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INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2015

May 2015

Jun 14, 2021

Google to Build World's Longest Undersea Cable to Connect Latin America and the US

Alphabet's Google announced on June 9, 2021, that it will be building an undersea cable that will connect the United States, Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina, to bolster the capacity of internet connection between these regions.
The undersea cable called Firminia, named after a Brazilian abolitionist and author Maria Firminia dos Reis, will be the longest cable in the world.
The announcement by Google has also come at a time when the demand for the cloud and internet services has surged because of an increase in online activity due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Netanyahu's Tenure Ends; Bennett is Israel's New PM

After a record 12 years under Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel entered a new era, voting in a motley coalition united by animosity towards "Bibi" and installing his one-time protege Naftali Bennett as the prime minister.
Sixty members of the Knesset voted in favour of the ideologically divided alliance and 59 against, with one abstention.
Bennett will serve as prime minister for two years, after which coalition architect, centrist Yair Lapid, will take over.
Earlier in the day, Bennett said that renewing the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran would be a major mistake. In a speech to parliament prior to the vote, Bennett said that Israel remains ready to act against Iran.

Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, UAE Elected To UN Security Council For 2022-23 Term

Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates were elected unopposed to the powerful UN Security Council as non-permanent members for the 2022-23 term.
The 193-member UN General Assembly held elections to elect five non-permanent members who will take their seats on the 15-nation Council for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2022.
All the five countries won the elections unopposed as they were the only candidates from their respective regional groups vying for the allotted seats on the Council.
As per regional distribution for the 2021 election, three seats were available from the African and Asian States that went to Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates, one Latin American and Caribbean Group seat to which Brazil was elected and the Eastern European Group seat that went to Albania.

Jun 13, 2021

China Passes Legislation Banning "Defamation" of Military Personnel

China has passed a new legislation that bans defamation of military personnel, adding an array of legal tools to its 2018 law under which a Chinese popular blogger was punished recently for defaming PLA soldiers killed in last year's clash with the Indian Army at the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh.
The legislation, which was adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Thursday, states that no organisation or individual may in any way slander or derogate the honour of servicemen, nor may they insult or slander the reputation of members of the armed forces.
The new legislation also bans the desecration of plaques in honour of military personnel.
The new law adds to an array of legal tools that already ban defamation of revolutionary martyrs , including revisions to the country's criminal code and a 2018 Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs.

Jun 11, 2021

Biden and Johnson Revise the Atlantic Charter

President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain signed a new version of the 80-year old "Atlantic Charter", using their first meeting to redefine the Western alliance and accentuate what they said was a growing divide between battered democracies and their autocratic rivals, led by Russia and China.
The two leaders unveiled the new charter as they sought to focus the world's attention on emerging threats from cyberattacks, the COVID-19 pandemic that has upended the global economy, and climate change, using language about reinforcing NATO and international institutions that Biden hoped would make clear that the Trump era of America First was over.

Japan Says Taiwan Relations under 'One Country, Two Systems' Policy

Japan's relations with Taiwan are non-governmental and practical, based on the one country, two systems policy that recognises China as the sole legitimate government, a top Japanese official said, following Beijing's protest over a recent reference to the island as a country.
As China flexes its muscle in the Taiwan Strait and the Asia-Pacific region, the issue of Taiwan is a sensitive topic, especially as Japan, the United States and other democracies develop closer ties with the self-ruled island that Beijing regards as a renegade territory to be united by force if necessary.
As per reports, Japan's position is to maintain relations with Taiwan as practical and non-governmental, in line with the 1972 Japan-China Communique, when Tokyo switched the diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China.

Trump-appointed US Ambassador to Brazil Todd Chapman Resigns

Todd Chapman the US ambassador known for friendly ties with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tendered his resignation after just over a year in the position and is leaving the diplomatic service.
His appointment in Oct. 2019 came as Bolsonaro was projecting ideological alignment with the US and then-President Donald Trump.

Jun 10, 2021

US Will Maintain its Diplomatic Presence in Afghanistan

As per Secretary of State Tony Blinken, the US is only withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan, not withdrawing from the country, and it is determined to maintain a strong diplomatic presence there to extend economic and humanitarian support.
Responding to apprehensions of senators about the future of several programmes in Afghanistan, including those for women and children, Blinken assured them that the programmes will continue with the support of the Congress.

South Africa and UAE Ratify Extradition Treaty

An extradition treaty between South Africa and the UAE has been ratified paving the way for Indian-origin businessmen Gupta brothers to be returned to the African nation from Dubai to stand trial for allegedly looting billions of Rands from state-owned institutions.
Former South African Justice Minister Michael Masutha had signed the treaty in 2018.
The UAE, however, signed the treaty in June 2021.
The treaty will enable the two countries to assist each other in the investigation and prosecution of crimes through mutual legal assistance and the extradition of fugitives.

Jun 09, 2021

Economist's Annual Survey of World's Most Liveable Cities

According to annual survey of World's most liveable cities 2021, Covid-19 pandemic has shaken up rankings of liveable cities.
Auckland is the most liveable city in 2021 because of its successful approach in containing pandemic.
Auckland is followed by Osaka and Tokyo in Japan, Adelaide in Australia and Wellington in New Zealand. All these countries had swift response to pandemic.
According to the report, metropolises in Australia, Japan and New Zealand leaping ahead of metropolises in Europe.
Life remains most difficult in Damascus because of Syria's ongoing civil war.
Most notable rise was by Honolulu, Hawaii in United States. It came to 14th position by moved up 46 places. Ranking improved because of its containment measures and fast vaccination programme.

Israel Parliament to Vote on New Government

Israel's parliament speaker has scheduled a vote on a new government that would end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 12-year rule, the longest in the country's history.
The fragile coalition consists of eight parties spanning Israel's political spectrum, with only a narrow majority in the 120-member Knesset, or Parliament. But it appears to have held together despite a furious campaign by Netanyahu's supporters that includes death threats and protests outside lawmakers' homes. Naftali Bennett, an ultranationalist former Netanyahu ally, would serve as prime minister for two years, followed by centrist Yair Lapid, the driving force behind the coalition, who thanked the speaker for scheduling the vote.

UN Secretary Gen Antonio Guterres Set to be Re-elected as Chief

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is all set to be re-elected as chief of the world body after the powerful Security Council adopted by acclamation a resolution recommending his name to the General Assembly for a second five-year term beginning January 1, 2022.
The 15-nation Council held a closed meeting where it adopted the resolution recommending Guterres' name to the 193-member General Assembly for a second term as Secretary General.

Biden Administration to Go after China on Trade

The United States will target China with a new "strike force" to combat unfair trade practices, as it rolled out findings of a review of US access to critical products, from semiconductors to electric-vehicle batteries.
The "supply chain trade strike force," led by the US trade representative, will look for specific violations that have contributed to a "hollowing out" of supply chains that could be addressed with trade remedies, including toward China.

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