INTERNATIONAL NOVEMBER 2016

INTERNATIONAL NOVEMBER 2016

• APEC leaders vow to keep markets open and fight against protectionism.
  The leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation have reaffirmed the commitment to keep their markets open and to fight against all forms of protectionism. In a closing statement after meeting of the group at Lima in Peru, they pledged to work towards a sweeping new free trade agreement despite the political climate. The talks were dominated by doubts over the future of free trade and in particular the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact following the election of Donald Trump as President of United States.
  
• South Korea and Japan to share intelligence on North Korea
  South Korea has approved a deal to share intelligence on North Korea directly with Japan. The two countries previously shared their intelligence via the US, but this was seen as a cumbersome process in the face of potentially urgent threats. They have had tense relations in recent years and the deal is controversial in South Korea, where anger remains over Japanese atrocities in wartime. The agreement will take effect after it is signed in third week of November, 2016. It is designed to take advantage of the two countries' perceived intelligence strengths, which in Japan is high-tech surveillance and in South Korea human intelligence, or spies in North Korea.
  
• U.S President elect Trump outlines policy plan for first 100 days
  US President-elect Donald Trump, in a video message, has outlined policy plans for his first 100 days in office. Trump has said that he will issue an executive action on his first day in office to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership as it is potential disaster for the country. He also directed his transition team to develop a list of executive actions that can be taken on day 1 to restore laws and bring back jobs.
  
• Trans Pacific Partnership: The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a 12-nation trade pact aiming to liberalize the flow of goods among countries in the Pacific Rim. The TPP cuts tariff on thousands of items and attempt to unify copyright laws across its members.
  
  The TPP pact led by the U.S. including 11 other Asia-Pacific countries, could have indirectly impacted India's exports in several industrial sectors such as textiles, plastics, leather, clothing, cotton and yarn, besides the country's regime on investment, labour standards, intellectual property rights (IPR). Donald Trump is aiming to negotiate fair, bilateral trade deals that bring jobs and industry back onto American shores.
  
• Earthquake strikes off Japan, sparks tsunami warning
  A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit northeast Japan on 22nd November, sparking panic and triggering tsunami wave of one-metre height that crashed ashore at the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant. About a dozen other waves were recorded elsewhere on the northeast coast, according to the Meteorological Agency, but they were smaller than initial warnings of three metres height.
  
  There has been no report of any damage and the tsunami alert has now been lifted. National broadcaster NHK urged residents to "flee immediately" to higher ground.
  
  An earthquake and tsunami struck the area in 2011 killing 18,000 people. That quake, one of the most powerful ever recorded, also caused a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, where a massive clean-up operation is still going on.
  
• Half the world will be online by the end of 2016, UN report
  By the end of 2016, almost half of the world's population will be using the internet as mobile networks grow and prices fall, but their numbers will remain concentrated in the developed world, according to a report by the UN's International Telecommunications Union (ITU). ITU also released an ICT Development Index (IDI). The index combines 11 indicators on ICT access, use and skills, capturing key aspects of ICT development, and gives IDI value (out of 10). The index is topped by South Korea followed by Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland and U.K. Mean while India ranked 138 way bellow china, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
  
  In several of Africa's poorer and more fragile countries, only one person in 10 is on the internet. Globally, 47% of the world's population is online, still far short of a UN target of 60% by 2020
  
  ITU expects 3.5 billion people to have internet access by the end of 2016. The proportion of the population covered by a mobile-broadband network will reach 84% in 2016 globally, but only 67 per cent in rural areas. Europe continues to lead the way in ICT development. It had the highest average IDI value among world regions (7.35 points). This reflects the region’s high levels of economic development and ICT investment.
  
• UN aid crosses Syrian frontlines for first time in weeks
  A UN aid convoy carrying food, water and other basic supplies was able to cross frontlines in Syria to reach a rebel-held city, the first cross-line delivery this month providing help to 107,500 Syrians staying in Rastan and nearby villages in the Homs region of western Syria, which has not had any aid since July.
  
  UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien said that the supplies require complex negotiations. He said that three aid convoys recently sent to distant areas were turned back at checkpoints manned by Syrian security personnel.
  
