General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Mar 24, 2022

Putin Adviser Chubais Quits Over Ukraine War, Leaves Russia

A prominent adviser to Vladimir Putin resigned from the government and reportedly left Russia in the highest-ranking defection yet over the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine.
Anatoly Chubais, the Kremlin's special envoy for relations with international organisations for sustainable development, was confirmed to have left the government.
Chubais' resignation was motivated by his opposition to President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.
Chubais is not a particularly influential member of the government and has no say in security affairs, but his resignation will create headlines in a country where most Russians know his name.
Chubais is best known as the architect of Russia's controversial privatisation scheme in the 1990s, which helped create the country's market economy but also concentrated immense wealth in the hands of a group of wealthy oligarchs.

Ukraine Retakes Key Kyiv Suburb from Russians

As per reports, Ukrainian forces retook a strategically important suburb of the capital, while Russia's attack on the embattled southern port of Mariupol raged unabated.
While Russian forces carried on with the siege of Mariupol after the southern port city's defenders refused demands to surrender, the Kremlin's ground offensive in other parts of the country advanced slowly or not at all, knocked back by lethal hit-and-run attacks by the Ukrainians.
Ukrainian troops forced Russian forces out of the Kyiv suburb of Makariv after a fierce battle.

Mar 23, 2022

Canadian PM Trudeau Strikes Deal with Opposition NDP to Keep Liberals in Power until 2025

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the ruling Liberal Party and the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) reached a tentative agreement for the NDP to support his minority government in key parliamentary votes until 2025.
According to Trudeau, the deal would allow the government to function with predictability and stability and help make progress on universal health care system, start new dental care regime for low income Canadians.
Minority governments like the one Trudeau now leads tend to last an average of about two years, but this agreement could permit it to last the entire four-year term.
Trudeau has failed to gain a majority of seats in parliament in the past two elections. So the Left-leaning NDP has backed Trudeau in key votes since 2019, but this agreement would formalise future support.

President Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Ready to Discuss Deal with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he was prepared to discuss a commitment from Ukraine not to seek NATO membership in exchange for a cease-fire, the withdrawal of Russian troops and a guarantee of Ukraine's security.
As per Zelensky, it's a compromise for everyone: for the West, which doesn't know what to do with us with regard to NATO, for Ukraine, which wants security guarantees, and for Russia, which doesn't want further NATO expansion.
He also repeated his call for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Unless he meets with Putin, it is impossible to understand whether Russia even wants to stop the war.

UN Names Economist Jayati Ghosh to Advisory Board on Multilateralism

Indian development economist Jayati Ghosh was appointed by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to a new high-level advisory board on effective multilateralism.
Ghosh is a Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She was previously professor of economics and chairperson of the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University. She is also a member of the UN's high-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs.
UN chief Guterres had announced the establishment of the Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism to be co-chaired by former Liberian President and Nobel laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven.

Mar 22, 2022

Ukraine Rejects Russian Demand to Lay Down Arms in Mariupol

Ukraine defied a Russian demand that its forces lay down arms before dawn on March 21 in Mariupol, where hundreds of thousands of civilians were trapped in a city under siege and already laid to waste by Russian bombardment.
Russia's assault on Ukraine, now in its fourth week, has stalled along most fronts. Moscow has failed to seize a single major Ukrainian city much less capture the capital Kyiv or swiftly topple the government of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Mar 21, 2022

World's Happiest Country Ranking Goes to Finland for Fifth Year in a Row

Finland was crowned the happiest country in the world for the fifth consecutive year, with a score significantly ahead of its peers in the World Happiness Report 2022 ranking.
Denmark kept its second place. Iceland bypassed Switzerland to take third place and the Netherlands rounded out the top five. The US ranked 16th, up three places from 2021.

Turkmenistan Leader's Son Wins Presidential Election

Turkmenistan authorities said that the son of the Central Asian country's leader won the presidential election after an unusual vote-counting delay, establishing a political dynasty in one of the world's most tightly controlled countries.
Serdar Berdymukhamedov secured 72.97 per cent of votes in the election to lead the gas-rich country and succeed his father Gurbanguly.
His nearest rival in a field of nine candidates was university official Khyrdyr Nunnayev, who won 11 per cent.
No election in Turkmenistan, which became independent with the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, has been considered genuinely competitive.

Mar 20, 2022

'Mahatma Gandhi Green Triangle' Unveiled In Madagascar

Mahatma Gandhi Green Triangle' was unveiled in Madagascar to mark Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Ambassador of India to Madagascar, Abhay Kumar celebrated the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav by inaugurating a Green Triangle, along with Mayor of Antananarivo Naina Andriantsitohaina. The word green in the plaque signifies their commitment to sustainable development and saving the environment. The naming of this park as Mahatma Gandhi Green Triangle is an apt tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
While addressing the ceremony, the Ambassador of India said that the Government of India has launched an initiative: Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of progressive India. The event was attended by members of local government, diplomatic corps, heads of international organisations, and members of the Indian Diaspora in Madagascar.

Bangladesh Top in South Asia in Terms of Women on Board of Listed Companies

Bangladesh topped the list in South Asia in terms of women on board of listed companies, said a study conducted by International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). According to the latest figures, there was an increase in the percentage of women who are independent directors on listed companies from five per cent in 2020 to six per cent, despite the impact of COVID-19, which has disproportionately affected women, said a press release issued by the IFC.
The findings were revealed at an event marking International Women's Day. The IFC, DSE, UN Women, and United Nations Global Compact organised the programme. The IFC has partnered with the DSE, UN Women, and United Nations Global Compact for the seventh consecutive year to "Ring the Bell for Gender Equality".

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