(Current Affairs) International Events | December: 2013

International Events

Russia passed Anti-Terror Bill

The lower house of Russian Parliament, Duma on 25 October 2013 approved a new legislation which makes punishment for terrorism more severe. The new legislation also requires terrorists’ relatives to pay for the damages caused in attacks. The bill is expected to be approved in the upper house and be signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law. The bill further adds that training for terrorist activities is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. It also introduced a punishment of up to six years for those participating in a militant group on foreign soils. Putin has taken a tough stance against the North Caucausus rebellion following two wars between the Russian army and Chechen separatists.

World’s first Underwater Rail Link between two Continents

Turkey on 29 October 2013 opened world’s first underwater rail link that connects Asia and Europe. The length of the rail link is 13 kilometers and is about 60 meters below the Bosphorus Strait. Named Marmaray tunnel is the first world’s subway to connect two continents. The Tunnel is engineered to withstand the earthquakes. The railway tunnel beneath the Bosporus Strait has been opened in Turkey and has created the link between the
Asian with European shores of Istanbul. The rail link was inaugurated on the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. This project of development of the undersea rail link was visualized in 1860 by an Ottoman Sultan. The work on the tunnel started in the year 2004 but the construction was delayed because of archeological excavation. Marmaray will carry the subway commuters in the biggest city of Europe and eventually serve highspeed and freight trains. The tunnel project of 2.8 billion dollar was financed by the Japan Bank for International Co-operation.

Iran and P5+1 Group Agreed to Hold Talks on Iran’s Nuclear Programme

Iran and P5+1(Group of six major world powers comprising the US, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany) were agreed on 16 October 2013 first time to hold talks on Iran’s nuclear programme. TheP5+1 group was held two days intense, substantive and forward looking talks with Iran over its controversial nuclear program on 15- 16 October 2013 in Geneva. According to the agreed plan between Iran and P5+1 Group, Iran ensured to the P5+1 group that it will use nuclear programme for peaceful purpose.

According to the agreed plan all nuclear activities in Iran will supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agenc( IAEA). Javad Zarif ,Iran’s foreign Minister while accepting the proposal of P5+1 group hoped that the results achieved over two days of talks in Geneva will mark the beginning of a new phase in relations between Iran and the P5+1 countries. Iran and the P5+1 group were previously held talks in Almaty, Kazakhstan April 5-6 2012. The two sides had resumed negotiations in Almaty in February 2013 after a nine-month interval. Each side brought a proposal to the April talks, but failed to reach consensus on a way forward and no further meetings were scheduled. But Iran and P5+1 group were agreed first time to hold talks on Iran’s nuclear parogramme.

About P5+1 Group

  • The P5+1 Group, a group of six world countries (United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, and France plus Germany).
  • It was formed in 2006 to resolve the nuclear progamme in Iran.

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