• Archaeologists unearth 5000 yr old city in Egypt
  In Egypt, archaeologists have unearthed what they describe as a city that dates back more than 5,000 years, containing houses, tools, pottery and huge graves. It lies by the River Nile, close to the Temple of Seti the First in Abydos. Experts say, the size of the 15 newly discovered graves indicates the high social standing of those buried. It is believed the city was home to important officials and tomb builders and would have flourished during early-era ancient Egyptian times.
  
  The discovery comes at a time when the country is trying re-energies its tourism industry, which has suffered amid militant violence since President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in 2011.
  
• Colombia government, rebels sign revised peace agreement
  The Colombian Government signed a revised peace agreement with the country's largest rebel movement, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) making a second attempt within months to end a half century of hostilities.
  
  The document was signed in Bogota between President Juan Manual Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londono on 25th November. The revised agreement will be submitted to Congress for approval. The deal is aimed at ending five decades of armed conflict, which has killed more than 260,000 people and left millions internally displaced.
  
  The previous deal was rejected by the Colombian people in a referendum on 2nd October. During the signing ceremony, President Santos has said that revised agreement is better than the previous one because it addressed many of the concerns of those who had voted "No" in the October referendum.
  
• Pakistan joins Ashgabat Agreement and Lapis Lazuli Corridor
  Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on 26th November announced the country’s decision to join the Ashgabat Agreement and the Lapis Lazuli Corridor while addressing a two-day Global Sustainable Transport Conference in Turkmen capital.
  
  The objective of the agreement is to facilitate the transport of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. This is a transport agreement between Oman, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and seeks to create an international transport and transit corridor.
  
  The Lapis Lazuli Corridor seeks to foster transit and trade cooperation between Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey by reducing barriers facing transit trade.
  
• Tsunami hits New Zealand after 7.5-magnitude earthquake
  A tsunami has hit after an earthquake struck New Zealand's South Island. The US Geological Survey said the magnitude-7.8 quake hit on 13th November, some 95 kilometre from Christchurch. The tsunami arrived in the north-eastern coast. The first waves may not be the largest, with tsunami activity possible for several hours.
  
  Residents were warned to head inland or for higher ground along the coast. According to Weatherwatch, a gauge at Kaikoura, 181 kilometre north of Christchurch, measured a wave of two metres (6ft 5ins). Smaller waves are said to be arriving in Wellington and other areas.
  
  Residents in the Chatham Islands, an archipelago 680 kilometre south-east of the mainland, were also being warned a wave would hit imminently by the civil defence.
  
• Colombia, FARC rebels announce new peace deal to end 52 year war
  The Colombian government and the Farc rebel group have announced a new peace agreement, six weeks after the original deal was rejected in a popular vote. Alvaro Uribe, a former President who led the no campaign, was involved in this round of negotiations intended to end 52 years of civil war.
  
  The initial deal was deemed to be too favourable the left-wing rebels. The new agreement will have to be approved by parliament, rather than being put directly to voters. Officials said in a joint statement that they have reached a new final agreement to end the armed conflict, which incorporates changes, clarifications and some new contributions from various social groups.
  
  The statement was read by diplomats from Cuba and Norway, the mediating countries, in the Cuban capital, Havana. The previous deal was rejected by 50.2 per cent of voters in a referendum held on October, 2nd this year.
  
• Hindi to be part of foreign languages for Aus pre-schoolers
  Australia announced national rollout of an online programme for preschoolers to learn foreign languages for promoting languages other than English, including Hindi, from 2017 onward.
  
  According to Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham, the government would extend the programme to offer Australian preschoolers the opportunity to learn Italian and Spanish in 2017 and Hindi and Modern Greek in 2018. The minister said 32 percent of the 8,540 current students were studying Chinese, 29 percent Japanese, 24 percent French, 13 percent Indonesian and 2 percent Arabic.
  
