General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2017

May 2017

Sep 23, 2019

Israel Electric Corporation Cuts Power In Parts Of West Bank Over Debts

Israel's national electricity company said it was cutting power to parts of the occupied West Bank due to outstanding payments amounting to nearly 483 million US dollars.
The Israel Electric Corporation owed 1.7 billion shekels in debt from the main Palestinian power distributor for the West Bank, which is based in east Jerusalem. The company in a statement said it will reduce the current in some areas of the West Bank because of the debts.
The Palestinian Authority has denounced the move as "blackmail" by the Israeli authorities. It said it has repaid nearly 100 million dollars in debts during the past two months.
The Palestinian health ministry has warned the power cuts could affect hospitals and medical centres.

Indian-American Dosti Flag Emblem Replaces Presidential Seal From Presidential Lectern

In a rare move reflective of India-US friendship, the Trump administration replaced the presidential seal with an "India-US dosti flag" emblem from the presidential lectern.
As a matter of tradition, every lectern from where a US President speaks – be it a joint press conference or an election speech or any speaking engagement either domestically or overseas – carries a presidential emblem.
However, for a change and to the pleasant surprise to many, the presidential lectern had a circular emblem with the national flags of both the US and India.

Delhi, Dhaka To Boost Maritime Ties

India will join Bangladesh to commemorate 100 years of 'Bangabandhu', the founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in 2020, and an International Fleet Review in 2021 to mark 50 years of the Liberation of Bangladesh.
Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh is on a visit to Dhaka where these issues would be discussed along with other maritime and security issues.

Chilahati- Border Railway Link Upgradation Work Inaugurated To Connect West Bengal With Bangladesh

Railway Minister of Bangladesh, Md. Nurul Islam Sujan and High Commissioner of India, Riva Ganguly Das laid the foundation stone at Chilahati in Bangladesh for undertaking the work of up-gradation and laying of missing tracks from Chilahati to the border with India near Haldibari.
The 7.5-kilometre long railway track will help in providing connectivity from West Bengal into Assam via Bangladesh.
Construction of immigration and customs post will also be done on it. On completion, this will provide a big boost to trade, travel and tourism between Bangladesh and India.
The Haldibari- Chilahati railway track was part of the broad gauge main route from Kolkata to Siliguri during British undivided India.
Trains from Bangladesh to Darjeeling via Siliguri operated till 1965 which stopped functioning after the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

PM Modi Arrives In New York For 74th UN General Assembly Session

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in New York to participate in the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly after delivering an electrifying speech in Houston to over 50,000 members of the Indian diaspora at a mega community event which was also addressed by US President Donald Trump.
India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin has said that the country's engagement and outreach at the 74th UN General Assembly will be unprecedented and will result in concrete, tangible, action-oriented outcomes.
A total of over 75 Heads of State and Foreign Ministers will be meeting with Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan across various platforms.

Sep 22, 2019

Gujarat, New Jersey Ink Sister State MoU

Gujarat and New Jersey in the United States of America inked a 'sister state agreement' MoU for cooperation in economic development, clean energy, higher education, tourism, cultural exchange as well as health and trade-investment.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and New Jersey Governor Philip Murphy at a function in Gandhinagar.
Murphy is heading a trade and education delegation from New Jersey.

Sep 21, 2019

Trump Sanctions Iran's Central Bank in Wake of Strikes on Saudi Oil Facilities

Just days after an attack on Saudi oil facilities that the U.S. blamed on Iran, President Trump announced a new round of sanctions targeting the country's central bank and sovereign wealth fund.
The U.S. had called the Saudi oil attack an "act of war," with high-ranking officials such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury of Secretary Steve Mnuchin accusing Tehran of orchestrating the strikes.
The sanctions, which Trump called "the strongest sanctions ever put on a country," target Iran's central bank and national development fund.
Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Iran would respond to a U.S. or Saudi military strike with "an all-out war."

India, Mongolia to Explore Space Together

India and Mongolia signed MoUs on space cooperation and disaster management that will provide a new dimension to the India-Mongolia strategic partnership.
The agreements would allow India to support Mongolia in resource management and satellite communication.
A joint statement said the space cooperation would allow "peaceful exploration" of outer space and include remote sensing and weather forecasting.

