General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - August 2018

Aug 2018

Aug 29, 2019

US Sets Up Diplomatic Mission For Venezuela In Colombia

The United States has opened a diplomatic mission for Venezuela in Colombia, months after suspending its embassy in Caracas as Washington seeks to oust President Nicolas Maduro.
The Venezuela Affairs Unit, located inside the US embassy in Bogota, will focus on supporting Juan Guaido, the opposition leader whom the United States and most other Western and Latin American countries consider the interim president.
The unit will continue to work for the restoration of democracy and the constitutional order in that country, and the security and well-being of the Venezuelan people.
The US diplomatic presence in Venezuela will still be sharply curtailed. A US official said the unit in Bogota would not provide consular services such as issuing visas.
The United States suspended operations at its embassy in Caracas in March 2019 and pulled out all remaining staff as the political crisis intensified following years of severe deterioration of the economy.

Dharmendra Pradhan Meets Australian Minister Matthew Canavan

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan held a meeting with Australian Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Matthew Canavan in New Delhi.
Both Ministers stressed on the importance of energy and resources in the bilateral relationship, and agreed to expand the scope of cooperation given that India offers a large energy market and Australia is rich in natural resources particularly coal and Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), apart from Uranium. India is the largest importer of Australian metallurgical coal.

US To Launch Space Command In a Bid To Expand Military Outreach

The United States will officially launch the Space Command on August 29, 2019 with a White House ceremony hosted by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Air Force General John Raymond, commander of SPACECOM, are also expected to attend. SPACECOM is US military's 11th combatant command.
The launch of the Space Command will accelerate what has been a decades-long effort to reorganise and improve the US military's technological capabilities in space.
The creation of the new combatant command is the first step towards the creation of a full-up Space Force, an idea that has been heavily pushed by President Donald Trump.

Aug 28, 2019

Indian Ambassador To Madagascar Unveils Commemorative Plaque In Antananarivo

A restored commemorative plaque of the Mahatma Gandhi road in Antananarivo was jointly unveiled by the Indian High Commissioner to Madagascar Abhay Kumar and city's Mayor Lalao Ravalomanana to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi.
Fondly called Bapu (father), Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, and played a key role in the Indian Independence movement.
His principles of non-violence, civil-disobedience and satyagraha inspired leaders in Africa in their struggle for the decolonisation of their countries. Gandhi's birth anniversary is celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.
The embassy has also put an exhibition of photographs in front of the building capturing the important events from Bapu's life as well as his messages which are still relevant in the contemporary world.

Afghanistan Complains To UNSC About Violations By Pakistani Troops

Afghanistan asked the UN Security Council to take action to end violations of its territory by the Pakistani military, such as the firing of more than 200 rockets into Kunar province during August 19-20, 2019.
Afghanistan's permanent representative to the UN, Adela Raz, accused the Pakistani military of repeated violations of Afghan territory.

Aug 27, 2019

Trump's Push For Russia's Return Divides Top Leaders

The future reintegration of Russia into the elite G7 group of the world's rich nations divided leaders at its summit in France, as US President Donald Trump pushed for Moscow to be allowed back after its 2014 expulsion.
Russia was kicked out of what was then the Group of Eight even as Moscow was holding its presidency - after it annexed Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, a move never recognised by the international community.
But Trump, who will host 2020's G7 summit, would certainly invite Russia to the event, though he doubted his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would want to come if it was only as a guest.
And the host of this year's event, French President Emmanuel Macron, said it would be appropriate to include Russia if key conditions concerning the conflict in Ukraine are met.
But Britain, whose ties with Russia hit a new low following the 2018 chemical poisoning on its territory of ex-Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, which London blamed on the Kremlin, has spoken out against Moscow's readmittance.

G7 Summit: Modi Meets Senegal President

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President of Senegal, Macky Sall, and discussed counter-terrorism and bilateral ties, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Biarritz
Modi is in Biarritz of Paris to attend G7 Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
India is not a member country of the G7, and the invitation to participate in the summit was extended by France.

