General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - March 2016

Mar 2016

Oct 15, 2020

US Supreme Court Halts Census in Latest Twist of 2020 Count

The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration can end census field operations early, in a blow to efforts to make sure minorities are properly counted in the crucial once-a-decade tally.
The decision was not a total loss for plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the administration's decision to end the count early. They managed to get nearly two extra weeks of counting people as the case made its way through the courts.
However, the ruling increased the chances of the Trump administration retaining control of the process that decides how many congressional seats each state gets — and by extension how much voting power each state has.

Germany Agrees to aid Holocaust Survivors

The organisation that negotiates compensation with the German government said that Germany has agreed to provide more than a half billion euros to aid Holocaust survivors struggling under the burdens of the coronavirus pandemic.
The payments will be going to approximately 240,000 survivors around the world, primarily in Israel, North America, the former Soviet Union and Western Europe, over the next two years.
With the end of World War II now 75 years in the past, Holocaust survivors are all elderly, and because many were deprived of proper nutrition when they were young today they suffer from numerous medical issues.
In addition, many live isolated lives having lost their entire families and also have psychological issues because of their persecution under the Nazis.

Ukraine 17th country to Have Air Bubble Arrangement with India

India has established a separate bilateral air bubble arrangement with Ukraine for operation of special international passenger flights between the two countries.
Till now, India had formed such arrangements with 16 countries—Afghanistan, Bahrain, Oman, Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, the Maldives, Nigeria, Qatar, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan, the UK and the USA.
Under an air bubble pact between the two countries, special international passenger flights can be operated by their airlines into each other's territories under restrictive conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oct 14, 2020

Pakistan to Remain in Grey List

The Financial Action Task Force announced that Pakistan will continue to remain under "grey list" of the organisation.
The Asia-pacific group of FATF submitted a report titled "Follow up report on mutual evaluation of Pakistan". The report is first of its kind. The decision of putting Pakistan under grey list was taken based on this report.
As per the report, the progress of Pakistan on recommendations on the effectiveness of combating Financing terror system and anti-money laundering made by the Financial Action Task Force largely remained unchanged as compared to that of 2019.
Pakistan after being degraded under the FATF list in 2019, Pakistan passed three crucial legislation. They were:
Anti-terrorism Act (Amendment) Bill 2020
Anti-money laundering (Amendment) Bill
Islamabad capital territory Waqf properties Bill

Seoul Seeks Closer Defence Ties with India

South Korea has suggested the revival of in-person diplomacy, including two-plus-two talks with India, during a meeting of its first Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun with Indian ambassador in Seoul Sripriya Ranganathan.
Seoul's proposal for a two plus two with India or a simultaneous meeting of foreign and defence ministers from both countries has been aired at a time when the US is keen on an informal expansion of Quad. The countries that could be a part of an extended Quad include South Korea.
Ranganathan and Choi also agreed to continue efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation, especially in defence and people-to-people exchanges.

Indian and Taiwanese Think Tanks Join Hands

The Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF), a leading think tank from Taiwan signed a memorandum with India's National Maritime Foundation (NMF) in order to foster cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region as part of Taiwan's South bound policy.
The two groups will set up a joint task force to deepen bilateral dialogue. The memorandum's aim is to conduct joint research and expand cooperation.
The TAEF, the organizer of the fourth edition of the Yushan Forum, will wait until coronavirus (COVID-19) travel restrictions are over before sending a delegation to India to hold direct talks.

China and Russia Win Seats on UN Human Rights Council

China, Russia and Cuba won seats on the U.N.'s premiere human rights body despite opposition from activist groups over their abysmal human rights records, but another target, Saudi Arabia, lost.
Russia and Cuba were running unopposed, but China and Saudi Arabia were in a five-way race in the only contested race for seats on the Human Rights Council.
In secret-ballot voting in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly on that race, Pakistan received 169 votes, Uzbekistan 164, Nepal 150, China 139 and Saudi Arabia just 90 votes.

European Union to Impose Sanction on Russia and Belarus

The European Union agreed to impose sanctions on Russia for poisoning the opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Imposition of sanction was initiated by France and Germany.
Navalny was an anti-corruption investigator. He was the major political opponent of Vladimir Putin the Russian President. He fell ill on August 20, 2020 during a domestic flight. He was then flown to Germany for treatment and he is still recovering there.
The tests conducted by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed that he has become a victim of the novichok nerve agent.
In 2017 The Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons a confirmed destruction of 39967 metric tons of chemical weapons possessed by Russia.

Oct 13, 2020

Protesters Knock Down Roosevelt and Lincoln Statues

Protesters overturned statues of former Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln in Portland, Oregon, in a declaration of "rage" towards Columbus Day.
Protest organisers dubbed the event "Indigenous Peoples Day of Rage," in response to the federal holiday named after 15th-century Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, a polarising figure who Native American advocates have said spurred centuries of genocide against Indigenous populations in the Americas.
After toppling the statues, the crowd began smashing windows at the Oregon Historical Society and later moved onto the Portland State University Campus Public Safety office.

Bangladesh Cabinet Approves Death Penalty for Rape Cases

Bangladesh's Cabinet approved an amendment to introduce the death penalty for rape cases after a series of recent sexual assaults sparked nationwide protests.
Bangladesh was rocked by an unprecedented level of protest after footage of a brutal gang assault on a woman went viral on social media.
As per Cabinet secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam, the Cabinet unanimously endorsed the amended law, prescribing capital punishment for rape instead of (existing) lifetime rigorous imprisonment.
During the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasised on completing rape trials within the stipulated time frame as well.

