General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - March 2016

Mar 2016

Dec 22, 2019

Trump Approved Sanctions on Russia Gas Pipeline

President Donald Trump signed a law that will impose sanctions on any firm that helps Russia's state-owned gas company, Gazprom, finish a pipeline into the European Union.
The sanctions target firms building Nord Stream 2, an undersea pipeline that will allow Russia to increase gas exports to Germany.
The US considers the project a security risk to Europe.
Both Russia and the EU have strongly condemned the US sanctions.
The almost $11bn (£8.4bn) Nord Stream 2 project has infuriated the US, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers opposing it.
The Trump administration fears the pipeline will tighten Russia's grip over Europe's energy supply and reduce its own share of the lucrative European market for American liquefied natural gas.

Chinese Public Pushes for Legalisation of Same-sex Marriage

Legalising same-sex marriage was among the top suggestions made by the Chinese public to lawmakers tasked with amending the civil code.
The public push came despite a recent crackdown in China on LGBT activists and the wider gay community, as well as censorship of content related to homosexuality in films and on social media.
Feedback from ordinary people was solicited in November by the commission for legislative affairs ahead of its meeting next week to discuss updates to the civil code, which mostly deals with matters relating to marriage and family.

UN Security Council Rejects Russia Resolution on Syria

The members of the United Nations Security Council decided not to support a Russian resolution that would have allowed cross-border humanitarian aid deliveries into Syria through two crossings for a period of six months.
The resolution received 5 votes in favour, while 4 members voted against it, and 4 countries abstained. A Security Council resolution requires nine votes and no veto from any of the five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Earlier in the day, Russia and China rejected a resolution drafted by Belgium, Germany, and Kuwait that called for authorizing deliveries through three crossings for another year.

Cuba Names Manuel Marrero Cruz as First Prime Minister

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel appointed Manuel Marrero Cruz the country's first Prime Minister in more than 40 years.
The post of Prime Minister was scrapped in 1976 by the then revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.
It was reinstated under the rules of a new constitution for the communist-run island passed earlier this year.
Mr. Marrero will take on some of the responsibilities that currently fall to the President.
The head of government will be the administrative right hand of the President of the republic.
However, critics say any such changes are purely cosmetic as the Cuban Communist Party and the military remain the only two real decision-making institutions on the island.

Dec 21, 2019

Parliament Passes Johnson's Brexit Bill

The United Kingdom is set to leave the European Union on January 31, as promised by Prime Minister Boris Johnson after the House of Commons passed the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.
Johnson sought to unite the house that was bitterly divided since the 2016 EU referendum, which made it impossible for former Prime Minister Theresa May to get the agreement bill passed on three occasions.
Lawmakers voted by 358 to 234 to pass the second reading of the legislation.While Johnson had the support of his 365 Conservative lawmakers in the 650-seat Lower House.

Mahathir Mohamad Criticises CAA

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad criticised India's Citizenship (Amendment) Act and said that people are dying because of this law, prompting New Delhi to dismiss his remarks as factually inaccurate.
Talking to reporters on the margins of the Kuala Lumpur Summit, Mahathir questioned the necessity of the CAA when people of different faiths have lived together for 70 years in India.

Trump Seeks Immediate Trial in Senate after Impeachment

Donald Trump has demanded "an immediate trial" from Democrats after the timing of the Senate hearing was cast into doubt just a day after the House impeached a president for only the third time in history.
Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic House speaker, refused to reveal when she would send the articles of impeachment to the Senate, which is required for a trial.
The move was seen as an attempt to pressure Republicans into accepting Democratic demands that White House officials, who had refused to testify before the impeachment inquiry, be called as witnesses at trial.

IMF Approves Second Tranche of Loan

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved second tranche worth of $450 million for Pakistan under the $6 billion Extended Fund Facility in a meeting of its executive board in Washington.
The IMF in its board meeting said that Pakistan's economic reform program is on track while decisive policy implementation by the Pakistani authorities is helping to preserve economic stability in the country. The IMF said that the authorities remain committed to expanding social safety nets, reducing poverty, and narrowing the gender gap.
In November, adviser to PM on finance, revenue and economic affairs Abdul H. Shaikh had said that IMF, after holding successful dialogues, showed agreement to release the second tranche amounting to $450 million loan.

Dec 20, 2019

Sri Lanka to Develop Mattala Airport

As per President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's civil aviation authority will develop the southern airport in Mattala, near the strategically located Hambantota Port, ruling out earlier proposals of a joint venture with India. However, he invited Indian companies, especially in the IT sector, to invest in Sri Lanka.

Impeachment Case against Trump Fabricated

The US Democrats impeached President Donald Trump for fabricated reasons in order to reverse his 2016 election victory.
Putin expected Trump to survive the proceedings and stay in office.

