General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - June 2015

Jun 2015

Aug 10, 2021

Germany Rejects Calls to Send Military Back to Afghanistan

Germany's Defence Minister has rejected calls for its soldiers to return to Afghanistan after Taliban fighters took Kunduz city where German troops were deployed for a decade.
The country had the second-largest military contingent in Afghanistan after the United States, losing more troops in combat in Kunduz than anywhere else since World War II.
The Taliban overran six provincial capitals, including Kunduz, during the last four days as it pressed an offensive since foreign troops began a withdrawal.
The German minister said that those now calling for renewed military intervention in Afghanistan must ask themselves what would be the goal and the strategy, as well who would be the partners.

Aug 09, 2021

US Passes Bill to Support Taiwan's Participation in WHO

The US senate-house passed a bill to strengthen support for Taiwan to participate in the World Health Organization (WHO).
The bill states that the COVID-19 pandemic transcends all borders and that Taiwan should not be excluded from the global health body and calls on the U.S. government to formulate strategies to assist the East Asian nation to regain WHO observer status.
"Taiwan is an important partner to the United States, and it is critical that the administration improve its strategy to help Taiwan obtain observer status.
Taiwan's efforts to join WHO begin in 1997 and with US support, the country had participated in World Health Assembly as an observer from 2009-2017 against Beijing's pressure.

Aug 08, 2021

Louis Vuitton Overtakes Jeff Bezos as World's Richest Person

Bernard Arnault, Chairman of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH), has become the richest person in the world after surpassing Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The French businessman's net worth is estimated at $198.9 billion, as per the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List.
Arnault had earlier become the world's richest person in December 2019, January 2020 and May 2021.
As per the latest rankings, Bezos's net worth stood at $194.9 billion while Elon Musk is placed third. Tesla and SpaceX chief Musk's net worth is estimated at $185.5 billion.

Germany Becomes 5th Country to Sign ISA Framework Agreement

Germany became the 5th country to sign the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement after amendments to it entered into force on 8th January 2021, opening its Membership to all Member States of the United Nations. Ambassador of Germany to India Walter J. Lindner deposited signed copies of the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement with the Ministry of External Affairs, the depositary of the Agreement.
Membership to the ISA was earlier limited to 121 countries, which were partially or entirely located within the tropics. This didn't allow major solar energy economies such as Germany to join the alliance that is being increasingly seen as a foreign policy tool. The initiative was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India Africa Summit and a meeting of member countries ahead of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015. The framework agreement of the International Solar Alliance opened for signatures in Marrakech, Morocco in November 2016.

Aug 07, 2021

Nicaragua Opposition Party Barred from Elections

The main opposition party in Nicaragua has been disqualified ahead of the country's November elections.
The electoral council said the the president of the Citizens Alliance for Liberty Party (CXL) holds dual US and Nicaraguan citizenship in violation of the law.
President Daniel Ortega has been accused of silencing the opposition.
Earlier, the US imposed visa restrictions on dozens of Nicaraguans linked to the government.
Nicaragua's supreme electoral council accused CXL of carrying out "verbal acts that undermine independence, sovereignty and auto-determination".
The electoral council, which is tied to the ruling party, also revoked the citizenship of CXL's leader Carmella Rogers Amburn, also known as Kitty Monterrey, leaving her at risk of deportation.

India Not Invited to 'Extended Troika' Meeting on Afghanistan

India has not been invited to a key meeting next week convened by Russia on the fast-evolving situation in Afghanistan that is expected to be attended by Pakistan, China and the US, even as New Delhi sought to downplay its absence, saying it engages with Russia on regular basis on Afghanistan.
As the Taliban continues its major offensive in Afghanistan, Russia has stepped up efforts to reach out to all key stakeholders in the war-torn country to stop the violence and push the Afghan peace process.
The 'extended Troika' meeting is scheduled to be held in Qatar on August 11. Talks under this framework were earlier held on March 18 and April 30.

Aug 06, 2021

US Urges Iran's New President Ebrahim Raisi to Resume Nuclear Talks

The US has called on Iran's new President to return to talks on reviving a historic nuclear deal.
The window for diplomacy would not remain open forever, a spokesman for the US state department warned.
Tensions between the US and Iran have soared since 2018, when then-President Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal and restored sanctions.
Ebrahim Raisi was sworn in saying he would support "any diplomatic plans" to end sanctions on Iran.
"All illegal US sanctions against the Iranian nation must be lifted," he said.
Western countries accuse Iran of trying to build nuclear weapons - a charge Tehran denies.

No Plan to House Indian Military Base on Agalega Island

Mauritius has denied a report that it has allowed India to build a military base on the remote island of Agalega, with a government official telling AFP that no such agreement exists between the two nations. News broadcaster Al Jazeera had earlier reported on the construction of an airstrip and two jetties to house an Indian military base on Agalega, located about 1,000 km north of the archipelago's main island.
But the Mauritian government denied any plans to allow a military installation on the Agalega island, home to about 300 people.
Mr. Arian said that although work was under way on two projects agreed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2015 visit to Mauritius — a three-kilometre air strip and a jetty — they would not be used for military purposes.

Ebrahim Raisi Sworn in as New President of Iran

Ebrahim Raisi was officially sworn in as the new President of Iran on August 05, 2021. He won the 2021 Iranian presidential election in June, with 62 per cent of the vote. Raisi succeeded Hassan Rouhani to begin his four-year term. He is also been the Chief Justice of Iran since March 2019.
Raisi's inauguration comes at a pivotal time, with Iran currently in indirect negotiations with the United States over how to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement. Raisi will also face the task of reviving his country's economy, which has been battered in recent years by the previous US administration's "maximum pressure" campaign of sanctions. Tensions in the region are also high following a string of maritime provocations blamed by the West on Tehran.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

August GK, July GK, June GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services And Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26