General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - June 2018

Jun 2018

Sep 13, 2018

Sanctions against Foreigners Who Meddle in Polls

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that initiates actions, including sanctions, against foreign entities that meddle or even attempt to interfere in American elections.

Peace Treaty with Japan

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that Russia and Japan sign a peace treaty this year, ending Second World War hostilities "without any preconditions" as a territorial dispute has led to decades of deadlock.

The dispute between Russia and Japan centres on four islands in the strategically-located Kuril chain which the Soviet Union occupied at the end of war in 1945 but are claimed by Japan. It has kept the two countries from signing a peace accord that would formally end their wartime hostilities.

Indian-American Scientist Awarded $6.5 Million

An Indian-American scientist has been awarded $ 6.5 million to identify cancer biomarkers which may improve diagnosis and help develop new targeted therapies for the deadly disease.

Arul Chinnaiyan has received an 'Outstanding Investigator Award' from the National Cancer Institute, which provides $6.5 million in funding over seven years.

The award -- roughly three times a traditional individual investigator award -- is part of a grant programme called R35 developed by the National Cancer Institute.

Sep 12, 2018

Kulsoom Nawaz Passes Away

Kulsoom Nawaz, the wife of deposed Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif, died in London of complications related to cancer.

Kulsoom played a crucial role in the PML-N and ensured the party remained functional during the most difficult of times. She contested the seat in Lahore despite her failing health and secured 59,413 votes to defeat Yasmin Rashid of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

Alibaba Set to Partner with Mail.ru

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is setting up a $2 billion joint venture with billionaire Alisher Usmanov's internet services firm Mail.ru Group Ltd. to strengthen the Chinese company's foothold in Russian e-commerce.

Asia's most valuable company signed an accord with Mail.ru to merge their online marketplaces in the nation of more than 140 million people. The deal is backed by the Kremlin through the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the local investors will collectively control the new business.

Russia Holds Biggest War Games

Russia launched what it called its largest ever military drills since Cold War, with hundreds of thousands of troops taking part along with Chinese soldiers in a show of force NATO condemned as a rehearsal for "large-scale conflict.

The week-long war games are dubbed as "Vostok-2018.

Sep 11, 2018

Nepal Pulls Out of BIMSTEC Military Drill

India has expressed its displeasure at Nepal deciding to merely be an observer in a scheduled joint military exercise of Bimstec (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries which kicked off in Pune, after having made a commitment to participate.

The exercise schedule is focused upon learning of best practices, team building & special tactical level operations in a counter-terrorist environment in semi urban setting.

Nepal's decision to pull out came just over a week after Kathmandu hosted a significant summit of Bimstec countries, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bimstec member states include India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand.

Countries at Risk of Exchange Rate Crises

Seven countries are at risk of exchange rate crises as investors re-assess their risks following the contagion in Argentina and Turkey, a new index by Nomura says. According to the global financial services major, emerging markets are under pressure as investors re-assess the risks amid monetary policy normalisation in developed markets, trade protectionism and China's economic slowdown.

The new gauge, Damocles, that assessed the risk of exchange rate crises for 30 emerging market economies, noted that seven countries are at risk of exchange rate crises with scores over 100: Sri Lanka, South Africa, Argentina, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey and Ukraine.

US to Shut PLO Mission in Washington

The US announced that it will shutter the Palestinians' mission in Washington, adding further pressure on them to enter into peace talks with Israel. State Department spokeswoman Heath Nauert accused the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) of refusing to support negotiations while a Palestinian official called the move a "dangerous escalation" of tensions in the region.

International Commission on Climate Change

Former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon and billionaire businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates will head an international commission on climate change to launch next month.

World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva will also oversee the Rotterdam-based commission, which styles itself as a 'solutions broker' to speed climate reform linking governments and inter-governmental bodies, the private and public sectors.

Sep 10, 2018

Barack Obama Returns to Campaign Trail

Former US President Barack Obama returned to politics with a scathing and unusually direct rebuke of his successor Donald Trump.

Speaking to a largely young audience at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Obama urged them to vote if they wanted to make a difference.

Alibaba's Jack Ma to Step Down

Jack Ma will step down as executive chairman of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. in exactly 12 months time with Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang to succeed him at Asia's most valuable company.

Ma will remain on the board until Alibaba's annual meeting of shareholders in 2020.

Pakistan's New President

Arif Alvi was sworn in as the 13th President of Pakistan, a day after outgoing President Mamnoon Hussain's five-year term ended.

Contesting for the post of president against PPP's Aitzaz Ahsan and JUI-F's Fazlur Rehman, Alvi won the election with 352 electoral votes - 44 more than his two rivals could collectively obtain.

Sep 09, 2018

U.S. Accused of Blocking UN Climate Talks

The United States, despite withdrawing from a landmark accord aimed at curbing climate change, is stonewalling vital UN talks over how to fund poorer nations as they battle against global warming.

The issue of how funds are made available to developing nations has emerged as a key sticking point at the talks.

China Engages in Australia's Largest Maritime Drill

China is participating for the first time in Australia's largest maritime exercise as personnel from 27 countries engage in joint training off the strategic northern port of Darwin.

The participating countries in Exercise Kakadu are: China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Cook Islands, Fiji, France, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, East Timor, Tonga, United Arab Emirates, US, Australia, and Vietnam.

Maldives Hits Out at U.S.

The Maldives has hit out at the United States after it warned of possible sanctions against key officials of the island nation if the upcoming election is not free and fair.

The U.S. remarks came amid accusations from the Maldivian Opposition that the election will not be free and fair. Opposition presidential candidate Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has expressed fears that the government would rig the election.

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