Israeli Government Approves Normalisation Deal with UAE

The Israeli government unanimously approved the country's recently signed normalisation agreement with the United Arab Emirates ahead of a ratification vote by parliament.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement following his weekly Cabinet meeting that he spoke over the weekend with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Sheikh Mohammed, the UAE's day-to-day ruler, confirmation of the call and said that discussed prospects for peace and the need for stability, cooperation and development in the region.

United Nations Stillbirth Report

The United Nations launched a report on stillbirths titled "A Neglected Tragedy: The Global Burden of Stillbirths". The report was created by UNICEF, World Health Organisation, World Bank and the United Nations department of economic and social affairs.
As per the report, a stillborn baby is delivered every 16 seconds. 84 percentage of these grievous episodes occur in low and lower-middle-income countries.
This is the first time a stillbirth report has been published by the United Nations.
The covid-19 impact has induced 50% reduction in health services. This has created 200,000 additional still birth in 17 low and middle-income countries.
According to the report, there were around 1.9 million stillbirths globally. Of this 0.34 million were from India. India along with other countries such as Nigeria, Congo, Pakistan, China and Ethiopia contributed to half of all the stillbirth in the world.

Oct 12, 2020

Iran-backed Militias Offer Truce for US Troop Withdrawal

Iraqi militias backed by Iran have agreed to temporarily halt attacks targeting the American presence in Iraq on the condition that US-led coalition troops withdraw from the country in line with a parliamentary resolution.
The militia officials spoke to The Associated Press just hours after a roadside bomb targeted a convoy transporting equipment for the US-led coalition on a highway south of Baghdad, damaging one vehicle.
The militia factions offered a truce and will refrain from targeting the US in Iraq, including the US Embassy, on the condition that American forces withdraw within an "acceptable time frame", said Mohammed Mohie, a spokesman for the powerful Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah.
If it does not withdraw, the resistance factions will resume their military activities with all the capabilities available to them.

Maldives Considers Scrapping Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China

Maldives, which has been steadily restricting its ties with China, may scrap its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Beijing to safeguard trade relations with other countries including India.
The FTA established between Maldives and China during the regime of former President Abdulla Yameen will hinder trade relations with other countries, stated Maldives' economic minister Fayyaz Ismail.
The contentious agreement was signed between the then Maldives president and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during the former's first state visit to Beijing in 2017.

Turkey To Conduct Seismic Survey In Eastern Mediterranean

Turkey's navy has issued an advisory that the Turkish ship Oruc Reis will carry out a seismic survey in the eastern Mediterranean over the next ten days, a step likely to revive tensions with NATO ally Greece.
Two other vessels, the Ataman and Cengiz Han along with Oruc Reis exploration ship will continue works in an area including the south of Greek island of Kastellorizo till month end.
The two countries are at odds over overlapping claims for hydrocarbon resources in the region. The Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Greece met last week and agreed to hold bilateral talks on the disputes.
Last month, Ankara withdrew Oruc Reis from contested waters to "allow for diplomacy" ahead of a European Union summit.

Oct 11, 2020

Boris Johnson Calls Emmanuel Macron as Deadline Looms

Boris Johnson told French President that UK wants to "explore every avenue" to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, days before the PM's self-imposed deadline.
A disagreement over fishing has been one major sticking point of talks.
Informal discussions will continue in Brussels next week.
The UK left the EU and entered a transition period until the end of the year - with all the rules, regulations and budget payments staying the same until then.
Both sides are now trying to negotiate a trade deal, which would decide, among other things, the tariffs (taxes) applied when buying and selling each other's goods.

Belarus Protests

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has held an unexpected meeting with political opponents in the jail where they are currently detained.
The president called the meeting to discuss constitutional reform with the opponents he had jailed.
As per opposition figures the meeting was a sign of weakness on his part.
Mr. Lukashenko claimed a landslide win in August elections widely seen as fraudulent, sparking mass protests.
A violent crackdown on unrest in the days following the disputed poll saw thousands of people detained, and hundreds beaten by police.
The EU and the US have refused to recognize Mr. Lukashenko's new term.

Taiwan President Calls for 'Meaningful Dialogue' with China

Taiwan wants to have "meaningful dialogue" with China on an equal basis, President Tsai Ing-wen said, extending an olive branch at a time of heightened military tension with Beijing, which claims the island as sovereign Chinese territory.
Democratic Taiwan has come under increasing pressure from Beijing, which has ramped up air force activity near the island in the past few weeks, including crossing the Taiwan Strait's sensitive mid line that normally serves as an unofficial buffer zone.
China says it is responding to "collusion" between Washington and Taipei, angered at growing US support for the self-governed island. Beijing views this precursor to Taiwan declaring formal independence, a red line for China.

Argentina First Nation to OK Drought-resistant GMO Wheat

Argentina formally became the first country in the world to approve the use of drought-resistant genetically modified (GMO) wheat, prompting fierce criticism by the country's massive export agriculture industry.
Bioceres' HB4 wheat is resistant to drought and tolerates the herbicide glufosinate sodium; a combination the company says can help boost yields on dry years. But the government said the product cannot be sold before Brazil, Argentina's biggest wheat buyer, approves its importation.
Last year, 45% of the 11.3 million tonnes of wheat exported by Argentina went to neighboring Brazil, which has not commented on the prospects of it approving the purchase of HB4 wheat.

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