General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - March 2018

Mar 2018

Jun 27, 2020

US Senate Passes China Sanctions Bill over Hong Kong

In a bipartisan rebuke of China, the Senate has unanimously approved a bill to impose sanctions on business and individuals including the police that undermine Hong Kong's autonomy or restrict freedoms promised to Hong Kong residents.
The bill targets police units that have cracked down on Hong Kong protesters, as well as Chinese Communist Party officials responsible for imposing a strict national security law on Hong Kong, which is considered a special administrative region within China and maintains its own governing and economic systems.
The measure also would impose sanctions on banks that do business with entities found to violate the law.

Jun 26, 2020

After China Encroaches Nepal's Territory, Opposition Party Moves Motion in Parliament

Nepal's opposition party Nepali Congress moved a motion in the Lower House of Nepali Parliament on the Nepalese land encroached by China. Nepali Congress lawmakers put the motion in place drawing the K. P. Sharma Oli led government.
According to the motion, "64 hectares have been encroached upon in Dolakha, Humla, Sindhupalchowk, Sankhuwasabha, Gorkha and Rasuwa districts" of Nepal by China.
Pillar 35 has been shifted at the border, which has led to Northern Gorkha's Rui Village falling into China's Tibet region. 72 households of Rui village of Gorkha and 18 houses of Darchula are in Chinese territory.
Nepali Congress is the largest opposition party in both the Upper House and Lower House of the Nepali Parliament. Earlier this month, Nepali Congress Vice President Bimalendra Nidhi had demanded answers from the K. P. Sharma Oli government over the Chinese encroachment.
China currently has encroached 11 locations at China Nepal border.

Jack Ma No Longer the Richest Person in China

According to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Ma Huateng, founder and CEO of Chinese Internet giant Tencent Holdings, has dethroned Alibaba Founder Jack Ma form the title of the richest man in China'. Huatang has a total net worth of $50 billion.
Tencent Holdings is currently China's largest game developer. It has surpassed Alibaba Group Holding Ltd as Asia's most-valuable company.
Ma Huateng founded Tencent in 1998 along with four of his classmates. He has a Bachelors of Science degree from Shinzen University in China. He currently owns 7 per cent stake in Tencent. He had sold some shares earlier this year, raising his net worth by $757 million, according to Bloomberg.
Tencent is one of the world's largest video game company. It also has a major presence in programming social media platform and has become one of China's largest social media companies. One of the social media platforms run by Tencent is WeChat (China's version of Whatsapp). In the gaming space, it provides some of the most popular titles including Honour of Kings, PUBG Mobile and League of Legends.

Jun 25, 2020

FAFT Decides to Continuation of Pakistan in Grey List

Terror financing watchdog FATF has decided for a continuation of Pakistan in "Grey List" in virtual plenary. "FATF feels Pakistan has failed to check terror funding to LeT, JeM, hence it remains in Grey List.
FATF plenary which decided continuation of Pak in 'Grey List' was chaired by its president Xiangmin Liu of China. "The decision has been taken as Pakistan has failed to check the flow of money to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Pakistan will thus continue to remain on the grey list till its next plenary meet in October 2020.
The FATF decision came even as a report by the US slammed Pakistan for being safe haven for terror groups. The US Country Reports on Terrorism said that Pakistan continues to harbour regionally focused terrorist groups" and allows LeT and JeM to operate from its soil.
With continuation in FATF grey list, it will be difficult for Pakistan to get financial aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Union and others. This could further worsen its already weak economic condition, especially in light of COVID-19. If Islamabad fails to comply by the FATF directive by October, it is likely to be pushed into a blacklist along with North Korea and Iran.

Johnson & Johnson Told to Pay $2.1 Billion over Cancer-causing Talc Powder

A US court has upheld a verdict that talcum powder sold by Johnson & Johnson caused ovarian cancer and ordered the pharmaceutical giant to pay $2.1 billion in damages.
The decision by the Missouri Court of Appeals cut by more than half the $4.4 billion a jury had awarded 22 people in 2018. The court agreed that some of the plaintiffs should not have been included in the case as they were from outside the state.
Johnson & Johnson has faced thousands of lawsuits across the United States alleging it failed to warn consumers of the risk of cancer from asbestos in its talc-based products.

World's First Yoga University Outside India

As part of the 6th International Yoga Day commemorations, the world's first yoga university outside India was launched in Los Angeles, offering programmes that combine scientific principles and modern research approaches to the ancient Indian practice.
The Vivekananda Yoga University (VaYU) was jointly launched by Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on External Affairs P. P. Chaudhary during a virtual event held at the Consulate General of India in New York.
Eminent Indian yoga guru Dr. H. R. Nagendra, Chancellor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA), is the first Chairman of VaYU.