• Russia-Pak.-China forum clouds Afghan donor meet
  Russia, is working on a regional partnership on Afghanistan that includes Pakistan and China. Announcing the meeting of ‘Russia-China-Pakistan’ consultations to be held in Moscow in December, Zamir Kabulov, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Director, 2nd Asian department, said the meeting would “lay the ground” for a regional project centred around Afghanistan. Despite naming India and Iran as regional stake-holders, the Russian official didn’t include them in the consultations to be held in December
  
  The timing of the announcement is significant as it comes just ahead of the 13-nation ‘Heart of Asia’ donor conference for Afghanistan, due to be held in Amritsar on December 3 and 4. The Punjab government has completed construction of a “heritage walk” around the Golden Temple that is expected to be showcased to guests.
  
  The annual Heart of Asia (HoA) conference is held by turns in one of the member countries that include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Russia, Saudi, Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and United Arab Emirates.
  
  The last summit, held in Islamabad in December 2015, was attended by Foreign Ministers of most of those countries, including External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who had used the visit to announce the resumption of India-Pakistan comprehensive dialogue which was, however, derailed because of the Pathankot attack.
  
• Hunger risks sparking fresh exodus from Syria: UN
  A farming crisis in war-torn Syria has reduced food production to a record low and raised fears people in the conflict-hit country will be forced to flee famine, according to the UN's food agency report, released on 15th November. The Food and Agriculture Organization said in its report that…
  • Widespread insecurity and unfavourable weather conditions in parts of the country continue to hamper access to land, farming supplies and markets
  • It warned of "grave consequences not only for the food security of farming households but also on food availability" in the country, which "may ultimately lead to further displacements".
  • Ongoing fighting is making it difficult for many farmers to access grazing land and water sources, while the price of animal feed has sky-rocketed, forcing "many herding families... to sell or slaughter their sheep, goats and poultry", added the FAO, which produced the report with the UN's World Food Programme (WFP).
  • Rising prices and scarcity of fertilisers and seeds is also hurting crop farmers, who "will have no other option than to abandon food production if they do not receive immediate support".
  • Wheat production has plummeted 55 percent, from an average 3.4 million metric tons before the war to 1.5 million metric tons in 2016, and a water crisis has led some farmers to switch to hardier but less nutritious crops.
  • Syria, once an exporter in livestock, has seen its herds and flocks shrink significantly since the beginning of the crisis.
  • At present there are 30 percent fewer cattle, 40 percent fewer sheep and goats, and a staggering 60 percent less poultry
  • And while some livestock farmers fleeing violence are able to bring their cows or sheep with them, crop farmers have no such option.
  • Some 9.4 million people across Syria are in need of assistance -- up 716,000 on September 2015 -- particularly in Quneitra, Dara'a, Damascus, Idlib, and Aleppo
  • Problems with transportation, high costs and security risks for producers and traders has resulted in surplus supply in the northeast of the country while the west largely relies on imports.
  • Newly harvested crops and airdrops of food assistance into the besieged city of Deir Ezzor brought down the price of wheat flour by 12 to 15 percent in several key markets in June 2016.
  • But wheat prices were nevertheless between 40 and 50 percent higher in June when compared to the same period in 2015.
  
  
• UN committee passes Ukraine-sponsored resolution in Crimea
  United National General Assembly’s committee on humanitarian and social issues has passed a Ukraine-sponsored resolution condemning the situation with human rights in Crimea. The resolution was supported by 73 states, including US, UK, Canada and European Union countries. A total of 23 countries, including India, China, Russia, Armenia and Belarus, voted against. 76 countries abstained.
  
  The four-page document, put forward by Ukraine, condemns alleged discrimination and human rights abuses against residents of Crimea, including the Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian minorities. The resolution will be brought before the UN General Assembly next month and is almost certain to be adopted by a similar vote.
  
• Egyptian court cancels death sentence of Morsi
  Egypt's Court of Cassation on 15th November overturned a death sentence against deposed president Mohammed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood and ordered a retrial. Mursi was sentenced to death in June 2015 in connection with a mass jail break during Egypt's 2011 uprising. Mursi, democratically elected after the revolution, was overthrown in mid-2013 by then-general Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, now the president, following mass protests against his rule, and immediately arrested.
  
