General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Nov 01, 2024

Brazil Opts Out of China's Belt and Road Initiative

In a significant diplomatic decision, Brazil opted out of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), becoming the second member of the BRICS bloc, after India, to opt out of Beijing's ambitious multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project. The move has sparked widespread interest and debate, as it reflects Brazil's cautious stance on joining China's influential global initiative.
The decision, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and influenced by Celso Amorim, his special presidential adviser for international affairs, signals Brazil's intent to pursue alternative forms of collaboration with China, without becoming bound by the BRI's framework.

Oct 31, 2024

Saudi Arabia Begins Construction of World's Largest Building

Saudi Arabia commenced construction on the Mukaab, aiming to become the largest building globally. This monumental project is located in Riyadh and represents a $50 billion investment. It is part of a broader vision to modernise the city and enhance its skyline.
The Mukaab will soar to 1,300 feet in height and span 1,200 feet in width.
The Mukaab is integral to Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's Saudi Vision 2030 initiative. This initiative aims to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on oil, promoting tourism and urban development.

Oct 30, 2024

India Ranks 176th in the Global Nature Conservation Index (NCI) 2024

With a score of 45.5 out of 100, India ranked 176 out of 180 countries in terms of natural environment protection, according to the Nature Conservation Index.
Released in October 2024, this is the first-ever edition of the index which ranks countries based on their efforts vis-à-vis four pillars: managing protected areas, addressing threats against biodiversity, nature and conservation governance, and future trends in a country's natural resource management.
"Though 7.5 per cent of India's terrestrial area is protected, improvements are needed in marine protected areas, with only 0.2 per cent coverage in national waters and none in the EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone]," according to the report by Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change and BioDB.com.
The top three ranked countries are Luxembourg, Estonia, and Denmark, respectively with others including Zimbabwe and Costa Rica finding their way into the top 10.

Oct 29, 2024

Shaktikanta Das Earns A+ in Central Bank Report Card 2024 (29)

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das was awarded an A+ grade in the Central Bank Report Cards 2024, marking his second consecutive year of recognition. This accolade was presented by Global Finance during an event in Washington, D.C. The grades, ranging from "A+" to "F," assess central banks on their effectiveness in critical areas such as inflation control, economic growth targets, currency stability, and interest rate management.
Since 1994, Global Finance has published the Central Bank Report Cards annually.
The report grades central bank governors from nearly 100 key countries, territories, and regions, including the European Union and various central banks in the Caribbean and Africa.
Global Finance was established in 1987, making it a reputable source in the field of international finance.

Oct 28, 2024

Japan Gets Hung Parliament after Polls, PM Ishiba's coalition loses majority

The make-up of Japan's future government was in flux after voters punished Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling coalition, leaving no party with a clear mandate to lead the world's fourth-largest economy.
Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition partner Komeito took 215 seats in the lower house of parliament, down from 279 seats, as voters punished the incumbents over a funding scandal and a cost-of-living crunch. Two cabinet ministers and Komeito's leader, Keiichi Ishii, lost their seats.
The biggest winner of the night, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), had 148 seats, up from 98 previously, but also still well short of the 233 majority.
As mandated by the constitution, the parties now have 30 days to figure out a grouping that can govern, and there remains uncertainty over how long Ishiba - who became premier less than a month ago - can survive after the drubbing. Smaller parties also made gains and their role in negotiations could prove key.

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