General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2017

Feb 2017

Nov 13, 2023

Russia Pulls Out of Treaty of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe

Russia formally withdrew from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), an agreement signed in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin Wall that set limits on key categories of conventional military equipment in Europe and mandated the destruction of excess weaponry.
As per reports, two other legally binding agreements, the Budapest agreement of 1990 and the CFE's Flank Document, which were linked to the treaty, are also withdrawn.
According to Russian Foreign Ministry, the treaty was not catering to Russia's interests, claiming that NATO countries began to circumvent restrictions imposed as the alliance expanded.

Nov 12, 2023

Australia Signs Climate, Migration and Security Pact with Pacific's Tuvalu

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a bilateral agreement with Tuvalu, aimed at countering China's influence in the Pacific and protecting the tiny island nation from climate change.
The agreement, which made Australia Tuvalu's "partner of choice", covers climate change, security and human mobility.
Australia will create a special visa for up to 280 Tuvaluans annually, 2.5% of the 11,200 population. Funds will also be provided for land reclamation in Tuvalu to expand land in capital Funafuti by around 6%.

US Announces $553 Million Investment in Adani's Sri Lanka Port Terminal Project

The United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) revealed a substantial investment of $553 million in Adani Ports' container terminal project located in the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka. This significant financial commitment aims to boost private-sector investments that support economic development and strategic partnerships in the region.
This move demonstrates the United States' commitment to enhancing economic growth and development in the region, positioning Sri Lanka strategically along major shipping routes to serve the growing economies.
Adani Ports initiated this project in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and John Keells Holdings. The consortium, named Colombo West International Terminal Pvt. Ltd., has adopted a Build-Operate-Transfer model with a 35-year duration, where Adani Ports holds a majority stake of 51%.

Nov 11, 2023

UK to Add India to Safe States List, Restrict Asylum Rights for Illegal Migrants

The United Kingdom has put forth plans to include India in an expanded list of safe states, which will have significant implications for individuals arriving in the UK illegally from these countries. This move, which aims to expedite the process of returning Indian nationals who have travelled illegally from India and simultaneously eliminate their chances of seeking asylum in Britain, has been met with both support and criticism.
The UK Home Office has taken this step as part of its broader strategy to reinforce the country's immigration system and to curb potential abuses by individuals making unfounded protection claims. The objective is clear: to deter illegal migration and to swiftly repatriate those found to have no legal basis for staying in the UK.
India and Georgia are the two countries featured in the draft legislation that has been laid in the House of Commons.
The UK's safe states list, known legislatively as Section 80AA, includes countries like Albania, Switzerland, and the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) states. For a country to be added to this list, the Home Secretary must be convinced that there is, in general, no serious risk of persecution for its nationals, and the removal of nationals to that country should not contravene the UK's obligations under the Human Rights Convention.

Nov 10, 2023

Chile Becomes 95th Member of International Solar Alliance ISA

Chile became the new entrant in the International Solar Alliance becoming its 95th member.
Chile was handed over the ISA instrument during the meeting of Chilean Ambassador Juan Angulo and the Ministry of External Affairs, Joint Secretary (Economic Diplomacy) Abhishek Singh.
The ISA is an alliance of more than 120 signatory countries that aims to reduce the dependence on non-renewable sources of energy like fossil fuels.
It was conceived as a joint effort by India and France and founded in 2015. Currently, 116 countries are signatories to the ISA Framework Agreement.

Nov 09, 2023

NATO Freezes Security Treaty

NATO member countries that signed a key Cold War-era security treaty froze their participation in the pact just hours after Russia pulled out, raising fresh questions about the future of arms control agreements in Europe.
The alliance said its members who signed the treaty are now freezing their participation in the pact.
Most of NATO's 31 allies have signed the Treaty of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, which was aimed at preventing Cold War rivals from massing forces at or near mutual borders.

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