Widespread Surveillance Controversy
　　A series of media reports were published in June based on leaks from former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden， revealing highly classified surveillance activities undertaken by the agency including monitoring domestic citizens and foreign leaders.
　　The disclosure caused international uproar， with leaders in Europe and Latin America demanding an account from the United States， as well as creating a crisis of confidence for the U.S. Government. Meanwhile， Snowden obtained a year-long residential permit in Russia as a refugee， sparking a diplomatic row between the United States and Russia.
　　 Turmoil Continues in the Middle East
　　Egypt’s armed forces removed Mohamed Morsi from his presidential post in July. In the aftermath， his Muslim Brotherhood supporters staged largescale sit-in protests， which led to clashes with security forces. Though protests were quelled and the Muslim Brotherhood was dissolved as a nongovernmental organization， Egypt’s turbulent political situation is proving hard to tame， reflecting the political and social division in the country since Hosni Mubarak’s reign ended in 2011.
　　Reports of alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria’s raging civil war in August prompted the United States to threaten to use force to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons and help rebels topple President Bashar alAssad’s regime. A potential military strike was averted， however， when Syria agreed to dismantle its chemical arsenal and facilities by mid-2014 under a UN Security Council resolution.


　　 New Blueprint for Sino-U.S. Relations
　　Since both countries completed their latest leadership change， Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barrack Obama held their first summit at the Annenberg Retreat， California， on June 7-8. During the summit， the leaders reached a consensus on an array of issues and mapped out a blueprint for China-U.S. ties. The two world powers agreed to construct a new state-tostate cooperation model based on mutual benefit and respect， so as to meet various global challenges together. These achievements signal the opening of a new chapter in trans-Pacific cooperation.


　　 Terrorism Remains Rampant
　　The terrorism situation is looking increasingly grim across the world. In 2013， the world was shocked by a number of horrific terror attacks. The Boston Marathon saw the detonation of roadside bombs on April 15， killing three people and injuring over 200. The Boston bombing was the first serious terrorist attack against civilian targets in the United States since the September 11 attacks in 2011. 　　In Kenya， Somali al-Shabaab militants assaulted the Westgate Mall in Nairobi on September 21. The shopping mall terror attack led to the deaths of 72 people during a four-day siege， ending in the terrorists eventually being defeated by Kenyan security forces. The incident reminded the world that it must review counterterrorism measures in order to overcome transnational security challenges.


　　 Right-Leaning Japan Arouses Concern
　　Over the past year， the Japanese Government has adhered to a hard-line stance toward its territorial dispute with China over the Diaoyu Islands， refusing to repair bilateral relations damaged by Tokyo’s “nationalization” of some of the islands in September 2012. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s right-leaning actions and statements， such as attempting to revise Japan’s war-renouncing Constitution， donating to the Yasukuni Shrine， where war criminals are honored alongside fallen soldiers， and beefing up the country’s military muscle stoked concern in the region and beyond.


　　 Nuclear Test Shocks the Korean Peninsula
　　North Korea announced that it had successfully conducted its third underground nuclear test on February 12. After the UN Security Council passed a resolution on March 7 condemning the test， Pyongyang issued a series of strong statements including declaring a “state of war” with South Korea， heightening tensions on the peninsula.
　　 Iranian Nuclear Issue Breakthrough
　　The latest round of the Iranian nuclear talks concluded in Geneva on November 24 with Iran and the UN Security Council’s five permanent members plus Germany reaching a landmark deal over its nuclear program， an event that is widely considered as an important first step toward a comprehensive solution of Iran’s nuclear issue. The United States and its allies will provide Iran with limited relief of sanctions on its oil， gold， petrochemicals， auto industry and civil aviation industries with an estimated value of $7 billion under the terms of the six-month nuclear deal. In exchange， Iran agreed to halt enrichment of uranium above 5 percent and neutralize its stockpile of near 20 percent uranium.


　　 Great Leader Passes Away
　　Nelson Mandela， the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the greatest political figures of the 20th century， died in Johannesburg on December 5 at the age of 95. World leaders and tens of thousands of South Africans gathered at an official memorial service in the South African city on December 10 to pay homage to Mandela. People elsewhere around the world also held various gatherings to mourn the passing of the great man.


　　 Slow Global Economic Recovery
　　The world economy showed tangible signs of recovery from the devastation wrought by the 2008 global financial crisis this year. The U.S. Federal Reserve announced a slowdown in its stimulus efforts in December. Similarly， Ireland became the first euro-zone country to exit a bailout program. While developed economies slowly rebounded， emerging markets and developing countries maintained robust growth.
　　 Devastating Typhoon
　　Super Typhoon Haiyan， the strongest storm this year， ravaged the central part of the Philippines on November 8， leaving over 6，000 people dead， 1，700 missing as well as 1.9 million losing their homes to it. The estimated damage reached more than $237.44 million to infrastructure and $208.73 million to agriculture. Foreign assistance poured into the Philippines after the country experienced the devastating natural disaster. The typhoon also affected Viet Nam and south China.