• Zika no longer a world public health emergency: WHO
  The World Health Organization has declared that the mosquito-borne Zika virus will no longer be treated as an international medical emergency. By lifting its nine-month-old declaration, the UN's health agency is acknowledging that Zika is to stay.
  
  However Brazil has said that it will continue to treat the Zika outbreak as an emergency. Brazil has been the epicenter of a Zika epidemic since the mosquito-carried virus, which is blamed for causing severe birth defects, caused a global alarm in 2015. The infection has been linked to severe birth defects in almost 30 countries.
  
• Nicaraguan President wins third consecutive term in office
  Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has won a third consecutive term in office. With two-thirds of the votes counted, the left-wing leader had secured an irreversible lead with 72 per cent. Election officials said his closest rival, centre-right candidate Maximino Rodriguez, only had 14.2 per cent of the vote.
  
• Sinhala and Tamil to get equal status along with English as third official language in Sri Lanka
  In Sri Lanka, Minister for official language has advocated for providing Sinhala and Tamil language equal status along with making English as the third official language for the country. Mano Ganeshan, who is minister for national coexistence, dialogue and official languages said, though Sinhala and Tamil have been accorded official language status in the present constitution, the wording suggests primacy of Sinhala over Tamil language which needs to be changed in the new constitution proposed to be brought up in coming months.
  
• Trump becomes 45th President of United States beating Hillary Clinton
  Donald Trump will become the 45th US President after a stunning victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton ending eight years of Democratic rule and sending the United States on a new path. The Republican nominee defied pre-election polling to claim swing states, winning the key battlegrounds of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
  
  He won 279 states, where as the majority required to become is only 270. The democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has got only 228 states.
  
  About trump
  Once he entered the Republican presidential race on June 16, 2015, Donald Trump managed to be simultaneously charismatic and combative, elitist and populist as he tapped into a vein of polarity and anti-Washington anger among American voters.
  
  It was his first run for public office and Trump called it a movement, not a campaign.
  
  Supercharging the bluster, hyperbole and media mastery made him one of the world's best-known businessmen.
  
  It took Trump, little more than 10 months to vanquish 16 other candidates and win the Republican nomination but in so doing he created a rift in the party.
  
  Son of New York real estate tycoon Fred Trump, he helped manage his father's extensive portfolio of residential housing projects in the New York City boroughs, and took control of the company - which he renamed the Trump Organization - in 1971.
  
  He shifted his family's real estate business from residential units to glitzy projects and erecting the most famous properties, many of them bearing famous names as - Trump Place, Trump World Tower, Trump International Hotel and Tower, and so on.
  
  Under the banner "Make America Great Again", Trump has run a controversial campaign throughout. The rise of Trump, once a registered Democrat, threatened to blow up the Republican Party.
  
  Its establishment challenged his commitment to their tenets and organized against him.
  
  Prominent Republicans - including former presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush and congressional leaders - shunned him or offered lukewarm support.
  
• Taiwan set to legalize same-sex marriages, a first in Asia
  Taiwan appears set to become the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. Taiwanese lawmakers are currently working on three bills in support of marriage equality, one of which is already listed for review and could be passed within months. Same-sex marriage also has the prominent support of President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's first female head of state.
  
  About 80 percent of Taiwanese between ages 20 and 29 support same-sex marriage, said Tseng Yen-jung, spokeswoman for the group Taiwan LGBT Family Rights Advocacy, citing local university studies. Taiwan's United Daily News found in a survey taken four years ago that 55 percent of the public supported same-sex marriage, with 37 percent opposed.
  
  Gay and lesbian relationships began to find wide acceptance in the 1990s, aided by the already well-established feminist movement, said Jens Damm, associate Professor in the Graduate Institute of Taiwan Studies at Chang Jung University in Taiwan.
  
  Still, same-sex marriage still had to overcome traditional perceptions of gender roles and the strong pressure on children to marry and have kids. The self-ruled island also lacks many openly gay and lesbian celebrities to lead the way; the writer and television talk show host Kevin Tsai is among the few exceptions.
  