Jun 24, 2020

Victory Day Parade in Moscow's Red Square

After strategic business talks, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar attended the Victory Day parade at the Red Square in Moscow to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in the Second World War.
A 75-member Tri-service contingent of the Indian Armed Forces participated in the 75th anniversary of the Victory Day Parade at the iconic Red Square. Singh arrived here on a three-day visit at the invitation of the Russian Ministry of Defence to attend the celebrations. Singh also conveyed his greetings for the solemn ceremonies of the 75th Victory Day and congratulated the friendly people of Russia.

China Could Set up Border Outposts in Encroached Territories

Massive road development projects in the Tibet Autonomous Region have led to rivers changing their course and expanding China's boundary into northern territories of Nepal, a document by Nepal's agriculture department has warned.
According to the document, patches of Nepalese territory in several districts had already been encroached by China and cautioned that Beijing could take over more territory in the north if the rivers continue to change course. The loss of Nepalese territory due to the rivers changing course could run into hundreds of hectare land.
There is a high possibility that over the period of time, China may develop its Border Observation Post of Armed Police in those territories.
Nepal, which shares a boundary with China in the north, has 43 hills and mountains from the east to west that act as the natural boundary between the two countries. The two countries have six check posts, essentially for trade.
The survey department has assessed that the changing course of 11 rivers had already cost Nepal 36 hectare, or 0.36 sq km, across four of its districts; Humla, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchowk and Sankhuwasabha.

The US and Russia Hold New Nuclear Arms Talks without China

American and Russian negotiators have concluded a round of nuclear arms control talks in Vienna, aimed at producing a new agreement to replace the New START treaty that expires in February 2021 — the last remaining pact constraining the arsenals of the world's two major nuclear powers.
New START, signed in 2010, imposes limits on the number of US and Russian long-range nuclear warheads and launchers.
It became the last nuclear arms pact between the two nations after the US last year scrapped the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty with Russia, a Cold War-era agreement that both sides had repeatedly accused the other of violating.
New START can be extended by five years by mutual consent.

U.S. Temporarily Suspends 'Green Cards & Non-Migrant Work Visas

Following a global economic crisis since the COVID-19 was declared a pandemic back, the United States Government has decided to suspend 'Green Cards and Non-Migrant Work Visas' till the 31st December 2020 in an effort to protect jobs for the citizens of the United States.
The executive order was signed by the United States President Donald Trump in June 2020.
The suspension of Green Card and Non-migrant work visas will create around 5,25,000 jobs in the United States.

Burundi Restores Role of PM after 22 Years

Burundi's parliament approved Alain Guillaume Bunyoni as Prime Minister, the first person to take on the role in 22 years.
The position was restored by newly elected President Evariste Ndayishimiye, who was sworn into office last week - two months sooner than planned as his predecessor, Pierre Nkurunziza, died earlier this month.
MPs also approved Prosper Bazombanza as the new vice-president.
The 60-year-old has served as vice-president before - under Mr. Nkurunziza between 2014 and 2015.
For the last five year, Mr. Bunyoni was Security Minister and is a very influential figure in the ruling CNDD-FDD party.
The new Prime Minister is under US government sanctions for his suspected role in violence and human rights violations during political unrest in 2015.

China Decides to join the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

The people's Republic of China will join the multilateral Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), this was decided during a three-day meeting of the top lawmaking committee in China- Legislative Affairs Committee. China was one of the 23 countries back in 2013 when it abstained from the vote to adopt the treaty at the United Nations.
The U.S. President had announced in April 2019 that the U.S. will never ratify the Arms Trade Treaty under his administration (the U.S has signed the treaty but was yet to ratify). China is going through domestic legal procedures for joining the Arms Trade Treaty.
Under this treaty, international sales and transfer of conventional arms are regulated as per the global standards. The treaty was adopted at the United Nations General Assembly in April 2013. It came into force from December 2014.
The treaty was launched with the aim of maintaining international and regional peace. The global standards that have been set under the treaty are in line for promoting transparency and co-operation among the countries. To date, about 130 countries have ratified the treaty. India has not signed the treaty yet.

Kim Jong-un Suspends Military Action against South

As per reports, North Korea suspended plans for "military action" against South Korea.
Recent weeks saw a rising tide of angry rhetoric from the North over activist plans to send leaflets with anti-North Korean messages over the border.
Last week the North blew up the joint liaison office and also threatened to send troops to the border area.
But at a meeting chaired by leader Kim Jong-un, the decision was taken to suspend military action.
The Central Military Commission made its decision after taking what it called the "prevailing situation" into consideration.
The North also began to dismantle loudspeakers it had erected only last week, traditionally used to blast anti-South Korean messages over the border.

Jun 23, 2020

Malawi Presidential Election

Polls opened in Malawi a year on from President Peter Mutharika's disputed election victory that was annulled nearly five months ago.
Mr. Mutharika, who wants a second term, is up against Lazarus Chakwera, who heads an opposition coalition.
Evidence of vote tampering including correction fluid on tally sheets led to judges scrapping his May 2019 victory and ordering a fresh election.
Malawi became the second African nation to annul a presidential election over irregularities, after Kenya in 2017.

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