General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

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.

Jul 13, 2023

Pakistan Gets IMF Nod for $3 Billion Bailout Plan

In a relief to cash-strapped Pakistan, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) gave a final nod to a much-awaited $3 billion bailout programme for the country to support the government's efforts to stabilise the ailing economy.
The development came two weeks after the two sides reached a staff-level agreement over the stand-by arrangement. The approval allows for an immediate disbursement of $1.2 billion.

Jul 12, 2023

India Registers Remarkable Reduction in Poverty: UN

A total of 415 million people moved out of poverty in India within just 15 years from 2005-06 to 2019-21, the UN said, highlighting the remarkable achievement by the world's most populous nation.
The latest update of the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford.
It said that 25 countries, including India, successfully halved their global MPI values within 15 years, showing that rapid progress is attainable.
These countries include Cambodia, China, Congo, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Serbia, and Vietnam.

Myanmar, South China Sea Tensions Top Agenda at ASEAN Meet in Indonesia

Southeast Asia's top diplomats gathered in Indonesia amid pressure to address a bloody political crisis in Myanmar and resolve tensions in the South China Sea where some ASEAN members have overlapped territorial claims with China.
The meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) came as doubts mount over the credibility and unity of the bloc in dealing with the region's thorniest challenges.
Chief among them is the lack of meaningful process on an ASEAN peace plan for Myanmar, which was agreed with the country's military rulers after they seized power in a 2021 coup and calls for an immediate halt to violence.

Peru Declares National Emergency Due to Spike in Guillain-Barre Syndrome Cases

Peru declared a nationwide emergency as Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder, surged in the country. A 90-day health emergency has been imposed in the country to curb the outbreak.
The country declared a health emergency at the request of Health Minister César Vásquez, who noted that an increase in the number of cases could mean a lack of immunoglobulin (antibodies).

Jul 11, 2023

Erdogan Backs Sweden's NATO Membership

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to support Sweden's membership in NATO, bloc's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, in a surprising turn of events.
The announcement came as a breath of fresh air amidst Turkey's previous roadblock to approving Sweden's bid to join the Western alliance. According to NATO's Stoltenberg, Erdogan gave his consent to present Sweden's NATO membership application to the Turkish parliament for approval.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson hailed it as a historic day for Sweden.

Uzbekistan Leader Re-elected for Seven-year Term in Snap Election

Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was re-elected with 87.1% of the vote, the Central Election Commission announced.
Mirziyoyev, in power since 2016, called a snap election after changing the Constitution through a referendum which reset his term count and extended the presidential term to seven years from five.
Mirziyoyev opened up the country of 35 million people to foreign trade and investment while also easing restrictions on religious and political freedoms.

Jul 10, 2023

New Zealand Prime Minister Hipkins Signs Ambitious Trade Deal with EU

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins seal a historic deal that will remove 91% of duties on New Zealand goods and is worth an estimated $1.8 billion annually to Kiwi exporters.
While there has been much focus on the monetary benefits and value of the deal, this agreement also marked strengthening of ties at a time when there are big geopolitical tensions.

Dutch Government Collapses

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's government collapsed after coalition parties failed to reach an agreement on immigration policy. The parties were unable to bridge their differences on how to handle the issue, which has become increasingly divisive in the Netherlands in recent years.
The Dutch government coalition, which formed 18 months ago, went into crisis when PM Rutte had proposed to limit the right to family reunions for refugees from war zones to 200 people per month after a period of two years. The proposal was unacceptable to two of the coalition parties, D66 and the Christian Union, and led to a major escalation of the differences between the parties.

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