General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Aug 29, 2023

India Hands Over B20 Presidency to Brazil to Host G20 in 2024

India handed over the B20 presidency to Brazil to host G20 in 2024. B20 India Chair N. Chandrasekaran said that India's B20 Presidency under its G20 Presidency worked under the theme of Vasaudeva Katumbakam (One Earth, One Family, One Future).
Chandrasekaran said during India's B20 presidency India worked on nine important themes which included empowerment of women and youth, transition towards an Artificial Intelligence world, building a global resilient supply chain and financing for the global economic recovery.

Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa Re-elected for 2nd and Final Five-year Term

Emmerson Mnangagwa secured a second term as Zimbabwe's preSident in a poll marred by electoral malpractice.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) declared Mnangagwa the winner, with 52.6% of the vote, beating Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC), who trailed at 44%.
The election comes six years after longtime ruler Robert Mugabe was removed from power in a military coup.

Aug 28, 2023

China, Bhutan Set up Panel to Speed up Boundary Talks

China and Bhutan have set up a Joint Technical Team (JTG) on the Delimitation of China-Bhutan Boundary as part of Beijing's efforts to speed up the resolution of the boundary issue.
The decision to set up the JTG was taken at a meeting of the Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on China-Bhutan Boundary Issues held in Beijing. The meeting of the JTG was held on the concluding day of the 13th EGM itself.

Aug 26, 2023

Six Countries to Join BRICS from January 2024

The leaders of the BRICS nations decided to admit Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as the new members of the grouping, sealing a long-drawn process.
The decision was announced by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at a joint media briefing along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The new members will become part of BRICS with effect from January 1, 2024.
The decision on the new members was agreed upon after firming up the guiding principles, criteria, and procedures for the expansion process.

Aug 25, 2023

Norway to Become Third Country to Give F-16 Fighter Jets to Ukraine

Norway will donate U.S.-made F-16 combat aircraft to Ukraine, the Norwegian Prime Minister announced during a visit to Kyiv, joining an effort led by the Netherlands and Denmark.
F-16s have been on Ukraine's wish list for a long time because of their destructive power and global availability. The fighter jet is equipped with a 20mm cannon and can carry bombs, rockets and missiles.

BRICS Bank signs $173 mn Loan Agreement for Lesotho Water Project

The New Development Bank (NDB), which was established by the BRICS bloc, and the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) inked a loan agreement for the implementation of phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP).
The NDB will provide a project loan of 3.2 billion South African Rand (USD 173 million) to TCTA under the sovereign guarantee of South Africa.
Lesotho is a small landlocked country bordered on all sides by South African provinces. The LHWP is a multi-phased project to provide water to the Gauteng region of South Africa and to generate hydroelectricity for Lesotho.
The loan agreement was signed by Vladimir Kazbekov, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of NDB and Percy Sechemane, Chief Executive Officer of TCTA, on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg.

Aug 24, 2023

BRICS Paves Way for Expansion, Agrees on Framework to Add New Member Nations

Leaders of the BRICS bloc, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, reached an agreement to establish mechanisms for evaluating potential new member nations, revealed South Africa's Foreign Minister.
This significant accord on expansion sets the stage for numerous interested countries to present their case for joining BRICS, an alliance dedicated to championing the interests of the developing 'Global South.'
The expansion of BRICS was a central focus at the summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The initial meeting of leaders from BRIC nations, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China, took place in St. Petersburg, Russia, during the G8 Outreach Summit in July 2006. Following this, in September 2006, the group was formally established as BRIC during the inaugural BRIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which convened alongside the UN General Assembly's General Debate in New York City.
After a series of high-level gatherings, the first-ever BRIC summit was convened in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on June 16, 2009.
Subsequently, the BRIC group underwent a transformation and was renamed as BRICS, with the inclusion of South Africa as a full member on December 24, 2010.

Srettha Thavisin Elected As Thailand Prime Minister

Thai property tycoon Srettha Thavisin was elected as the new Prime Minister of Thailand following a decisive win in a parliamentary vote. Thavisin's victory in the parliamentary vote, with the support of two-thirds of the assembly, ended weeks of political uncertainty that followed an election held 100 days ago.
Srettha Thavisin's election as Prime Minister ushers in a new era of coalition politics. He faces the challenging task of holding together a potentially fragile coalition government, which includes parties affiliated with the royalist military. The military, notorious for orchestrating coups in 2006 and 2014 that toppled Pheu Thai (a major Thai political party) governments, holds a significant stake in this coalition. Thavisin's ability to navigate the intricacies of this coalition will play a pivotal role in determining the stability and direction of Thailand's government.

Russia Hosts Army 2023, the 9th International Military-Technical Forum

India, China, and Iran had pavilions at the Army 2023, the 9th International Military-Technical Forum hosted by Russia. The Indian pavilion featured stalls from the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and three Defense Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
This pavilion was inaugurated by India's Ambassador to Russia, Pavan Kapoor, and garnered attention from Russian government officials, including Defense Minister General Sergei Shoigu. The DPSUs present were Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL). BrahMos Corporation, a joint venture between India and Russia, was also part of the expo.

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