forces are pulled out,

the Afghani Forces would have

been mentored from the battalion

level to the Brigade level by 2013.

The Prime Minister also an-

nounced that even after the final

withdrawal of the British Forces a

small number of there force would

remain operational into the regionto have a check on returning of

equipments and to deal with the

logistics. Philip Hammond, theDefence Secretary of Britain in-

formed about the long-term plansof the British Forces following the

commitment that it made to the

Afghani people. The British Gov-

ernment also informed that at the

end of 2014 reduction in the num-ber of troops on a large scale with

immediate effect would not occur.

The troops would be withdrawn

gradually following the plans of its

ISAF [International Security Assis-

tance Force] partners as well asthe advice offered by its army

commanders. A small number of

U.K. Forces would remain func-

tional for operations in Afghani-stan counterparts till the time the

combat operations doesnt come

to a cease completely by 2014.

Maldives took over Charge ofMaldives took over Charge ofMaldives took over Charge ofMaldives took over Charge ofMaldives took over Charge of

Male Airport scrappingMale Airport scrappingMale Airport scrappingMale Airport scrappingMale Airport scrapping

Agreement with GMRAgreement with GMRAgreement with GMRAgreement with GMRAgreement with GMR

Maldives took charge of Maleairport from GMR. Maldives gov-

ernment had scrapped the agree-

ment with GMR on first December

2012, saying that the agreement

was not in the interest of the coun-

try. Singapore Supreme Court had

upheld the right of Maldives to ter-

minate the 25 year contract. There

will be a three-week transition

period starting 7 December 2012

at the end of which GMR will stop

operating the airport. Maldivian

Airport Company Limited, whichwill run the airport, has agreed to

retain all staff, including Indian

nationals, on the same terms.

Beijing was 14th Safest City inBeijing was 14th Safest City inBeijing was 14th Safest City inBeijing was 14th Safest City inBeijing was 14th Safest City in

ChinaChinaChinaChinaChina

A survey conducted

b y China Academy of Social Sci-China Academy of Social Sci-China Academy of Social Sci-China Academy of Social Sci-China Academy of Social Sci-

ences (CASS)ences (CASS)ences (CASS)ences (CASS)ences (CASS)which is a govern-

ment owned body, revealed that

the capital of China, Beijing is less

safer than other cities of the coun-

try. The safest place is the capital

of Tibet, Lhasa, followed by

Shanghai. When analysed in

terms of safety, the Chinese capi-

tal city was ranked 14th, inspite of

huge network of the security cam-

eras as well as constant police

force on the lanes and roads.

Other major cities of China were

ranked much safer than Beijing

and these safe cities included

Xi amen , Ningbo, Chan gchun,

Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin,

Dalian, Hangzhou and Nanjing.

CASS also revealed that around 40

percent of the 25000 respondentsof survey from 38 cities of China

felt unsafe to go out during night-

time. Residents of Guiyang, the

capital of Guizhou province

marked it lowest in terms of safety.

It was also found out that people

in the coastal cities of East China

as well as municipalities were

safer than other parts of country.

Ireland to legalise AbortionsIreland to legalise AbortionsIreland to legalise AbortionsIreland to legalise AbortionsIreland to legalise Abortions

Ireland on 18 December 2012

announced that it will legalise

abortions when the mothers life

is at risk, weeks after the death of

Indian dentist Savita Halappanavarwho died after being refused an

abortion in the European country.

The decision comes after a huge

public outcry over the death of 31-

year-old Savita, who died on 28

October 2012 at Galway University

Hospital. She had been 17-week

pregnant and was found to be mis-

carrying. Savita Halappanavar

asked repeatedly for a termination

of pregnancy but was refused and

was told the foetal heartbeat was

still present and this is a Catholiccountry.

Global Telecom Treaty withoutGlobal Telecom Treaty withoutGlobal Telecom Treaty withoutGlobal Telecom Treaty withoutGlobal Telecom Treaty without

Net Control Signed by 89Net Control Signed by 89Net Control Signed by 89Net Control Signed by 89Net Control Signed by 89

NationsNationsNationsNationsNations

A controversial new global

treaty on telecom regulations was


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signed on 14 December 2012 by

89 International Telecommunica-International Telecommunica-International Telecommunica-International Telecommunica-International Telecommunica-

tion Uniontion Uniontion Uniontion Uniontion Union member states out of

a possible 144 Countries regard-

less of US objections to prospec-tive regulation of the Internet. Over

150 nations met in Dubai, under

the support of the International

Telecommunication Union (ITU)

to update a set of telecom rules of

1988, before the Internet and mo-

bile phones transformed commu-

nications. But they failed to draw

a conclusion which will lead to a

new fight over cyberspace. Fifty-

five countries did not sign the

treaty that enters effect in January

2015.

