General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Oct 27, 2024

Singapore Rolls Out Passport-less Immigration Clearance at Changi Airport

Singapore rolled out passport-less immigration clearance across all four terminals at Changi Airport.
Under the initiative, arriving and departing Singapore residents, which include Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders, can clear immigration solely by using their facial and iris biometrics. However, children below the age of six years will not be able to use the automated lanes for immigration clearance.
This initiative has reduced the average clearance time per traveller by 60 per cent, from 25 seconds to 10 seconds.

Oct 26, 2024

Austria Gets First Far-right Parliament President

Austrian lawmakers elected for the first time a far-right politician as parliament President despite the Jewish community criticising the nominee for having paid hommage to Nazi criminals.
The far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) won national polls for the first time last month (September), gaining almost a third of the votes, though it has been unable to find partners to form a government.
But as the strongest party, it nominated lawmaker Walter Rosenkranz a lawyer and a former presidential candidate, as the parliament's President.
Rosenkranz, who has been widely criticised for being a member of a far-right student fraternity known for its strident pan-German nationalism, was elected in a secret ballot.

Oct 25, 2024

2024 BRICS Summit: Expanding Cooperation and New Milestones

The 2024 BRICS Summit held in Kazan, Russia, from October 22-24, the sixteenth annual BRICS summit, marked a significant turning point for the group as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE joined its ranks following their inclusion at the 2023 summit. The event centred around the theme, 'Strengthening Multilateralism for Fair Global Development and Security.' The summit witnessed the adoption of the BRICS Kazan Declaration, endorsing UN reforms and investigating cross-border financial solutions to reduce reliance on the US dollar.
Leaders from several nations, including South Africa, China, India, and UAE, attended, with Brazilian President Lula da Silva participating online due to health reasons. Other countries such as Armenia, Belarus, and Uzbekistan also sent delegates, contributing to the growing influence of BRICS on global geopolitics.

Oct 24, 2024

UK and Germany Sign Landmark Defence Agreement

Britain and Germany signed what the UK government is calling a landmark defence agreement aimed at boosting security, investment and jobs.
Under the agreement, German defence company Rheinmetall will open a new factory in the UK to manufacture barrels for artillery guns – supporting 400 jobs.
Both countries will work together to develop drones and a new long-range missile.
German maritime surveillance aircraft will also periodically fly patrols of the North Atlantic from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.
The UK already has a defence pact with France – the Lancaster House Treaty signed in 2010 by David Cameron and Nicholas Sarkozy – but this is the first with Germany.

Luong Cuong Vietnam's New President

Vietnam elected Luong Cuong, a military general, as its new President, the fourth official to fill the role in 18 months.
Cuong was elected by the National Assembly and replaced To Lam, who remained President even after he was formally appointed as the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party in August.
The role of the General Secretary is the most powerful position in Vietnam while the presidency is largely ceremonial.
Cuong, who has served in the Vietnamese army for over four decades, has been a Politburo member since 2021.
His appointment took place after months of uncharacteristic tumult in Vietnam's politics and the death of former party general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who had dominated the country's leadership since 2011.

Oct 23, 2024

India, Pakistan Extend Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Agreement by 5 Years

India and Pakistan decided to extend the validity of the agreement on the Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor by five years to ensure "uninterrupted" travel for Indian pilgrims to the holy Gurdwara in Pakistan.
The MEA noted that in response to ongoing requests from pilgrims regarding the $20 service charge imposed by Pakistan for each visitor, India has reiterated its appeal for Pakistan to waive any fees or charges for pilgrims.
The agreement, signed on October 24, 2019, was established to facilitate pilgrimages from India to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Narowal, Pakistan, via the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.

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