General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - August 2015

Aug 2015

Jan 08, 2024

Sheikh Hasina Wins Re-elected as Bangladesh PM

Bangladesh Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina was re-elected to parliament from the Gopalganj-3 constituency after a landslide victory in the general elections marred by sporadic violence and a boycott by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), who participated in the 2018 vote but kept away in 2014, boycotted the polls after Hasina refused their demands to resign and allow a neutral authority to run the general election.
The daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, founding father of Bangladesh who was killed in an army coup in 1975 along with most members of the family, Hasina, first became Prime Minister in 1996. This is her fifth term overall.
Hasina herself bagged 249,962 votes from her constituency Gopalganj, about 165 kilometres (103 miles) south of the capital Dhaka, while her nearest rival secured just 469 votes.

EU Council President Charles Michel to Step Down Early

Michel, a former Belgian Prime Minister, announced that he had decided to run in the EU's parliamentary elections in June. That would see him leave his role as chief of the European Council, the group of government leaders of the 27 EU member states, before his term expires at the end of November.
The next European Council president must be elected by a majority of the EU's 27 leaders.
If no successor is found in time, Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, would temporarily hold the presidency.

Kyrgyzstan Declares Snow Leopard as National Symbol

Kyrgyzstan, a country nestled in the heart of Central Asia, officially declared the snow leopard as its national symbol, signifying a profound commitment to conservation and ecological balance. President Sadyr Zhaparov, through a signed decree, emphasised the snow leopard's role not only as a symbol of natural wealth and cultural prosperity but also as a vital indicator of the stability and health of the mountain ecosystems that cover a substantial portion of the global territory.
Kyrgyzstan has emerged as a global leader in snow leopard conservation efforts. The country hosted the inaugural Global Snow Leopard Forum in 2013 in its capital, Bishkek, where the Bishkek Declaration on Snow Leopard Protection was unanimously adopted. Additionally, Kyrgyzstan played a pivotal role in initiating the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme (GSLEP) in collaboration with representatives from 12 snow leopard range countries and the global environmental community.

Jan 07, 2024

Uganda to Host 19th NAM Summit

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to represent India at the upcoming 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Uganda's capital Kampala from January 17 to 20, 2024.
Additionally, the African country will host the Third South Summits and G77 meeting from January 21 to 23.
At the 2019 NAM summit in Azerbaijan, and the 2016 NAM Venezuela summit, India was represented at the Vice President level.

Jan 06, 2024

South Africa Releases Former Paralympic Star Oscar Pistorius on Parole

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius was released from jail on parole, nearly 11 years after murdering his girlfriend. Popularly known as 'Blade Runner', for his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs, Pistorius was convicted of killing his girlfriend and model Reeva Steenkamp.
As per the order by the parole board, a monitoring official will keep an eye on Pistorius until his sentence expires in December 2029. He is also required to inform the authorities in case he seeks job opportunities or moves to a new address.

Jan 05, 2024

Nadia Calvino Appointed as New President of the European Investment Bank

Nadia Calvino took office as the new president of the European Investment Bank. She succeeded Werner Hoyer and became the eighth president of the EU bank. Notably, Calvino is the first woman and the first Spaniard to lead this prestigious institution, marking a significant milestone in the bank's history.

France Becomes First European Country to Issue Digital Schengen Visas

France became the first European Union member to introduce fully digital Schengen visas for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. Commencing on January 1, 2024, the newly launched "Olympic Consulate" system operates through the France-Visas portal, streamlining the application process for 15,000 international athletes, 9,000 journalists, and foreign delegations.
Applications for the 70,000 visas will be exclusively processed online, preventing them from being inundated among other visa requests. This groundbreaking initiative aligns with the EU's digitalization plans for Schengen visas, marking a significant shift in visa application procedures.
In an innovative approach, approved visas will not be affixed to passports. Instead, they will be seamlessly integrated into accreditation cards, a move aimed at enhancing efficiency and convenience for participants.

Jan 04, 2024

US Reaches Deal with Qatar to Extend Presence at Largest Military Base

The United States reached a deal to extend its military presence at a base in Qatar for another 10 years.
The base in question is the Al Udeid Air Base, which is located in the desert southwest of Doha and hosts the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East.
Qatar is also a major non-NATO U.S. ally, a designation granted by the United States to close, non-NATO allies that have strategic working relationships with the U.S. military.

Putin Kicks off Russia's 2024 BRICS Chairmanship

Russian President Vladimir Putin officially marked the commencement of Russia's 2024 BRICS Chairmanship. During this handover, President Putin emphasised the motto for the upcoming tenure, 'Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security'. This signifies Russia's commitment to fostering collaboration among the BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
President Putin outlined Russia's approach to its BRICS Chairmanship. The emphasis will be on positive and constructive cooperation with all concerned countries.
The overarching strategy will continue to promote BRICS partnerships in politics and security, economy and finance, as well as cultural and humanitarian contacts.

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