Europe had for centuries been the theatre of bloody combat that reached unprecedented levels of destruction during two world wars in the last century. The establishment of the European Union and the single European currency made its 28 member countries economically strong and distanced them from the fear of war amongst themselves, while the US made them secure against Russia.

There has been much political soul-searching in the United States about the eclipse of American power and influence across the world. Some have even suggested this steady decline to be irreversible and inevitable.  The word ‘decline’, often associated with empires has entered political debate, with talk of a post-American world and the inexorable rise of China to superpower status, the election of Trump

Reports have revealed that retired General Raheel Sharif, just 45 days after having retired as Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, has accepted the command of the 43-nation alliance of Muslim countries which has been put together by Saudi Arabia. Sensing the negative reaction of the Muslims to this acceptance, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on 6 January 2017 confirmed the acceptance claiming that the government had been taken into confidence.

On 17 January 2015, Congo's parliament passed an electoral law requiring a census before the next elections. (Elections had been planned for 2016). On 19 January, protests led by students at the University of Kinshasa broke out. The protest began following the announcement of a proposed law that would allow Kabila to remain in power until a national census can be conducted. The clashes between police and protesters claimed at…