News Wrap
AGD

Maldives is a small Islamic Island nation of about 400,000 people. India’s the then Rajiv Gandhi Government in 1988, had despatched armed forces to Maldives, to obstruct a military coup attempt, against the government of President Maumoon Gayoom. The attempted military coup, was supported by a mercenary attack by a Sri Lankan military group. After a thirty-year autocratic rule, former President Mohamed Nasheed became the first democratically elected President of Maldives in a multi-party election of 2008. Nasheed was forced to resign at gunpoint, after quarrels with a judge and the police in February 2012 ; and he alleged New Delhi had ‘‘blessed the coup’’, and placed former Vice-President Mohammed Waheed as President. The Waheed government had terminated the contract to modernize Hulule international airport to Indian firm GMR, some months ago, and assigned the job to a Malaysian developer. Pakistan’s ISI has been very active in the archipelago. During Waheed’s rule, China has opened an embassy in Male. To evade politically motivated arrest, former President Nasheed had taken shelter in the premises of Indian High Commission in Male, since mid February 2013 to 21 February 2013, for eleven days.

Bloodshed in Assam
There was a turnout of over 65% in the panchayat polls in Assam of mid February 2013, covering districts Nagaon, Morigaon, Dhubei, Barak valley, Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi. The Rabha groups had been opposing holding of panchayat polls, before council elections in the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council Area, covering Goalpara and parts of Kamrup district. Soon after polling commenced, a large number of people from the Rabha community attacked voting centres in different parts of Goalpara and Kamrup districts. Warring supporters of Congress candidates and Independent candidates fought in Cachar district. Clashes between non-Rabha people, mostly members of the ruling Congress and residents belonging to the Rabha community, arson and police firing have led to around 30 fatal casualties, and a large number injured. Armed Rabhas turned violent, and burnt school buildings and ballot boxes. Security preparations were inadequate. Most of the victims were Rabhas, and included women. After the creation of Assam’s Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council in 1995, during the time of the Hiteswar Saikia Congress government, with headquarters at Dudhnoi, no council elections had been held. There has been nil development activities.

Us growth hit
Over the last six months, the US economy has shrunk by 0.1%, the first contraction in three years, shaking financial markets. The broader US economy remains on a weak but stable growth path of 1% to 2%. Big reversal in business inventory and a plunge in federal defence spending, which each knocked 1.3 percentage points off growth. Since the end of the recession in 2009, this is the first reported decline in the US economy. Weather related disruptions and other transitory factors contributed to the pause in economic activity. Uncertainty concerning the automotive spending cuts is a likely reason for the decline in defence outlays. The rise in disposable incomes of 6.8% has been an effect of the protracted negotiations at end 2012, over the fiscal cliff, relating to government spending cuts and tax rises. USA has been adding around 157,000 jobs every month, as the unemployment rate hovers at 7.9%. Equity markets and the Dow Jones Industrial Average of blue chip shares are steadily rising. The Federal Bank is maintaining an extraordinary loose monetary policy, including a programme of bond buying, known as quantitative easing. The labour market indicates a steady growth in jobs, but not fast enough to bring down the unemployment rate.

Iran’s Nuclear facility
The Fordow nuclear facility, is being used by Iran to enrich uranium. Buried deep underground inside a mountain near the holy city of Qom, the Forden plant is Iran’s most heavily fortified facility and considered protected from Israeli airstrikes. A large number of Fordow’s 2700 nuclear centrifuges are stored hundreds of feet below ground in bunkers. In the third week of January 2013, a huge explosion is believed to have damaged the Fordow nuclear facility. The explosion led to extensive structural damage, and 200 workers were trapped inside. The surrounding areas were not evacuated as release of harmful substances was not verified. Israeli aircraft were seen near the facility, at the time of the explosion. The blast shook facilities within a radius of three miles. Uranium enriched to 20% fuels Iran’s main research reactor, but it is also just below the level useable in nuclear bombs. New construction at the heavily fortified facility is meant to prevent access to the facility, through land routes. Nuclear scientists at fordow were producing medium enriched Uranium, which could be converted to bomb grade, if needed. The USA has sold Israel 5000 lb ‘‘bunker buster’’ bombs, and is in a process of supplying the far more powerful 15-ton bombs. Iran’s nuclear programme is not expected to acquire weapons before 2015 or 2016.

Frontier
Vol. 45, No. 38, Mar31-Apr 6, 2013

Your Comment if any