General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - July 2016

Jul 2016

May 29, 2023

China Select Committee of US House Recommends Making India Part of NATO Plus

In a significant development ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States, a powerful Congressional Committee recommended strengthening NATO Plus by including India.
NATO Plus, currently NATO Plus 5, is a security arrangement that brings together NATO and five aligned nations – Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, and South Korea – to boost global defence cooperation.
Bringing India on board would facilitate seamless intelligence sharing between these countries and India would access the latest military technology without much of a time lag.
The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), led by Chairman Mike Gallagher and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, overwhelmingly adopted a policy proposal to enhance Taiwan's deterrence, including through strengthening NATO Plus to include India.
An initiative of the Republican leadership, the Select Committee is popularly called the China Committee.

Erdogan Wins Turkish Presidential Elections

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won reelection, extending his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade as the country reels from high inflation and the aftermath of an earthquake that leveled entire cities.
A third term gives Erdogan an even stronger hand domestically and internationally, and the election results will have implications far beyond the capital of Ankara. Turkey stands at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and it plays a key role in NATO.
With more than 99% of ballot boxes opened, unofficial results from competing news agencies showed Erdogan with 52% of the vote, compared with 48% for his challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The head of Turkey's electoral board confirmed the victory, saying that even after accounting for outstanding votes, the result was another term for Erdogan.
Erdogan, who has been at Turkey's helm for 20 years, came just short of victory in the first round of elections on May 14, 2023. It was the first time he failed to win an election outright, but he made up.

Saudi Arabia and Canada to Restore Full Diplomatic Ties

Canada and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore full diplomatic ties and appoint new ambassadors, both countries said, bringing to a close a 2018 dispute that damaged relations and trade.
The decision followed discussions held between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Bangkok in November 2022.
As part of the restoration of ties, Canada will appoint Jean-Philippe Linteau as its new ambassador to Riyadh.

May 28, 2023

Joe Biden Names Gen C. Q. Brown Jr, as Next Joint Chiefs Chairman

President Joe Biden named Gen Charles "CQ" Brown Jr to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the top military officer in the US.
Gen Brown, currently the Air Force chief of staff, would replace Gen Mark Milley, whose term ends in September 2023.
If confirmed, he would be the only other black officer holding this top post in US history besides General Colin Powell, who served from 1989-93.
The chairman is the president's top military adviser.
Since Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is also black, it would be the first time ever that two African American men simultaneously held the most senior civil and military positions at the Pentagon.

May 27, 2023

Japan Seals deal for Defense Equipment, Technology Transfers with UAE

Japan and the United Arab Emirates agreed a deal on defense equipment and technology transfers, in a move that enables joint research, development and production.
While Tokyo has sealed about a dozen similar bilateral deals, including with the US, the UK and Australia, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is considering loosening the strict limits on Japanese arms exports more generally.
The UAE is the world's 11th largest arms importer, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The agreement came as Japan works on a next-generation fighter aircraft with the UK and Italy, which is likely to be marketed beyond the three countries.

Germany Enters Recession as Energy Prices Soared after Ukraine War

Germany suffered its first recession since the start of pandemic, extinguishing hopes that Europe's top economy could escape such a fate after the war in Ukraine sent energy prices soaring.
First-quarter output shrank 0.3% from the previous three months following a 0.5% drop between October and December, the statistics office said. Its initial estimate, last month, was for stagnation.
The result is a setback for Germany, which despite escaping the bleakest scenarios feared in the aftermath of Russia's invasion has nevertheless succumbed to a recession that Chancellor Olaf Scholz appeared to rule out in January.

Russia to Shut Swedish Consulate and Expel Diplomats

Russia said that it would shut Sweden's consulate in St Petersburg and its own mission in Sweden's second-biggest city Gothenburg, and expelled five Swedish diplomats in a tit-for-tat move after Stockholm expelled five Russians last month.
Stockholm last month it had expelled the diplomats over espionage concerns. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the expulsions an openly hostile step.
Relations between the two countries have worsened since Sweden last year (2022) announced its intention to join NATO following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Russia said that ties had reached an unprecedented low.

May 26, 2023

China Appoints New Envoy to U.S.

Xie Feng, China's new Ambassador to the United States finally filled a post that unusually remained vacant for close to five months and heralding what some observers see as a possible sign of a limited thaw in the frosty relations.
Veteran diplomat Xie Feng has spent much of his career dealing with the U.S.
Mr. Xie succeeded Qin Gang, who was promoted as China's new Foreign Minister, after a close to five month gap, leaving a key post vacant during tense relations.

May 25, 2023

NATO: Ukraine Cannot Join Alliance amidst War

Ukraine will not be able to join NATO as long as the war against Russia rages on, bloc's chief Jens Stoltenberg said.
In September 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a bid for fast-track membership of NATO after Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaimed four partially occupied regions of Ukraine as annexed Russian land.
NATO allies have not acceded to Zelenskyy's request, with Western governments wary of moves that they fear could take NATO closer to entering an active war with Russia.

WHO Appoints Artists Renée Fleming and Pretty Yende as WHO Goodwill Ambassadors for Arts and Health

WHO announce the appointments of internationally acclaimed artists Renée Fleming and Pretty Yende as Goodwill Ambassadors for Arts and Health. This prestigious announcement was made as part of WHO's 75th Anniversary commemoration during the seventy-sixth World Health Assembly.
Renée Fleming, one of the most celebrated singers of our time, and Pretty Yende, an extraordinary soprano known for her dazzling performances, were selected for their artistic achievement and advocacy for improved health outcomes through creative means.
The appointments of Fleming and Yende underscore the profound link between arts and health. Engagement in creative activities, such as music, art, and dance, positively impacts physical, mental health, social well-being, and overall quality of life. Through their roles as Goodwill Ambassadors, Fleming and Yende will promote the integration of arts into health-care systems, advocate for access to creative arts therapies, and champion the importance of artistic expression in improving health outcomes globally.

Indian-Origin Sikh Becomes First Turban-Wearing Lord Mayor of UK City Coventry

Jaswant Singh Birdi, a local British Sikh councillor based in Coventry made history for the central England city by becoming its first turban-wearing Lord Mayor.
Birdi, who was born in Punjab and spent some time as a child in Calcutta in West Bengal, moved to Coventry 60 years ago and has served as a local councillor in the city for 16 years.
He served as Deputy Lord Mayor for the past 12 months and was presented with the Chains of Office at the Annual General Meeting at Coventry Cathedral last week, a ceremony attended by members of his family. He succeeded Councillor Kevin Maton in the role of Lord Mayor and Councillor Mal Mutton was named as the Deputy Lord Mayor for the coming year.

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