General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

May 13, 2022

25-member Bangladesh Mukti Jodhas Visits Eastern Air Command Headquarters

As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations, a delegation of 25 Bangladesh Mukti Jodhas (Freedom Fighters) involved in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation visited Headquarters of Eastern Air Command of Indian Air Force in Shillong.
Air Marshal A. P. Singh, Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) interacted with the brave Mukti Jodhas and praised their role and efforts towards the liberation of Bangladesh during the 1971 Bangladesh war. They were accompanied by F. R. Kharkongor, Commissioner and Secretary of Arts and Culture Department, Government of Meghalaya.
This visit is being undertaken as part of the Golden Jubilee of the Liberation War of 1971 and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and provides an opportunity for members of the delegation to relive the moments of the Liberation War.

May 12, 2022

No Refuge to Rajapaksas, Won't Intervene in Sri Lankan Politics: India

India made it clear that it has no desire to intervene in Sri Lankan politics even as the island country continued to face political crisis with curfew in force and its Central Bank Governor threatening to quit if stability was not restored in a fortnight.
The Indian High Commission in Colombo was quick to squash reports in Sri Lankan media about India planning to send troops to restore order. The High Commission dismissed media reports about speculation on social media that members of the embattled Rajapaksa clan would be given refuge in India.

India Elected as Chair of the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) for 2022-24

India was unanimously elected as the new Chair of the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) for 2022-2024. The decision was taken at the meeting of the Executive Board and General Assembly in Manila, Philippines. Commission on Elections, Manila was the current chair of AAEA.
The Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) was established in 1998, in pursuance of the resolution passed by participants of the Symposium on Asian Elections in the 21st Century held from January 26-29, 1997 in Manila, Philippines. The new member of the Executive Board now includes Russia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Currently, 20 Asian EMBs are members of AAEA. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a founder member of the Election Management Body (EMB) of the AAEA. India also served on the Executive Board of the AAEA as the vice-chair during 2011-13 and chaired during 2014-16.

May 11, 2022

Yoon Suk-Yeol Sworn In As South Korean President

Yoon Suk-yeol was sworn in as South Korean president in a huge ceremony at Seoul's National Assembly, taking office at a time of high tensions with the nuclear-armed North.
- Yoon says the door to dialogue will be open to resolve North Korean nuclear threats. He says his government will be ready to work with the international community to present "an audacious plan" that will significantly strengthen North Korea's economy and improve its citizens' livelihoods.
- The former top prosecutor began his five-year term by taking command of South Korea's 555,000-member military and receiving a briefing on North Korea from his military chief at the new presidential office in central Seoul, formerly the Defence Ministry building.

Late dictator Marcos' son wins Philippines presidential election

The namesake son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos won the Philippines presidential election by a landslide and Sara Duterte, the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, has been elected Vice-President. The alliance ushers in six years of governance that has some human rights activists concerned about the course their country may take with the pair in power.
- Marcos, better known as "Bongbong", trounced bitter rival Leni Robredo to become the first candidate in recent history to win an outright majority in a Philippines presidential election, marking a stunning comeback by the son and namesake of an ousted dictator that has been decades in the making.
- Marcos fled into exile in Hawaii with his family during a 1986 "people power" uprising that ended his father's autocratic 20-year rule, and has served in congress and the senate since his return to the Philippines in 1991. Marcos Jr has defended his father's legacy and steadfastly refuses to apologise for or acknowledge the atrocities and plunder during the dictatorship.

Rodrigo Chaves take up as President of Costa Rica

- Rodrigo Chaves, Costa Rica's new president, was sworn in, promising to tackle corruption and rebuild the country's economy. He won a four-year term in a runoff against former President Jose Maria Figueres, who was also stained by a corruption investigation.
- The inauguration was attended by Spain's King Felipe VI, other leaders of state or government, and representatives from approximately 100 countries. Chaves signed his first orders shortly after his speech, including removing the requirement for most individuals to wear masks.
- Costa Rica is one of Central America's most politically stable countries, having a population of roughly five million people.

Mahatma Gandhi's personal belongings to bring nearly Rs 5 crore in UK auction

Mahatma Gandhi's personal belongings kept in Britain will be auctioned and are likely to fetch Rs 4.74 crore (5,00,000 British pounds). there are 70 items belonging to Gandhi including his hand-made khadi loincloths, letters he wrote while he was imprisoned and two pairs of his sandals, a pair of his sunglasses, an inkwell from his desk and a pair of spectacles, along with other items that will be auctioned.
- The online sale, which will end on May 21, is being arranged by East Bristol Auctions in the UK which sold a pair of Gandhi's spectacles for 260,000 British pounds in 2020.
- These items are considered "important to the history of the world". A standout in the collection is what is believed to be the last photograph taken of Mahatma Gandhi while he was alive.
- The other important item for online sale is a handmade sash which was probably given to him before commencing his famous Salt March in the 1930s. This includes a photograph of the sash being presented to him. The sash is expected to fetch between 6,000 and 8,000 pounds.

