A troubled world

1.Fiscal cliff is the popular shorthand term used to describe the conundrum that the U.S. government will face at the end of 2012, when the terms of the Budget Control Act of 2011 are scheduled to go into effect. Among the laws set to change at midnight on December 31, 2012, are the end of last year’s temporary payroll tax cuts (resulting in a 2% tax increase for workers), the end of certain tax breaks for businesses, shifts in the alternative minimum tax that would take a larger bite, the end of the tax cuts from 2001-2003, and the beginning of taxes related to President Obama’s health care law.Click here to know more about fiscal cliff

2. The DR Congo has had a turbulent past. It gained independence from Belgium in 1960, but immediately faced an army mutiny, and the UN voted to send in troops to establish order. In 1965, Mobutu Sese Seko seized power. He later renamed the country Zaire.He retained power until 1997, when Rwanda invaded to drive out Hutu militias.Laurent Kabila was installed as president and he re-named the country the Democratic Republic of Congo.A year later, rebels backed by Rwanda and Uganda rose up against Kabila.Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe were drawn into a five-year conflict, which became known as Africa's world war. At least three million people are believed to have died.During this time, Joseph Kabila succeeded his father, who was shot dead by a bodyguard.In 2006, he won the first free and fair presidential elections in 40 years. Kabila was re-elected in a disputed poll last year.But his years in office have been dogged by violence, which continues to this day. Last month, a UN report accused neighbouring countries of backing the M23 rebels.It said the rebellion in the eastern DR Congo is being armed by Rwanda and Uganda.Rebel leaders are said to receive direct military orders from Rwanda.Both Rwanda and Uganda reject allegations that they support the group.So, why does the government of DR Congo refuse to hold talks with the rebel soldiers? And is military actio n really the answer to this conflict?click here to know more about DR Congo crisis

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4. With life in Gaza beginning to show signs that it is returning to normal, Ehud Barak, Israeli defence minister, has warned that Israel may resume its attacks any time if a truce that ended a week of bloodshed fails to hold.Finally the truce came into effect with the cease fire agreements between the two hot headed nations but with the expence of hundreds of life and damages yet to be ascertained.in my earlier blog I have mentioned about the history of crisis between israel-palestine-conflict  in-depth.here is the description about the recent conflict between the two neighbours.Click here to see the gaza-israel conflict in maps and the sophisticated Iron Dome missile of the Israel which India recently shown  its Interest.

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