  Taiwan would join Canada, Colombia, Ireland, the United States and 16 other countries that have legalized same-sex marriage over the past 15 years, according to the Washington, DC-based LGBT rights advocacy group Human Rights Campaign. But it would be a notable exception among Asian and Middle Eastern countries, at least 20 of which continue to ban same-sex intercourse.
  
• Strong quake hits Japan's east coast
  A magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck off the east coast of Japan early 12th November, but no damage or casualties were reported. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit 12 km from Onagawa near Sendai at 6-42 a.m. No tsunami warning was issued. The temblor’s epicenter was at a depth of 45 km, the USGS reported. Japan, which sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries.
  
• EU, Canada Sign Landmark Free Trade Agreement
  European Union, EU and Canada have signed a landmark trade deal. The deal was signed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and top European Union officials in Brussels on 29th October.
  
  The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, known as CETA, required all European Union member states to endorse it. All 28 European Union states approved the deal on 28th October when consensus was reached.
  
  The CETA removes 99 percent of customs duties between the two sides, linking the single European Union market with the world's 10th largest economy. It is seen by many EU officials as a model for future economic agreements with the bloc’s other large trade partners including the likely one with the U.K. once it leaves the EU.
  
  The CETA aims to revoke roughly 9,000 tariffs, covering many industrial goods and agricultural and food items. It also promises to open up competition in the services sector, including in banking and insurance. The deal can be applied provisionally once the European Parliament also ratifies it in December.
  
• World Cities Day observed with theme 'Inclusive Cities, Shared Development'
  The United Nations has designated every 31st of October as World Cities Day. The Day is expected to greatly promote the international community's interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.
  
  On 31st October, 2016, on the occasion of the World observed Cities Day the UN said that with the commitment to work together for a planned and sustainable urban life in the wake of rapid growth of population and problems. The theme of 2016 Day is "Inclusive Cities, Shared Development" to highlight the role of urbanization as a source of global development and social inclusion.
  
• 300 million children live with polluted outdoor air: UNICEF
  United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF has said, about 300 million children live with polluted outdoor air and it can cause serious physical damage, including harming their developing brains. In a study published, it said, nearly one child in seven around the globe breathes outdoor air that is at least six times dirtier than international guidelines.
  
  The study said, air pollution is a leading factor in child mortality. Executive Director of UNICEF, Anthony Lake, has said, air pollution is a major contributing factor in the deaths of around 600,000 children under five every year, and it threatens the lives and futures of millions more every day.
  
  He said, pollutants do not only harm children's developing lungs but can actually cross the blood brain barrier and permanently damage their developing brains.
  
  South Asia has the largest number of children living in such areas at about 620 million, followed by Africa with 520 million and the East Asia and Pacific region with 450 million. The report said, the air is poisoned by vehicle emissions, fossil fuels, dust, burning waste and other airborne pollutants.
  
• Panama Papers: Pakistan Supreme Court orders corruption probe against Nawaz Sharif
  In a setback to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Supreme Court on 1st November ordered to form a judicial commission to probe into the Panama Papers scandal involving corruption allegations against the family of the beleaguered premier.
  
  A five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali conducted the hearing in presence of several ministers,lawyers. The Supreme Court heard several identical petitions by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and others to investigate charges of corruption against Sharif and his relatives. According to the Panama Papers, three of Sharif's four children - Maryam, Hasan and Hussain are owners of off-shore companies.
  
• South Korean President Park reshuffles cabinet amid scandal
  In South Korea, President Park Geun-hye, has named a new Prime Minister and Finance Minister amid a scandal that threatens to bring down her administration. Kim Byong joon, a senior Presidential Secretary under a previous administration, was named as Prime Minister to replace Hwang Kyo-ahn.
  
  The role of Prime minister is largely symbolic in South Korea, where power is concentrated in the Presidency. Yim Jong-yong, currently Financial Services Commission chairman, was named as the new finance minister and Deputy Prime Minister, replacing Yoo Il-ho. A new Minister of public safety and security has also been appointed in the reshuffle.
  
