General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Jan 13, 2023

UAE Names Sultan al-Jaber to Lead UN COP28 Climate Talks

The United Arab Emirates named a veteran technocrat who both leads Abu Dhabi's state-run oil company and oversees its renewable energy efforts to be the president of the upcoming United Nations climate negotiations in Dubai, highlighting the balancing act ahead for this crude-producing nation.
Authorities named Sultan al-Jaber, a trusted confidant of UAE leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who serves as CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.
The 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) to the UNFCCC will convene from 30 November to 12 December 2023. It will take place in the United Arab Emirates.

Jan 12, 2023

UK and Japan Sign Defence Deal amid China Concern

The leaders of Britain and Japan signed a defence agreement that could see troops deployed to each others' countries.
The two countries are strengthening military ties amid growing concern about China's increasing military assertiveness and designs toward Taiwan, which it considers a renegade province.
The deal has been in the works for years, and was discussed when Kishida visited Sunak's predecessor, Boris Johnson, in London in May 2022.
The deal, Reciprocal Access Agreement, Japan's first with any European nation, allows the two countries to hold joint military exercises.

Henley Passport Index 2023, Japan Retains its Top Position

According to the latest Henley Passport Index, Japan retained its position as the most favourible passport in the world, allowing visa-free entry to 193 global destinations, which the country topped for the fifth consecutive year. Singapore and South Korea came in a joint second on the ranking, followed by Germany and Spain, and then a slew of other European nations.
The Indian passport was ranked 85th, giving visa-free entry to 59 destinations worldwide. In 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the country ranked at 82nd spot, 84th, 85th and 83rd respectively. Indian passport holders can travel visa-free to 59 destinations like Bhutan, Indonesia, Macao, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Iran and Qatar. However, some countries require visa-on-arrival.

Jan 11, 2023

Nepal's Newly-appointed PM Prachanda Wins Vote of Confidence

Nepal's newly-appointed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' won the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives.
The CPN-Maoist Centre leader was sworn in as the Prime Minister for the third time on December 26, 2022 after he dramatically walked out of the pre-poll alliance led by the Nepali Congress and joined hands with opposition leader K. P. Sharma Oli.
Out of the 270 members in the House of Representatives (HoR) present during the voting, 268 voted in favour of Prime Minister Prachanda, while 2 voted against him.

Jan 10, 2023

Indian-origin Manpreet Monica Singh Sworn in as 1st female Sikh Judge of USA

Indian-origin Manpreet Monica Singh was sworn in as a Harris County judge, becoming the first female Sikh judge in the US.
Ms. Singh was born and raised in Houston and now lives in Bellaire.
She was sworn in as a judge of the Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 4 in Texas.
Ms. Singh's father immigrated to the US in the early 1970s.
A trial lawyer for 20 years, she has been involved in numerous civil rights organizations at the local, state, and national levels.

Gabon Names Vice-president and New Prime Minister

Gabon's President Ali Bongo appointed the country's first female Prime Minister Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda to the role of vice-president and named a new PM to replace her.
Ossouka Raponda was appointed in July 2020 after her predecessor stepped down. She was Defence Minister before that.
Former Minister Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze will replace Ossouka Raponda and form a new government.

Jan 09, 2023

Republican Kevin McCarthy New as US House Speaker

Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives in a historic post-midnight 15th ballot, which elevated him to a powerful position in the chamber and is expected to bring an end to political paralysis that the country has seen for days now.
McCarthy replaced Nancy Pelosi of the Democratic Party, which lost the majority in the House after the November 8 midterm elections wherein the Republicans won 222 seats in the 435-member House against 212 of the Democrats.
McCarthy defeated Hakeem Sekou Jeffries by 216 to 212 votes, in the 15th round of votes.
McCarthy became the 55th House speaker after the fifth-longest contest in history.

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