Trump Impeached for Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress

The House of Representatives impeached President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, making him the third President in history to be charged with committing high crimes and misdemeanors and face removal by the Senate.
On a day of constitutional consequence and raging partisan tension, the votes on the two articles of impeachment fell largely along party lines.
Only two Democrats opposed the article on abuse of power, which accused Mr. Trump of corruptly using the levers of government to solicit election assistance from Ukraine in the form of investigations to discredit his Democratic political rivals. Republicans were united in opposition. It passed 230 to 197, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi gaveling the vote to a close from the House rostrum.
On the second charge, obstruction of Congress, a third Democrat joined Republicans in opposition. The vote was 229 to 198.
The impeachment votes set the stage for a historic trial beginning early next year in the Senate, which will have final say — 10 months before Mr. Trump faces re-election — on whether to acquit the 45th president or convict and remove him from office.

Pakistan Set to Pay India Costs in Hyderabad Nizam Case

The High Court of England and Wales ordered Pakistan to pay India and the two princes' party to the long-drawn dispute 65% of their legal costs. In October, the court had ruled in favour of India and the two descendants of the late 7th Nizam of Hyderabad, who sent £1 million to a London bank in 1948, now estimated to value at least £35 million. The court ordered that Prince Muffakham Jah be paid £1,835,445.83, the government of India £2,802,192.22 and Mukarram Jah, the VIIIth Nizam £795,064.63 (65% on account of their costs).

Dec 19, 2019

Bangladesh Calls Off JRC Meeting

Bangladesh called off a meeting of the bilateral Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) a week after two top Bangladeshi ministers cancelled their visits to India following the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
The two-day meeting of the JRC was scheduled to be held in New Delhi and the talks were postponed at the request of the Bangladesh.
A new date will be fixed after discussing with India.

US Rejects Relief for North Korea

The US moved to head off a call by China and Russia to ease sanctions on North Korea despite threats of further provocations, with President Donald Trump saying that he would take care of" any threats the regime had in the works.
According to a draft, a new UN Security Council proposal by China and Russia to lessen the economic embargo on North Korea is getting pushback in Washington. The proposal by North Korea's historic allies said that the changes were warranted because Kim Jong Un's regime had complied with United Nations resolutions and needed humanitarian and livelihood relief.

Japan Widens Lead on China as Top Foreign Treasuries Holder

Japan widened its lead over China as the largest foreign owner of US Treasuries as its holdings rebounded to the second-highest level since 2015, while China's stake was little changed.
Japan's holdings of US notes, bills and bonds increased to $1.17 trillion in October from $1.15 trillion a month earlier. Japan overtook China as the largest non-US holder of Treasuries in June -- the first time it held that position since May 2017. China was the second-largest foreign creditor in October, with $1.10 trillion in holdings. That is the smallest amount since April 2017.

German Cabinet Approves Ban on Gay Conversion Therapy

The German government signed off on a new law banning conversion therapies designed to force heterosexuality on homosexuals.
The legislation, set to be introduced in 2020, would see the practice made punishable with up to a year in prison and fines of up to 30,000 euros ($33,000).
Once it is approved, Germany -- where there are an estimated 1,000 attempts a year to "re-educate" gay people -- would be only the second European country with such a ban after Malta passed similar legislation in 2016.

Dec 18, 2019

Musharraf Sentenced to Death

A Pakistani court sentenced former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to death on charges of high treason and subverting the Constitution in a case related to the emergency he imposed in 2007.
This is the first time in Pakistan's history that a former Army Chief has been sentenced to death. The powerful army, usually considered immune from prosecution, expressed its opposition to the verdict and said that Musharraf can never be a traitor. The Imran Khan government would review the special court's decision.
The former President, who was born in Old Delhi, has been living in Dubai and is said to be very ill and unlikely to travel home to face the sentence. Pakistan and the UAE have no extradition treaty and Dubai authorities are unlikely to arrest him.

Boris Seeks to Rule out Brexit Delay

The Brexit debate resumed with the Boris Johnson government announcing that the Withdrawal Agreement Bill to be placed before parliament will block any delay beyond December 2020.
The UK is due to leave the EU on January 31, 2020 but will move into a "transition" phase, when nothing will change in practice, with the UK remaining in the EU single market and the customs union until December 31, 2020.
London and Brussels are expected to finalise a trade agreement during the transition period for arrangements in place from January 1, 2021.
The transition period can be extended by mutual agreement for up to two years. But PM Johnson is ruling out the extension, which also makes it possible for the UK to leave without a deal.

China Drops Plea for Discussion on Kashmir at UN

As per reports, France and other permanent members of the UN Security Council thwarted an effort by China, acting on behalf of Pakistan, to discuss the situation in Kashmir.
China pushed for a meeting of the UN Security Council behind closed doors — the second such effort since an earlier meet on the Kashmir issue in August. At that time, China's attempt to have an open and formal meeting of the Security Council was rebuffed by members of the body, which agreed to hold only closed consultations.
France and other permanent members of the Security Council conveyed to China the body was not the best forum to discuss the Kashmir issue, which ought to be handled bilaterally by India and Pakistan. Non-permanent members of the council, such as Germany and Poland, too, showed no inclination for a discussion on Kashmir.
The Chinese side subsequently withdrew its note seeking the meeting on Kashmir.

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