A US-led bloc advocated a

tolerant approach to the Internet,

while Russia, China and much of

Africa and the Middle East wanted

greater governmental oversight of

cyberspace.

The treaty that is the first up-

date to the International Tele-International Tele-International Tele-International Tele-International Tele-

communication Regulationscommunication Regulationscommunication Regulationscommunication Regulationscommunication Regulations

(ITRs)(ITRs)(ITRs)(ITRs)(ITRs) agreed in 1988, stimulated

controversy as Internet operators,

activists and countries led by the

United States objected to refer-

ence to the Internet deemed to be

paving the way for government

control. The United States on 13

December 2012 opposed the

treaty saying that the proposed

text opened the door to govern-

ment regulation of the Internet. As

per the treaty, the non-binding

resolution on the Internet

recognises, among other things,

that all governments should have

an equal role and responsibility for

international Internet governance

and for ensuring the stability, se-curity and continuity of the exist-

ing Internet and its future devel-

opment and of the future Internet.

As in a previous version, the Inter-

national Telecom Regulations spell

out guidelines on technical issues

such as how carriers charge each

other for incoming international

phone calls, as well as taxation and

accounting.

Countries that sign the treaty

are supposed to be guided by its

principles, although these have no

force of law. US lawmakers had

voted unanimously to oppose any

efforts to give the United Nations

new authority to regulate the

Internet, and a variety of Internet

activists and US firms, led by

Google, also warned against new

regulations. Google had asserted

that governments taking part in the

meeting in Dubai proved that they

wanted increased censorship, and

it supported countries rejectingthe treaty.

Israels Jewish PopulationIsraels Jewish PopulationIsraels Jewish PopulationIsraels Jewish PopulationIsraels Jewish Population

Passed Crucial 6 Million MarkPassed Crucial 6 Million MarkPassed Crucial 6 Million MarkPassed Crucial 6 Million MarkPassed Crucial 6 Million Mark

Israels Central Bureau of Sta-

tistics (CBS) in the last week of De-

cember 2012 revealed that theJewish population of Israel passed

the crucial mark of 6 million for

first time. This is equal to the Jews

killed in Holocaust. According to

the Israels CBS the overall popu-

lation of Israel was 7.98 million out

of which 75.4 percent were Jew-

ish. The Arab population of Israel

accounted for 20 percent and 4

percent were defined as

others. However it was madeclear that the position of Jews

worldwide was the same. Before

Holocaust, the number of Jews

across the world was 18 million.

After it, the number was just a little

more than the mark of 13 million.

Even now, the population is just a

little more than 13 million. Never-

theless, the population of Jews in

Israel is somewhere near half the

population of Jewish nations

across the world, which would put

Israel in central place.

Other figures were released

by Palestinian Central Bureau of

Statistics and it was found that the

overall population of Arabs in Pal-

estine and Israel would be equiva-

lent to that of Jews by 2016. It was

also revealed that the population

of Arabs would exceed that of

Jews by 2020. Jewish population

in Israel increased by ten times

since the declaration of this state

in May 1948 when the number ofJewish citizens was just 660000.

What is Holocaust?What is Holocaust?What is Holocaust?What is Holocaust?What is Holocaust?

Holocaust is said to be thebureaucratic, systematic and

state-sponsored murder of around

six million Jews by Nazi regime as

well as collaborators. Holocaust is

the Greek-origin word which

means sacrifice by fire. Nazis ac-

quired power in January 1933 in


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8/10





Immigration to BritainImmigration to BritainImmigration to BritainImmigration to BritainImmigration to Britain

Witnessed Biggest Fall in 20Witnessed Biggest Fall in 20Witnessed Biggest Fall in 20Witnessed Biggest Fall in 20Witnessed Biggest Fall in 20

YearsYearsYearsYearsYears

Immigration into Britain sawthe deepest dip in 20 years, the

official figures revealed. In 2011,

536000 foreigners migrated to live

in UK, which is 42000 lower than

in 2010. This drop is said to be the

biggest and deepest because im-

migration dropped down by

61000 during the recession of

1991. Numbers of people enter-

ing UK were lowest since the year

2004 when thousands of European

workers were permitted to work

here. The basic reason why thisnumber sank was because of the

dramatic reduction in the number

of people coming on student vi-

sas. In terms of percentage, the net

immigration figure went down by

25 percent from 242000 to 183000.

