General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Jan 08, 2023

Kyiv Rejects Putin's Russian Orthodox Christmas Truce

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his Defence Minister to impose a 36-hour ceasefire on the Ukrainian front line.
The ceasefire, from 12:00 Moscow time, coincides with the Russian Orthodox Christmas.
Putin asked Ukraine to reciprocate, but Kyiv quickly rejected the request.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the truce was an attempt to stop his country's military advances in the east of the country.

Afghanistan's Taliban Administration in Oil Extraction Deal with Chinese Company

Afghanistan's Taliban-led administration is to sign a contract with a Chinese company to extract oil from the Amu Darya basin in the country's north.
The contract would be signed with Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum and Gas Co (CAPEIC), officials told a news conference in Kabul.
It will be the first major public commodities extraction deal the Taliban administration has signed with an foreign company since taking power in 2021.
It also underscores neighbouring China's economic involvement in the region even though the Islamic State militant group has targeted its citizens in Afghanistan.
China has not formally recognised the Taliban administration but it has significant interests in a country at the centre of a region important for its Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

Jan 05, 2023

Eric Garcetti Renominated US Envoy to India

US President Joe Biden renominated Eric Garcetti as the Ambassador to India among a large number of recommendations for various posts, including several Indian-Americans such as Richard Verma to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.
The US had been without an envoy to India for over two years. Besides India, Biden has also approved nominations for Ambassadors to over 20 countries, including the UAE, Kuwait, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Colombia, Azerbaijan and Cambodia.

India Takes Charge of APPU in Bangkok, Thailand

India took over the leadership of the Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) having its Headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand.
As per the Communications Ministry, the APPU is an intergovernmental organisation of 32-member countries of the Asian-Pacific region.
APPU was founded on July 1, 1982.
The goal of APPU is to extend, facilitate and improve postal relations between member countries and to promote cooperation in the field of postal services. Vinaya Prakash Singh, erstwhile Member (Personnel), Postal Services Board took over the charge of Secretary General of the Union for a tenure of four years.
Secretary, Department of Posts, Vineet Pandey said that this is the first time an Indian is leading an international organization in the postal sector.

Iranian Player Told Not to Return Home over 'Hijab Row'

Iranian chess player Sara Khadem was 'warned not to return to Iran' after she competed without hijab at FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Sara arrived in Spain after receiving what a source close to her said were warnings not to return home for competing without a hijab — a headscarf mandatory under the country's dress codes.

FATF May Greylist Nepal

Nepal is at real risk of being put on the greylist by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as there are deficiencies in both its legislation and enforcement of laws related to money laundering and terror financing.
Nepal is struggling to address a number of deficiencies to comply with the standards of the Paris-based regulatory body related to anti-money laundering and terrorist financing and has identified at least 15 weak laws.
The greylisting could be damaging to Nepal's struggling economy which is heavily reliant on foreign aid, remittances and imports. A country on the greylist could potentially face problems such as a lack of trade opportunities, a downgrade of ratings, and a subsequent shrinking of the economy.

Jan 04, 2023

U.N. Security Council Welcomes New Members Including Two First Timers

Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland officially began their two-year term as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The flag installation ceremony, initiated by Kazakhstan in 2018, marked the start of their responsibilities and was presided over by Kazakhstan's permanent representative, Akan Rakhmetullin. Rakhmetullin expressed confidence that the new council members would bring a wealth of knowledge and perspective to global issues of peace and security.
The incoming members (Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland) replaced India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, and Norway, whose two-year terms ended. These countries made significant contributions to the Security Council during their tenure and will continue to play important roles in global affairs.
Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates are currently in the middle of their two-year term as non-permanent members of the Security Council. These countries will continue to work alongside the new members to address the pressing issues facing the international community.

Wang Yi and Qin Gang, Two New Appointments by Xi Jinping

China appointed Qin Gang, its ambassador to the United States and a trusted aide of President Xi Jinping, to be its new Foreign Minister, as Beijing and Washington seek to stabilize rocky relations. This decision was made by the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. Qin replaced Wang Yi, who was Foreign Minister for the past decade. Wang was promoted to the politburo of the Chinese Communist Party and is expected to play a bigger role in Chinese foreign policy.
Qin rose quickly through various positions in China's foreign ministry, including two stints as ministry spokesman between 2006 and 2014, and as chief protocol officer between 2014 and 2018, overseeing many of Xi's interactions with foreign leaders. As spokesman, he stood out among his peers for being one of the earliest Chinese diplomats to make sharp comments in defence of China's increasingly assertive foreign policy, what later became known as "wolf warrior" diplomacy.

Jan 03, 2023

UK To Declare Iran's Revolutionary Guard as "Terror Group"

As per reports, Britain will officially declare Iran's Revolutionary Guard, which has arrested seven people with links to the United Kingdom over anti-government protests, as a terrorist group.
The move, which will be announced within weeks, is supported by Britain's security minister, Tom Tugendhat, and Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
Proscribing Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group would mean that it would become a criminal offence to belong to the group, attend its meetings, and carry its logo in public.

Jan 02, 2023

Croatia Now Fully Integrated EU Member

At the stroke of midnight on December 31, Croatia switched to the shared European currency, the euro, and removed dozens of border checkpoints and joined the world's largest passport-free travel area. Croats are now among almost 420 million people who are free to roam its 27 member countries without passports for work or leisure.
Adopting the euro likewise offers Croatia the benefits stemming from deeper financial ties with the currency's 19 other users and with the European Central Bank. It also made travelling and doing business easier, removing the hassle of currency exchange for Croats going abroad and for tens of thousands of tourists who visit their country each year for work or to enjoy its stunning Adriatic coastline.

Lula Sworn in as Brazil's President

Leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as President of Brazil under tightened security in the capital Brasilia.
Lula had narrowly defeated Bolsonaro in October 2022 to win an unprecedented third presidential term after a hiatus that saw him spend a year and a half behind bars on corruption convictions that were later overturned. Now, he faces the daunting challenge of improving Brazil's stagnant economy while also uniting a country that has become polarised under Bolsonaro.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

August GK, July GK, June GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services And Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26