General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

May 04, 2024

Sri Lankan Cabinet Approves Renovation of Kankesanthurai Port with Indian Financial Grant

The Sri Lankan Cabinet approved the renovation of the Kankesanthurai Port (KKS Port) in the Northern Province, with India agreeing to grant the entire estimated cost of the project, amounting to USD 61.5 million. The decision highlights India's commitment to enhancing regional cooperation and supporting Sri Lanka's infrastructure development.
The KKS Port, covering an area of approximately 16 acres, is located 104 km (56 nautical miles) from Karaikal Port in Puducherry, India.
A direct passenger ship service connects Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu to the KKS Port, covering a distance of 111 km (60 nautical miles) in about 3.5 hours.
The port has the potential to boost socio-economic development and cultural relations between India and Sri Lanka, particularly in the northern region of the island nation.
The KKS Port began operations as a commercial port in 1950.

John Swinney Set to Become First Minister of Scotland

John Swinney is poised to become head of the Scottish National Party and the next first minister of Scotland.
Main challenger Kate Forbes withdrew from the leadership race, likely avoiding a repeat of last year's contentious contest.
Swinney, the sole formal candidate for leader, rejected suggestions of a temporary term.
Scotland is a province of the United Kingdom.

May 02, 2024

India to Host 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Kochi

India reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Antarctica's delicate ecosystem and advancing scientific exploration in the region. The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, in collaboration with the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), is set to host the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46) and the 26th Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP 26) from May 20 to 30, 2024, in Kochi, Kerala.
The Antarctic Treaty, enacted in 1959 and enforced in 1961, designates Antarctica as a zone dedicated to peace, scientific collaboration, and environmental preservation. Over 56 countries have ratified the Treaty, showcasing global support for its principles.
Established under the Madrid Protocol in 1991, the CEP advises the ATCM on environmental conservation and protection in Antarctica. India, a Consultative Party since 1983, actively contributes to the decision-making process alongside 28 other Consultative Parties.

Pro-China Candidate Wins Solomon Islands PM Vote

Lawmakers in the Solomon Islands selected a pro-China candidate as their Prime Minister, in an indication the Pacific nation will remain a close Beijing ally.
Jeremiah Manele won the Prime Minister vote, beating out his opponent in a 31-18 count.
He will succeed former PM Manasseh Sogavare, a vocal critic of the West.
Manele was Foreign Minister in 2019, when the Solomons chose to switch its longstanding diplomatic recognition of Taiwan to China - a move that shocked regional neighbours.

May 01, 2024

Indian Delegation Visits Bangladesh for Bilateral Talks

A four-member Indian delegation from the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) was on a three-day visit to Bangladesh to further boost bilateral ties on governance matters.
Led by Secretary V. Srinivas, the DARPG delegation arrived in Dhaka on Sunday for bilateral discussions regarding renewal of MOU between National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), India and Bangladesh Ministry of Public Administration for the period 2024-2029.

G7 Agree to End Use of Unabated Coal Power Plants by 2035

Ministers from the G7 countries agreed to end the use of unabated coal power plants by 2035 – but left the door open for those heavily reliant on coal to breach the deadline.
After two days of talks in Turin, Italy, they published a pledge to "phase out existing unabated coal power generation in our energy systems during the first half of 2030s" to curb the rise in global greenhouse gas emissions.
The communique marks a key climate milestone for the G7 nations – the UK, US, Canada, France, Italy, Germany and Japan – who had been unable to reach an agreement on phasing out coal after several years of talks.
According to Italian minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, it is the first time that a path and a target has been set on coal.

South Korea Confirms Talks on Joining AUKUS Pact with US, UK and Australia

South Korea held talks on joining a part of the AUKUS defence deal between the U.S., Britain and Australia, Defence Minister Shin Won-sik said, only weeks after the pact said it would hold formal talks on Japan's entry.
AUKUS, formed by the three countries in 2021, is part of efforts to push back against China's growing power in the Asia Pacific region.
We support AUKUS Pillar Two activities and we do welcome that members are considering Korea as an AUKUS Pillar Two partner."
The first stage, or "pillar", of AUKUS is designed to deliver nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia and is not open to new members.
However, the original three members have long said more countries would be invited to join the second pillar, which is focused on sharing military technology across a range of areas including quantum computing and hypersonic missiles.

Apr 30, 2024

Humza Yousaf Resigns as Scottish First Minister

Humza Yousaf, Scotland's first Muslim First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has announced his resignation amid political turmoil. The decision follows the collapse of the SNP's coalition with the Scottish Greens, triggering opposition no-confidence motions. Yousaf cited a refusal to compromise his values and principles for political power, amidst challenges including a funding scandal and the departure of former leader Nicola Sturgeon.
In a televised address, Yousaf emphasised his unwillingness to compromise on his values or engage in political dealings solely for the sake of retaining power. This principled stance comes amidst internal debates within the SNP over policy approaches and the party's attempts to reconnect with voters.
Yousaf, born to Pakistani immigrants in Glasgow, made history as Scotland's youngest elected leader and the first Muslim to head a major political party. Despite his skills as a communicator and efforts to unite the SNP, his tenure faced challenges, culminating in his resignation after just over a year in office.

UK's New 'World First' Laws Crack Down on Smart Cyber Attacks

All Internet-connected smart devices will be required to meet minimum security standards under what the UK government has dubbed as "world first" laws, to protect consumers and businesses from hacking and cyber-attacks.
Under the new regime, manufacturers will be banned from having weak, easily guessable default passwords like "admin" or "12345" and if there is a common password, the user will be prompted to change it on start-up.
"From today, consumers will have greater peace of mind that their smart devices are protected from cyber criminals, as we introduce world first laws that will make sure their personal privacy, data and finances are safe," said UK Minister for Cyber Viscount Camrose, Jonathan Berry.

Apr 29, 2024

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is Deputy Prime Minister

In a surprise move, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was appointed as the country's Deputy Prime Minister.
Dar a chartered accountant and a veteran politician, belongs to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party.
According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division, the appointment was made by Prime Minister Sharif with immediate effect and until further orders.
The announcement was made when both Prime Minister Sharif and Foreign Minister Dar were away in Saudi Arabia to attend a World Economic Forum's moot.
Dar has served as Finance Minister in two previous governments. He was considered the party's answer to all economic problems, serving as finance minister for the fourth and last time in the previous Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government.

Italy's Giorgia Meloni to Contest EU Election to Boost Support for Party

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will be fighting European Union (EU) elections slated to be held in June this year (2024), she announced Sunday (Apr 28). However, she won't be taking up the seat if elected. The elections will be held from June 6-9 and would be a litmus test for her 18-month-old rule. The move, Meloni says, is an effort to boost support for her Brothers of Italy party.
Meloni, a right-wing leader, has been a ferocious opponent to the European Union. She even called for leaving the Euro Zone in her 2022 election campaign, which had set alarm bells ringing in European capitals.

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