General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2019

May 2019

Oct 09, 2020

Sophie Pétronin Released in Mali Prisoner Swap

Four people abducted and detained in Mali, including 75-year-old French charity worker Sophie Pétronin, have been released by their hostage-takers.
Ms. Pétronin, who was seized in December 2016, was the last French citizen to be held hostage anywhere in the world.
Ex-Malian opposition leader Soumaïla Cissé and two Italian nationals were also freed.
Their release was part of a prisoner swap for more than 100 jihadists.
Malian and international armed forces have been struggling to contain a jihadist insurgency in the north of country that first emerged in 2012.

Sadyr Zhaparov Acting PM of Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan's Prime Minister Kubatbek Boronov stepped down after the Central Electoral Commission annulled the results of parliamentary elections in response to accusations of vote-rigging.
Boronov and Dastan Jumabekov, the speaker of the country's parliament, presented their resignation letters at a meeting of legislators in the capital Bishkek.
At an emergency session, the parliament appointed Sadyr Zhaparov, a founder of the opposition Mekenchil party, which had lost the election, as acting Prime Minister.
Earlier, Zhaparov had been released by protesters from prison, where he was serving a sentence of 11 years and six months for taking a government official hostage in 2013.

WTO to Name First Female Boss as Shortlist Narrows

The selection of a new director general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is entering its final stage.
The final two, from an initial list of eight candidates, are Nigeria's former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee.
Both are female which means that if members of the WTO can coalesce around one them in the final stages of selection, it will be the first time the job has been taken by a woman.
Ms. Okonjo-Iweala and Ms. Yoo both have political and international experience and both were students at American universities.
Ms. Okonjo-Iweala, who also has US nationality, has had two spells as finance minister and a short stint as Foreign Minister in Nigeria.
Much of her career was spent as an economist at the World Bank.
Ms. Yoo is much more of a trade specialist.

Biennial Poverty and Shared Prosperity Report

The World bank released the biennial poverty and shared prosperity report. According to the report, around 150 million people are likely to enter extreme poverty due to covid-19 pandemic in different countries. To counter this, countries should prepare for a different economy by allowing labour capital skills and innovation to move into businesses.
The report says that covid-19 pandemic will push an additional 88 million to 115 Million people to Extreme poverty. this will raise the count of of the poor to 150 million by 2021.
If the pandemic had not entered the globe, the poverty rate would have dropped by 7.9% in 2020.
Unfortunately, the Global recession caused by the pandemic will now push 1.4% of the world population into extreme poverty. The Global poverty rate is projected to increase to 9.2 percent in 2020.

Trump Wants Sudan to Befriend Israel

With Sudan in desperate straits, a collapsing economy, hyperinflation looming and a nationwide food crisis, the administration of US President Donald Trump and the Israeli government have seen an opportunity.
The country's democratic hopes hang by a thread 18 months after non-violent protests overthrew their long-term ruler Omar al-Bashir.
But if Sudan recognises Israel, then the US will strike it off the state sponsors of terror list, opening the door to essential economic stabilisation measures.
The Trump administration is offering Sudan a way out.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo proposed a deal to Sudan's civilian Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok: if Sudan recognised Israel, President Trump would circumvent the Congressional blockage.
Following the UAE's decision last month, Sudan, a member of the Arab League, would be only the fourth Arab state to do so.
This would be a huge boost to the administration's campaign to normalise Arab relations with Israel in the weeks before the election.

Oct 08, 2020

Egypt and Kenya Leaders Hold Talks on Nile Dam Row

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta held talks on the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd).
The two leaders met in Egypt's capital, Cairo.
The meeting touched on the latest regional developments of mutual interest, especially with regard to the issue of the Renaissance Dam, as it was agreed to intensify coordination between the two countries during the coming period on this sensitive and vital issue.
Kenya did not mention the dam issue and only said that the two leaders discussed topics of mutual interest, "among them regional peace and security, trade and Africa's response to Covid-19".
Ethiopia's dam on the River Nile is expected to provide power to up to 65 million Ethiopians.
Egypt almost totally relies on the River Nile for its water supply and recently warned the dam was "a threat of potentially existential proportions" to the nation.
Kenya is an observer in an African Union-led mediation process to resolve the dispute.

