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China fires Chairman of China Development Bank
Omkar mane
The Chairman of the China Development Bank Hu Huaibang was fired from his post by the Chinese Communist Party, according to a statement from the Central Commission for Discipline and Inspection (CCDI). According to the report, Hu had " lost his ideals and convictions" and had committed violations such as using his post to illegally benefit others, abusing his power, and allowing his family members to "complain about property"
The CCDI also said that it would confiscate his illegal income and that his case would be transferred to the higher judicial bodies. The committee in July had said that Mr. Hu Huaibang was being investigated for serious violations of discipline, though at that time, no information was given about this matter.
President Xi Jinping, since he came to power in 2012, has started sweeping reforms aimed at corruption and promoting anti-corruption reforms that have ensnared top officials. Many important officials were caught in this drive including Yang Jiacai a former assistant vice chairman at China Banking Regulatory.
This firing comes at a significant time as the economy is experiencing a slowdown and trade tensions with the USA increasing despite signing a phase-one trade deal. This firing also shows that Xi Jinping wants to clean up the image of China to boost foreign investment in the country in the face of increased economic cooperation among other countries.
Russia and Turkey Announce Cease-Fire in Syria's Idlib
Tanishk saxena
On 9 January 2020, a ceasefire was introduced in the Idlib de-escalation zone as Turkey had asked Russia to establish a ceasefire in the region. It sent its delegation to Moscow in December to discuss the issue which was followed by Russia and Turkey’s announcement of a ceasefire in Idlib province. The ceasefire would make way for humanitarian aid in the last rebel-held province as Russia had continuously used its veto power to stop United Nations for providing Humanitarian Aid and would pause the Turkish and Russians allied large scale campaigns with the Syrian Government against the rebels.
These large-scale campaigns were a reason for a refugee crisis in Turkey as according to the United Nation more than 30,000 people fled to Turkey in December alone from Southern Idlib. Thus this call for a ceasefire was in the interest of Turkey and they had been calling for it because of this campaign lead to more refugees in its border area while it had already been suffering from a mass refugee influx from a long time. Many previous cease-fire deals had been broken but this time it is expected to last for a while due to Turkish interests. More than 3,70,000 people had been killed, cities destroyed, gobs of families displaced and millions injured since 2011. In 2019 alone more than 11,000 people were killed of which more than 1000 were children. This call for a ceasefire bought relief for an enormous amount of people.
Taiwan Voting Process
Suparna Sahajwalla
Taiwan has been under a Martial Law up until the year 1987 post which they had their first presidential election in the year 1996. For Taiwan, it has been a progressive change from putting an end to the authoritarian rule and moving towards a rather democratic one.
In this year’s voting process, there are two main parties that will be contesting against each other, the Kuomintang and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), with the DPP having a majority of 68 seats in the parliament, whereas on the other hand the Kuomintang having 25 seats. This year, there are a total of 45 parties that will be contesting in the parliamentary elections.
Coming to the Presidential Candidates for this year, Taiwan has three, James Soong from the People First Party, Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu from the Kuomintang, and the current President Tsai Ing-wen from the DPP. Speaking of the Voting Process in Taiwan, for Presidential Elections, the candidate is required only to attain a Simple Majority, in order to win.
The Legislative Yuan is the law-making body, and the term of each member of this body is for 4 years. Legislative Yuan, which are the Parliamentary elections, have two ballots for each voter, one for the candidate of their local district, and the other for the party.
A total of 113 seats are present in the Legislative Yuan, out of which 73 are elected by a simple majority. An approximate of 34 seats are provided to each par, to which then the voters vote, and the party needs to have a minimum of 5 percent of total party votes so as to win seats in the Legislative Yuan. There are also 6 seats reserved for the aboriginal population of Taiwan. Out of a population of 23 Million, there is an approximate of 19 Million Taiwan citizens that are eligible for voting, which is above 20 years.
Israel to Test Laser Defense System
Arunima Prasad
The defense ministry of Israel is planning to test a newly developed laser beam which is capable of mutilating rockets and miniature drones. On 8th January, Wednesday, the ministry announced that the country had made a ‘breakthrough’ futuristic technology by entering a new era of energy warfare in the air, land and the sea. The fiction of high energy lasers is shifting towards reality through this technological milestone. The quest for this long-range solid laser was started in 2006 from the idea of a short-range Iron Dome missile defense. The system has the capacity to intercept missiles and aerial threats through three major programs. The first two focus on creating a supplement to Iron Dome to prevent forces in motion with the help of ground-based laser technology. Whereas the third and complex program seeks to field an airborne method that could protect broader territories. Even though its development draws a lot of expenses, the final project will be cost-effective and sustainable. A steady supply of electricity keeps it from running out of ammunition and functional errors.
A major drawback of this technology is that it largely relies on the weather; it could not be utilized effectively in a cloudy sky of lower visibility. The velocity of the laser beam is also questionable. However, the final launch of this system has not been mentioned yet. The countries across the West Asian region remain on alert following the U.S. drone strike in Baghdad the previous week, whereas Israel prepares to test its latest laser defense system. It can also be considered as a precaution to counter any possible military actions of the U.S. According to Brig. Gen. Yaniv Rotem, the head of research and development at the ministry, this laser interceptor could be a game-changer in the era of technological warfare.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Step Back From Royal Duties
Merin Susan Suresh
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced earlier this year that they will be stepping back from their royal duties. The couple decided to seek financial independence while spending part of each year in Canada with their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and the decision has been supported by other members of the royal family. Buckingham Palace’s decision to support the couple would also require them to give up their exclusive titles ‘His Royal Highness’, ‘Her Royal Highness’ as announced by the Queen in a statement that was released. The statement read that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be holding their HRH titles as they are not working members of the royal family. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle agreed to repay the Sovereign Grant expenditure that was used to renovate the Frogmore Cottage which will remain their UK family home.
Prince Harry who is sixth in line for succession to the throne after his father Prince Charles, his brother Prince William and Prince Willaim's three children will also have to leave behind his official military appointments. The Queen in her earlier statements had made it very clear that the decision had been finalized after several months of discussion. The Duke and Duchess are said to be looking after a charity that they started apart from the charity that Prince Harry jointly runs with Prince William. A similar announcement was made by Edward VIII with his decision to abdicate the throne in order to marry Wallis Simpson.Earlier in 2019, Queen Elizabeth's second eldest son Prince Andrew said he would step down from his royal duties following claims against him which he had denied.