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2015 Asia and Africa today

THE US-AFRICAN LEADERS SUMMIT by A.Yu.Urnov, Dr.Sc. (History). Part 2
Keywords: USA, Africa, the US-Africa summit, AGOA
On the initiative of President Obama the US-African Leaders Summit was held in Washington on August 5 and 6, 2014. Out of 50 African countries which participated in this assembly, 42 were represented by heads of states and governments.
For the United States it was the first summit meeting with Africa, while Japan have regularly convened similar ones since 1993, and China and European Union - since 2000.
The article depicts the proceedings of the summit, dwells upon US-Africa relations in economic and military fields. Spatial attention is paid to Washington Yong African Leaders initiative aimed to cultivate in Africa the future generation of pro-American ruling class.

IRANIAN PROTEST-2009: “TWITTER REVOLUTION” OR THE VOICE OF PEOPLE? by N.A.Filin, PhD (History)
Keywords: Iran, protests, Green movement, Twitter, presidential elections
Supporters of the opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi who had lost presidential elections in 2009 showed great activity online, but the coordination of protests took place mostly on the streets. It was not a «Twitter Revolution», as many opposition members called it, because most Iranians did not have an access to the network, and the opposition action - online and on the streets were not synchronized.

HOW THE USA TRADES WITH AFRICA by A.P.Kovalchuk, PhD (Economics)
Keywords: American-African trade, geoeconomic interests, AGOA, Commodity Credit Corporation
In article the analysis of development of trade and economic relations of the USA with the countries of Africa is given. The special attention is paid to African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), mechanisms of support of the American exports to the countries of Africa and creation of favorable institutional conditions to the US companies 2000 to 2013. The assessment is given to results of action of AGOA on development of the American-African trade and to positions of the USA in Africa.

REAL ESTATE OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN CHINA by L.A.Afonina
Keywords: China, religion, real property, law, legislative regulation
Religious policy of China is used as a controlling mechanism over religious groups. The legislation which regulates the problems of religious property at different historical phases suffered a series of principal changes following the transformations in implementing of religious policy of government towards religious community.

WORLD ECONOMY: RECOVERY PROBLEMS

EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES’ ECONOMIC STRATEGIES: NEW TRENDS OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT by E.Ya.Arapova, PhD (Economics)
Keywords: East Asia, ASEAN, financial markets, investment, regional development, economic integration
The article gives a cursory review of crucial economic development trends in East Asia after the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. Measures taken by Asian authorities have resulted in a structural shift in economic strategies of emerging countries and diversification of economic growth’s sources. Asian economies have shifted from export-oriented model and export incomes’ accumulation towards domestic consumption, active investment exchange and better developed private sectors.

WATER RESOURSES PROBLEM

BOTH BENEFITS AND A CURSE by N.I.Petrov
Keywords: India, drinking water, water protection
One of the most acute problems of modern India is a lack of clean drinking water. At the first glance, it may seem strange. The country is dotted with rivers, most of which originate in the glaciers of the highest mountains in the world. It seems that India is literally filled with clean water.
But it only seems. Crossing the densely populated areas, rivers is overflowing with industrial and domestic waste of human activity, and very quickly, its water becomes practically unusable for drinking, for domestic and sanitary purposes.
Today we publish two articles about the problems of water protection and use of clean drinking water in India.

INDIAN FAMILY: WATER IN ITS LIFE by E.S.Yurlova, PhD (History)
Keywords: India, water, symbol of purity, drinking water deficit, sanitation, public health
Water occupies a very important place in the life of an Indian family. It is also a key element in ritual practice. The acute shortage of drinking water is a very serious problem, especially in villages and slums, in which majority of India’s population live.
Shortage of safe water has an influence on public hygiene. More than 70% of rural people relieve themselves behind bushes, in fields, and by riversides. Lately Indian public started demanding urgent solution of these problems. Prime minister Narendra Modi said that building toilets was a priority over temples. Defecation in the open must end by
2019 - that is 150 years since the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, who once said good sanitation was more important than independence.

WATER IN INDIAN CITIES AND TOWNS by A.M.Goryacheva, PhD (Economics)
Keywords: India, urbanization, urban water supply, dams & reservoirs, urban water infrastructure, deficit of drinking water
In over 60 years of political independence and economic development India has not be able to ensure the most basic of human needs - safe water for all its citizens. Increase of 91,1 million persons to urban population during 2001-2011 is the highest since independence. In 21st century it will be a great challenge for India to meet demand for water in urban sector. Most urban areas have depleted, polluted or destroyed their local sources of water like rivers, lakes and tanks and even groundwater. Urban water sector is a zone of serious mismanagement.

