General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Jul 18, 2023

UN Security Council Holds First Talks on AI Risks

The United Nations Security Council held its first formal discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) in New York, with Britain to call for an international dialogue about its impact on global peace and security.
Governments around the world are considering how to mitigate the dangers of emerging AI technology, which could reshape the global economy and change the international security landscape.
Britain holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council this month (July 2023) and has been seeking a global leadership role in AI regulation.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly chaired the discussion.
In June, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres backed a proposal by some artificial intelligence executives for the creation of an international AI watchdog body like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Jul 17, 2023

Saudi Arabia Becomes 51st Country to Sign ASEAN's TAC

On the sidelines of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) in Jakarta, Saudi Arabia officially become the 51st country to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, on behalf of ASEAN, expressed her appreciation to Saudi Arabia for joining the treaty.
The signing of the TAC by Saudi Arabia marks a significant milestone in expanding the reach and influence of the treaty beyond ASEAN's member countries. Prior to Saudi Arabia, Ukraine was the last country to accede to the TAC in 2022. Notably, Papua New Guinea was the first country outside of ASEAN to accede to the TAC in 1989.
Saudi Arabia's commitment to the TAC is expected to foster stronger ties between the Kingdom and ASEAN nations, contributing to regional peace, stability, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific area.

Britain Signs Treaty to Join Trans-Pacific Trade Pact

The UK formally signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade bloc, a move which will help grow the country's economy and provide access for British businesses to a market of over 500 million people.
The UK will now seek to ratify the agreement, which will include parliamentary scrutiny as the CPTPP member countries complete their legislative processes to admit Britain into the trading bloc – of which India is not a member.
The signing came as a new UK government report reveals one in every 100 UK workers was employed by a business headquartered in a CPTPP member nation in 2019, equating to over 400,000 jobs across the country.
The UK will be the first European member and first new member since CPTPP was created, which the government stresses would have been impossible without leaving the European Union (EU) economic bloc.

Jul 16, 2023

Australia Names First Woman to Lead its Central Bank

Australia appointed the first female head of its central bank, passing over the current governor to elevate his deputy to the high-profile job amid a public backlash over steeply rising interest rates.
Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony named Michele Bullock as head the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) for the next seven years, having chosen not to reappoint Governor Philip Lowe for a second term.

Jul 15, 2023

With Tie-breaking Votes, Kamala Makes History

Kamala Harris set another record in the US history when she matched a 191-year-old record of casting tie-breaking votes as a vice president and backed the nomination of Indian-origin Kalpana Kotagal to be a federal agency member.
Harris, who made history as the first woman or person of colour in 2020, equalled the record held by Senator John C Calhoun, a Democratic-Republican who served as vice president from 1825 to 1832. Harris broke a 50-50 tie to bring her total of tie-breaking votes cast to 31.

Israel Parliament Approves Bill that Limits Supreme Court Power

Israel's parliament gave preliminary approval to a bill that limits some Supreme Court power, part of a rebooted judicial overhaul by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that has set off a deep political crisis.
The drive to change the justice system by Netanyahu's ruling coalition of nationalist and religious parties has sparked unprecedented protests, stirred concern for Israel's democratic health among its Western allies and bruised the economy.
Commanding 64 of the Knesset's 120 seats, Netanyahu's coalition won the first of three required votes for the new bill to be written into law, with protests expected to intensify.
The new bill seeks a curb on the Supreme Court's power to void decisions made by the government, ministers and elected officials by ruling them unreasonable. It now returns to committee for discussion and could be altered before being brought for the final votes.

Jul 14, 2023

Shehbaz: Caretaker Govt. to Get Charge in August

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif assured the nation that his government would hand over the reins of the government to an interim setup in August to steer it through the general elections.
This came a day after Sharif, the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, said that Parliament would complete its term on August 14 to pave the way for interim government and elections.
Under the Constitution of Pakistan, general elections must be held under the supervision of a neutral caretaker government so that a level playing field is available to all political parties.

Eleventh Meeting of the Executive Board of Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB)

The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Rajiv Kumar led a three-member delegation, and attended the 11th meeting of the Executive Board of the Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) in Cartagena, Colombia. The meeting provided an opportunity for Electoral management bodies (EMBs) from around the world to collaborate and address challenges affecting election integrity.
(Association of World Election Bodies) A-WEB plays a crucial role in promoting cooperation among (Electoral Management Body) EMB and facilitating the exchange of experiences and best practices. The association, which comprises 119 EMBs as members and 20 regional associations/organizations as associate members, provides a platform for EMBs to learn from one another and enhance their electoral management processes. By sharing expertise and strategies, EMBs can effectively address common challenges and improve election integrity globally.
The Executive Board meeting covered various agenda items aimed at enhancing the capabilities of A-WEB and its member EMBs. Discussions revolved around the programs and activities planned for 2023-24, the annual progress report of A-WEB and its regional offices, the budget, and membership-related matters. During the meeting, CEC Rajiv Kumar proposed the following two initiatives:
The establishment of an A-WEB portal to serve as a repository of electoral best practices.
The introduction of A-WEB Global Awards to recognize EMBs' significant contributions to democratic processes.

UAE Becomes First Arab Country to Get Observer Status on Asian-Pacific Money Laundering

UAE or United Arab Emirates participated with observer status in the plenary of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), a Financial Action Task Force-Style Regional Body (FSRB), in Vancouver, Canada. The UAE is the first Arab country to be granted observer status at the APG. The UAE has placed international cooperation at the heart of its strategy and plans for countering money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Observer status at FSRB events is granted to countries that demonstrate an active and collaborative approach to fighting financial crime, which the UAE has displayed through its participation in MENAFATF and other multilateral organisations.
The Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering is the largest FSRB globally and provides a truly unique forum for cross-border cooperation and information exchange.
Founded in 1997 and part of the global network of similar Financial Action Task Force-Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs), the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering is the largest in terms of membership numbers and geographical size.

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