General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - August 2015

Aug 2015

Oct 04, 2023

Indonesia Launches Southeast Asia's First High-Speed Railway

Indonesian President Joko Widodo officially inaugurated Southeast Asia's first high-speed railway, marking a significant milestone for the nation's infrastructure development. The ambitious project, known as the 'Whoosh' high-speed railway, is a key component of China's Belt and Road Initiative and is poised to dramatically reduce travel times between two vital Indonesian cities.
With an estimated cost of $7.3 billion, this monumental infrastructure project was predominantly funded by China. It was brought to fruition through the joint efforts of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (PT KCIC), a collaboration between an Indonesian consortium comprising four state-owned companies and China Railway International Co. Ltd.
'Whoosh',' which stands for 'Waktu Hemat, Operasi Optimal, Sistem Handal'in the Indonesian language, translates to 'timesaving, optimal operation, reliable system.' This name reflects the project's commitment to efficiency and reliability.

Indian Troops Will have to Leave: Maldives Prez-elect

Maldives President-elect Mohamed Muizzu in his first public address after defeating the pro-India President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih fired a shot across New Delhi's bows by stating that he would ask foreign troops to leave the country.
India is the only country which maintains a complement of personnel to look after its helicopters deployed there. Despite vigorous efforts by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, India could not push ahead with the "Uthuru Thilafalhu (UTF) agreement'' signed in 2022 with the Maldives to maintain a harbour and dockyard for 15 years.

Kevin McCarthy Ousted by US House Republicans in Historic Vote

A handful of Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives ousted Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as party infighting plunged Congress into further chaos just days after it narrowly averted a government shutdown.
The 216-to-210 vote marked the first time in history that the House removed its leader, with eight Republicans voting with 208 Democrats to remove McCarthy.
The House looked set to go leaderless for at least a week, as multiple Republicans planned to meet to discuss possible McCarthy successors, with a vote on a new speaker planned for October 11, 2023.

Canada MPs Elect First Black House of Commons Speaker

Canada's House of Commons elected Greg Fergus as its new speaker, making the Liberal Party lawmaker the first Black Canadian to hold the post after the previous speaker quit over unknowingly inviting a former Nazi soldier to parliament.
The members of the 338-seat House voted for Fergus in a secret ballot. Fergus came ahead of candidates including fellow Liberal MP Sean Casey, Conservative Chris d'Entremont and Green Party leader Elizabeth May.
The House speaker is meant to be an impartial arbitrator of parliamentary procedure, seeking to maintain order and decorum during debates. The speaker votes only to break a tie, and plays a ceremonial role as an institutional representative of parliament.

Oct 03, 2023

Afghan Embassy Ceases Operations in India

The Afghanistan Embassy in India ceased its operations, citing a lack of support from the host government, failure to meet expectations in serving Afghanistan's interests and reduction in personnel and resources.
The embassy said that this decision, while deeply regrettable, is made after careful consideration, taking into account the historic ties and long-standing partnership between Afghanistan and India.

Mohamed Muizzu Wins Maldives Presidential Election

Mohamed Muizzu won the Maldives' presidential election following a second-round run-off against incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The election was viewed as a barometer for the nascent democracy of the Indian Ocean archipelago, as well as its relations with China and traditional ally India.
Muizzu leads a party that previously welcomed a surge of Chinese loans and conducted a comprehensive crackdown on dissent when last in power.
Incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih conceded defeat after the Elections Commission of the Maldives announced that Muizzu had secured 54.06 per cent of the votes in the run-off election.

Oct 02, 2023

Spain: Conservative Leader Alberto Nunez-Feijoo Fails PM Bid

Spain's conservative leader Alberto Nunez-Feijoo lost his bid to become the country's next Prime Minister after failing to secure enough votes, paving the way for outgoing Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to remain in office if he strikes a divisive deal with separatist parties in the parliament.

India Ranks 56th Position in World Talent Ranking 2023

Out of 64 economies, India has slipped four spots to 56th position, compared to its 52nd position in 2022, in the 2023 World Talent Ranking, according to the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) release.
Though the report acknowledges India's infrastructure improvements, it underscores the need for further enhancement in talent competitiveness.
The IMD World Talent Ranking considers various factors, including quality of life, statutory minimum wage, and primary and secondary education.
In the IMD World Talent Ranking 2023, Switzerland ranked on top, while Luxembourg was in second place, followed by Iceland, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Oct 01, 2023

India Retains 40th Rank in Global Innovation Index 2023, Switzerland Tops

India retained its 40th rank out of 132 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2023 rankings published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
Switzerland for a 13th year ranked first in the index. Sweden second and the United States on third, followed by the United Kingdom (4th) and Singapore (5th).

Iran Successfully Launches Military's New Imaging Satellite

Iran's Revolutionary Guards successfully launched a third military satellite into orbit.
The Noor 3 imaging satellite was launched by the three-stage Qased, or messenger carrier, which launched its predecessor Noor 2 in 2022.
The US military has said that the long-range ballistic technology used by Iran to launch satellites may also enable it to launch long-range weapons, possibly even nuclear warheads.
Iran denies the US assertion that activities like satellite launch is a cover for development of ballistic missiles and maintains that it has never pursued development of nuclear weapons.

Sep 30, 2023

What is the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance?

The Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance, often referred to as simply 'Five Eyes', is a secretive international intelligence coalition comprising five English-speaking countries. Established in the aftermath of World War II, this alliance has played a pivotal role in shaping global intelligence and security strategies. In this article, we will delve into the history, purpose, and controversies surrounding the Five Eyes alliance.
The Five Eyes alliance originated as a post-war intelligence-sharing agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Formed in 1946, its primary objective was to share signals intelligence (SIGINT) to counter the emerging Soviet threat during the Cold War.

Kamal Menghrajani, Indian-American Cancer Doctor, Among 15 Gifted White House Fellows

Kamal Menghrajani, an Indian-American cancer physician, is among 15 remarkably gifted, passionate, and accomplished individuals chosen to the 2023-2024 class of White House Fellows.
Menghrajani is placed at the Office of Science and Technology Policy. She treats patients with leukaemia.
She will spend a year working with senior White House Staff, Cabinet Secretaries, and other top-ranking administration officials.
While on faculty at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, she conducted cancer research focused on early diagnosis and prevention, and has spearheaded health equity efforts for vulnerable populations in global contexts, including Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Uganda.
Founded in 1964, the White House Fellows programme offers exceptional young leaders first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the Federal government. Fellows spend a year working with senior White House Staff, Cabinet Secretaries, and other top-ranking administration officials and leave the Administration equipped to serve as better leaders in their communities.

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