General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2017

Feb 2017

Oct 11, 2022

In UNGA, India Votes to Reject Russia's Demand for Secret Ballot on Draft Resolution on Ukraine

India for the first time voted at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) against Russia's demand for a secret ballot on a draft resolution to condemn its annexation of four regions of Ukraine.
India voted against Russia in August at the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the issue of inviting President Zelenskyy to speak virtually at a debate on Ukraine. The Foreign Office had then said "we have not voted against anyone," terming the vote as procedural.
This time, too, the vote is procedural – on the question of whether the division at the end of a forthcoming debate in UNGA should be open or by secret ballot.
Albania moved a motion seeking to condemn Russia's "illegal so-called referendums" and "attempted illegal annexation" of Ukraine's Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
With 107 countries at UNGA, including India, rejecting Russia's demand for a secret ballot, Russia has appealed against the ruling by the chair and this year's UNGA President Csaba Korosi.
Only 13 nations voted in favour of Russia's call for a secret ballot and 39 abstained. Russia and China were among the countries that did not vote.
Russia then sought reconsideration of the decision to adopt the motion submitted by Albania for a recorded vote. The UNGA decided not to reconsider the motion after 104 nations, including India, voted against, 16 voted in favour and 34 abstained.

Malaysian PM Ismail Yaakob Dissolves Parliament, Calls for Early Elections

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved the Parliament, paving the way for general elections that are expected to be held in early November.
The elections would come nine months before Parliament's term expires, following calls for early polls from Ismail's United Malays National Organisation.
UMNO, the biggest party in the ruling coalition, was feuding with its allies and is aiming for a big win on its own.
The Election Commission is expected to meet within the week to announce a date for the vote.

Oct 10, 2022

Lahore Ranked as Most Polluted City in the World with AQI between 166-279

As the smog season returns, Lahore once again ranked as the most polluted city in the world with the Air Quality Index (AQI) rating ranging between 166 and 279 in the different areas of the metropolis.
The latest data gathered through various government and private monitors highlighted that the air quality of the provincial capital is the worst in the world, followed by Beijing, Dhaka, Milan, Shenyang, Seattle, Zagreb, Portland, Karachi and Vancouver.
Live statistics released by the United States air quality monitoring agency IQ Air showed that the worst atmospheric pollution was recorded at Kot Lakhpat where the AQI rating was hovering around 279.

Oct 09, 2022

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Attends 8th Summit of Speakers of G-20 Parliaments Held in Jakarta

Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla attended the 8th G20 Parliamentary Speaker's Summit in Indonesia's capital Jakarta. He led the Indian delegation included Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Rajya Sabha Secretary-General PC Mody, and other officials.
Birla met with Mr. Milton Dick, Speaker, House of Representatives, Australia during P20 and the leaders discussed bilateral issues ranging from the parliamentary exchange, and economy to culture. They also highlighted the role of the Australian-Indian community & cricket in bringing our countries together.

Oct 08, 2022

UNHRC Adopts Resolution against Sri Lanka's Rights Record; India Abstains from Voting

India abstained on a draft resolution in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka which was adopted.
While abstaining, India stressed that it will work with Sri Lanka and the international community to attain the related objectives of legitimate aspirations of Tamils of Sri Lanka and prosperity for all Sri Lankans.
The draft resolution on 'Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka' was adopted at the 51st Session of Human Rights Council in Geneva, with 20 nations voting in favour in the 47-member Council, seven against, including China and Pakistan, and 20 abstentions, including by India, Japan, Nepal and Qatar.
The 20 countries that voted in favour of the resolution included the United Kingdom, the United States, Argentina, Finland, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Republic of Korea and Ukraine.

Oct 07, 2022

Armenia, Azerbaijan Hold Talks in Prague in Efforts to Ease Tensions

The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia held talks in Prague in efforts to ease tensions between the two long-time adversaries.
Armenia agreed to facilitate a civilian EU mission alongside the border with Azerbaijan, according to a joint statement, following a meeting on the margins of a European summit in the presence of the EU Council President Charles Michel and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Azerbaijan agreed to cooperate with this mission as far as it is concerned.
Last month, Armenia and Azerbaijan negotiated a cease-fire to end a flare-up of fighting that killed 155 soldiers from both sides.

Captain Ibrahim Traore Appointed Burkina Faso President

Captain Ibrahim Traore was appointed as President of Burkina Faso after Paul-Henri Damiba was removed in the West African country's second coup in less than nine months.
The Sahel country plunged into political turmoil on September 30 after a group of officers decided to remove Damiba due to his inability to deal with a worsening armed uprising, dissolved the transitional government and suspended the constitution.

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