The number of students who

come for joining courses in UK

colleges sank by 67 percent. In the

meanwhile, the students coming

down for English Language

schools dropped by 76 percent.

Nevertheless, the foreign studentswho go to UK varsities increased

by 1 percent. Ministers of UK

called this drop as a crucial step

towards achieving the aim of gov-

ernment in reducing immigration

to what it was in 1990s.

Paper Money to be replacedPaper Money to be replacedPaper Money to be replacedPaper Money to be replacedPaper Money to be replaced

with Plastic Banknotes in UKwith Plastic Banknotes in UKwith Plastic Banknotes in UKwith Plastic Banknotes in UKwith Plastic Banknotes in UK

Britain planned to replace

the paper money with plastic

banknotes, which are said to be

more durable as well as water-

proof. Another advantage of these

plastic banknotes is that they are

difficult to be forged. Paper money

has been used in Britain for over

300 years. The radical renovationin Britain might see polymer ster-

ling currency in circulation in just

three years time. The Bank of En-

gland already publicised the 1 bil-

lion pounds tender from 2015 for

the process of printing of these

notes at the press in Debden,

Essex. Bidders are expected to

cope up with this change from

paper currency to plastic right

from the beginning of the contract

as the part of this process. The

contract since 2003 was held by

De La Rue, which is one of the only

two polymer notes makers. Ini-

tially, the Bank would produce

lower denominations like fiver

(five-pound note). De La Rue

prints over 150 currencies and re-

cently it had produced new plas-

tic banknotes for Pacific island of

Fiji. The first country to introduce

plastic notes was Australia where

the currency was introduced in

1988 as a step to curtail counter-feiting. Some of the other coun-

tries that might issue polymer

notes include Vietnam, Mexico,

Papua New Guinea, New Zealand

and Romania. Plastic fiver was in-

troduced in Northern Ireland in

1999 for indicating the mark of a

Millennium.

Why plastic notes can beWhy plastic notes can beWhy plastic notes can beWhy plastic notes can beWhy plastic notes can be

beneficial than paper currency?beneficial than paper currency?beneficial than paper currency?beneficial than paper currency?beneficial than paper currency?

Plastic notes are more du-

rable than the paper notes. Also,these polymer notes prove to be

more hygienic because they at-

tract fewer bacteria and do not

form crease or tear. Apart from

being waterproof, the plastic

notes are also easier to be used for

vending machines. The primary

feature of plastic notes is that they

offer clear window which also

contains optical variable device

through which light can be split

easily into the component colours.This makes it very difficult for any-

one to counterfeit the currency.

These notes are eco-friendly as

well as recyclable. However, the

cost of producing these notes is a

bit higher than the paper currency.

Also, the initial cost needs to be

invested so that the vending ma-

chines as well as ATMs can adapt

to them.

North Korea Launched LongNorth Korea Launched LongNorth Korea Launched LongNorth Korea Launched LongNorth Korea Launched Long

Range Unha-3 RocketRange Unha-3 RocketRange Unha-3 RocketRange Unha-3 RocketRange Unha-3 Rocket

North Korea launched a long-

range rocket Unha-3Unha-3Unha-3Unha-3Unha- 3 on 12 De-

cember 2012 despite international

opposition and growing tensions

in the region successfully deliver-

ing a scientific satellite

Kwangmyongsong-3 into orbit.

Unha-3 is the second version

of satellite Kwangmyongsong-3

which is successful ly lifted off

from the Sohae Space Center by

carrier rocket. The North Ameri-North Ameri-North Ameri-North Ameri-North Ameri-

can Aerospace Defense Com-can Aerospace Defense Com-can Aerospace Defense Com-can Aerospace Defense Com-can Aerospace Defense Com-

mand (NORAD)mand (NORAD)mand (NORAD)mand (NORAD)mand (NORAD)reported that the

North Korean missile deployed an

object that appeared to achieveorbit, which would fall in line with

Pyongyangs claims about the na-

ture of the launch. The debris of

the rocket fell into waters off the

Philippines at 10:05 a.m. local time

after passing over Okinawa. The

launch is a message from North


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