General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2017

May 2017

Mar 20, 2019

U.K. to Seek Brexit Extension

The British government has indicated that it could press ahead with plans for a vote on Prime Minister Theresa May's controversial withdrawal agreement next week, despite a warning from the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow that only a significantly different agreement could be put to the House again.
Unless an extension is agreed to (or Article 50 is revoked by both sides) Britain is set to leave the EU with or without a deal on that date.
Mr. Bercow's warning that parliamentary votes carried "weight" and that the House could not be asked the same question infinitely means that the government won't bring the withdrawal deal to MPs ahead of the meeting of the European Union Council.
Even though the government looked set to lose the vote, there were hopes that with some MPs wavering, it could lose by a smaller margin and that this could help the government in extracting further concessions from the EU.
However, without that recourse, the government will have to find a new strategy.

Hong Kong to Build Artificial Island

Hong Kong plans to build one of the world's largest artificial islands with an investment of $79 billion.
The government's HK$624 billion proposal to reclaim 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of land around the territory's largest island, Lantau, has been touted as a solution to the pressing housing shortage in the city, which is notorious as one of the least affordable markets on the planet.
Authorities said they hope to start work on reclaiming land in 2025, with an eye on allowing residents to move to the island in 2032.
The artificial island -- the city's most expensive infrastructure project to date -- would be four times the cost of building Hong Kong International Airport, which opened on Lantau in 1998, and far outstrip Dubai's famous palm-tree shaped Palm Jumeirah, which reportedly cost $12 billion to build.
The man-made island would be nearly three times the size of New York's Central Park and provide up to 260,000 flats, more than 70 per cent of which would be used for public housing.

The World's Most Expensive City

Move over Singapore, the world's most expensive city has two new rivals.
After topping the Economist Intelligence Unit's Worldwide Cost of Living Survey for five years, Asia's Lion City has been joined by Paris and Hong Kong in a tie at the top of the table.
Zurich and Geneva rounded out the top five, while New York and Los Angeles reclaimed spots in the top 10, ranking in 7th and 10th, respectively, after slipping to 13th and 14th in 2018, thanks to a weakening dollar.
The survey is designed to help companies calculate cost-of-living allowances and build compensation packages for expatriates and business travelers.

Signing FTA with India

According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Minister for Asia Mark Field and the head of the South Asia Department Fergus Auld, Britain has acknowledged that securing a Free Trade Agreement with India will not be its immediate priority as it prepares to leave the EU and focusses on first-tier countries.
Instead, Britain would initially focus on tackling existing barriers to trade.
Mr. Auld said that the Department would first focus on securing FTAs that were relatively simple and where there was clear mutual advantage.

Mar 19, 2019

Gun Law Reforms

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern vowed to unveil reforms to the country's existing gun laws in the wake of the March 15 Christchurch mosques shootings that claimed the lives of 50 people.
Ardern's cabinet has agreed in principle on proposals to change the country's gun laws in response to the terror attack, but Ardern did not say what those changes might be.
Ardern also confirmed there would be a review of security agencies' actions following the shootings at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Masjid.

Mar 18, 2019

Brexit Parliamentary Vote

British Trade Secretary Liam Fox warned that it might not have a planned Brexit vote this week unless it feels it could secure a win that avoids a lengthy delay to the EU pullout.
Prime Minister Theresa May warned that another defeat would almost certainly require Britain to take part in European Parliament elections in May.

Israel Court Orders Closure of Golden Gate

An Israeli court ordered the temporary closure of a side building at a sensitive Jerusalem holy site that has recently been the source of tensions.
The Jerusalem magistrates court said the building known as the Golden Gate at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, should be closed while the case continues.
The site's administrator, the Waqf religious organisation, was given 60 days to respond to the court case involving the building. Israeli police have called for the building to be closed.
There are believed to be discussions ongoing between Israel and Jordan, the custodian of the holy site, over the status of the building.

Mar 17, 2019

Czech Republic Wants to Have Partnership with India

According to Czech Ambassador Milan Hovorka, Czech Republic and India have strong bilateral and economic ties and both countries want to elevate it to the next level.
Mr. Milan said that we have already proved our capacity to be a trustful partner to help India build its industrial capacity, especially in the power generation and defence sectors.
We have advanced the idea of elevating our bilateral partnership.
We have agreed to start discussions at the end of which we could come to an agreement that we can elevate it to the level of strategic partnership.

The U.S., France and U.K. in Talks with China

The U.S. and two other permanent Security Council members, France and Britain, are believed to be in intense good faith discussions with China to arrive at a compromise on the UN designation of Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.
China blocked, for the fourth consecutive time, a resolution at the UN Security Council Committee on designating Azhar as a global terrorist.

Indians to Get More Time to Find work in U.K.

Indians and other international students to the U.K. will have a longer time to find work after completing their undergraduate or postgraduate degree, under changes announced by the British government.
The changes fall short of the two-year post-study work visa that many have been campaigning for but are regarded as a step in the right direction.
Undergraduate and postgraduate students will now have six months within which they can find work, whereas doctoral students will have a year after their degree.
They will also be able to apply for a skilled work visa three months before the end of their course, or move to skilled work for two years after graduation if they return to their home country.
This is part of a package of measures to boost foreign student numbers to around 6,00,000 by 2030, from 4,60,000 in 2017-2018.

Mar 16, 2019

Suspending Denuclearisation Talks

As per reports, North Korea is considering suspending denuclearisation talks with Washington.
The North has no intention to yield to the US demands in any form, nor is it willing to engage in negotiations of this kind.

US, EU, Canada Slap Sanctions on Russia

The United States, the European Union (EU) and Canada imposed new sanctions on Russia over its continued aggression against Ukraine.
According to Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino, sanctions were imposed on individuals who orchestrated the unjustified November 25 attack on three Ukrainian naval vessels near the Kerch Strait.
Additionally, the United States imposed sanctions on six Russian defense firms, including shipbuilding companies; two individuals involved in the November sham 'elections' in Russia-controlled eastern Ukraine; and two Russian energy and construction companies operating in Crimea.
Palladino said that the message to Russia is clear, the international community will not stand by while Russia continues to violate international norms and laws and the Transatlantic Community stands united in our efforts to counter Russian aggression.

Royal Household Split

Britain's Prince Harry and his pregnant wife Meghan are to set up their own household, breaking away from the joint operation they shared with the Harry's elder brother William and his wife Kate.
Harry and Meghan, known officially as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have shared staff with William and Kate since their marriage in May 2018.
Queen Elizabeth has now agreed to allow them to set up a new base at Buckingham Palace this Spring.

France Slaps Sanctions on Azhar

France has decided to sanction Masood Azhar at the national level by freezing his assets in application of the Monetary and Financial Code.
It is understood that the move was aimed at bringing a national ban on Masood Azhar as this is necessary for barring him and his associates from accessing any EU territory and facilities.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called the decision a sign of worldwide support for India's fight against terrorism.
France will raise this issue with its European partners with a view to including Masood Azhar on the European Union list of persons, groups and entities involved in terrorist acts, based on this decree.
The action is expected to put more pressure on Pakistan to act against the terror groups based in its territory.
India has been demanding tough verifiable action against the terror groups and individuals like Azhar.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

October GK, September GK, August GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services and Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26