Kuwait's National Guard Minister Next Crown Prince

Kuwait's deputy chief of the National Guard, who spent years in the oil-rich country's security services, was nominated as crown prince.
The nomination makes Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah the possible heir apparent to the new emir, 83-year-old Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who was propelled to power a week ago, following the death of his half-brother.
Before Sheikh Meshal can be officially named crown prince, lawmakers must approve the choice during their final session on Thursday, ahead of the formation of a new government a rare vote for the region's Arab monarchies in which the question of succession is typically decided behind palace doors.
Following the session, Kuwait's parliament will dissolve itself ahead of elections tentatively set for late November.
At age 80, Sheikh Meshal, half-brother of the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah and the fourth sibling to ascend from the same branch of the royal family, is widely seen as a conventional and safe choice.

Trudeau Government Survives Key Confidence Vote

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberal government survived a key confidence vote.
The Liberals survived the vote with the support of the opposition NDP, avoiding a possible snap election.
Parliamentarians voted 177-152 in support of Mr. Trudeau's Throne Speech, which laid out a framework for pandemic recovery.
The NDP secured an agreement on new Covid relief measures and had been expected to support the Liberals.
The left-leaning New Democrats said that they would support the speech after securing from the Liberals new sick leave benefits for Canadians and an extension on coronavirus support benefits.
The Conservative Party, the Bloc Quebecois and the Green Party - under newly elected leader Annamie Paul - all voted against the speech.

Nigeria's Kaduna State Appoints New Emir of Zazzau

Nigeria's Kaduna state government appointed Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli as new Emir of Zazzau following last month's death of Shehu Idris.
Traditional leaders in Nigeria hold little constitutional powers but are able to exert significant influence as they are seen as custodians of both religion and tradition.
President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated the new Emir and urged him to be a leader for all.
The new Emir was Nigeria's ambassador to Thailand from 2017 to 2020.
He also held the title Magajin Garin Zazzau, which means Lord Mayor of Zaria, and is the second most senior royal for Zaria Emirate Council.

Oct 07, 2020

Big Progress' in Brexit Talks Leaves EU Seeing Trade Deal Closer

As per reports, Britain and the EU are close to agreement on reciprocal social security rights for their citizens after Brexit.
The European Union diplomats said that Brussels was now gearing up to negotiate until as late as mid-November - rather than cutting talks off at the start of next month - to avoid a damaging "no-deal" scenario when Britain's standstill transition with the bloc ends on December 31.
There was no breakthrough at last week's negotiating round on the three most contentious issues - fishing rights, fair competition guarantees and ways to settle disputes in the future - but the prospects of an overall accord looked much brighter.
At stake in the talks is an estimated trillion euros worth of bilateral trade. Investors and businesses are increasingly anxious about a split with no agreement to ensure the continuation of trade without tariffs or quotas.
Britain had made welcome proposals on nine out of 10 areas related to protecting reciprocal social security rights for people moving between EU member states and the United Kingdom.
These proposals, which included benefits for accidents at work and death grants, were a basis to "very easily agree" a joint text on social security coordination.
These protections could be critical for as many as 5 million people, whether it be a Briton in retirement in southern France or a German employed in London.
However, there was no agreement on a tenth area relating to family benefits. London wants EU citizens to pay a surcharge over five years for healthcare access for family members, while the EU says it should reciprocate the open access it offers.

Trump Admn Imposes New Curbs on H-1B Visas

The Trump administration has announced new restrictions on H-1B nonimmigrant visa programme which is aimed at protecting American workers, restoring integrity and to better guarantee that H-1B petitions are approved only for qualified beneficiaries and petitioners, a move which is likely to affect thousands of Indian IT professionals.
The interim final rule announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday, less than four weeks ahead of the US presidential election, will narrow the definition of "speciality occupation" as Congress intended by closing the overbroad definition that allowed companies to game the system.
It will also require companies to make "real" offers to "real employees," by closing loopholes and preventing the displacement of the American workers. And finally, the new rules would enhance the department's ability to enforce compliance through worksite inspections and monitor compliance before, during and after an H1-B petition is approved.
The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.
The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China.
Such a decision by the Trump administration is likely to have an adverse impact on thousands of Indian IT professionals.

