General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - June 2018

Jun 2018

Jul 11, 2019

Lankan Government Faces No-confidence Vote

Sri Lanka's Parliament began debating a no-confidence motion against the government for failing to prevent Easter suicide bombings that killed more than 250 people.
The Opposition Marxist Peoples' Liberation Front submitted a motion accusing the ruling coalition of failing to prevent the April 21 attacks despite the "fact that proper information had been made available regarding suicide terrorists."
Anura Dissanayaka, the leader of the Peoples' Liberation Front, said that the attacks occurred because the government failed to fulfil its responsibility. "People have no confidence in this government.

UK Ambassador to the US Resigns

Britain's ambassador to the United States, Kim Darroch, resigned after a series of leaked diplomatic cables revealed that he had told 10 Downing Street that the Trump administration was "inept" and "clumsy."
The resignation, announced by the UK Foreign, came after US President Donald Trump that the White House would no longer deal with Darroch.
The ambassador made his decision to step down after seeing that Boris Johnson, the current frontrunner to replace Theresa May as British Prime Minister, had refused to support him during a recent leadership debate.

Jul 10, 2019

Ministers Urge Iran to Revert to Upholding Nuclear Deal

The foreign ministers of Germany, France, Britain and the European Union were concerned about Iran scaling up its uranium enrichment and urged Tehran to revert to upholding the 2015 nuclear deal.
Iran said that it would boost its uranium enrichment above a cap set by the nuclear deal, a move that could mean the return of all economic sanctions on Tehran. The foreign minister expressed deep concern that Iran is not meeting several of its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, referring to the nuclear deal`s formal name (JCPoA).
Iran stated that it wants to remain within the JCPoA. The ministers said that if Iran wants to remain within the JCPoA, it must act accordingly by reversing these activities and returning to full JCPoA compliance without delay.

First Expat to Get UAE's Permanent Residency

UAE-based Indian business tycoon Lalu Samuel became the first expat in Sharjah to get the gold card permanent residency.
Unlike the long-term visa of 5-10 years for businessmen and talented individuals, the gold card gives permanent residency of the UAE to the holder.
The Kingston Group chairman was handed over the gold residence card by Brigadier Arif Al Shamsi, Director-General of residency and foreigners affairs in Sharjah.
The Kingston Holdings owns one of the largest manufacturing companies in the Middle East that comprises several manufacturing units that process plastic and metal. Samuel was selected as one of the top 100 Most Influential Indian Business Leaders in the Arab World by the Forbes magazine continuously for 2013, 2014 and 2015.

China Furious as US Proposes Arms Deal with Taiwan

China urged Washington to immediately cancel the potential sale of $2.2 billion in weapons to Taiwan, including battle tanks and antiaircraft missiles.
The US state department's decision to green light the first big-ticket US military sale to the self-ruled democratic island in decades came amid already strained ties between Washington and Beijing.
As per foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, the sale of weapons by the United States to Taiwan seriously violates the one-China principle and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs and undermines China's sovereignty and security interests.
Geng said that China had already lodged formal complaints through diplomatic channels expressing strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to the move. China urges the US to immediately cancel the planned arms sale and stop military relations with Taipei to avoid damaging Sino-US relations and harming peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Extradition Bill Dead

Hong Kong's embattled pro-Beijing leader said that a China extradition bill that sparked unprecedented political unrest is dead, but protesters immediately dismissed her comments, threatening more mass rallies.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam admitted her administration's attempt to introduce the bill was a complete failure, saying that her government would not seek to reactivate it in parliament.
But she once against refused to buckle to demands to completely withdraw the bill from the legislative agenda, provoking outcry from the anti-government camp.
As per leading democracy activist Joshua Wong, who was released from jail, Lam's words about the bill are another ridiculous lie.

Vote on Bill to Remove Country-cap on Green Card

The US lawmakers would decide on lifting the country-cap on issuing Green Cards through voting in Congress, a move which may benefit thousands of highly-skilled Indian IT professionals.
Having a Green Card allows a person to live and work permanently in the US.
Indian IT professionals, most of whom are highly skilled and come to the US mainly on the H-1B work visas, are the worst sufferers of the current immigration system which imposes a seven per cent per country quota on allotment of the coveted Green Cards or permanent legal residency.
Being supported by more than 310 lawmakers from both the Republican and the Democratic Party, the 'Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act' is all set to sail through the 435-member US House of Representatives.
Buoyed by the fact of 203 Democrats and 108 Republicans are co-sponsoring the bill, the proponents of the legislation are using a fast-track process which requires 290 votes to pass a bill without hearing and amendments.

