General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - March 2016

Mar 2016

Aug 12, 2020

Iran Nuclear Deal at Risk as UN Council Prepares to Vote on Arms Embargo

The UN Security Council is preparing to vote this week on a US proposal to extend an arms embargo on Iran, a move that some diplomats say is bound to fail and put the fate of a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers further at risk.
A last-minute attempt by Britain, France and Germany to broker a compromise with Russia and China on an arms embargo extension appeared unsuccessful so far, diplomats said. Russia and China, allies of Iran, have long-signaled opposition to the US measure.
A Chinese diplomat at the United Nations, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that "extending the arms embargo on Iran in whatever form lacks legal basis and will undermine efforts to preserve" the nuclear deal, adding that there is "no chance" the U.S. text will be adopted.
The embargo is due to expire in October under a 2015 deal among Iran, Russia, China, Germany, Britain, France and the United States that prevents Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in return for sanctions relief.

Aug 11, 2020

Egyptians Head to the Polls to Elect Revived Senate

Egyptians have started voting for the senate that was revived after last year's constitutional referendum.
Tuesday's poll will see 200 members elected by public vote to the upper chamber of parliament, which has an advisory role and few formal powers. The remaining 100 senators are appointed by the President.
The country's lower chamber, the house of representatives, has a legislative role.
The election comes at the height of the coronavirus pandemic - Egypt has the second-highest number of cases on the continent after South Africa.
Authorities have said voters will be given face masks and polling stations are to be disinfected to prevent the spread of the virus.

Mali Swears in New Constitutional Court Judges

Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta attended a swearing-in ceremony for new constitutional court judges, appointed last week in a bid to end the political crisis in the country.
The nine new judges were sworn in, in the capital, Bamako.
Among the nine new judges - six men and three women.
The appointment of the judges was aimed at helping to resolve a weeks-long political impasse between Keita and an opposition protest movement which is determined to secure the President's resignation.

Aug 10, 2020

Afghan 'Loya Jirga' Approves Prisoner Release

The Afghan government and the Taliban are "on the verge of peace talks" after thousands of prominent Afghans approved the release of about 400 contentious militant prisoners, the head of Kabul's peace council said on Sunday. The prisoners' fate has been a crucial hurdle in launching peace talks between the two warring sides, which had committed to completing a prisoner exchange before negotiations can start.
The resolution was passed at the end of a three-day "loya jirga" — a traditional Afghan meeting of tribal elders and other stakeholders sometimes held to decide on controversial issues. "In order to remove the hurdles for the start of peace talks, stopping bloodshed, and for the good of the public, the jirga approves the release of 400 prisoners as demanded by the Taliban," jirga member Atefa Tayeb announced.
The jirga urged the government to give assurances to the population that the released prisoners would be monitored and would not be allowed to return to the battlefield, adding that foreign fighters should be sent back to their respective countries.

Lebanon Information Minister Resigns

Lebanon's Information Minister, Manal Abdel Samad, quit in the first government resignation since an explosion in the port of Beirut killed more than 150 people and destroyed swathes of the capital.
The head of Lebanon's Maronite church called on the entire government to step down over the explosion, widely seen as proof of the rot at the core of the state.
Lebanese protesters enraged by the blast vowed to rally again after a night of street clashes in which they stormed several ministries.
The Maronite patriarch, Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, joined the chorus of people pressing Prime Minister Hassan Diab's cabinet to step down over the explosion, which he said could be described as a crime against humanity.

Mauritania Leader Appoints New Government

Mauritania's President appointed a new government after some of his ministers were named in a report on the financial dealings of former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
President Mohamed Mohamed Ould Ghazouani's office has acknowledged that the changes were as a result of the report.
He had replaced his the Prime Minister for undisclosed reasons.
The former prime minister and three ministers were mentioned in the report that looked into the sale of state properties and handling of oil revenue, according to AFP news agency.
The new cabinet was announced on Sunday and the presidency secretary general Adama Bocar Soko said excluding the named ministers would give them the time they need to prove their innocence.
Local media reports that former President Aziz has been summoned in connection with the report.
An investigation is expected to begin before parliament votes on whether to proceed to trial.

Ramaphosa Announces Business Boost for Women

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the government will set aside 40% of public procurement for women-owned businesses.
The move will boost women financially and reduce gender inequality.
The President spoke during Women's which marked 64 years since thousands of South African women marched to the Union Buildings in the capital, Pretoria, on 9 August 1956 to protest against the extension of the pass laws to women.
As per President Ramaphosa, financial independence is key to achieving gender equality.
The first action is to expand the access of women to economic opportunities... We now expect national departments in government to monitor and report on how many women have participated in each public procurement process. They will have to develop clear plans about how they will broaden women's participation over the next 12 months.

