General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - March 2016

Mar 2016

Jun 15, 2020

Somalia v Somaliland: Leaders Meet over Long Feud

The leaders of Somalia and the self-declared republic of Somaliland are holding rare talks in an effort to end a long-standing feud.
President Mohamed Abdullahi "Farmajo" Mohamed of Somalia and Somaliland's leader Muse Bihi Abdi are meeting in neighbouring Djibouti.
The main point of contention is Somaliland's political status following its decision to declare independence in 1991.
This was rejected by the government in Mogadishu and Somaliland has not been internationally recognised.
Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh and the Ethiopian Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner Abiy Ahmed are playing a mediation role at the meeting.

Sri Lanka Stages 'Mock Election'

Sri Lanka staged a mock election to test measures aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus during a parliamentary vote in August.
The poll was due to be held on April 25 but was put off and then postponed indefinitely due to the epidemic.
The election commission said that the vote would be held on August 5. The island nation of 21 million people has steadily lifted its lockdown restrictions, although a night curfew remains.
The new health measures-- to be implemented at polling booths and counting centres - were trialled in four of the 22 electoral districts.
Officials and polling agents will be behind clear plastic screens or wear face shields. We have also ensured that voters will stand a metre apart when they queue up." Voters will also be required to bring their own pen or pencil to mark ballot papers.

Jun 14, 2020

Donald Trump Targets ICC

U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order authorising sanctions against individuals involved in an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into whether U.S. forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan.
As per reports, the ICC probe is "being pushed forward by an organisation of dubious integrity" and accused Russia of having a role.
The order authorises Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in consultation with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, to block assets in the U.S. of ICC employees involved in the probe.
It also authorises Mr. Pompeo to block entry into the U.S. of these individuals.

Jun 13, 2020

Assad Sacks PM as Economic Crisis Sparks Protests

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has sacked Prime Minister Imad Khamis, as he struggles with a worsening economic crisis that has triggered protests.
No reason was given for the decision to replace Mr. Khamis, who had been Prime Minister since 2016.
But it came after days of rare anti-government demonstrations in the mainly Druze city of Suweida, at which people called for the overthrow of Mr. Assad.
Syria's currency has plummeted in value recently, leading to soaring prices.
The government, whose supporters have staged a counter-demonstration in Suweida, has blamed Western sanctions and exchange rate "manipulation".

SA Court Opens Door for Independent Candidates

South Africa's Constitutional Court has ruled that the current Electoral Act, which bars independent candidates from running for office, is unconstitutional.
It's a ruling that could change the face of South African politics. Until now only members of political parties were allowed to run for office. In future elections, the field will be open to individuals to stand for provincial and national positions.
South African voters have become increasingly disillusioned by the country's parties – evidenced by a consistent decline in voter turnout in recent years.
Critics say the country has become in effect a three-party democracy – a tussle between the governing African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters.
South Africa's parliament has been given two years to change the legislation.

Jun 12, 2020

Prince Philip Marks Quiet 99th Birthday

Britain's Prince Philip marked a quiet 99th birthday in lockdown with his wife, Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle in south-east England.
Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the 94-year-old Queen Elizabeth II, who have been married for 72 years, have been isolating together since March.
Born in Corfu, Greece, in 1921, the royal is the longest-serving monarch's consort in British history. He retired and stepped down from frontline royal duties in May 2017.
The Queen also celebrated her 94th birthday in April quietly, cancelling the traditional gun salute because of the pandemic.

Amazon Bans Police Use of Facial Recognition Tech

Technology giant Amazon banned the police from using its controversial facial recognition software for a year.
It comes after civil rights advocates raised concerns about potential racial bias in surveillance technology.
IBM also said that it would stop offering its facial recognition software for mass surveillance or racial profiling.
The decisions follow growing pressure on firms to respond to the death of George Floyd in police custody.
Amazon said that the suspension of law enforcement use of its Rekognition software was to give US lawmakers the opportunity to enact legislation to regulate how the technology is employed.
As per Amazon, this one-year moratorium might give Congress enough time to implement appropriate rules, and we stand ready to help if requested."
However, the company would still allow organisations that deal with human trafficking to use the technology.

Jun 11, 2020

Nepal Irked by Presence of Indian Forces in Kalapani

Nepal Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli commented on the presence of Indian forces in Kalapani, comments by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Nepal and also increased influx of COVID-19 infection from India.
It is to be noted that Nepal considers Kalapani as its own territory along with Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura and has issued a new map showing the Indian territories as its own drawing New Delhi's ire.
Calling for a diplomatic solution to the border row, Nepali PM said that his country has been raising the issue with India, and based on facts and historic evidences, the area should be handed back.

Ethiopian PM's Term Extended

Ethiopia's Upper House of parliament agreed to extend the Prime Minster and government's term in office beyond October because elections have been delayed.
Polls were due to be held in August - the first since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018 - but officials have postponed them because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The country's nine regional governments have also had their terms extended in a binding ruling by the House of Federation.
It suggested that after the pandemic was no longer considered a threat to the public, elections be held within nine months to a year.
The decision comes two days after the speaker of the Upper House, Keriya Ibrahim, announced her resignation, accusing the government of making unconstitutional attempts to stay in power.

General Charles Brown First African-American Chief of the Air Force

The Senate confirmed General Charles Brown to serve as the Air Force chief of staff, making him the first African American to lead a military service branch.
Vice President Mike Pence presided over the Senate for the vote, and Brown's historic nomination was approved unanimously, 98-0. He is the second African American officer to sit on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, following Colin Powell, who served as chairman.
Brown is replacing General David Goldfein, who is retiring. He currently serves as commander of Pacific Air Forces, a position Brown has held since 2018. The Air Force general also served as deputy commander of U.S. Central Command.

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