Jul 09, 2019

Kobach Announces Candidacy for the U.S. Senate

Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate next year.
Kobach filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission forming a campaign committee and made his formal announcement in Leavenworth.
He is seeking the Republican nomination for four-term GOP Sen. Pat Roberts' seat. Roberts is not seeking re-election in 2020.
Some Republicans do not want Kobach to run for the Senate because he lost the governor's race last year to Democrat Laura Kelly.
Kobach is an advocate for tough immigration policies. He was an early and vocal supporter of President Donald Trump in 2016 but had frequently alienated GOP moderates.
Kobach is joining a potentially crowded race. At least 16 prospective candidates have expressed an interest in running.

Peace Talks Resume

Dozens of powerful Afghans resumed talks with the Taliban in Doha, where a possible ceasefire is on the table along with key issues such as women's rights.
Stakes are high for the talks which follow a week of U.S.-Taliban negotiations, with both sides eyeing a resolution to the bloody 18-year conflict.
Washington said it wants to seal a political deal with the Taliban ahead of the Afghan presidential polls due in September to allow foreign forces to begin to withdraw.
Around 70 delegates are attending the two-day gathering which has been organised by Germany and Qatar.

Mitsotakis Becomes Greek PM

Conservative politician Kyriakos Mitsotakis took office as Greece's new Prime Minister and named his cabinet, after storming to victory on a pledge to create jobs and lure investment to the economically stricken nation.
Mitsotakis's New Democracy party won an outright majority with 158 seats in the 300-seat legislature. His pledges for more investments, well-paid jobs and fewer taxes won over Greeks worn out by years of EU-prescribed austerity and the euro zone's highest unemployment.

Jul 08, 2019

Saudi King Meets UK Treasury Chief

Saudi Arabia's King Salman met British treasury chief Philip Hammond to discuss economic and financial investments between the two countries and security cooperation amid heightened tensions with Iran.
The British Foreign Office said that Hammond travelled with a delegation that includes the UK investment minister and CEO of London's stock exchange as Saudi Arabia mulled listing internationally a much-anticipated and long-delayed public offering of its oil company Aramco by 2021.

Imran Khan to Visit Russia

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan would travel to Russia in September to attend the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).
Khan accepted Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation, which was extended last month in a conversation between the two leaders on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek.
The EEF is scheduled to be held from September 4 to 6 in Vladivostok.
President Putin also invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be the main guest at the EEF in Vladivostok and he warmly accepted the invitation.
Several world leaders are expected to attend the event which is held annually since 2015 in the same city.

Greek Conservatives on Track for Landslide Win

According to early results, Greece's opposition conservatives were on track to return to power by a landslide, unseating incumbent leftists blamed for foisting a bailout on the country which critics say was unnecessary.
The win appeared driven by fatigue with years of European Union-enforced belt-tightening, combined with high unemployment, after the country almost crashed out of the euro zone at the height of its financial travails in 2015.
Exit polls gave conservative New Democracy a commanding lead of between 38% and 42% of the vote, suggesting an outright majority in Greece's parliament.
New Democracy, led by opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, was seen winning between 155 and 167 seats in the 300 member parliament.
Shortly after the projection was announced, incumbent Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called Mitsotakis to congratulate him.

Jul 07, 2019

Iran Hints it could Enrich Uranium to 5%

A top adviser to Iran's supreme leader hinted that Teheran could boost its uranium enrichment to 5 per cent for peaceful aims, ahead of a deadline it set for world powers to save a landmark 2015 nuclear agreement.
Iran is acting on its May 8 threat to suspend from today parts of the nuclear agreement in response to US President Donald Trump's reimposition of crippling sanctions on Teheran after withdrawing from the deal in May last year (2018).
The accord caps Iran's enrichment maximum at 3.67 per cent, sufficient for power generation but far below the more than 90 per cent level required for a nuclear weapon.
According to Mr Ali Akbar Velayati, international affairs adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, uranium enrichment would increase as much as needed for our peaceful activities.
As per Mr Ali Akbar Velayati, for the Bushehr nuclear reactor only 5 per cent enrichment is needed and it is for a completely peaceful goal.
Bushehr, Iran's only nuclear power station is running on imported fuel from Russia that is closely monitored by the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency.

India's Role in Economic Corridor Revival

After flagging last month the revival of the Bangladesh China India Myanmar- Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC) during talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek, Chinese President Xi Jinping joined visiting Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina to accelerate the project with New Delhi's support.
The revival of Chinese interest in the BCIM-EC in coordination with India was evident when Mr. Xi singled out the project as an example of expanding the India-China ties, which entered a new phase after the Wuhan informal summit held last year (2018) in April, following last month's talks with Mr. Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek.
In tune with China's intent to engage with India to spur the BCIM-EC, President Xi and Prime Minister Hasina acknowledged that the initiative would have to be revived working together with India.

Erdoğan Sacks Central Bank Governor

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sacked the Governor of Turkey's central bank and replaced him with his Deputy, after months of tension with the government over high interest rates.
Murat Çetinkaya, who was appointed to the role in April 2016, was replaced by Murat Uysal, according to the decree published in the official gazette, which gave no official reason for the change.

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