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SNIPPETS

Snippets

Former Zimbabwe army Pakistan announces included in the nuclear agreement,
boss Chiwenga sworn in hydropower project in PoK known as the Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action (JCPOA).
as vice president New hydropower project with an In the past, there were some
Recently retired army chief estimated cost of $1.51 billion is being cases of inspecting Iran’s military
Constantino Chiwenga, who led a set up by the Pakistan government on sites such as Parchin, which was
de facto coup last month that ended the banks of river Jhelum in Pakistan- once inspected by the International
Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule, was occupied Kashmir (PoK). The project Atomic Energy Agency. Currently, the
installed as Zimbabwe’s vice is expected to be complete by 2022 IAEA has not made any call for
president in Harare on December with the help of foreign funds. The inspecting another Iranian military site.
28, 2017. Chiwenga, whose project which is called Azad Pattan IMF approves $2 bn loan
appearance on state television on Hydropower Project is an initiative
November 15 preceded armed undertaken by the government under installment for Egypt
soldiers taking to the streets, paving the Policy for Power Generation 2002. The International Monetary
the way for Emmerson Mnangagwa The cost of the project will be 75 Fund, on 20 December 2017,
to become president, is the latest in per cent debt, mostly foreign debt, and approved the third installment of a
a string of military leaders to be 25 per cent equity. With a debt USD 12 billion, three-year loan for
elevated to government positions. repayment period of 18 years Egypt, bringing the total released
Russia toughens including a six-year grace period. The to date to just over USD 6 billion.
project is expected to be completed The IMF board approved the latest
punishment for
within six years. USD 2 billion disbursement under
terrorism financers US approves anti-ballistic the deal signed in November 2016,
Russian President Vladimir Putin, on missile sale to Japan amid after a fund team last month praised
29 December 2017, signed Cairo’s progress on “bold”
amendments to the Criminal Law to North Korea threat economic reforms.
toughen punishment of those who The US government, on 9 January In order to obtain IMF approval
finance terrorism or recruit 2018, approved the sale of anti- for the loan, the country has
terrorists. Suspects convicted of ballistic missiles to Japan to defend implemented a set of drastic
funding terrorism or recruiting itself against a growing nuclear and reforms, adopting a value-added
terrorists will face eight to 20 years missile threat from North Korea. The tax, cutting energy subsidies and
in jail together with a fine of 300,000 missile deal follows a year of ramped- floating its pound. But the IMF said
rubles (about $5,172) to 700,000 up North Korean missile launches, the country still has work to do.
rubles or a life imprisonment. Before some of them over Japanese territory, Panel formed for return
the amendments, such criminals will and its sixth and most powerful nuclear of Rohingya
face a prison term of up to 10 years. test. These actions have prompted a
Turkey, Russia sign S-400 stepped-up US-led campaign to Bangladesh and Myanmar, on
toughen UN sanctions, which 18 December 2017, formed a 30-
missile system loan deal
Pyongyang has called an act of war. member Joint Working Group
Turkey and Russia, on 29 December Japan formally decided in (JWG) which will oversee the
2017, inked a loan agreement in December it would expand its ballistic repatriation of Rohingya refugees.
Ankara for purchase of the S-400 The formation of the JWG, a
missile defense system with US-made
missile defence system worth $2.5 follow-up to an agreement signed
ground-based Aegis radar stations and
billion. Russia will provide Turkey on November 23, was announced
interceptors.
with four batteries of S-400 Iran rejects US after Foreign Secretary-level talks
surface-to-air missile system under between the two countries in Dhaka.
the deal and the latter will pay 45 call for inspecting The JWG is likely to take
per cent of the cost up front with Iranian military sites assistance from UN agencies. It will
Moscow providing loans to cover Iran, on 14 January 2018, rejected the develop appropriate arrangements
the remaining 55 per cent. The two recent US call for allowing foreign for the refugees’ return. Though, as
countries had reached an agreement inspection of Iranian military sites under per the November 23 deal, the
for the purchase, but have been the pretext of the 2015 nuclear deal. repatriation was to start from
discussing on a loan provided by The issue of allowing foreign access January 21, it is likely to begin in
Russia. to Iranian military sites is basically not February.

March 2018 Competition Wizard 53