  Park Geun-hye has come under attack over the actions of her old friend and mentor Choi Soon sil. Ms Choi was detained by police accused of influence peddling and interfering in state affairs. Eight banks have also been raided in connection with the scandal.
  
• UK High court says parliament must vote on triggering article 50
  In a major victory for Remain campaigners and those alarmed by the British government’s efforts to singlehandedly control the country’s exit from the European Union (EU), the High Court ruled that Brexit could not be triggered without a parliamentary vote.
  
  The court rejected government arguments that clauses in a piece of legislation from 1972 gave it the power to act without parliamentary approval when it came to triggering Article 50, which gives EU member-states a two-year period to withdraw.
  
  The government’s argument was “contrary to the fundamental constitutional principles of the sovereignty of Parliament” and the government’s lack of entitlement to use its prerogative powers to change domestic law, the court said on 3rd November.
  
  The developments are the latest dramatic twist in the political drama that has enveloped the United Kingdom since the surprise vote in favour of leaving the EU in June.
  
• UK announces new visa policy for non-EU nationals
  UK has announced changes to its visa policy for non-EU nationals, which will affect a large number of Indians especially IT professionals. Under the new visa rules announced released on 4th November by the Home Office, anyone applying after November 24 under the Tier 2 intra-company transfer (ICT) category would be required to meet a higher salary threshold requirement of 30,000 pounds from the earlier 20,800 pounds.
  
  The ICT route is largely used by Indian IT companies in Britain and the UK's Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) had found earlier 2016 that Indian IT workers accounted for nearly 90 per cent of visas issued under this route.
  
  Nationals outside the European Union, including Indians, will also be affected by new English language requirements when applying for settlement as a family member after two and a half years in the UK on a five-year route to residency settlement in the UK.
  
  The new requirement will apply to partners and parents whose current leave to remain in the UK under the family immigration rules is due to expire on or after 1st May 2017.
  
• Sonu Sood-starrer 'Xuanzang' China's official entry to Oscars
  China has selected historical adventure film "Xuanzang", which also stars Bollywood actor Sonu Sood, as its official entry for the 89th Academy Awards. Sonu Sood is making his debut in Chinese film industry with the movie, is playing the character named Harsha.
  
  Directed by Huo Jianqi, it also stars Indian actors Neha Sharma and Ali Fazal. Sonu is also part of Indo-Chinese co-production "Kung Fu Yoga" starring Jackie Chan in the lead role. The project is a part of the three-film agreement signed between India and China during Chinese President Xi Jinpings visit to India.
  
• Asia-Pacific nations resolve to work for disaster risk
  As many as 51 countries in the Asia-Pacific region on 5th November resolved to work for handling all kinds of disasters by strengthening the apparatus and to tackle such exigencies through global frameworks.
  
  In a statement, 'New Delhi Declaration', the participating nations of the three-day Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2016 spelt out the commitment towards preventing and reducing disaster risk and strengthening the resilience of communities.
  
  The conference also announced an Asian Regional Plan for implementation of the Sendai Framework which focuses on how to reduce disaster risk at national and local levels.
  
  The conference also arrived at a longer-term road map of cooperation and collaboration, spanning the 15-year horizon of the Sendai Framework, as well as a two-year action plan to further disaster risk reduction with specific, actionable activities.
  
  It said, voluntary action statements of stakeholder groups towards a shared responsibility approach in implementation of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, SFDRR.
  
  The conference also commemorated the first World Tsunami Awareness Day. The observance of the day stressed on the importance of early warning systems and preparedness of communities in order to mitigate damage from the often devastating natural hazard. It was the first Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction after the advent of SFDRR.
  
• Latvia becomes first to link with Belt & Road Initiative in Baltic Sea area
  Latvia has become the first country in the Baltic Sea area to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to link up with China's Belt and Road Initiative.
  
  The MoU was signed after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's meeting with his Latvian counterpart Maris Kucinskis in capital Riga, on his first visit to the European Union country.
  
  The initiative, which comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aims to boost connectivity and trade across Asia, Africa and Europe. It was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013. Li and Kucinskis also witnessed the signing of five agreements on cooperation in such areas as small and medium-sized enterprises, transportation and logistics.