ISLAM, ISLAMIZM AND EXTREMISM

INTERNET CENSORSHIP IN ARAB COUNTRIES by A.R.Shishkina and L.M.Issaev, PhD (Political Science)
Keywords: Arab World, Internet, censorship, «Arab Spring», the media, social networking, Egypt
Before the events of the «Arab Spring» there was an almost generally accepted view that in the Arab countries censorship of the media and the Internet space in particular was aimed at suppressing opposition and the protest activity. The government claimed that doing so it tried to protect its citizens, in accordance with the criminal law of the Arab countries, from criticism of Islam and the Muslim way of life, to bar the distribution of materials that undermine moral and ethical foundations of Arab societies.

THE KOREAN PENINSULA IN 2014: WHAT DIRECTION THE PENDULUM WOULD SWING? by A.V.Vorontsov, PhD (History)
Keywords: Korean peninsula, denuclearization, inter- Korean relations, peaceful offensive, regime change
Somehow it makes one to come to conclusion that the situation on Korean peninsula in 2014 remained at the state of uncertainty and uneasy expectation. There are two possible scenarios: it could be either a confrontation or a dialogue. The chances for re-starting the constructive dialogue between the South and the North as well as of six-party talks in Beijing dealing with the Korean peninsula denuclearization are still exist.
The U.S. and its allies continue to totally isolate North Korea from the international community. So until Washington turns away from a paradigm based on regime change in the DPRK as soon as possible and at any cost, the door leading toward an improved relationship between the two Koreas will remain to be half-open.

RWANDA. “KWIBUKA-20”: Memory on genocide, debates, discussions by A.A.Panov, Junior research fellow
Keywords: Rwanda, genocide, Kwibuka-20, Paule Kagame
The article contains the author’s brief report on the events where he presented and participated, that have been held in Kigali, Rwanda on April 2014, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. In particular, the International Forum “After Genocide: Examining legacy, taking responsibility”; presentations devoted to reflections on the memory on genocide in literature and theatre; national ceremony at “Amahoro” stadium in Kigali; and the Rwandan youth initiative “Walk to Remember”.

OKINAWA: ITS PECULIARITY IN JAPAN’S REGIONAL POLICY by O.A.Merkusheva
Keywords: Japan, Okinawa, regional issues, politics, urban planning
The peculiarity of Japan is defined by its geographical location, historical and cultural features and economic development. Okinawa Prefecture is particularly notable in this regatd. Being the most unusual regions of Japan, Okinawa seeks to strongly emphasize its uniqueness and to use it as an impulse for development.
However, many of those peculiarities of Okinawa stances that form this uniqueness, simultaneously are at the bottom of many of problems: the remoteness of the prefecture, from the rest of Japan; historically formed undeveloped industry and infrastructure; shortage of fresh water; the presence of US military bases.

STAR BROACHES OF BEIJING AND SHANGHAI by B.N.Gorbachev, Dr.Sc. (History)
Keywords: architect Victor Andreev, Beijing Exhibition Center, Palace of Russian-Chinese friendship, Chinese embassy in Moscow
The article describes work of architect Victor Andreev in China. Focus attention of the article is to review his little- known architectural part of design for construction of exhibition pavilions in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
The article appreciates the results of the Soviet architect’s work in the scope of popularization Soviet Union’s scientific, technical and cultural advancements in China. The important part of the article is the history of construction a new Chinese embassy in Moscow and describing its architectural features.

THE HISTORY OF OTHER LIFE by M.Nasr el- Gebaly, PhD (Philology)
Keywords: modern Egyptian literature, Youssef Zeidan, “The Nabatean” novel, Islam
Youssef Zeidan (b. 1956) is a modern Egyptian writer and philosopher. His novel «Azazel» has a worldwide success and has been published in 20 languages around the world. In 2009 Zeidan won the prestigious award in the Middle East by Arab literature The «Arabic Booker». By popularity today he is compared with Dan Brown, the contemporary American author of intelligent detectives.
Our magazine is publishing Chapter I (abridged) of the novel «The Nabatean» by Youssef Zeidan, translated in Russian language by M.Nasr el-Gebaly.

FIRST IN RUSSIA by M.R.Urb, PhD (Philology)
The Zulu-Russian Dictionary (Isichazamazwi isiZulu- IsiRashiya), compiled by A.D.Lutskov, appeared in Russia for the first time. It is a remarkable pioneering work. It contains about 20 000 words and phrases of modern Zulu. In addition to the main Zulu-Russian body of the dictionary, there is a short but extremely useful note on Zulu grammar. The dictionery is well illustrated by various language examples from literature and mass media in Zulu.

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