General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Jan 07, 2024

Uganda to Host 19th NAM Summit

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to represent India at the upcoming 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Uganda's capital Kampala from January 17 to 20, 2024.
Additionally, the African country will host the Third South Summits and G77 meeting from January 21 to 23.
At the 2019 NAM summit in Azerbaijan, and the 2016 NAM Venezuela summit, India was represented at the Vice President level.

Jan 06, 2024

South Africa Releases Former Paralympic Star Oscar Pistorius on Parole

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius was released from jail on parole, nearly 11 years after murdering his girlfriend. Popularly known as 'Blade Runner', for his carbon-fiber prosthetic legs, Pistorius was convicted of killing his girlfriend and model Reeva Steenkamp.
As per the order by the parole board, a monitoring official will keep an eye on Pistorius until his sentence expires in December 2029. He is also required to inform the authorities in case he seeks job opportunities or moves to a new address.

Jan 05, 2024

Nadia Calvino Appointed as New President of the European Investment Bank

Nadia Calvino took office as the new president of the European Investment Bank. She succeeded Werner Hoyer and became the eighth president of the EU bank. Notably, Calvino is the first woman and the first Spaniard to lead this prestigious institution, marking a significant milestone in the bank's history.

France Becomes First European Country to Issue Digital Schengen Visas

France became the first European Union member to introduce fully digital Schengen visas for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. Commencing on January 1, 2024, the newly launched "Olympic Consulate" system operates through the France-Visas portal, streamlining the application process for 15,000 international athletes, 9,000 journalists, and foreign delegations.
Applications for the 70,000 visas will be exclusively processed online, preventing them from being inundated among other visa requests. This groundbreaking initiative aligns with the EU's digitalization plans for Schengen visas, marking a significant shift in visa application procedures.
In an innovative approach, approved visas will not be affixed to passports. Instead, they will be seamlessly integrated into accreditation cards, a move aimed at enhancing efficiency and convenience for participants.

Jan 04, 2024

US Reaches Deal with Qatar to Extend Presence at Largest Military Base

The United States reached a deal to extend its military presence at a base in Qatar for another 10 years.
The base in question is the Al Udeid Air Base, which is located in the desert southwest of Doha and hosts the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East.
Qatar is also a major non-NATO U.S. ally, a designation granted by the United States to close, non-NATO allies that have strategic working relationships with the U.S. military.

Putin Kicks off Russia's 2024 BRICS Chairmanship

Russian President Vladimir Putin officially marked the commencement of Russia's 2024 BRICS Chairmanship. During this handover, President Putin emphasised the motto for the upcoming tenure, 'Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security'. This signifies Russia's commitment to fostering collaboration among the BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
President Putin outlined Russia's approach to its BRICS Chairmanship. The emphasis will be on positive and constructive cooperation with all concerned countries.
The overarching strategy will continue to promote BRICS partnerships in politics and security, economy and finance, as well as cultural and humanitarian contacts.

Jan 03, 2024

Claudine Gay Resigns as Harvard University President

Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned from her post after facing month long uproar over her stand on antisemitism in the campus and plagiarism charges levelled against her. The resignation made her tenure at Harvard shortest presidency in the University's history.
Claudine said that after consultation with members of the Corporation, it has become clear that it is in the best interests of Harvard for me to resign so that our community can navigate this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution rather than any individual.

Felix Tshisekedi Named President of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi won re-election with more than 70% of the vote, the country's election commission said.
President Tshisekedi emerged victorious with approximately 73% of the vote, leaving his closest rival, Moise Katumbi, with 18%. The election faced significant issues, including delayed openings of two-thirds of polling stations and malfunctions in 30% of voting machines on the first day. Millions of voters endured long waits, with some ultimately abandoning the process. Opposition leaders argue that these challenges were part of a systematic plan to rig the results in favour of President Tshisekedi.
Felix Tshisekedi, the son of veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, secured his first term in 2019. Despite this victory, previous elections, including one contested by Martin Fayulu, have raised questions about the credibility of the electoral system. Fayulu, who garnered 5% in the recent election, had claimed victory in the 2019 poll, with backing from the influential Catholic Church.

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