2 AWACS, Air-To-Air Missiles On Agenda For Netanyahu Visit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit India for a day two weeks from now. On the agenda are the acquisition of two more Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) and extended range air-to-air Derby missiles and joint projects in agriculture, water and waste management.
Netanyahu is expected to endorse the scrapping of articles 370 and 35A in Kashmir as an internal matter and support the bilateral resolution of issues between India and Pakistan.
India plans to order two PHALCON AWACS mounted on Russian A-50 platform (worth $ 2 billion) for better control of the war theatre.The order is awaiting a green signal from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
While India has five AWACS platforms, Pakistan already has seven such with another three on order from China. Islamabad already has three SAAB Erieye and four ZDK-03 from China, which were deployed 24X7 after the Balakot air strike by the Indian Air Force on a terrorist facility in Pakistan.

Jaishankar In Hungary, Meets FM Peter Szijjarto

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto in Budapest . The EAM arrived in Hungary for a two-day visit on August 25, 2019.
Following his meeting with the Hungarian Foreign Minister, a cultural exchange programme was inked between the two nations.
He also addressed the Hungarian Ambassadors' Conference at Szijjarto's invitation. Jaishankar also exchanged views on bilateral economic cooperation with the Hungarian Finance Minister an Deputy Prime Minister Mihaly Varga.

A Photo Exhibition on India-Hungary relations was also inaugurated by the EAM at the India Embassy in Budapest. It commemorates the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Swedish Teen Activist's Yacht Expected In New York

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is expected to arrive in New York on August 27, 2019, completing her zerocarbon Atlantic crossing on a yacht.
The Malizia II racing yacht skippered by Pierre Casiraghi, the son of Monaco's Princess Caroline, and German round-theworld sailor Boris Herrmann left Plymouth in southern England on August 14, 2019 for a two week voyage in order to enable the Swedish teen to attend a UN summit on zero emissions in September in New York.
The 16-year-old, whose school strikes inspired children to protest against global warming, refuses to fly because of the carbon emissions caused by planes.

PM Addresses G7 Summit's Session On Climate, Biodiversity And Oceans

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the session on 'Biodiversity, Oceans, Climate.' He highlighted India's large scale efforts towards eliminating single use plastic, conserving water, harnessing solar energy and, protecting flora and fauna for a sustainable future.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India's large scale efforts towards eliminating single use plastic, conserving water, harnessing solar energy and, protecting flora and fauna for a sustainable future in his address to a G7 session on environment in Biarritz, France.
Prime Minister Modi addressed the session where he highlighted India's large scale efforts towards eliminating single use plastic, conserving water, harnessing solar energy and, protecting flora and fauna for a sustainable future.

Aug 26, 2019

Gehlot holds Meeting With Australian Delegation For Cooperation In Disability Sector

A five member Australian Delegation headed by Mr Duncan Maskell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Melbourne met the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot in New Delhi to discuss the issues relating to implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries in November 2018 for cooperation in disability sector.
The discussions centred around undertaking various activities under the MoU such as co-curriculum designing of the Community Based Inclusive Development programme, leadership training and research in disability sector. Melbourne University has been identified as an agency for undertaking certain specific activities under the ambit of the MoU.
The Minister expressed his desire to understand the experience of Australian side for empowerment of persons with disabilities especially in the area of early intervention, community participation etc.
The Australian side appreciated the efforts of Government of India in the disability sector and were hopeful that the activities under the MoU will provide scope for learning for both the sides.

G-7 Summit

The 45th G7 summit is being held from August 24–26, 2019, in Biarritz, France. In March 2014, the G7 declared that a meaningful discussion was currently not possible with Russia in the context of the G8. Since then, meetings have continued within the G7 process.
Attendees of the 45th summit of the G7 includes the leaders of the seven G7 member states as well as representatives of the European Union.
The President of the European Commission has been a permanently welcome participant at all meetings and decision-making since 1981, but is not attending due to surgery.
The President of the European Council has been the EU's co-representative since the 36th G8 summit hosted by Canada in June 2010.
This is the first G7 summit for the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. It is also the last summit for Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conteand Council President Donald Tusk.
The President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron invited the Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister of SpainPedro Sánchez and the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to attend the outreach session of the G7 Summit in Biarritz as special invitees.