Kiribati Cuts Diplomatic Ties to Taiwan in Favor Of China

The United States said it is deeply disappointed in Kiribati's decision to abandon its diplomatic ties with Taiwan, in favor of China.
Several Republican and Democratic lawmakers voiced grave concerns.
A Senate panel plans to move forward with a congressional proposal that could "impose consequences on nations downgrading ties with Taiwan."
The Pacific island nation of Kiribati severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan, becoming the second country to do so, and bolstering China's hand.
This comes as another blow to Taiwan, as its three decades' diplomatic relations with the Solomon Islands ended after the Pacific island state's cabinet voted in favor of switching ties to China.

India to Leverage Its Strategic Energy Partnership With US

India and US plan to further strengthen their Strategic Energy Partnership that was launched in New Delhi in April in 2018.
This may include larger energy imports from the US by the world's third-largest oil importer' state run firms such as Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL).
This comes in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the energy resource rich country where he will be addressing an energy round table in Houston.
US secretary of state Michael Richard Pompeo has promised India of adequate crude oil supplies even as India.

Sep 20, 2019

PM Modi To Inaugurate Gandhi Solar Park & Gandhi Peace Garden During UN Visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a 50 kilowatt Gandhi Solar Park and Gandhi Peace Garden during his visit to the United Nation in the next week.
At a contribution of about one million dollars, India has gifted solar panels that have been installed on the roof of the United Nation Headquarters, one panel each for every 193 member states.
Mr. Modi will also inaugurate the Gandhi Peace Garden during a special commemorative event on 24th September, 2019 marking Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary.
On this occasion, a special United Nation postal stamp on Gandhi's 150 years will also be released.
This garden is spread in 600 acres and dedicated in the memory of Gandhi wherein people adopted trees in the memory of their loved ones.

Statue of Lord Buddha Inaugurated at Gandan Monastery

Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. Prime Minister Modi and the Mongolian President jointly unveiled a statue of Lord Buddha at Gandan Monastery in Ulaanbaatar through video-conferencing.
Mr. Battulga will meet Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu. He will also participate in an India-Mongolia Business Forum in New Delhi.
In the evening, the visiting dignitary will meet President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bahavan where India and Mongolia are expected to sign and exchange agreements in different fields.
A Banquet will be hosted by President Kovind in honour of the visiting President.
Mr. Battulga was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President Ram Nath Kovind welcomed the visiting dignitary.
Later, Mr. Battulga paid tribute to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

US Expels Two Cuban Diplomats to The UN in New York

The US has expelled two Cuban diplomats to the UN in New York, accusing them of conducting "activities harmful to US national security."
All of Cuba's UN mission are now restricted to Manhattan where the UN is headquartered.
The US has yet to provide details about the alleged actions.
Cuba's foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez called the move "categorically unjustified".

Sep 19, 2019

Sri Lanka To Hold Presidential Election On November 16

Sri Lanka will hold presidential elections on November 16, 2019 the Election Commission announced. Nominations would be called on October 7, 2019.
The coming election has been drawing much interest locally and internationally, with Leader of Opposition and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa naming his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a controversial former Defence Secretary accused of war-crimes, as the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna candidate.

Mongolian Prez Arriving In New Delhi On Five Day State Visit

President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga arrived in New Delhi on a five day State visit.
He will be accompanied by a high-level official and business delegation. Mr Battulga will be accorded ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The visiting dignitary will meet President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During his stay, the Mongolian President will visit Agra, Bodh Gaya and Bengaluru. Mr Battulga's visit to India will be the first State visit by a Mongolian President in last 10 years.

Israel Election Results

Israel's ruling Likud party and its main rival Blue and White party are tied at 32 seats each, putting the country's longest serving prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a shaky ground with his right-wing bloc falling five short of a majority in the 120-member Parliament.
Netanyahu's Likud and centrist challenger Benny Gantz's Blue and White stood at 32 seats each after counting of 90 per cent of ballots were completed.
The secular Yisrael Beitenu party won 9 seats, making its leader Avigdor Lieberman the kingmaker in the elections.
Netanyahu, 69, called the snap election after failing to form a governing coalition with a viable majority.
Joint List, an alliance of mostly Arab Israeli parties, stood at the third place with 12 seats, followed by the ultra-Orthodox Shas with nine seats.

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