General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

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.

Aug 23, 2023

Former Thailand Leader Jailed Immediately After Return from 15-Year Exile

Thailand's former PM Thaksin Shinawatra was jailed upon returning to the country after 15 years in exile.
The Supreme Court ordered the 74-year-old billionaire to serve eight years on old graft charges, though it is not clear how much time he will serve behind bars, as his Pheu Thai party forms the government and rumours swirl of a deal for leniency.

Aug 22, 2023

First Foreign Office Consultations between India and Samoa Held in Apia

The first Foreign Office Consultations FOC between India and Samoa was held in Apia. Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs Saurabh Kumar and Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Samoa Ms. Peseta Noumea Simi co-chaired the meeting.
Both sides discussed their wide-ranging bilateral relations including their development partnership covering areas such as health, Information and Communications Technology ICT, Education, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises SME, and capacity building. They also discussed follow-up on Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation FIPIC III Summit, as well as regional and global issues, and cooperation in the framework of the Pacific Islands Forum PIF, Commonwealth, and United Nations. Samoa will host the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting CHOGM on 21st of October next year.

Aug 21, 2023

WHO South-East Asia Region Commits to Enhancing Efforts to End Tuberculosis, Adopts Gandhinagar D...

The WHO South-East Asia Region, which bears a disproportionate burden of nearly half of the global TB cases and deaths committed to further accelerate efforts to end tuberculosis by 2030 with its member countries adopting the Gandhinagar Declaration. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia, said in her address to a ministerial meeting on "Sustain, Accelerate, and Innovate to end TB in the South-East Asia Region".
The Gandhinagar Declaration was adopted at the end of the two-day meeting held to follow-up on the progress made to end TB, a flagship priority in the region, and in the run-up to the UN High Level Meeting on TB on September 22 in New York.
The declaration calls for establishing high-level multi-sectoral commission reporting to the highest political level in each country for synergy of efforts among various stakeholders, and to monitor progress towards ending TB and other priority diseases. The WHO regional director said, adding that during the COVID-19 pandemic, TB infrastructure was rapidly deployed for infection diagnosis and containment.
The declaration calls for ensuring appropriate adoption and use of science and technology for equitable and human rights-based TB services that are accessible to all, irrespective of any social, cultural, or demographic divide, through an integrated, primary health care approach.

Aug 20, 2023

US Approves F-16 Fighter Jets for Transfer to Ukraine from Denmark and Netherlands

The US has granted approval for F-16 fighter jets to be sent to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands.
These jets are intended to bolster Ukraine's defense against Russian forces, and the deployment will take place following the completion of pilot training.
Ukraine has been proactively pursuing US-made F-16 fighter jets to bolster its capacity in responding to Russia's aerial supremacy.
Washington officially guaranteed Denmark and the Netherlands that it will accelerate the process of approving requisite third-party transfer requests for F-16s destined for Ukraine.

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