Pakistan appoints Trade Minister in Delhi Mission

In the first olive branch extended towards India after the formation of a new rainbow government in Pakistan, Islamabad approved the appointment of a Trade Minister in the country. Pakistan under then Prime Minister Imran Khan had ended all trade with India after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in late 2019. The step suggests an inclination by the coalition government to restore trade with India.
- The last Minister Trade in Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was Irfan Tarar and the post, as also several others, including that of the High Commissioner, are vacant following a severe downgrading of ties.

May 10, 2022

Zelenskyy Awards Ukraine's Four-legged Hero Patron for Mine-sniffing Efforts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the medal of 'Excellence in Service' to Patron, a four-legged member of the country's armed forces. The Jack Russell terrier, a service dog, was credited with locating and preventing the detonation of at least 200 explosives since the beginning of Russia's war on Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Patron received his award during a press conference that Zelenskyy held with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who made a surprise visit to the war-torn nation. The award also went to Patron's owner, a major in the Civil Protection Service, Myhailo Iliev.
Patron has won hearts of the people from around the globe for his heroic services to Ukraine amid the ongoing war. Earlier, Ukraine's foreign ministry had hailed the four-legged hero for discovering over 150 explosive devices in the city of Cherchiv.

UAE to Introduce Unemployment Insurance in Latest Economic Reform

The United Arab Emirates will introduce a form of unemployment insurance, the latest reform by the Gulf country as it strives to attract talent and investment amid increasing regional economic competition. Insured workers would receive some money for a limited time period if made unemployed, UAE Prime Minister and Vice-President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is also the ruler of trade hub Dubai, said on Twitter, citing a cabinet decision.
Permission to reside in Gulf countries like the UAE, where foreigners make up 85% of the population according to the IMF, has traditionally been tied to employment, and loss of job usually means the worker has to leave the country.
Gulf states Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have provided some form of unemployment support to citizens, and Bahrain also has a form of jobless insurance for resident non-citizen workers.

Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa Resigns amid Worst Economic Crisis

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned amid unprecedented economic turmoil, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office, leaving at least 130 people injured and prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy army troops in the capital. Prime Minister Mahinda, 76, sent his resignation letter to the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after violent scenes were witnessed in Colombo.
Sri Lanka is currently in the throes of unprecedented economic turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948. The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.

G7 Countries Pledge to Phase out Imports of Russian Oil

Group of Seven (G7) countries pledged to ban or phase out imports of Russian oil over Ukraine row. The announcement came as the G7 held its third meeting of the year via video conference, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participating. The meeting was called to discuss the conflict, support for Ukraine, and additional measures against Moscow, including on energy.
The joint statement from the G7, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, and the US, did not specify exactly what commitments each country will make to move away from Russian energy. The statement said, they will ensure that they do so in a timely and orderly fashion, and in ways that provide time for the world to secure alternative supplies.
The G7 leaders also slammed President Vladimir Putin personally for his actions in Ukraine. The leaders commemorated the end of World War 2 in Europe, which happened on this day in 1945, following the surrender of the German forces to the allied powers.

President Vladimir Putin Addresses Annual Victory Day Parade in Moscow

Russia held its annual Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square to honor the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. This year's traditional parade featured 11,000 participants and 131 armored vehicles. President Vladimir V. Putin used a speech delivered from his rostrum near the Lenin Mausoleum to try and turn Russian pride in the 1945 victory into increased support for what he has called the "special military operation" in Ukraine. The Russian leader again scolded the West for failing to heed Russian demands for security guarantees and a rollback to NATO's expansion, arguing that it left Moscow no other choice but to launch an action in Ukraine.
Putin claimed that Russian troops were fighting for the country's security in Ukraine and observed a minute of silence to honour the troops who fell in combat. He noted that some of the troops taking part in the parade have previously fought in Ukraine.

May 09, 2022

Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Reimposes State of Emergency

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency. The state of emergency gives the police and security forces the power to arbitrarily arrest and detain people. The decision was taken to ensure public security and maintain essential services. The move comes amid weeks of public protests demanding the resignation of the President and the government. Sri Lanka is going through its worst economic crisis in its history.
Rajapaksa had declared emergency on April 1 also after a mass protest near his residence. He had revoked it on April 5.

Beijing Loyalist John Lee Elected as Hong Kong's Next Leader

John Lee, a hard-line security chief, who oversaw a crackdown on Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, was elected as the city's next leader in a vote cast by a largely pro-Beijing committee. Lee was the only candidate and won with over 99% of the vote in which nearly all 1,500 committee members were carefully vetted by the central government in Beijing.
He will replace current leader Carrie Lam on July 1. Her five-term was marked by huge pro-democracy protests calling for her resignation, a security crackdown that has quashed virtually all dissent, the recent COVID-19 wave that had overwhelmed the health system — events that have undermined Hong Kong's reputation as an international business hub with Western-style freedoms.
Thousands of residents had left the city of 7.4 million people amid the 2019 protests and subsequent harsh pandemic restrictions, including many professionals and expatriates.

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