General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - November 2017

Nov 2017

Dec 13, 2023

UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali Officially Ends After 10 Years

The United Nations officially ended its decade-long peacekeeping mission in Mali after 10 years, responding to the government's claim that the force was inadequate in addressing the escalating threat of violent extremism. This move marked the conclusion of the deadliest peacekeeping mission globally, with over 300 personnel casualties. The withdrawal came as Mali grapples with persistent challenges from Islamic extremist insurgency since 2012.
Mali, a landlocked West African nation, has faced significant challenges in containing an Islamic extremist insurgency that emerged in 2012. Despite a French-led military operation that ousted extremist rebels from northern cities in 2013, the insurgents regrouped in the desert and resumed attacks on the Malian army and its allies, including the UN peacekeeping force.
Maj. Gen. Mamadou Gaye, the commander of the 13,000-strong force, acknowledged the vast and difficult terrain in Mali but expressed confidence in the country's security forces to handle the security crisis independently. Despite criticism from some quarters in Mali, Gaye highlighted the positive aspects of the mission, emphasizing its role in improving the capacity of Malian security forces.

Dec 12, 2023

Myanmar Overtakes Afghanistan as World's Biggest Opium Producer

Myanmar became the world's biggest producer of opium in 2023, overtaking Afghanistan after the Taliban government's crackdown on the trade, according to a United Nations.
Myanmar produced an estimated 1,080 metric tonnes of opium -- essential for producing heroin -- this year (2023).
In Myanmar, the main cultivating area is Shan state, the northern part of which has been convulsed by fighting in recent weeks after an alliance of ethnic minority armed groups launched an offensive against the junta and its allies.
Shan accounted for about 88 percent of the 41,300 hectares (102,054 acres) of opium poppy areas nationwide, as per the UN report.

Polish Prime Minister Loses Vote of Confidence, Clears Way for Donald Tusk

Poland's incumbent Prime Minister lost a vote of confidence making way for Donald Tusk's coalition of pro-European Union parties to take power.
The vote marked the conclusion of an eight-year-tenure of nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which as per the critics vandalised judicial independence, turned state-owned media into a propaganda outlet and instigated prejudice against minorities such as immigrants and the LGBT community.
Out of the 456 members of parliament who cast their votes, 266 voted no confidence in Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

Dec 11, 2023

US Vetoes UNSC Resolution on Ceasefire in Gaza, UK Abstains

The US was the sole country to oppose a resolution at the 15-member UN Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. With Foreign Ministers from Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in Washington meeting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for an early end to the Gaza war, the US in New York vetoed the UNSC resolution that was backed by 13 countries, with the UK being the only abstention.

Javier Milei is Argentina's President

Libertarian economist Javier Milei was sworn-in as the new President of Argentina and warned in his maiden speech that he had no other option but to adopt harsh policies to fix the country's worst economic crisis in decades.
Milei a former TV pundit took over from Peronist leader Alberto Fernandez, whose government was dogged by failures to rein in soaring prices.

Dec 09, 2023

PM Modi Tops Global Leaders' List Again, Gets Highest Rating of 76%

Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to be at the top among world leaders with an approval rating of 76 per cent, according to a survey by Morning Consult.
According to the US-based consultancy firm's 'Global Leader Approval Rating Tracker' 76 per cent of people in India approve of PM Modi's leadership, while 18 per cent disapprove of it and six per cent did not give any opinion.
Notably, this is a huge number by a far margin, as the second-best approval rating was enjoyed by Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (66 per cent) and Switzerland President Alain Berset (58 per cent) third.
In previous surveys too, Prime Minister Modi had topped the global ratings. At the same time, the approval ratings of other big global leaders are at a modest level.
US President Joe Biden has a 37 per cent approval rating, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has 31 per cent, UK PM Rishi Sunak ratings stands at 25 per cent, and France President Emmanuel Macron stands at just 24 per cent.

Dec 08, 2023

Indian-origin Media Veteran Samir Shah New BBC Chairman

The UK government named India-born media executive Samir Shah as its preferred candidate to take over as the new BBC chairman.
Shah has over 40 years of experience in TV production and journalism and was previously the head of current affairs and political programmes at the BBC.
He will replace Richard Sharp, who was forced to resign after his communication with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson came under scrutiny.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current state with its current name on in 1927.
The oldest and largest local and global broadcaster by stature and by number of employees, the BBC employs over 21,000 staff in total, of whom approximately 17,900 are in public-sector broadcasting.

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