General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2017

Feb 2017

Jun 20, 2023

Xi Jinping, Blinken Agree to Stabilise US-China Relations

China and the United States agreed to stabilise their intense rivalry so it doesn't veer into conflict but failed to produce any major breakthrough during a rare visit to Beijing by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The top US diplomat and Xi both stressed the importance of having a more stable relationship, as any conflict between the world's two largest economies would create global disruption.
However, China refused to entertain Washington's bid to resume military-to-military communication channels and cited US sanctions as the obstacle. The two sides appeared entrenched in their positions over everything from Taiwan to trade, including US actions toward China's chip industry, human rights and Russia's war against Ukraine.

Jun 19, 2023

NITI Aayog and United Nations Join Hands to Accelerate Sustainable Development in India

The Government of India and the United Nations signed the Government of India – United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027 (GoI-UNSDCF). This collaboration between NITI Aayog, the government policy think tank, and the UN in India aims to advance India's sustainable development goals. The framework focuses on key areas such as gender equality, youth empowerment, human rights, and overall sustainable development, aligning with the 2030 Agenda.
The strategic roadmap aims to achieve India's sustainable development targets.
Four pillars of the framework are: People, Prosperity, Planet, and Participation.
The Six key outcome areas are: health and well-being, quality education, economic growth, environment and climate, and empowerment of individuals and communities.
The strategic roadmap aims to achieve India's sustainable development targets.
Four pillars of the framework: People, Prosperity, Planet, and Participation.
Six key outcome areas: health and well-being, quality education, economic growth, environment and climate, and empowerment of individuals and communities.

African Leaders in Russia to Discuss their Peace Plan with Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a group of African leaders who travelled to Russia on a self-styled "peace mission" after their trip to Ukraine.
Seven African leaders — Presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, as well as Egypt's Prime Minister and top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda — visited Ukraine to try to help end their nearly 16-month-old war.
The mission to Ukraine, the first of its kind by African leaders, comes in the wake of other peace initiatives — such as one by China — and carried particular importance for Africa that relies on food and fertiliser deliveries from Russia and Ukraine.

Suresh Srivastava Unanimously Elected as Vice-chairman of Global UN Advocacy Body

Suresh Srivastava, a senior Indian advocate was unanimously elected as the vice-chairman of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA), an international UN advocacy body. This appointment reflects the prominent role of the Indian Federation of United Nations Associations (IFUNA), an affiliate body of WFUNA. The election took place during the executive committee meeting of WFUNA, held at the United Nations premises in New York.
Suresh Srivastava in assuming the position of vice-chairman of WFUNA will have significant responsibility in shaping the organization's policies and priorities. He will also contribute to advancing WFUNA's mission on a global scale.
WFUNA is a global non-profit organization that represents and coordinates the membership of more than 100 national United Nations Associations (UNAs) and their constituents. It serves as a platform for collaboration and coordination among these associations, working towards the shared goal of supporting the United Nations and its mission.

Jun 18, 2023

General Decline in Consumption and Sharing of News in India

Overall consumption and sharing of news declined in India compared with last year, along with a sharp decrease in access to online news (-12 percentage points) while television, too, saw a 10pp decline as a news source, according to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2023.
The 12th edition of the report, produced in collaboration with the Asian College of Journalism, surveys the news consumption habits of consumers across 46 markets.
As per the report, India registered a small decrease of 3 pp (38%) in overall trust in news compared to last year, and was ranked 24th among 46 countries in this regard. Finland remained the country with the highest levels of overall trust in news (69%) while Greece had the lowest levels of trust (19%), globally.
Among individual news brands, public broadcasters like DD India, All India Radio, and BBC News retained high levels of trust among survey respondents in India, emphasising the importance of public service media," the report noted. YouTube was the most preferred social media platform for news with 56% of the respondents accessing it.

Australia Names Career Diplomat Philip Green as Next High Commissioner to India

Australia named career diplomat Philip Green as the next High Commissioner to India, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong describing the two countries as close partners working for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region.
Green, a senior officer with the department of foreign affairs and trade, served as Australia's ambassador to Germany. He has also served as the High Commissioner to Singapore, South Africa and Kenya.
Green will replace Barry O'Farrell, who has played a crucial role in shaping and guiding Australia's defence, security, and trade relations with India over the past three years.
During O'Farrell's watch, the two countries signed the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA), which gives the armed forces reciprocal access to bases and logistics, and the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA).

Russia Plans to Hold Elections in Annexed Territories in September

Russia's central election commission set the date for regional elections in four Ukrainian provinces that Moscow claims to have annexed for September 10, coinciding with votes in other Russian regions.
As per reports, election chief Ella Pamfilova said that Russia's Defence Ministry and Federal Security Service (FSB) considered it possible to hold the votes in September.
Russia does not fully control the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in eastern and southern Ukraine and fighting is ongoing in all four regions. The regions are scheduled to elect local governors in September.
Russia declared the regions part of its own territory after conducting what it called referendums in occupied areas in September 2022.

Jun 17, 2023

UNGA Adopts Resolution to Honour Fallen Peacekeepers, Introduced by India

The United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus a draft resolution piloted by India to establish a memorial wall in the UN headquarters to honour fallen peacekeepers.
The passage of the resolution in the UNGA with a record 190 co-sponsorships came days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official state visit to the United States and his participation in the International Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations headquarters on June 21.
India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj introduced the draft resolution titled 'Memorial wall for fallen United Nations Peacekeepers' in the UN General Assembly Hall and it was adopted by consensus.
It welcomed the initiative of member states to establish at a suitable and prominent place at United Nations Headquarters in New York a memorial wall to honour the memory of fallen peacekeepers, giving due consideration to the modalities involved, including the recording of the names of those who have made the supreme sacrifice. While introducing the resolution, Kamboj said that the memorial wall will be a testimony to the importance that the UN bestows on peacekeeping.

UK Names First Female Envoy to Pakistan

The UK appointed senior diplomat Jane Marriott as the next British High Commissioner to Pakistan, making her the first female British envoy to Islamabad.
Prior to this appointment, Marriott was the High Commissioner to Kenya since September 2019. She replaced Christian Turner, who left Pakistan in January 2023 after serving as the envoy since December 2019.
Marriott brings a wealth of thematic and regional experience to her new role having joined the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in 2001, following roles in the Cabinet Office and Home Office.
She has also completed two diplomatic postings to Iraq and one to Afghanistan.

Jun 16, 2023

Bhupender Yadav Addresses the Plenary Session at the 111th International Labour Conference in Geneva

Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav addressed the Plenary Session at the 111th International Labour Conference in Geneva. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi India is moving towards Amrit Kaal with the commitment to provide social security and decent work to its workforce.
Yadav also said that through its G20 Presidency, India aims to push for tools to map skill gaps among countries and move towards harmonisation and mutual recognition of skills and qualifications, and also aims to work with the world to find out ways for sustainable financing mechanisms to provide universal and comprehensive social security coverage to all, including for gig and platform workers.
Yadav also met the Director General of the International Labour Organization Gilbert Houngbo on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference. Issues around Employment Working Group Priority Areas of Global Skill Gaps, Gig and Platform Economy and Social Protection and Sustainable Financing for Social Security under India's G20 Presidency were discussed.

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