General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - September 2016

Sep 2016

Sep 08, 2020

Kazakhstan to Strive for Multi-party System

According to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, central Asia's biggest state and India's key partner in the region Kazakhstan is striving to create a multi-party state and preserve its inclusive character.
Kazakhstan must create a multiparty system to build a modern, effective state and the ruling Nur Otan party should collaborate more with other parties.
This is important for the stability of the political system in the long run," the President said, adding, the President also urged more public involvement in the formation of policy.
To keep the nation united, Tokayev directed the government to continue creating conditions for all ethnic groups to develop their languages and cultures. "Our position: 'The unity of the nation is in its diversity.
Tokayev further suggested judicial and law enforcement reforms to improve the protection of citizens' rights and security.

Boris Johnson Warns EU not to Expect Compromise Ahead of Trade Talks

The European Union told Boris Johnson not to tear up parts of the Brexit divorce accord he struck only a year ago, saying keeping his promises will be essential if the two sides are to reach a new deal on trade. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke as the British PM ramped up his threats to complete the UK's separation from the EU at the end of the year without a new trade agreement place.
Johnson said that he is willing to walk away from talks rather than compromise on what he sees as the core principles of Brexit, and set an Oct. 15 deadline for an accord to be struck.

EU Demands Release of Belarus Political Prisoners and Warns of Sanctions

The EU has demanded the Belarus authorities release all detained on political grounds before and after the disputed presidential elections.
It is planning sanctions for those responsible for "violence, repression and falsification of election results".
Key opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova went missing after she was seen being bundled into a minibus.
She was one of three women who joined forces to challenge incumbent Alexander Lukashenko in August's election.
Mass protests followed his re-election amid allegations of vote-rigging.
More than 600 people were arrested on Sunday, following a fourth consecutive weekend of anti-government protests in the capital Minsk and other cities. At least four people have died and hundreds have been injured as authorities have tried to crush dissent
Mr. Lukashenko - who has been in power since 1994 - has accused Western nations of interference. He is expected to visit his ally Russia in the coming days.

Sep 07, 2020

Chinese Chipmaker Denies Military Ties as US Steps up Feud

China's leading maker of semiconductors has denied it has any links to the military following reports Washington is considering stepping up its feud with Beijing over technology and security by imposing export controls that could disrupt manufacturing for a national industrial champion.
The US regulators are considering adding Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation to a list of foreign buyers that need government permission to acquire technology or components.
Officials are looking at whether SMIC plays a role in Chinese military development.
SMIC products were solely for civilian and commercial end-users and end-uses.
The Trump administration is trying to block Chinese access to US technology it worries might be used to make weapons or develop competitors to American industry.
The United States and other governments complain Chinese development plans are based on stealing or pressuring foreign companies to hand over technology.

Sep 06, 2020

EU Demands Potential Veto on Britain's Post-Brexit Laws

As per reports, the European Union is demanding a potential veto on Britain's post-Brexit laws and regulations.
EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, is said to be insisting that London must agree not to implement any change to UK legislation that could distort trade with the bloc without first consulting Brussels.
Barnier's UK counterpart, David Frost, has rejected the approach.
EU diplomats said earlier that Barnier went to London to tell Frost Britain must move on state aid, or there will not be a Brexit agreement.
The chances of Britain leaving the European Union without a trade deal have risen sharply as negotiations have been threatened by London's insistence that it have full autonomy over its state aid plans.

Taliban Return to Doha Setting Stage for Afghan Peace Talks

Taliban officials say a senior delegation returned to Qatar, paving the way for the start of peace talks with the Afghan government that are expected to take place in the tiny Gulf state.
The negotiations are the second, critical part to a peace deal the US signed with the Taliban in February in Doha.
Washington has ramped up pressure on Afghans on both sides of the conflict to get started with their negotiations to decide what a post-war Afghanistan might look like, how rights of women and minorities would be protected, and how the tens of thousands of armed Taliban and government-allied militias are disarmed and re-integrated.
Relentless delays over the exchange of prisoners —5,000 held by the Afghan government and 1,000 by the Taliban — have hindered efforts to get intra-Afghan talks started.

Sep 05, 2020

Iran's Enriched Uranium Stockpile 10 Times Limit

According to UN's nuclear watchdog, Iran now has more than 10 times the amount of enriched uranium permitted under an international agreement.
As per the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran's enriched uranium stockpile had reached 2,105 kg (4,640lb).
Iran insists its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes.
It comes after Iran gave IAEA inspectors access to one of two suspected former nuclear sites.
The agency said it would take samples at the second site later this month.
Last year, Iran began deliberately and publicly reneging on commitments it had made under the international nuclear accord, signed in 2015 by Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US.
This included the production of more enriched uranium than it was allowed - although only at enrichment levels far below that required for use in atomic weapons.
Iran's move came in retaliation against US sanctions reinstated by President Donald Trump when he abandoned the deal.

