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International Current Affairs
International Current Affairs Oct 3rd Week 2016
Category : International Current Affairs
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1) Pakistan passes long-awaited anti-honour killing and anti-rape legislations.

  • Pakistan Parliament in a joint sitting unanimously passed two bills, one seeking to curb murders in the name of honour and the other to punish rapists by use of modern technology of DNA testing in probes involving rape cases.
  • The two bills are titled as, Criminal law amendment (offences in the name or on the pretext of honour) bill, 2016 and Anti-rape (criminal laws amendment) bill, 2016.
About Anti-Honour Killing Bill:
  • The anti-honour killing bill states, relatives of the victim will be able to pardon the killer if he/she is awarded capital punishment; however, the culprit will have to face mandatory life sentence (25 years).
About Anti Rape Bill:
  • The legislation passed makes DNA test mandatory in investigations as part of the procedure. Through another amendment enhanced punishment has been provided for rape in police stations and rape of minors and mentally handicapped. Thus sex workers also get protection of the law against rape.
  • According to the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, nearly 1100 women were killed by relatives in Pakistan in 2015, while many more cases go unreported.

2) India-Pakistan border to be sealed completely by 2018.

  • Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India-Pakistan border will be completely sealed by 2018.
  • Announcement in this regard was made after Union Home Minister held meeting of representatives of 4 states sharing border with Pakistan in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
  • Central government has formulated time-bound action plan to completely seal the entire stretch of 3,323-km-long border between the two countries.
  • The process of sealing border will be monitored at Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) level, Border Security Force (BSF) level and chief secretary of state’s level.
  • Besides, a new concept of Border Security Grid (BSG) has been envisaged, in which all the stake holders related to border security are involved. Based on their suggestions, a final shape to BSG will be given.
3) US lifts economic sanctions on Myanmar.

    Economic Sanction

  • The U.S lifted sanctions against Myanmar that have been in place for nearly two decades.
  • The move came after President Barack Obama’s announcement that the US was ready to lift sanctions on the Asian country during Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to Washington.
  • Lifting economic and financial sanctions will support trade and economic growth in Myanmar.
  • Treasury will continue to work with Burma to implement a robust anti-money laundering regime that will help to ensure the security of its financial system.
  • The step eased restrictions on Myanmar’s financial institutions, allowed certain transactions related to US individuals living in the country, and removed seven state-owned enterprises and three state-owned banks from the US blacklist.

4) Colombian President will donate Nobel prize money to conflict victims.

    Colombian President

  • Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced that he would donate his $925,000 in Nobel Peace Prize money to victims of the conflict that has roiled his country for half a century.
  • He was awarded the prize for reaching a peace agreement with the FARC rebel group
  • The deal was rejected a few days later by Colombian voters in a referendum.
  • About 260,000 people have been killed and more than six million internally displaced in Colombia.
  • Under the peace deal, the FARC was to relaunch as a political party. But rightwing hardliners led a campaign against the accord, arguing it offered the rebels impunity for massacres, kidnappings and other crimes committed during the conflict.
5) Coordinated Patrol and India-Indonesia Bilateral Maritime Exercise Commenced at Belawan, Indonesia.

    Patrol

  • India and Indonesia commenced their second coordinated patrol (CORPAT) and bilateral maritime exercise in the Andaman Sea.
  • The 17-day-long bilateral exercise will demonstrate India’s commitment to its ties with Indonesia and to maritime security in Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
  • The bilateral maritime exercise and CORPAT will see participation by one warship and one maritime patrol aircraft from navies of both countries.
  • India will be represented by INS Karmuk, an indigenously built missile corvette, based under Andaman and Nicobar Command alongwith a Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
  • These naval interactions will provide opportunities for both countries for extensive operational and training engagements. Besides, it will also contribute substantively to the maintenance of good order at sea.