General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Mar 31, 2024

US Welcomes New Palestinian Govt. Following its Call for Political Reform

The United States welcomed the formation of a new Palestinian autonomy government, signalling it is accepting the revised Cabinet line-up as a step toward Palestinian political reform.
The Biden administration called for revitalising the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority in hopes that it can also administer the Gaza Strip once the Israel-Hamas war ends. The war erupted nearly six months ago, triggered by an October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel.
As per US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, the United States looks forward to working with the new group of ministers to deliver on credible reforms.

Mar 30, 2024

Indian Expert Kamal Kishore to Lead UN's Disaster Risk Reduction Efforts

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Kamal Kishore of India as the new Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction. He will lead the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
Kishore succeeded Mami Mizutori of Japan, whom the Secretary-General thanked for her service.
Kamal Kishore has nearly 30 years of experience in disaster risk reduction, climate action, and sustainable development at global, regional, national, and local levels. He has worked in government, the United Nations, and civil society organizations.

Mar 29, 2024

In a First, Saudi Arabia to Participate in Miss Universe Pageant

In a historic first, Saudi Arabia would be represented by Rumy Alqahtani at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant, signalling a significant milestone in a country considered conservative throughout its history.
Alqahtani follows in the footsteps of Lujane Yacoub, who represented Bahrain in the previous year's (20232) Miss Universe pageant, marking the first appearance of a contestant from the Gulf region.
Alqahtani has previously won the titles of Miss Saudi Arabia, Miss Arab World Peace 2021, and Miss Woman (Saudi Arabia).
The Miss Universe 2024 competition will take place in Mexico in September and will also witness Iran's debut.

South Africa's Former President Jacob Zuma Barred from Running in May Elections

South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma was barred from contesting upcoming elections scheduled for May 29, the electoral commission said.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) upheld an objection filed against the former President without giving details.
Zuma has been campaigning for the opposition uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party in an attempt to relaunch his political career ahead of the general election.
The former President stepped down in 2018 following corruption allegations after being in power for nearly a decade.
In 2021, he was handed a 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court. According to South Africa's constitution, a person who has been convicted and sentenced to more than 12 months in prison is not allowed to hold public office.

Florida Imposes Restrictions on Social Media for Minors

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that prohibits minors under 14 from having social media accounts. The law requires parental permission for 14- and 15-year-olds to create accounts on platforms like Meta, TikTok, and others. All social media users in Florida must submit identification documents to verify their ages.
The Florida legislation is part of a larger effort by some states to clamp down on social media firms.
There are rising concerns about the impact on youth mental health and the spread of sexually explicit content.
States like Arkansas and Ohio have enacted similar laws requiring parental approval for minors' social media accounts.

Mar 28, 2024

Baltimore Bridge Collapse

A tragic incident occurred when a cargo ship collided with the Francis Scott Bridge in Baltimore, the US causing a section of the span to collapse. The ship, named Dali, had reportedly lost power before the crash, yet continued towards the bridge at a rapid pace.
The incident not only disrupted traffic but also halted shipping operations at the vital Port of Baltimore. The bridge collapse is expected to have long-lasting ramifications, impacting both cargo and commuter traffic in the region.

Bassirou Diomaye Faye Wins Senegal's Presidential Election

Bassirou Diomaye Faye, an anti-establishment figure, won the Senegalese presidential election with 54.28 per cent of the votes in the first round. Faye is set to become Africa's youngest elected president and the first opponent to win in the first round since Senegal's independence from France in 1960. His victory still needs to be validated by Senegal's Constitutional Council in the next few days.
Faye comfortably defeated the governing coalition's candidate, former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, who received 35.79 percent of the votes.
Aliou Mamadou Dia came in third with just 2.8 percent of the votes among the 19 candidates.
The voter turnout was 61.30 percent, higher than in 2012 but lower than the previous election in 2019.

Mar 26, 2024

Simon Harris Becomes Irish PM-in-waiting

Simon Harris became Ireland's Prime Minister in waiting after he was elected unopposed to succeed Leo Varadkar as leader of the governing Fine Gael party.
Harris best known for helping steer the country's initial response to COVID-19, set out some of his priorities to party members at an event in the Irish midlands town of Athlone.
He will be voted in as Ireland's youngest ever Prime Minister when parliament next sits on April 9, 2024 thanks to support from Fine Gael's coalition partners.

UN Security Council Demands Immediate Gaza Ceasefire after US Abstains

The United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas after the United States abstained from the vote, sparking a spat with its ally Israel.
The remaining 14 council members voted for the resolution - proposed by the 10 elected members of the body - that also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the failure of the U.S. to veto the resolution was a "clear retreat" from its previous position and would hurt Israel's war efforts and bid to release more than 130 hostages still held by Hamas.

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