China
overtakes Japan as second-largest economy
After three decades of spectacular
growth, China has passed Japan in the second quarter of 2010 to become the
world�s second-largest economy behind the United States. The milestone, though
anticipated for some time, is the most striking evidence yet that China�s
ascendancy is for real and that the rest of the world will have to reckon with a
new economic superpower.
The recognition came on August 16, 2010, when Tokyo said that Japan�s economy
was valued at about $1.28 trillion in the second quarter, slightly below China�s
$1.33 trillion. Japan�s economy grew 0.4 percent in the quarter, substantially
less than forecast. That weakness suggests that China�s economy will race past
Japan�s for the full year.
Experts say unseating Japan�and in recent years passing Germany, France and
Great Britain�underscores China�s growing clout and bolsters forecasts that
China will pass the United States as the world�s biggest economy as early as
2030.
For Japan, whose economy has been stagnating for more than a decade, the figures
reflect a decline in economic and political power. Japan has had the world�s
second-largest economy for much of the last four decades, according to the World
Bank. And during the 1980s, there was even talk about Japan�s economy someday
overtaking that of the United States. But, while Japan�s economy is mature and
its population quickly aging, China is in the throes of urbanization and is far
from developed, meaning it has a much lower standard of living, as well as a lot
more room to grow.
China is already a major driver of global growth. The country�s leaders have
grown more confident on the international stage and have begun to assert greater
influence in Asia, Africa and Latin America, with things like special trade
agreements and multi-billion dollar resource deals. Beijing is also beginning to
shape global dialogues on a range of issues; for instance, in 2009 it asserted
that the dollar must be phased out as the world�s primary reserve currency.
While the United States and the European Union are struggling to grow in the
wake of the worst economic crisis in decades, China has continued to climb up
the economic league tables by investing heavily in infrastructure and backing a
$586 billion stimulus plan.
There are huge challenges ahead, though. Economists say that China�s economy is
too heavily dependent on exports and investment and that it needs to encourage
greater domestic consumption�something China has struggled to do. The country�s
largely state-run banks have recently been criticized for lending far too
aggressively in 2009, while shifting some loans off their balance sheet to
disguise lending and evade rules meant to curtail lending growth.
China is also locked in a fierce debate over its currency policy, with the
United States, European Union and others accusing Beijing of keeping the Chinese
currency, the renminbi, artificially low to bolster exports�leading to huge
trade surpluses for China but major bilateral trade deficits for the United
States and the European Union. China says that its currency is not substantially
undervalued and that it is moving ahead with currency reform.
Regardless, China�s rapid growth suggests that it will continue to compete
fiercely with the United States and Europe for natural resources but also offer
big opportunities for companies eager to tap its market.
US ends combat mission in Iraq
On August
31, 2010, US President Barack Obama announced an end to the US combat mission in
Iraq, not with a declaration of victory but rather a sombre admission that the
US had paid a �huge price.�
Announcing an end to Operation Iraqi Freedom in a nationally televised speech
from the White House, the President said the Iraqi people now have lead
responsibility for the security of their country.
But as US troops roll out of Iraq, the country continues to be locked in a
political stalemate with disagreement over who will lead it, after elections
failed to throw up a clear winner.
Obama urged Iraq�s leaders to �move forward with a sense of urgency to form an
inclusive government that is just, representative, and accountable to the Iraqi
people.� �And when that government is in place, there should be no doubt: The
Iraqi people will have a strong partner in the United States. Our combat mission
is ending, but our commitment to Iraq�s future is not,� he added.
Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said
while US troops may have withdrawn, the Iraq war is not over, it is not �won,�
and any form of stable end state in Iraq is probably impossible before 2020.
A transitional US force will remain in Iraq with a mission of advising and
assisting Iraq�s security forces, supporting Iraqi troops in targeted
counter-terrorism missions, and protecting US civilians.
Mid-East Summit
US
President Barack Obama waded into a new round of Middle East diplomacy September
1, 2010, seeking momentum for revived peace talks clouded by a flare-up of West
Bank violence and a deadlock over Jewish settlements.
Obama met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he launched a series of
one-on-one meetings with Middle East leaders attending a US-led peace summit
that culminated with the first direct Israeli-Palestinian talks in 20 months.
