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INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - August 2015

Aug 2015

Nov 24, 2023

Afghanistan Announces Permanent Closure of Indian Embassy

In a major development, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan announced its permanent closure in New Delhi citing persistent challenges from the Indian government.
The decision follows the embassy's earlier cessation of operations on September 30, a move made in the hope that the Indian government's stance would evolve favourably for the normal continuation of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi.
The embassy said despite an eight-week wait, the objectives of visa extension for diplomats and a shift in the Indian government's conduct were not realised.

Pakistan Applies for BRICS Membership

Pakistan formally applied for membership in the multinational forum BRICS.
Islamabad filed the application to join the body and has sought Russia's support, quoted Pakistan's envoy to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali.
Pakistan is looking forward to joining the group of developing nations under Russia's presidency in 2024.
The bloc currently includes China, the world's second-largest economy, as well as Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa. Six new members --Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates-- will be added to the bloc in January 2024. Pakistan is hopeful about joining BRICS with these countries.

Nov 23, 2023

Delhi's Khan Market World's 22nd Priciest High Street Retail Location

Real estate consultant Cushman & Wakefield unveiled its 'Main Streets Across the World' report, shedding light on prime retail rental rates globally. Delhi's upscale Khan Market secured the 22nd spot, marking a slight drop from the 21st position last year (2022).
Despite the slip, New York's Fifth Avenue continued to dominate as the world's most expensive retail destination. Milan's Via Montenapoleone climbed to second place, displacing Hong Kong's Tsim Sha Tsui to third. London's New Bond Street and Paris's Avenues des Champs-Élysées retained the fourth and fifth positions.

CAG Girish Chandra Murmu Elected Vice-chair of UN External Auditors' Panel

In a significant achievement for India, Girish Chandra Murmu, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, was elected as the vice-chair of the UN Panel of External Auditors. This recognition not only highlights India's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of external audit but also showcases its active role in shaping the global audit landscape.
The independent body is composed of representatives from 12 countries, namely Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Philippines, Russia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Together, they conduct financial, performance, and compliance audits of UN entities, ensuring transparency and accountability in the organisation's financial activities.
The Panel of External Auditors of the United Nations, the Specialized Agencies, and the International Atomic Energy Agency was established by the General Assembly Resolution in 1959 to further the coordination of the audits for which its members are responsible and to exchange information on audit methods and findings. The Panel has an essential duty to contribute to enhancing accountability, transparency, and governance of the organisations that compose the United Nations system.

Nov 22, 2023

North Korea Puts its First Spy Satellite into Orbit

North Korea said that it had put its first spy satellite into orbit and vowed further launches to defend against what it called its enemies' dangerous military maneuvers'.
The satellite, named 'Malligyong-1', was launched on a new carrier rocket, 'Chollima-1'.
Neither South Korea, the United States nor Japan, all of which are experiencing increasing military tensions with North Korea, could confirm the satellite had made it into orbit.
But South Korea called the launch a clear violation of a UN Security Council resolution that prohibits North Korea from using ballistic missile technology.

Nov 21, 2023

Joseph Boakai Winner of Liberia Presidential Election

Joseph Boakai was declared as the winner of Liberia's presidential polls with 50.64 per cent of the vote, unseating President George Weah who got 49.36 per cent, the country's electoral commission announced after completing the ballot tally.
Weah will continue to remain in power until the power is handed over in January 2024.

Nov 20, 2023

Bangladesh Top Court Upholds Ban on Largest Islamist Party

Bangladesh's highest court dismissed an appeal by the country's largest Islamist party seeking to overturn a 2013 ruling that barred it from participating in elections for violating the constitutional provision of secularism Bangladesh is set to hold its next national elections on January 7.
A five-member bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan handed out the ruling. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's main lawyer did not appear before the court due to personal problems and his petition, filed previously, seeking to postpone the hearing for six weeks was also rejected.
The High Court's decision 10 years ago cancelled the party's registration with the Election Commission, thus stopping it from participating in elections or using party symbols. But it did not ban it from political participation.

Finland Blocks Border Crossings to Stop Migrants it Says Were Sent by Russia

Finland closed four crossings on its border with Russia, in a bid to stem an increase in migrants that Helsinki says has been orchestrated by Moscow.
Finland has accused Russian authorities of funnelling migrants to the crossings in retaliation for its decision to increase defence cooperation with the United States, an assertion dismissed by the Kremlin.
Barriers will go up at four of the nine crossings with Russia, at Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala in its southeast, as per the Finnish Border Guard.

Javier Milei Wins Argentina's Presidency

Argentina elected right-wing libertarian Javier Milei as its new President, rolling the dice on an outsider with radical views to fix an economy battered by triple-digit inflation, a looming recession and rising poverty.
Milei won by a wider-than-expected margin. He landed some 56% of the vote versus just over 44% for his rival, Peronist Economy Minister Sergio Massa, who conceded.
Milei's victory marks an extraordinary rise for the former TV pundit, who entered the race as a political outsider on a promise to "break up with the status quo" – exemplified by Sergio Massa.

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