General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2015

May 2015

Mar 07, 2021

Beijing to Overhaul Hong Kong Electoral System

China's top law-making body has unveiled plans to ensure only patriots can govern Hong Kong, as Beijing tightens its grip on the city with changes to the electoral system.
Premier Li Keqiang, addressing the National People's Congress (NPC), warned the world not to interfere.
The move follows the imposition of a tough security law.
Critics say Beijing is crushing dissent and removing the 'one country, two systems' agreement it made with the UK.
Under the agreement, Hong Kong, a former British colony, was allowed to continue with its own legal system and have rights including free speech and freedom of the press.

Ghana Opposition Leader Disagrees with Poll Ruling

Ghana's opposition leader and former President John Mahama has said he disagrees with the process and ruling of the Supreme Court on his petition challenging the results of the last years' presidential election.
But he said he is legally bound by the decision of the court.
The Supreme Court upheld Nana Akufo-Addo's victory, dismissing allegations of irregularities.
Reacting to the court's verdict, Mr Mahama expressed disappointment that the head of the electoral commission, Jean Mensa, did not testify on alleged irregularities.
The Supreme Court ruled that the opposition leader had failed to prove that none of the candidates had won more 50% as is required to win the presidential election in the first round.

Mar 06, 2021

Biden Appoints Two more Indian-Americans to Key Administration Position

US President Joe Biden has appointed two more Indian-Americans in key administrative positions.
Chiraag Bains has been appointed as Special Assistant to the President for Criminal Justice and Pronita Gupta has been named Special Assistant to the President for Labour and Workers.
The announcement for appointing Bains and Gupta was part of more than 20 appointments of additional policy staff who will serve with the White House COVID Response Team, Domestic Climate Policy Office, Domestic Policy Council and National Economic Council.

Mar 05, 2021

Turkey Widens War Technology Hunt

Turkey is pushing to co-manufacture warplanes and missiles with Pakistan, a hookup that could also give it access to prized war technology from China.
Turkish defence and government officials have held periodic talks with Pakistani counterparts — the last high-level discussion was in January —about developing and manufacturing military hardware with Pakistan, according to people from both countries who are familiar with the negotiations. The people didn't say when they'll meet again or how close they are to an agreement.
A deal would get Nato-member Turkey closer to some of China's military technology. Pakistan builds its JF-17 fighter jets with China and is said to have adapted Chinese designs for its Shaheen ballistic missile.

Viktor Orban's Fidesz to Quit Europe's Centre-right EPP

Hungary's ruling party, the right-wing Fidesz, is to leave the largest grouping in the European Parliament.
The European People's Party (EPP) voted overwhelmingly in favour of changing its internal rules in a move that would have made it easier to expel Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's party.
Mr. Orban denounced the decision as "anti-democratic" and announced Fidesz's withdrawal from the bloc.
He and the EPP have long been at odds over his democratic record in Hungary.
The party had been suspended from the centre-right EPP since 2019 over concerns about human rights in Hungary and its attacks against the EPP leadership.

President Joe Biden's Pick to Lead White House Economic Council Confirmed

The US Senate has overwhelmingly voted to confirm President Joe Biden's nominee Cecilia Rouse, a Princeton University economist, to lead the White House Council of Economic Advisers, making her the first African-American to hold the position.
The upper chamber of Congress confirmed Rouse's nomination in a 95-4 vote.
Rouse, who currently serves as dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, was a member of former President Barack Obama's Council of Economic Advisers.

Imran Khan to Seek Confidence Vote after Shock Loss

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will seek a confidence vote in the National Assembly, or parliament's Lower House, after his Finance Minister lost an election for a seat in the upper house, the biggest test yet for his three-year-old government.
Khan addressed the nation and the premier met the powerful army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and the head of the country's spy agency, General Faiz Hameed.
The developments followed a surprise loss for the prime minister in the country's Senate after Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh lost a tightly fought battle for a seat in the indirectly elected house against the opposition-backed former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

India Proposes Inclusion of Chabahar Port in International North-south Corridor

India proposed the inclusion of Iran's Chabahar port in the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200 km multi-mode route spanning 13 countries, and also called for Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to be made part of the corridor.
Chabahar Port, where an Indian state-run firm operates a terminal, is a key part of India's plans to enhance connectivity to Afghanistan and the Central Asian states. The port played an important role in shipping humanitarian aid to Afghanistan amid the Covid-19 pandemic and India recently supplied heavy cranes to boost its capabilities.

Mar 04, 2021

Egypt and Sudan Back DR Congo to Mediate Dam Dispute

Egypt and Sudan have backed the Democratic Republic of Congo to lead negotiations on their row with Ethiopia over the mega dam on the Nile River.
A joint statement by their foreign ministers affirmed their support for an enhanced structure of negotiation sponsored by the African Union (AU) that include the US, the European Union and the UN.
The ministers also noted that a unilateral filling of the dam for the second phase would be a direct threat to their countries' water security.
Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, who met Sudan's Foreign Minister Mariam al-Sadiq, said that the dam was a vital issue for both countries.

Mar 03, 2021

Zanzibar's new vice-president sworn in

The new vice-president of Tanzania's semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar was sworn in less than two weeks after his predecessor died.
Othman Masoud Othman Sharif replaced Seif Sharif Hamad who died in 17 February 2021, aged 77.
Mr. Masoud has previously served in senior positions in Zanzibar government, including as attorney-general.

Zimbabwe VP Resigns

Zimbabwe's second Vice-President Kembo Mohadi has resigned a week after he denied accusations of sexual impropriety.
Mr. Mohadi repeated his defence that he was the victim of hacking and "voice cloning" after an online newspaper published lurid phone call recordings with several women allegedly including a subordinate.

China Asks Australia to Abandon its Interference in Hong Kong's Affairs

- China has condemned Australia for granting protection visas to Hong Kong passport holders in December and asked Canberra to abandon its interference in Hong Kong's affairs.
- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that China's position on Hong Kong-related issues is consistent and clear. Hong Kong affairs fall entirely within China's internal affairs.
- No foreign country has the right to interfere.

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