Pakistan Banned ‘Islamic State’ Militant Group
- Pakistan has banned the ‘Islamic State’ militant group on August 29, 2015 that has overrun vast stretches of Iraq and Syria after repeatedly denying the dreaded outfit’s presence within its territory.
- The decision was taken on recommendation of the Foreign Office, which regularly updates the Pakistan government about international militant groups banned by the United Nations.
- The brutal organization, its banners and graffiti in support of Islamic State (IS), also known as Daesh in Arabic has made major inroads into Afghanistan and the tribal areas of Pakistan, overtaking its weaker contenders, the Taliban and al-Qaida.
North and South Korea Reached Agreement to Ease Tensions
- North and South Korea reached agreement on August 25, 2015 to end a stand-off involving an exchange of artillery fire that had pushed the divided peninsula into a State of heightened military tension. In this regard, both nations have issued a joint statement.
- North Korea has expressed regret and publicly apologized over mine blasts which had occurred earlier in August, 2015 in demilitarized zone between both countries. North Korea agreed to end the ‘semi’ State of war it had declared earlier.
- The two sides will hold follow-up talks to discuss a range of issues on improving ties either capital city Seoul or Pyongyang at a date to be decided. Both countries also agreed to work towards resumption of reunions for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War in September, 2015.
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Bangladesh became First Country to Receive Funds from the UNFCCC
- The UN Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) has issued carbon credits worth $ 3.56 million to two Bangladeshi organizations on August 20, 2015. Bangladesh has become the first country to receive funds from UN for its fast growing solar home systems.
- Environment Ministry sources named Grameen Shakti set-up by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus and Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), a State-owned development financial institution in Bangladesh as the fund-receiving organizations.
- Bangladesh has installed around 6 million small solar home systems covering over 10% of its 160 million population. It got support by various international organizations like the World Bank and Global Environment Facility (GEF).
- Bangladesh is one of the lowest carbon emitters, but the country is one of the most climate-change vulnerable countries. It has emerged as one of fastest growing solar energy users with rural households using for day-to-day needs.
Russia Signed Military Cooperation Agreement with Pakistan
- Russia and Pakistan signed their very first military cooperation agreement on August 20/2015 and laid out future avenues of cooperation. Thus, they ended years of division over Islamabad’s close military ties with the USA and Moscow’s with India.
- A joint naval exercises will be a key feature of future cooperation with Pakistan, as well as military officer exchanges, arms sales and counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism cooperation.
- The key concern driving Moscow to court Islamabad is the alarming flow of narcotics out of Afghanistan as 40% of Afghan drugs travel by sea, and a lot of it ends up in Russian ports.
- Pakistan’s reconciliation with India after decades of animosity and periodic conflicthas also provided a window of opportunity for Moscow to expand its relationship with Islamabad.
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