General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - December 2017

Dec 2017

Jul 24, 2022

Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al Salem Kuwait's NewPrime Minister

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah appointed Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al Salem as a new Prime Minister. The appointment of a new PM came three months after former Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Hamad Al-Sabah submitted his resignation, the fourth in the past two years and a half.
Sheikh Al-Salem held a number of positions; most notably, as a teaching assistant, and a member of a mission in the Economics Department at the College of Commerce, Economics and Political Science at Kuwait University, for 6 years, extending from 1979 until 1985.
In 2003, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Acting Minister of Social Affairs and Labor.
In 2006 he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and after only 4 months, he was reappointed to the same positions. He also held the same positions in the 2007, 2008, and 2009 ministerial reshuffles, in addition to occupying the acting Ministry of Oil.

Ukraine, Russia sign U.N. Deal to Export Grain on Black Sea

Russia and Ukraine signed separate agreements with Turkey and the United Nations clearing the way for exporting millions of tons of desperately needed Ukrainian grain, as well as Russian grain and fertilizer, ending a wartime standoff that had threatened food security around the globe.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov signed separate deals with U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar. The ceremony was witnessed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ukraine is one of the world's largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil, but Russia's invasion of the country and naval blockade of its ports had halted shipments.

IAPH Appoints Ennarasu Karunesan as its Representative in India

The Tokyo-based International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH), the global ports' forum for industry collaboration and excellence, appointed Ennarasu Karunesan as its official representative in India.
Mr. Ennarasu is a mechanical engineer with more than 33 years of leadership in the maritime and ports sector. He currently serves as an advisor to Indian ports. During 2015-19, he was the joint president and CEO of Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), Gujarat.

Jul 23, 2022

Dinesh Gunawardena is Sri Lanka's New Prime Minister

Senior politician Dinesh Gunawardena took over as Sri Lanka's Prime Minister as President Ranil Wickremesinghe swore in his new Cabinet. A stalwart of Sri Lankan politics, Gunawardena earlier served as the Foreign Minister and Education Minister. He was appointed as Home Minister in April 2022 by then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The Prime Minister's post fell vacant after Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the country's eighth President after Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and then resigned as President.

Ninth ASEAN-India Meet on Transnational Crimes Held Virtually

The ninth ASEAN-India Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crimes (SOMTC) was held in a virtual mode where both sides strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms while emphasising the need to boost international cooperation to combat terrorism and transnational crimes.
The Consultation was co-chaired by Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), Ministry of External Affairs, from the Indian side, and Puah Kok Keong, Deputy Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore, from the ASEAN side.
During the consultation, both sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation interalia, in the areas of terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, international economic crime, and cybercrime under the framework of the ASEAN-India Work Plan to combat transnational crimes.
India began formal engagement with ASEAN in 1992 as a "Sectoral Dialogue Partner" (and subsequently as a "Dialogue Partner" in 1996.

Jul 22, 2022

Italian PM Mario Draghi Resigns

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi resigned after key coalition allies boycotted a confidence vote, signalling the likelihood of early elections and a renewed period of uncertainty for Italy and Europe at a critical time.
Mr. Draghi tendered his resignation to President Sergio Mattarella. Mr. Mattarella had taken note of the resignation and asked Mr. Draghi to remain as a caretaker Prime Minister.
Italy would hold a snap national election on September 25.
It would be the first autumn national election for more than a century in Italy, where the second half of the year is normally taken up with getting the budget law through parliament.

Jul 21, 2022

Ranil Wickremesinghe Elected Sri Lanka President

Six-time Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected as crisis-wracked Sri Lanka's new President by the country's parliament, with the backing of the party of the ex-leader — who fled abroad after his palace was stormed by protesters. Official results showed Wickremesinghe polled 134 votes in a three-cornered parliamentary vote, with his main opponent Dullas Alahapperuma getting 82 and leftist Anura Dissanayake just 3, giving him an absolute majority.
Wickremesinghe took charge of a bankrupt nation that is in bailout talks with the IMF, with its 22 million people enduring severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine.

With $87 billion, India Top Remittance Recipient in 2021: UN Report

India received 87 billion dollars in remittances in 2021, the top remittance recipient, and way ahead of countries like China and Mexico, according to a World Health Organisation report.
The United States was the largest source country for remittances in 2020, followed by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland. Remittances increase or maintain consumer spending and soften the blow of economic hardship, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jul 20, 2022

The World's Most and Least Powerful Passports

Japan, Singapore and South Korea have the most powerful passports as the world continues to recover from Covid-19, reversing pre-pandemic rankings that were dominated by European nations.
A Japanese passport provides hassle-free entry to 193 countries, one more than those from Singapore and South Korea, according to the latest Henley Passport Index from Henley & Partners, an immigration consultancy, released in July 2022.
Russian travel documents are ranked 50th, giving easy access to 119 nations. China placed 69th with access to 80 countries, India's passport ranked 87th and Afghanistan's passport is the least useful, getting the holder into only 27 countries.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav Attends BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting

Union Labour and Employment Minister Bhupender Yadav attended the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting held under the Chinese Presidency. The Ministers of the member countries Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa participated in the meeting. The discussions were held on three priority issues, namely - promoting green jobs for sustainable development, developing skills for resilient recovery, and protecting workers right in new forms of employment.
Mr. Yadav highlighted the steps taken by India to provide relief to workers during the pandemic. He also mentioned various initiatives taken towards providing free rations, enhancing the number of days of assured employment under MNREGA, and collateral-free loans provided to street vendors to help them resume their businesses under PM SVANidhi Yojana during the pandemic.

Outgoing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson Narrowly Survives No-confidence Vote

Outgoing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson survived a 'no-confidence' vote called by the opposition amid the ongoing campaign to pick his successor. Johnson won by 111 votes, with 349 for and 238 against, meaning the ruling Conservative Party will remain in office while it elects a new leader to replace Johnson after he quit earlier this month.
The Conservatives' win means the opposition - Labour - cannot force a general election, since the rules say another 'no confidence' vote can only be called 12 months later.
Britain avoided a general election, which would have been its third in the past five years.

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