General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Jun 04, 2024

Claudia Sheinbaum Becomes Mexico's First Female President

Claudia Sheinbaum from the ruling leftist Morena party made history by becoming the Mexico's first female President in a landslide victory. She defeated Xochitl Gálvez from the conservative PAN party.
Marred by violence, the election that was the largest in Mexico's history was also its bloodiest. Several political candidates and applicants were killed by criminal organisations trying to influence those in power.
Claudia Sheinbaum defeated Xochitl Gálvez from the conservative PAN party, who represented a coalition of opposition parties. The third candidate was Jorge Alvarez Maynez, the youngest in the poll race, who represented the centre-left Citizens' Movement.

Australian Army to Allow Recruits from Four Nations

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will allow recruits from a handful of foreign countries, including the UK, to help grow its ranks.
Australia has been struggling with recruitment shortfalls, as it seeks to beef up its armed forces in the face of what it says are growing regional threats.
From July, New Zealand nationals who are permanent residents of Australia can apply to join, and from January that will expand to recruits from the UK, US and Canada.

"India Played Constructive Role": Centre on Historic World Health Assembly Move

India played a key role in helping countries agree to the adoption of International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) at the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) to protect against future pandemics, said Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary.
In a historic move, the 77th WHA agreed to the amendments to the IHR 2005, based on 300 proposals made by member countries after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the negotiation process for the amendments witnessed several deadlocks by various countries.
In a bid to finalise the package of amendments to IHR, Apurva Chandra, who led the Indian delegation in Geneva, put forward a proposal in the form of a White Paper "to establish a single drafting group".
It called the group to "be co-chaired by one Bureau member from the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) and the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (WGIHR) respectively, to consider the matters related to some of the most critical agenda items -- the proposed amendments to the IHR (2005), followed by consideration of procedural matters on way forward related to INB negotiations on the Pandemic treaty".
The proposal was approved by all member states by consensus, leading to the adoption of the amendment of IHR (2005).
The amendments include improving countries' ability to prepare for and respond to Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) and Pandemic Emergencies (PE).
It also targets provisions for facilitating equitable access to relevant health products during PHEIC and PE, as well as mobilising financial resources to support developing countries in building, strengthening, and maintaining the core capacities required under the IHR (2005).

The 21st Shangri-La Dialogue Ends in Singapore

The 21st edition of the Asia Pacific premier defence meet, the Shangri-La Dialogue or the Asian Security Summit, concluded in Singapore on June 2, 2024. Held at the Shangri-La Hotel from May 31 to June 2, the Dialogue saw participation from over a hundred delegates worldwide, discussing pressing security challenges and exploring fresh approaches.
The Shangri-La Dialogue is organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in collaboration with the Singapore government. The event is permanently hosted at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, a venue inspired by the mythical utopia of peace, Shangri-La, from James Hilton's novel 'Lost Horizon'.

Jun 03, 2024

Emmanuelle Soubeyran New Director General of WOAH

France applauded the election of Emmanuelle Soubeyran as Director General of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) for the 2024-2029 term. She was elected to this position at the World Assembly of Delegates, which was held in Paris, and extended her thanks to all the member countries and territories for their show of confidence. Her candidacy reflected France's commitment to the organization's goal of promoting animal health and well-being. France, which worked to establish the WOAH, is one of its leading contributors and hosts the organization's headquarters in Paris.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), formerly the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), is an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1924, coordinating, supporting and promoting animal disease control.
It has 1083 members at present (as in June 2024).

Jun 02, 2024

Donald Trump Becomes First Former US President to be Convicted of Felony (02)

Donald Trump became the first former US President to be convicted of a felony as a grand jury in New York found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
The Biden Harris Campaign said no one is above the law while Trump said the verdict is a result of a rigged political system.
Trump's sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he will be formally nominated as the party's presidential candidate against incumbent Joe Biden in the November elections.

Apurva Chandra Appointed as Chairperson of Committee A of 77TH WHA Event

Apurva Chandra, Union health secretary, Government of India, was appointed as the Chairperson of the Committee A at the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA), announced by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Committee A of WHA, the event held from May 27 to June 1 held at Geneva, was chaired by India.
Committee A is tasked with facilitating crucial discussions on a range of programmatic topics. These include universal health coverage, public health emergency preparedness and response, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, and sustainable financing for the World Health Organization (WHO).

Jun 01, 2024

Poland Unveils 'East Shield': Massive Defence Barrier to Fortify Borders with Russia and Belarus

Poland revealed plans to build a line of minefields, bunkers, and anti-tank trenches along its borders with Russia and Belarus.
Poland's defence minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, stated that the 'East Shield' deterrent and defence strategy is the greatest operation to secure Poland's eastern border and NATO's eastern flank since 1945. It will be a mix of contemporary technologies, fortifications, and topography.

Pak Admits Violating Pact with India, Nawaz Sharif Says "Was Our Fault"

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif admitted that Islamabad had violated an agreement with India signed by him and ex-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999, in an apparent reference to the Kargil misadventure by Gen Pervez Musharraf.
"On May 28, 1998, Pakistan carried out five nuclear tests. After that Vajpayee Saheb came here and made an agreement with us. But we violated that agreement" said Sharif.
After a historic summit here, Nawaz Sharif and Ata Bihari Vajpayee signed the Lahore Declaration on February 21, 1999. The agreement that talked about a vision of peace and stability between the two countries signalled a breakthrough.

May 31, 2024

India Assumes Chair of Colombo Process for 2024-26

India took on the chairmanship of the Colombo Process for the first time since the forum's establishment in 2003. The Colombo Process is a regional consultative forum consisting of 12 member states from South and Southeast Asia focused on the management of overseas employment and the protection of migrant workers.
The Colombo Process serves as a platform for member states to share best practices and policies regarding overseas employment.
India has been an active participant in the Colombo Process since its inception in 2003. It has engaged in ministerial consultations, senior officers' meetings, and Thematic Area Working Groups (TAWGs). India has also contributed to various studies under the process, including those on remittance frameworks, recruitment agency ratings, and social protection for migrant workers.

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