Aug 09, 2020

US Sanctions Hong Kong's Chief Carrie Lam

The US is placing sanctions on 11 Chinese officials and their allies in Hong Kong, including Chief Executive Carrie Lam, over their roles in curtailing political freedoms in the former U.K. colony.
As per Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the United States stands with the people of Hong Kong and we will use our tools and authorities to target those undermining their autonomy.
Lam was sanctioned because she is directly responsible for implementing Beijing's policies of suppression of freedom and democratic processes.
The sanctioned individuals include Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of China's State Council, and Chris Tang, commissioner of the Hong Kong Police Force.

Germany and France Challenge US Role in WHO Reforms

Germany and France have challenged Washington's role in leading talks over reforming the World Health Organisation, citing the US decision to quit the global body.
Germany's Health Ministry said that the issue was discussed during a call of health ministers from the Group of Seven leading economies.
The ministry said that in view of the United States' withdrawal from WHO, "Germany and France currently see no mandate for the US to lead the WHO reform process for the G-7."
"How can you be leading while you are leaving?" the ministry added.
The Trump administration, which holds the rotating presidency of the G-7 this year, has accused WHO of bowing to pressure from China in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mahinda Rajapaksa Takes Oath as Prime Minister

Sri Lanka's former President Mahinda Rajapaka was sworn in as the country's new Prime Minister at a historic Buddhist temple, days after his party won a landslide victory in the General Election.
The Sri Lanka People's Party (SLPP) leader was administered the oath of office for the ninth Parliament by his younger brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the sacred Rajamaha Viharaya in Kelaniya, a north Colombo suburb.
Mahinda Rajapaksa completed 50 years of parliamentary politics in July this year. He was elected as a Member of Parliament at the age of 24 in 1970. He has since been elected President twice and has been appointed Prime Minister thrice.

Aug 08, 2020

Belarus in Surprising Presidential Election Battle

Belarus has only ever had one President and Alexander Lukashenko, who has held the position since 1994, is running for office again.
The man once dubbed "Europe's last dictator" is facing perhaps the biggest-ever challenge to his rule - from Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a political novice. She says she is standing "out of love" for her jailed husband Sergei, but she also embodies a thirst for change in society.
The campaign for this election had an unexpectedly lively start as surprise challengers to Mr Lukashenko - video blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky, banker Viktor Babaryko and ex-diplomat Valery Tsepkalo - attracted thousands to their nomination rallies.
This was unusual in a country normally considered quite politically apathetic.

China, Russia and Iran Trying to Influence Vote

A top US intelligence chief has warned that China, Russia and Iran are among countries seeking to influence the US presidential election this year.
As per reports, China did not want President Donald Trump's re-election while Russia wanted to hurt Democrat Joe Biden.
Intelligence chiefs accuse Russia of interfering in the 2016 election.
They say Russia wanted to help boost Mr. Trump's campaign, including by spreading disinformation online. Russia has denied the allegations.
The announcement comes amid claims by Mr. Trump about the dangers of mail-in or postal ballots. He has suggested that the vote be delayed to prevent "the most inaccurate and fraudulent election in history", prompting a backlash even among members of his own party.

Canada Plans to Impose Retaliatory Tariffs on US Imports

Canada's Deputy Prime Minister said that the country plans to impose 3.6 billion Canadian (USD 2.69 billion) tariffs on US imports in response to President Donald Trump saying the US is reinstating a 10 per cent import tax on Canadian aluminum.
Canada is considering imposing a tariff on dozens of products, including golf clubs, bicycles, refrigerators, washing machines, tripods, sports equipment like bats and hockey sticks and embossed aluminum cans for beverages.
The new pact took effect July 1 and was expected to bring stability to North American trade. The new tariff spat comes after the US in 2018 imposed a 25 per cent duty on steel and a 10 per cent duty on aluminum.
Canada responded with tariffs on hundreds of US products such as ketchup, coffee, strawberry jam and whisky before the two countries dropped their efforts and agreed to the new North American free trade deal.
Trump said that he was re-implementing tariffs because there was a surge in aluminum exports from Canada to the US in recent months, but industry organisations dispute that claim.
Trump originally imposed the tariffs on aluminum imports in 2018. He then lifted them last year on Canadian and Mexican metals to smooth the way for the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement.

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