Oct 06, 2020

Trump Returns to White House

US President Donald Trump returned to the White House after spending four days at a military hospital where he was treated for coronavirus.
Trump in an unusual decision climbed up the South Portico stairs, instead of the elevators, to go to his residence. He waved at reporters.
The president, after taking off his mask, stood up in the portico facing South Lawns for a few minutes and saluted Marine One.
He was discharged from the Walter Reed National Medical Centre after doctors treating him found that he was fit enough to go back home.

Indonesians Protest against Passage of Jobs Bill

Thousands of Indonesians took the streets of several cities to protest the passage a day earlier of a jobs law they say is too pro-business, but which the government has promoted as vital to attract investment.
President Joko Widodo's "omnibus" Job Creation bill was passed three days ahead of schedule, revising over 70 existing laws to accelerate reform of Southeast Asia's largest economy.
The passage also came a day before the start of a three-day national strike which unions expected to involve two million workers in protest against the bill.
The law will definitely affect the status of our employment. People fear losing pensions and insurance if they are made contract workers for life due to the law.

FATF Set to Decide on Pakistan's Grey List Status

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is all set to decide on Pakistan's grey list status in a virtual meeting scheduled for later this month.
The Paris-based global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog had placed Pakistan on the grey list in June 2018 and asked Islamabad to implement a plan of action to curb money laundering and terror financing by the end of 2019, but the deadline was extended due to the Covid pandemic.
Seeking to wriggle out of the FATF's grey list, debt-ridden Pakistan in August imposed financial sanctions on 88 banned terror groups and their leaders, including 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
The virtual FATF plenary scheduled for October 21-23 will decide if Pakistan should be excluded from its grey list, based on a review of Islamabad's performance to meet global commitments and standards on fight against money laundering and terror financing.

Oct 05, 2020

Maulana Fazlur Rehman Head of Pak's New Anti-Govt. Alliance

Pakistan's firebrand cleric-cum-politician Maulana Fazlur Rehman was unanimously appointed as the first president of the Opposition's newly-formed anti-government alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
The decision was taken during a virtual meeting of the Opposition parties attended by Pakistan Mus¬lim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, BNP chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal among other senior politicians.
According to PDM's steering committee convener Ahsan Iqbal, deposed prime minister Sharif proposed Rehman's name as the alliance president and it was endorsed by PPP chairman Bilawal and others.

Azerbaijan's Aliyev Demands Armenian Timetable to Withdraw from Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev demanded that Armenia set a timetable for withdrawing from the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding Azeri territories, and said that Azerbaijan would not cease military action until that happened.
In a televised speech in the evening on October 4, Aliyev said Azerbaijani forces were advancing in a week-long offensive to retake territories that they lost to ethnic Armenians in the 1990s.

New Caledonia Rejects Full Independence from France again

The South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia voted against independence from France for the second time in as many years, a provisional final count showed.
A surprise "yes" vote would have deprived Paris of a foothold in a region where China is expanding its influence, and dented the pride of a colonial power whose reach once spanned large parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The "no" vote won 53.26% of votes cast votes, a narrower margin of victory than in the 2018 poll.
The result will bring relief to President Emmanuel Macron's government, whose attention had been focused on the coronavirus pandemic in the run-up to the referendum.
New Caledonia became a French colony in 1853. Tensions have long run deep between pro-independence indigenous Kanaks and descendants of colonial settlers who remain loyal to Paris.
The referendum was the second of up to three permitted under the terms of the 1998 Noumea Accord, an agreement enshrined in France's constitution and which set out a 20-year path towards decolonisation.
France stood ready to organise a further vote within two years if that was the wish of New Caledonians, at which point both sides would have to accept the result.

Chinese President Xi Jinping for Closer Ties with Bangladesh

Chinese President Xi Jinping said that he was ready to take the strategic partnership with Bangladesh to new heights and jointly promote the construction of the multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Xi stated this in an exchange of congratulatory messages with his Bangladesh counterpart, Mohammad Abdul Hamid on the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic relationship.
Xi hailed the steady and long-term friendship, saying that he was ready to work with Hamid to better align development strategies with Bangladesh and step up cooperation under the framework of the BRI.

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