The tension between Russia and Ukraine escalated this year after Russia started supporting and supplying arms to Russian speaking rebels in Eastern Ukraine. In midst of this conflict, on July 17th, a Malaysian airlines flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lampur with some 298 passengers on board was shot down in Ukraine. The plane was mistaken to be from the enemy combat team. Sadly, it was too late to correct the mistake. For no fault of theirs, 298 passengers of Malaysian airlines lost their lives. Among them were 154 dutch, 27 Australian and 28 Malaysian. It came as a harsh truth considering that earlier in March this year, Malaysian Airlines MH 370 just went missing. There were 239 passengers on board.
South Korea
In another mass tragedy, a South Korean ferry carrying over 400 people ,mostly students capsized killing over 300. The boat had extended capacity and the captain got away from the boat fearing his life leaving hundreds inside to die. The captain was sentenced to 36 years in prison for negligence causing injury and death.
After Malaysia and South Korea, let’s move to another Asian country. It’s a country that says - Are deewano mujhe pehchano kahan se aaya main hoon kaun.
China
Slowly and steadily, China has worked its way up and today is the second largest economy in the world surpassing Japan. China today is a pillar of strength and is oozing with confidence with over 3 trillion dollars in foreign reserves. Xi Jinping is considered as one of the most powerful leaders in the world. China is an important market today and is in a position of strength. You can see the way it hushed Hong Kong protestors despite the west trying to bring up the issue time and again. The Chinese leader clearly told President Obama during the ASEAN summit that China would work with the U.S to combat global warming but will not tolerate anyone backing the Hong Kong protests. But, despite all the progress that China makes, it is not a democracy. Internet is still restricted and so is free press. There are human rights issues. What happens if China becomes the undisputed leader in the future? That is something that You and I need to think about.
Before we exit China, let’s also quickly talk about this person in China who taught English for a while. He then tried his hand at many jobs including a clerical post at KFC for which he was rejected. On a travel, he discovered the world of online shopping and its potential in China. The result - Alibaba was born. Jack Ma is the inspiring founder of Alibaba and Alibaba had the largest IPO ever raising $25 billion.
India
And last but not the least in the Asian continent is the iconic election in India. People spoke without hesitation and vented out their frustration with the Congress government. Narendra Modi won enough seats to form the government without having to seek coalition. The nation is riding a positive sentiment. India today might be behind China but India has something that China does not have and many other nations don’t have. One, is the unrivalled youth power. How many nations can you name where 65% of the population is under 35? Second, India is the largest democracy. Channel these in the right path and sky is the limit. We sincerely hope Modi leads India in the right direction. One other major achievement in India was the success of the Mars mission and most notably its puny budget of $74 million.
Africa
Let’s move over to Africa which is the harbinger of the epidemic that today threatens the globe. First case of ebola was identified in March 2014. Since then, it has spread between countries to Guinea, Sierra Leonne, Libya and few cases outside the continent including the U.S. Over 6000 people have died so far and there are over 17000 confirmed cases of Ebola. Many doctors and nurses from around the world have risen to the call , risking their lives and traveled to West Africa to treat the infected. For their undeterred commitment towards saving human lives, Ebola fighters were declared as Time persons of the year 2014.
Another evil that plagues Africa is in Nigeria by the name Boko Haram. Boko Haram in English translates to western education is sinful. In April this year, Boko Haram abducted some 219 girls who are still missing. He kidnapped them from a boarding school. Despite outrage and protests, the Nigerian government could not bring back the girls. 219 of them. The U.S government has offered a reward of $7 million for the head of Boko Haram.
Mexico
While on the topic of girls abducted, let’s take a look at Mexico. 43 girls who had planned some sort of protests were taken into custody by the police and under the orders of the mayor, they were handed over to a criminal group which brutally murdered all 43 students.
Conflict thy name is this continent. Main pareshan pareshan pareshan is something people in this region forever say.
Middle East - Things seldom change here. If they do, it’s mostly for the worst. Conflict between Arabs and Jews, fragile situation in Iraq, nuclear ambitions of Iran, civil war in Syria-the region is as it is loaded with tension. And now ISIS. ISIS has been on a rampage this year conquering cities, spreading their radical ideologies and slaughtering hostages be it journalists or humanitarian workers. Particular cause of concern is the beheading of these hostages by western converts. Containing the growth of ISIS will be an ongoing challenge to the western nations in 2015.
United States
There were many important events in the U.S this year. The mid-term elections in which the democrats lost control of the Senate. GOP took the Senate and retained control of the house. As a lame duck, President Obama cannot do much but he can veto and use his executive powers which he did to sign the immigration bill. The bill would let 4.7 million of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S stay without the threat of deportation. 17 states have sued the Obama administration over the bill. 2014 was a year when even the U.S saw a lot of protests albeit peaceful highlighting the racial divide that still persists in the U.S. The protests in Ferguson over the killing of un armed Michael Brown, in NYC over the handling of Eric Garner by the police, the shooting of a 12 year old african american in Cleveland for playing with a toy gun and many such cases, some them which gains attention and some that just go unnoticed. Eric Holder says this is the Rosa Parks movement and many good things will follow as a result of these protests. Well, we certainly hope it does.
Oil Slide
One thing that has been balancing or shifting power geo politically is the oil price. Crude oil has slipped from some $115 a barrel just a few months back to some $66 a barrel presently. Normally a recession is predicted with low oil prices but this time its different. The low oil prices are a result of excess supply rather than lack of demand. The U.S shale oil revolution has contributed to oil sources. The OPEC in its recent meeting decided not to cut production and let market make its own correction. Overall, low oil prices is a boon to consumers as they have more disposable income to spend on other things. It’s boon for oil importing countries like India, Japan, China etc. It is the oil producing nations that are hit big time. Russia, Iran, Venezuela are all struggling due to the fall in oil revenues. I wonder what will happen going forward.
Rosetta mission comet landing
After 10 years, 5 months and 4 days, clocking 6.4 billion kms and looping around the Sun five times, Euraean space Agency’s Rosetta mission orbited a comet. No spacecraft has ever orbited a comet before. It’s a big achievement for the scientists at the European Space Center.
Sapna Iyer
I'm Sapna Iyer. I am a program host at EBC Radio, and enjoy connecting with my listening audience. I also work as a Digital Marketing consultant covering emerging digital solutions, especially using marketing technology to connect communities.
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