India-US Hold a Round Of Bilateral 2+2 Intersessional Meeting

India and the United States held a round of the bilateral 2+2 Intersessional meeting in Monterey, California. The Indian delegation was led jointly by Shri Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs and Shri V. Anandarajan, Joint Secretary in Ministry of Defence.
The U.S. delegation was led jointly by Ambassador Alice Wells, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs and Mr. Randall Schriver, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.
The two sides reviewed the progress and development of bilateral relations in cross-cutting defence, security, and foreign policy areas since the inaugural 2+2 Ministerial meeting of September 2018, and explored further possibilities of cooperation in these fields based on common interest.
They also discussed regional developments, and agreed to pursue their quest for a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

PM Modi Meets UN Secretary General Antonio Gueterres

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres held "fruitful discussions" on a wide range of subjects in French town of Biarritz.
Their meeting came against the backdrop of the Indian government revoking the special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories.
The two leaders are in Biarritz to attend the G-7 Summit.
Modi arrived in Biarritz from Bahrain after concluding his three-nation tour to France, the UAE and Bahrain.
Earlier in August 2019, Guterres urged India and Pakistan to exercise "maximum restraint" and refrain from taking steps that could affect the status of Jammu and Kashmir.
He had also highlighted the Simla Agreement which rejects any third-party mediation on the issue after Islamabad asked him to play his "due role" following New Delhi's decision on Kashmir.
A rare closed-door consultation on Kashmir by the Security Council ended without any outcome or statement from the powerful 15-nation UN organ, dealing a huge snub to Pakistan and its all-weather ally China to internationalise the issue, which an overwhelming majority stressed is a bilateral matter between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Aug 25, 2019

World Leaders Gather For G7 Summit In France

World leaders have gathered in France for the G7 summit, a meeting that European Council President Donald Tusk said will be a "difficult test of unity and solidarity" due to deep divisions over a range of issues including trade and climate change.
The annual gathering of the G7 nations, some of the world's key industrial countries, kicked off on in the French coastal town of Biarritz.
Thousands of anti-G7 protesters rallied in the nearby town of Hendaye as the leaders from Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States descended on Biarritz.
The three-day summit is taking place against the backdrop of an escalating trade war between the US and China, Britain's impending exit from the European Union, growing tensions between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme and global concern over fires ravaging the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.

India, Bahrain Sign Agreements In Space Technology, Culture Exchange

India and Bahrain agreed to collaborate in the areas of space technology, solar energy and culture exchange as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held comprehensive talks with his Bahraini counterpart Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa to give a major boost to the entire spectrum of bilateral relations.
Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Bahrain, and Prince Khalifa after the delegation-level talks witnessed the exchange of MoUs in the areas of culture, space, collaboration with International Solar Alliance (ISA).
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Bahrain's National Space Science Agency agreed to collaborate in the area of space technology.
The two sides agreed on collaboration of the Kingdom with the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
The ISA, launched in 2015 by Prime Minister Modi and then French President Francois Hollande at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, is a major global initiative for contributing to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement through rapid and massive deployment of solar energy.

PM Modi Released Postage Stamps On Mahatma Gandhi To Commemorate His 150th Birth Anniversary

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi in presence of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed forces, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan released postage stamps on Mahatma Gandhi to commemorate his 150th Birth Anniversary in UAE.
The stamps were issued at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi. India and the United Arab Emirates share values of peace, nonviolence & pluralism.
A Zayed-Gandhi digital museum on Peace, Tolerance and Sustainability was mounted in Abu Dhabi to showcase the shared values and legacy of Baba Zayed and Mahatma Gandhi.
This year India is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi whose values of peace, tolerance & sustainability continue to be relevant and guide the world.
That the Gandhi stamp gets launched as UAE celebrates the Year of Tolerance has special significance.

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