General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - July 2017

Jul 2017

Aug 28, 2021

Algeria Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Morocco

Algeria's Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said Tuesday that his country has severed diplomatic relations with Morocco due to "hostile actions", following months of resurgent tensions between the North African rivals. The countries have long accused one another of backing opposition movements as proxies, with Algeria's support for separatists in the disputed region of Western Sahara a particular bone of contention for Morocco.
Their rivalry took a new twist last year when the outgoing U.S. President, Donald Trump, recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the territory — in exchange for Morocco normalising ties with Israel.

Tajikistan's Red Line on Taliban

In a significant development, Tajikistan has drawn a clear red line on the Taliban and said that Dushanbe will not recognize a government formed through oppression. The point was made during Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Pakistan Foreign minister SM Qureshi's meeting.
During the meeting, the Tajik President pointed, "Evidence clearly shows that the Taliban are abandoning their previous promises to form an interim government with the broad participation of other political forces in the country and are preparing to establish an Islamic Emirate."
Tajikistan has been worried over the developments in Afghanistan, and this has been the main focus during various Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meetings it has hosted. It will host the SCO heads of level meeting next month as the chair of the grouping.

Hamid Karzai, Abdullah Abdullah Under House Arrest in Kabul

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, High Council for National Reconciliation chief Abdullah Abdullah are effectively under house arrest in Kabul after the Taliban took away their security teams.
As per reports, the Taliban also confiscated cars of politicians who are currently at the mercy of the terrorist group. They also searched Abdullah's home.
Since taking over Kabul, the Taliban has promised to form an inclusive government. The group has held talks with former president Karzai and former chief executive Abdullah, both of whom stayed in Kabul after the Taliban's ascent to power after a lightning offensive.

Aug 27, 2021

Taliban Starts Govt. Formation

As per reports, the Taliban have appointed a new Finance Minister, an intelligence chief, and an acting Interior Minister in Afghanistan.
Gul Agha would be the Finance Minister and Sadr Ibrahim would be the acting Interior Minister. Najibullah would be intelligence chief, while Mullah Shirin would be Kabul governor and Hamdullah Nomani the Mayor of the capital. The Taliban appointed an obscure official as acting central bank governor as signs emerge of a financial crunch in Afghanistan, with ATMs running out of cash and prices of essential goods spiraling.

Taliban Agrees to Let Afghans Leave after August 31 Deadline

As per reports, the Taliban has agreed to let Afghanistan nationals be evacuated from the country after the August 31 deadline.
Germany's ambassador to Afghanistan Markus Potzel had met with Taliban deputy chief negotiator Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, who had assured me that Afghans with legal documents will continue to have the opportunity to travel on commercial flights after 31 August.
Britain warned the Taliban against attempts to coercively seal off Afghanistan from the rest of the world and urged the militant group to keep its borders open.

Aug 26, 2021

Copenhagen Tops EIU's Safe Cities Index 2021

Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmark, has been named as the world's safest city from among 60 global cities, in Safe Cities Index 2021, released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Copenhagen scored 82.4 points out of 100, to top the fourth edition of the EIU's biennial index, which measures the level of urban safety. Yangon is at the bottom of the index, as least safe city, with a score of 39.5.
New Delhi and Mumbai have found a place in the index. New Delhi is placed at 48th position with a score of 56.1, while Mumbai is at 50th place with a score of 54.4.

China in Talks with Taliban to Expand CPEC to Kabul

At a time when world leaders are still weary of diplomatic dealings with Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover, China has established its first diplomatic contact with the militant group, aimed at pushing forward its ambitious project -- the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) -- to Kabul.
As per reports, in a bid to push the CPEC, China is exploring opportunities to exploit Pakistan to enter the war-torn country.
Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan, Wang Yu, met Abdul Salam Hanafi, the deputy head of the Taliban political office in Qatar, in Kabul and had unimpeded and effective communication and consultation.

Aug 25, 2021

Canadian Forces Will Stay in Afghanistan

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that Canada will keep its military personnel in Afghanistan despite US President Joe Biden`s commitment for August 31 troops withdrawal deadline in the war-ravaged country.
Trudeau`s remarks came after the virtual summit of G7 leaders who met to discuss whether an extension of the American military commitment to Afghanistan is needed for evacuating all foreign nationals and vulnerable Afghans who helped the Americans and the NATO allies before the country`s recent fall to the Taliban.

Taliban Names Mohammad Idris to Lead Central Bank

The Taliban appointed an obscure official as acting central bank governor as signs emerge of a financial crunch in Afghanistan, with ATMs running out of cash and prices of essential goods spiraling.
Mohammad Idris, who headed the Taliban's economic commission, will address the looming banking issues and the problems of the people as head of Da Afghanistan Bank. Little is known about Idris, including his education background and professional qualifications in dealing with monetary, currency and banking policy.
The Taliban is negotiating with banks to become operational soon.

South Africa's Unemployment Rate World's Highest

South Africa's unemployment rate is now the highest in the world, according to a list of 82 countries monitored by Bloomberg.
It rose to 34.4% in the second quarter from 32.6% in the three months of the year, the news agency quoted Statistics South Africa as saying in its latest report.
Unemployment has been a long-standing problem in South Africa.
But analysts say recent restrictions to curb a third wave of coronavirus and last month's riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces are likely to continue harming one of Africa's biggest economies.

Aug 24, 2021

Taliban Warn of Consequences if US Delays Withdrawal Process

Ahead of an emergency G7 meeting on Afghanistan, the Taliban warned that there would be consequences if the US and the UK sought an extension to the August 31 deadline for the US-led troop withdrawal from the war-torn country.
Britain is urging the US to extend its evacuation effort in Kabul beyond the current August 31 deadline, saying without the Americans other countries would have no choice but to stop their own operations to help people fleeing the Taliban takeover.

Risks of Party Revolt Grow for Japan's PM Yoshihide Suga

Unpopular Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga looks increasingly vulnerable to a challenge from within his party for the nation's top job after an ally's defeat in a local election seen as a referendum on Suga's Covid-19 response.
If Suga loses, he would join a long list of short-term premiers. He took over in September 2020 after Abe quit, citing ill health and ending a rare lengthy term of nearly eight years.
Suga, whose term as ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader ends next month, has seen his support slide from highs of about 70% to below 30%.

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