General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2017

Feb 2017

Sep 11, 2023

WTO to Have a Fully Functional Dispute Settlement System by 2024

The G20 leaders expressed their commitment to conduct discussions for having a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by 2024.
Besides formulating norms for global exports and imports, the Geneva-based 164-member multi-lateral body adjudicates trade disputes among the member countries.
The dispute settlement mechanism of the WTO has been derailed due to a non-functional appellate body since December 2019.

Ethiopia Announces Completion of Filling of Disputed Nile Dam

Ethiopia filled the Grand Renaissance Dam on the Nile. The dam has been a topic of dispute between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan.
The announcement from Ethiopia came just a fortnight after the countries restarted negotiations after a long break. The negotiations are on an agreement over the Nile water that takes into account water needs of all three countries.
Sudan and Egypt fear that the huge USD 4.2 billion dam will drastically reduce their share of water. Both countries have repeatedly asked Ethiopia to stop filling the dam until the three countries reach agreement.

India-Brazil-SA-US Commit to Address Global Challenges

Leaders of India, Brazil, South Africa, and the United States met on the margins of the G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi and reaffirmed their shared commitment to the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation to deliver solutions for shared world. In a joint statement, the leaders said that as the G20's current and next three Presidencies, they will build on the historic progress of India's G20 Presidency to address global challenges. In this spirit, together with the World Bank President, they welcomed the G20's commitment to build better, bigger, and more effective multilateral development banks. This commitment underscores what they can do, by working together through the G20, to support our people toward a better future.

Sep 10, 2023

Romania Hosts Summit to Boost Connectivity between 12 EU Countries and Partners

A two-day summit in Romania was held bringing together 12 European Union member states situated between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas, as the grouping of mostly formerly communist countries aims to boost ties amid Russia's war in Ukraine.
The Three Seas Initiative, which was held in the capital, Bucharest, hosted high-ranking officials from EU countries as well as representatives from partner countries and aims to improve interconnectivity in the transportation, energy, and digital fields.
Launched in 2016, the Three Seas Initiative includes Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Estonia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Latvia and Lithuania. Austria is the only member that isn't formerly a communist country.

Sep 09, 2023

ASEAN, India Agree to Make Concerted Efforts

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India agreed to make concerted efforts to increase cooperation in food security, nutrition, food trade supply chain, cultivation of millets, and financing for climate-friendly technologies. This was agreed upon in the ASEAN-India Joint Leaders' statement on strengthening food security and nutrition in response to crises. The 20th ASEAN-India Summit was held on September 7, 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Member countries of ASEAN and India expressed their commitment to exchange information on national policy frameworks particularly for rice and other priority crop commodities to enhance food security and nutrition. Acknowledging the nutritional richness, climate resilience, health benefits and ecological sustainability of millets, they also supported efforts for the cultivation and harvesting of millets for ensuring global food security.

Sep 08, 2023

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Replaces Defense Minister

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the replacement of his Defence Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, amid investigations into financial improprieties and official corruption within the Defence Ministry. The change in leadership came as Ukraine is engaged in a counteroffensive, making gains in the south and east.
Ukraine's parliament voted to approve the appointment of Rustem Umerov as the country's new Defence Minister.

Sep 07, 2023

ASEAN Central Pillar of India's Act East Policy: PM Modi in Jakarta

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the ASEAN is the central pillar in India's Act East Policy, and added that it plays a key role in India's Indo-Pacific initiative.
Speaking at the 20th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Modi spoke of this year's (2023) theme 'ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth', and emphasised that the region plays an important role in global growth.

Vanuatu Parliament Elects Sato Kilman as Prime Minister

Vanuatu's parliament elected Sato Kilman as the nation's new Prime Minister after a court upheld a vote of no-confidence in his predecessor, who had sought closer ties with US allies amid China-US rivalry in the Pacific Islands. Kilman, a former Prime Minister and leader of the People's Progressive Party, was elected Prime Minister 27/23 in a secret ballot by lawmakers. Kilman received a total of 27 votes, while Kalsakau got 23 votes. Kilman was the deputy PM in Kalsakau's government before being removed. At the time Kalsakau had stated that Kilman's dismissal was for stability of the coalition government.
Vanuatu is an archipelago of 83 islands, of which 16 are inhabited. The largest islands are Espiritu Santo, Malakula, Efate, Erromango, Ambrym, Tanna, Pentecost, Epi, Ambae or Aoba, Gaua, Vanua Lava, Maewo, Malo and Aneityum or Anatom.
The capital of Vanuatu is Port Vila, which is located on the island of Efate. Other major towns include Luganville on Espiritu Santo and Isangel on Tanna.
The official languages of Vanuatu are Bislama, English, and French.

India Extends Support to SCO Member Countries to Enhance Legal and Judicial Capabilities

India extended support to Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member countries to enhance legal and judicial capabilities. The 10th meeting of the Ministers of Law and Justice of SCO countries was held via video conferencing.
The meeting began with the reading out of a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In his message, President Xi appealed to the members to work with a spirit of cooperation and understanding so as to realise the objectives and visions of the SCO and optimise its contribution towards the holistic development of the region.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal emphasised India's commitment to the SCO charter and its principles of mutual trust, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and mutual benefit.
A joint statement was signed by all the Ministers of Justice of the SCO Member countries that emphasised on the cooperation in the field of law and justice achieved in the last 22 years among the Member countries. Emphasising the mutual understanding reached on the development of the legal systems of the SCO member states, taking into account the agreements and tasks envisaged in the SCO development strategy 2025, the Ministers of Law and Justice of the SCO Member States through the Joint Statement declared the following:
To cooperate between Ministries of Law and Justice of SCO Member nations to enhance cooperation in legal and judicial spheres
Continue to work on the implementation of the Co-operation Agreement
Organise conferences, legal cooperation for better exchange of experience
Continue the work of the Expert Working Groups on Forensic Expertise and Legal Services

OpenAI Chief Sam Altman Becomes the First to Get Indonesia's 'Golden Visa'

Indonesia awarded OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman its first 'Golden Visa', a week after the program was launched to attract foreign investment to Southeast Asia's largest economy.
There are several categories of golden visas apart from those based on investment/capital investment, one of which is the golden visa which is given to figures who have an international reputation and can provide benefits for Indonesia.
Altman's Golden Visa is for 10 years. As a holder of the visa, the American entrepreneur will get to enjoy priority screening at airports across the country's vast archipelago, along with longer periods of stay, and ease of entry and exit.

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