General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2017

Feb 2017

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.

Sep 06, 2023

Indian-American Arjun Gupta Appointed Chair of US Federal Body

Arjun Gupta, Indian American founder and chief believer at TeleSoft Partners, an Aspen, Colorado, -based special situations venture capital firm, was appointed chair of a newly established Investment Capital Advisory Committee.
The 14-member committee will advise the US Small Business Administration (SBA) in the development of a more inclusive and accessible ecosystem for small businesses nationwide.
Consisting of members with diverse perspectives, experiences, and occupational backgrounds in and related to the US private investment industry, the committee has been formed to increase small businesses and startups' access to investment capital.
The launch of SBA's inaugural Investment Capital Advisory Committee with its distinguished membership will serve as a critical resource to the Biden-Harris Administration as we strengthen our policies and programs to foster a more inclusive investment ecosystem.
The committee's main objective is to promote, expand, and strengthen the ecosystem of private funds financing US small businesses and startups, to fund entrepreneurs and small business owners from traditionally underserved communities.

Sep 05, 2023

China to Create New Department to Bolster Growth in Private Sector

China's top economic planner is creating a new department to help private businesses, the latest step by the government to revive confidence in the sector and bolster growth.
The private economy development bureau will be responsible for tracking and analysing the state of the industry, along with coordinating and drafting policies to promote its growth.
Beijing unveiled a drip-feed of policies in recent months intended to revitalise private companies and attract foreign investment, with President Xi Jinping vowing to ease market access and create opportunities for global cooperation.
The new bureau will also regularly talk to companies and help them resolve their main problems, as well as support their attempts to improve international competitiveness.

Sep 04, 2023

Indian-origin Economist Shanmugaratnam Wins Singapore Presidential Election

In a significant political development, Indian-origin economist Tharman Shanmugaratnam emerged victorious in Singapore's presidential election. This victory is especially noteworthy as it came after a gap of ten years, marking the country's first contested presidential polls since 2011.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam secured a substantial majority in the presidential elections, receiving a resounding 70.4 per cent of the votes. His victory was achieved against two other contenders of Chinese origin, Ng Kok Song and Tan Kin Lian, who garnered 15.7 percent and 13.88 per cent of the votes, respectively.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the president-elect, entered the realm of politics in 2001.
Shanmugaratnam, aged sixty-six, previously held the position of Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister from 2011 to 2019. His political journey began in 2001, and he has also made significant contributions in the public sector, holding various ministerial positions.

US State Georgia Officially Declares October as 'Hindu Heritage Month'

In a significant move, Governor Brian Kemp of the U.S. state of Georgia officially declared that the month of October will be celebrated as 'Hindu Heritage Month' within the state. This proclamation aligns Georgia with several other states across the United States that have taken similar steps to honour and commemorate Hindu heritage, culture, values, and traditions.
Georgia joined a growing list of states that have recognized the importance of Hindu heritage and culture. These states include Texas, Ohio, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, Minnesota, Virginia, and others. The declaration of 'Hindu Heritage Month' serves as a way to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions and significance of Hinduism in American society.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das Rated 'A+' In Global Finance Central Banker Report 2023

Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das is among three central bank chiefs to earn an "A+" grade in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023.
The grades are based on a scale from A to F for success in inflation control, economic growth goals, currency stability and interest rate management. An "A" grade represents an excellent performance down through an "F" for outright failure.
Global Finance's annual Central Banker Report Cards celebrate those bank governors whose strategies outperformed their peers through originality, creativity and tenacity.
The other two central bank chiefs who earned "A+" grades along with Das are -- Thomas J. Jordan (Switzerland) and Nguyen Thi Hong (Vietnam).

Sep 03, 2023

Grant Shapps Becomes New UK Defence Minister After Ben Wallace Resigns

Grant Shapps was named as the UK's new Defence Secretary, replacing the long-serving Ben Wallace.
Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who last month announced he would step down in the next UK government cabinet reshuffle, has resigned, the Prime Minister's office said.

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