With Obama's peace bid facing broad skepticism and the clock ticking toward the
September 26, 2010 expiration of an Israeli settlement construction freeze,
Israel's defence minister sounded a conciliatory note about the prospects for
sharing Jerusalem, an issue at the heart of the decades-old conflict. But big
obstacles remain to Obama's quest for a peace deal that eluded so many of his
predecessors.
Hamas militants declared war on the talks even before they began, killing four
Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank, vowing more attacks and underscoring
the threat hard-liners pose to the fragile peace process.
The summit marked Obama's riskiest plunge into Middle East diplomacy, not least
because he wants the two sides to forge a deal within 12 months, a target many
analysts call a long shot.
Cricket shamed again
Yet
another match-fixing scandal rocked Pakistan cricket on August 29, 2010,
engulfing its captain Salman Butt, brilliant pace duo of Mohammad Asif and
Mohammad Amir and four other players, leading to the arrest of a bookie in
London and questioning of the players by the Scotland Yard after a tabloid
sting.
The �News of the World� tabloid alleged that a Pakistani man Mazhar Majeed had
paid bribes to the players to bowl no-balls in the series and the Lord�s Test.
The video evidence that the tabloid has presented also shows Majeed talking
about his links with Indian bookies.
The two Pakistanis who bowled no-balls allegedly on directions from Majeed were
Asif and Aamir. Both bowlers delivered three no-balls during the Lord�s Test.
Mission Accomplished
The
United States have finally started pulling its troops out of Iraq. President
Barack Obama has confirmed that the US plans to withdraw significant number of
combat troops from Iraq stating that the war was nearing an end. The remaining
force of 50,000 soldiers will train Iraqi security forces and provide security
for ongoing US Diplomatic efforts.
Australia with a hung parliament
Australians failed to elect a new government in the polls held in August and
were left with a hung parliament. The non-result elections between Julia
Gillard�s Labor and Abbott�s Liberal party led to the first hung parliament in
Australia since World War II. Three key Independents are now in the process of
deciding which party to support to form a government.
Pakistani cricketers tainted
The Game
of cricket gets murkier with alleged match-fixer Mazhar Majeed�s claim of having
rigged games played by Pakistan for three years. The British Police recovered
cash from hotel rooms of Pakistani players involved in spot fixing. Salman Butt,
Mohammad Amir and Mohammed Asif were interviewed and their mobiles confiscated
after Majeed�s confession. The Anti-Corruption Unit of the ICC will probe all 82
international matches played by Pakistan during this time. The news came as a
bolt for the flood-stricken and violence-plagued country where cricket is the
national sport.
Pakistan Floods
Annual
monsoons rains have led to flooding in Pakistan leading to the death of 1500
people and rendering thousands homeless. In the worst flooding disaster in 80
years the floodwaters have affected about one-fifth of the country washing away
millions of hectares of crops, submerging villages and destroying roads,
bridges, schools, electricity and communication setting back the infrastructure
by many years. Disease is fast spreading in these flood affected areas and there
have been warnings that dams in the south may burst. It is estimated that the
floods in Pakistan have displaced people thrice the number displaced during
partition.
Hike in Visa fee
he Obama
Regime has raised H-1B and L1 visa fees to protect its borders from illegal
Mexican immigrants. This additional fee would be used to build operating bases
and deploy unmanned aerial surveillance to beef up U.S.-Mexico border security.
The impact of this hike will be substantial on Indian IT companies that account
for approximately 50,000 H1 and L1 visas per year.
Mosque near ground Zero
A New
York city panel has cleared the way for the construction of a mosque near ground
zero that has been causing a political uproar over religious freedom. The
proposed construction of the mosque near ground zero has sparked debate all
around the country. President Barack Obama, however, supported the right of
having a mosque by asserting that Muslims have the same right to freedom of
religion as everyone else in America.
China to launch space station
Having
finished the first module of a planned space station and testing its electronics
and other systems China is all set to launch it into orbit next year. Changes
were being made to the rocket that will carry the 8.5ton Tiangong 1 module into
a set orbit. No finishing or manning dates have been given for the space
station. The official Xinhua news agency said that The Shenzhou 8 spacecraft and
Shenzhou 9 and 10 spacecraft would dock with it in the second half of 2011 and
2012 respectively.
Online route
Oxford
English Dictionary that has been in print for over a century may never appear in
print for the future generations. The word reference Bible is likely to loose
its existence to its online version. With the digital books becoming popular,
the format that the 3rd edition, currently being worked upon, will take is
anybody�s guess.
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