Ex-Australian PM New UK Trade Adviser

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been appointed as an unpaid trade adviser to the UK government.
Boris Johnson rejected claims Mr. Abbott was not suitable for the role, despite criticism over past comments on women, LGBT people and climate change.
Mr. Abbott, who negotiated trade deals for Australia when in power, will not take part in post-Brexit talks between the UK and other countries.
Instead, he will advise the new Board of Trade, set up to help ministers and encourage firms to do more business internationally.

Belarus Opposition Leader Calls for UN Monitoring Mission

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on the United Nations to condemn the crackdown by President Alexander Lukashenko on protesters who charge he rigged his re-election victory last month.
Tsikhanouskaya also urged the United Nations to send an international monitoring mission to Belarus and said that the UN Human Rights Commission should hold a special session on the human rights situation there.
Tsikhanouskaya also called on the international community to impose sanctions on the individuals responsible for electoral violations and crimes against humanity.
Lukashenko, in power for 26 years, has faced a wave of opposition protests since his Aug. 9 election victory. He has denied accusations by the opposition and Western countries that the vote was rigged and has resisted demands to step down.

EU Trade Commissioner Nominations

The Irish government has nominated Mairead McGuinness and Andrew McDowell to become its next EU trade commissioner.
Phil Hogan resigned from the job last month after he faced accusations of breaching Covid-19 guidelines.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had asked the government to nominate one male and one female candidate.
Mairead McGuinness is currently vice-president of the European Parliament and represents the north west constituency of the Republic of Ireland in the European Parliament.
She has been a vice-president of the parliament since July 2014.
Ms McGuinness is the higher profile of the two candidates.
Mr McDowell is former chief economic adviser to the government from 2011 to 2016, working closely with then-Taoiseach (Irish PM) Enda Kenny.
Since then he has been vice-president of the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg.

Sep 04, 2020

Donald Trump Announces Wilmington in North Carolina State as First World War II Heritage City of US

US President Donald Trump announced Wilmington in southern US state North Carolina as the first World War II Heritage City at a ceremony held to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II.
During the war, Wilmington was the site of the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, which built 243 ships in five years as part of the federal government's emergency shipbuilding program.
The President signed legislation last year directing the secretary of the interior to each year designate at least one city as an American World War II Heritage City based on contributions made to secure victory in the war, efforts to keep a historical record of those contributions and work honouring WWII veterans.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's Top Aide, Asim Bajwa Resigns

Pakistan Prime Prime Minister Imran Khan' top aide Lt Gen (Retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa announced his resignation shortly after debunking allegations of corruption against him in a rebuttal that was posted on Twitter.
Bajwa said he will step down as the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Imran Khan, on information and broadcasting.
Bajwa said that he will continue his work as Chairman of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority, which he said was a priority with the premier and believes that this project is the country's future.
Bajwa decision to step down followed his detailed Twitter rebuttal to the "false and incorrect" allegations made against him and his family for assets concealment.

Jamaica Election: Andrew Holness' JLP re-Elected Amid Rise in Covid-19 Cases

The centre-right Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) won 49 of 63 seats in parliamentary election.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness called for the early vote last month in what analysts saw as a bid to capitalise on people's satisfaction with his economic agenda and early response to the virus.
But he has faced criticism amid a surge in coronavirus cases as restrictions are lifted.
Face masks and temperature checks were compulsory in polling stations.
The campaign was dominated by discussions over the economy, how to fight crime and the coronavirus pandemic.
The result was one of the largest margins of victory in decades, but also one of the lowest voter turnouts at 37%. In the 2016 elections, turnout was over 48%.
Mr. Holness, a former education minister and leader of the conservative Jamaican Labour Party, has been Prime Minister since March 2016.

Trial Run on Gumti River Route Connecting Bangladesh (Daudkandi) with Tripura (Sonamura) Starts

The trial run from Daudkandi in Bangladesh to Sonamura in Tripura started as the MV Premier sailed from Daudkandi with 50 metric tonnes of cement cargo. It is scheduled to arrive in Sonamura in Tripura in two days after covering a distance of 93 kilometres through river Gumti.
The route will connect Tripura with Bangladesh using the inland waterways for the first time. This is yet another recent connectivity initiative with Bangladesh, which will greatly enhance connectivity between Bangladesh and the North Eastern states of India boosting bilateral trade with Bangladesh.
The opening of the new route follows the signing of the 2nd addendum to the Protocol for Inland Water Trade & Transit (PIWTT) in May 2020 which opened two new routes.
The PIWTT was signed between India and Bangladesh in 1972 to connect the two countries through inland waterways. In 2019-2020, approx. 3.5 million MT of cargo was transported between India and Bangladesh on the protocol routes.
Enhanced connectivity through inland waterways in the present Covid–19 scenario will provide an economical, faster, safer and cleaner mode of transportation for traders and business communities of both countries.

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