General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - October 2017

Oct 2017

Apr 15, 2022

Jaishankar Meets U.N. Chief Guterres, Discusses Key Issues Including Ukraine Situation

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a "wide-ranging discussion" with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and exchanged views on the global impact of the Ukraine conflict as well as the situation in Afghanistan and Myanmar.
Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were in Washington for the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with their US counterparts Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd J Austin III.

WTO Reduced the 2022 Global Trade Growth Forecast to 3%

The World Trade Organization (WTO) lowered its 2022 global trade forecast to 3 per cent, from 4.7 per cent, due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and a potentially more transmissible Omicron subtype fettering China. The forecast for 2023 is 3.4 per cent.
Geopolitical tensions have resulted in commodity prices rising sharply. Since Russia and Ukraine are key providers of food, energy, and fertilisers, their supply has become arduous. Shipments from Black Sea ports are on freeze, affecting poor countries. In addition, lockdowns in China may trigger renewed shortage of manufacturing inputs and higher inflation, causing fresh disruption in trade.

Apr 14, 2022

UNDP Announces $2.2 Million in Climate Action Grants for Innovators across 19 Countries, Includin...

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced $2.2 million in climate action grants for 22 local innovators across 19 countries, including India.
The first round of funding will enhance local climate action and accelerate the delivery of targets outlined in the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.
The initiative empowers local actors and contributes to the principles for locally led adaptation action, which have been endorsed by UNDP and partners around the world.
Grants were awarded across 19 countries, including seven from Africa, 11 from Asia, and four from the Latin America and Caribbean region.

Foundation Laid for India LOC Funded Hi-tech Park in Bangladesh

The foundation stone for the first IT/ Hi-Tech Park was laid at Keraniganj near Dhaka, Bangladesh by the High Commissioner of India Vikram Doraiswami, Bangladesh State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, and State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid. This is the first of 12 such parks to be built under the Line of Credit (LOC) extended by the Govt of India to Bangladesh.
These 12 IT/Hi-Tech parks would greatly help promote the IT Industry of Bangladesh and build capacity in new and emerging technologies, said a tweet issued by the High Commission of India after the inauguration of the Hi-Tech Park. The project would also involve the construction of energy-efficient green buildings with designs inspired by the national flower of Bangladesh Lily.
The construction of the 7-storey, 15,000-square-foot high-tech park would cost around Tk 200 crore. Close to 1000 people will get training opportunities every year and 3000 people will get direct or indirect employment opportunities here, said an official press release issued by the government of Bangladesh.

Apr 13, 2022

India, Malaysia Vow to Deepen Ties, Intensify Cooperation in Various Fields

India and Malaysia reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and hoped for faster revival of ties in the post-Covid period, taking into account the shared commitment of both sides to further intensify cooperation in a wide range of areas. The two countries vowed to deepen ties at the 5th Foreign Office Consultations at Putrajaya, Malaysia, that were co-chaired by Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, and Amran Bin Mohamed Zin, Deputy Secretary General for Bilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. The Foreign Office Consultations provided an opportunity to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Fourth US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington DC

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III welcomed Ministers of Defense Rajnath Singh and External Affairs S. Jaishankar to Washington, D.C. for the fourth US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. A virtual conference between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joseph Biden preceded the Dialogue.
With a shared commitment to democracy and pluralism, a multifaceted bilateral agenda, and growing convergence of strategic interests, the United States and independent India are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations. Both countries seek to maintain a resilient, rules-based international order that protects sovereignty and territorial integrity, upholds democratic values, and promotes peace and prosperity for all.
The Ministers recalled the initiatives outlined by the United States and India at the first Summit for Democracy and expressed their desire for continued cooperation in the current Year of Action leading up to the next Summit. The US expressed gratitude to India for its assistance with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) missions in the country. The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to DPAA missions in the future.

Apr 12, 2022

India, US to Bolster Cooperation in Fields of Education, Skill Development

Lauding the vibrant linkages between the two countries, India and the US reiterated their support for further strengthening cooperation in the fields of education and skill development through joint collaborations.
The ministers announced the intent to establish a new India-US Education and Skills Development Working Group and also appreciated the contribution of the Fulbright-Nehru program in furthering the exchange of outstanding academics and professionals between both countries and the special role that the four million strong Indian-American diaspora play in deepening India-US relations.
Welcoming the resumption of regular air travel between the two countries and expressing hope that this would encourage tourism and business travel, the two sides acknowledged that the movement of skilled professionals, students, entrepreneurs, investors, and business travellers between the countries will play an important role in catalyzing innovation and economic opportunity.

US Reaffirms Support for India's Permanent Membership in Reformed UNSC, NSG

The Biden administration reaffirmed its commitment to support India's permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council and New Delhi's entry to the Nuclear Suppliers' Group.
The US also praised India for its significant contributions as a member of the 15-membered apex decision making body of the UN.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar led the Indian delegation for 2+2, while the US side was represented by Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Tony Blinken.
The 48-member NSG is an elite club of countries that deals with the trade-in nuclear technology and fissile materials besides contributing to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Shehbaz Sharif is 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan

Pakistan's opposition leader, Shehbaz Sharif was elected unopposed as the 23rd Prime Minister of the country through voting in the National Assembly. The 70-year old Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Chief succeeded Imran Khan, who was removed by a no-trust vote recently in the National Assembly. Shehbaz Sharif is the brother of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Sharif secured 174 votes and was declared as Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. In the House of 342, the winning candidate should get the support of at least 172 lawmakers.
Sharif said that a selected Prime Minister was removed using constitutional and legal means, the first time a PM was removed through a no-confidence motion. He served as Chief Minister of the country's most populous and politically crucial Punjab province thrice. Former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chair Asif Ali Zardari had proposed Shehbaz's name for the Prime Minister's position in a joint opposition meeting to replace Khan through a no-confidence motion.

Apr 11, 2022

Imran Khan First Pakistani Prime Minister to Lose No-trust Vote

Notably, no Prime Minister has completed a full five-year tenure in Pakistan so far. Despite several attempts to block the no-confidence motion in the National Assembly, the voting took place in which as many as 174 members voted in favour of the motion in the 342-member House while members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were absent.
Imran Khan sought to link the opposition's move to oust him through a no-trust vote with "foreign conspiracy" and named the United States in some of his speeches. However, the United States rejected his allegations. Imran Khan also gave calls for people to take to the streets while the joint opposition remained steadfast in its objective of defeating him.

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