General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2019

May 2019

Sep 24, 2020

Former Rebel Leader Ishmael Toroama Bougainville's New President

Former rebel military commander Ishmael Toroama has been elected president of Bougainville, the autonomous region in the South Pacific, and he is set to lead talks for the territory's independence from Papua New Guinea.
The victory by the former rebel leader, Ishmael Toroama, is a break from the current administration, led by President John Momis, after the government's candidate was eliminated in the region's preferential voting system.
The general election was the first since Bougainville voted overwhelmingly for separation from Papua New Guinea last year, with Mr. Toroama defeating an open field, according to Bougainville's electoral commissioner.
The mineral-rich group of islands of 250,000 people has been hampered by years of little economic progress after a decade-long civil war that claimed as many as 20,000 lives. The war ended in 1998.

Donald Trump Announces New Sanctions on Cuba

President Trump announced that his administration would impose new sanctions on Cuba blocking American travelers from staying at Cuban government-owned properties and restricting imports of Cuban alcohol and tobacco.
These actions will ensure that U.S. dollars do not fund the Cuban regime and go directly to the Cuban people.
Trump described the measures as part of his administration's continuing fight against communist oppression.
The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control later Wednesday amended the Cuban Assets Control Regulations to prohibit any U.S. person lodging, paying for or reserving lodging at properties designated by the State Department as owned and controlled by the Cuban government or prohibited members of the Cuban Communist Party or their families. The State Department announced a list of 433 such properties.
The regulations were also amended to exclude imports of Cuban-origin alcohol and tobacco products from general authorisations.

Alexander Lukashenko Sworn in for Sixth Term as President

Alexander Lukashenko has been sworn in for his sixth term as the President of Belarus at a secret ceremony held with no prior announcement. As per reports, the inauguration ceremony took place in the Palace of Independence, Minsk which hosts landmark events in the country.
Known as 'the last dictator of Europe', Lukashenko has been facing mass protests and numerous accusations since the results of Presidential vote were first announced. The elections, which were held in August, saw a competition between Alexander Lukashenko, who was contesting for a sixth term and Svetlana Tikhanouskaya, who joined the race after her husband was jailed.
One opposition leader called the secretive ceremony "a farce," and several European countries reiterated that they don't recognize the results of the election and refuse to regard Lukashenko as the legitimate president. In the evening, thousands of people took to the streets in the capital of Minsk to protest the inauguration and were met with a strong response from police.

Gambia Opposition Leader Blams Government for Rejected Draft Constitution

Gambia's opposition leader has blamed the government for the rejection of a draft constitution that would have limited presidential terms.
A clause that prevented President Adama Barrow from resetting the clock to make him eligible for two more terms appears to have been the biggest sticking point.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) leader, Ousainou Darboe, said the rejection of the draft was not a good sign for democracy.
The next general elections are scheduled for next year.
Mr Darboe vowed to reintroduce the draft constitution if the opposition wins the elections.
President Barrow came to power in 2016 - ending 22 years of dictatorship under Yahya Jammeh.

TIME's 100 most Influential People of 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, London-based Indian-origin doctor Ravindra Gupta, who found a cure for AIDS, Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana and Bilkis - 'Dadi' of Shaheen Bagh - a Delhi neighbourhood that became the epicentre of the anti-CAA protests, are among the TIME magazine's list of 100 most influential people of 2020.
PM Narendra Modi's inclusion in the list is not due to his or the NDA government's achievements but in connection with its alleged targeting of Indian Muslims, according to a piece written by Karl Vick.
China President Xi Jinping, United States President Donald Trump, German leader Ursula von der Leyen, Black Lives Matter Founders Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi, Alibaba Group Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zhang, musician Megan Thee Stallion, tennis star Naomi Osaka, US Federal Reserve Chairperson Jeremy Powell, singer Selena Gomez, actor Phoebe Waller-Bridge were among many who feature on the list.
For more than a decade, the TIME 100 annual list has featured some of the world's most significant artists, leaders, scientists, activists, and entrepreneurs. The list includes people influencing the world while working in different fields.

Sep 23, 2020

Nepal Halts Distribution of Books with Altered Map

Nepal has stopped the distribution of a books that include the country's revised political map showing three strategically-important Indian areas as part of its territory, saying there were a number of factual errors in it.
A Cabinet meeting instructed the Ministry of Education not to distribute and print any more copies meant for classes IX to XII as there were some reservations from the Ministry of Land Management and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As per spokesperson for the Ministry of Land Reform and Cooperatives Janak Raj Joshi, the Ministry of Education does not have the authority to change Nepal's geographical area and there are faults in the books,. There are errors in the books prepared by the Ministry of Education on a subject it has no expertise, he said, adding that the higher authorities have been asked to take corrective measures.

Hassan Rouhani Says US can Impose Neither Negotiations Nor War on Iran

Iran`s president told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that the United States could impose "neither negotiations nor war" on the Islamic Republic amid heightened tension between the longtime foes over Tehran`s 2015 nuclear deal with major powers.
Iran is not a bargaining chip in US elections and domestic policy. Any US administration after the upcoming (US) elections will have no choice but to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian nation.
The US-Iranian confrontation has intensified since 2018 when President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers and unilaterally reimposed sanctions that have hobbled the Islamic Republic's economy. Trump wants a broader agreement with Tehran`s clerical rulers that would further restrict Iran's nuclear programme, halt its ballistic missile development work and end its support for proxy forces around the Middle East.
Iran has refused to hold talks with the United States unless Washington lifts sanctions on Tehran and returns to the original agreement.

Sep 22, 2020

EU Imposes Sanctions over Libya Arms Embargo

The European Union has imposed sanctions on three companies for violating the UN arms embargo on Libya.
A meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels resolved that the sanctions imposed include an asset freeze for the three companies.
Two individuals were also sanctioned for human rights abuses in Libya.
These new listings show the EU's strategic use of its sanctions regime and ability to react to developments on the ground in support of the political process and to deter past and present perpetrators from further violations.
The three companies are from Turkey, Kazakhstan and Jordan respectively.
A United Nations report seen early this month accused Russia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other states of blatantly defying the international arms embargo on Libya.
Libya has been torn by violence since long-time ruler Col Muammar Gaddafi was deposed in 2011 by Nato-backed forces.
The UAE backs renegade Gen Khalifa Haftar, while the Turkish government supports his rivals in the government based in Tripoli.

Taiwan Military Says it Has Right to Counter Attack Amid China Threats

Taiwan said that its armed forces have the right to self-defence and counter attack amid harassment and threats, in an apparent warning to China, which last week sent numerous jets across the mid-line of the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
Tensions have sharply spiked in recent months between Taipei and Beijing, which claims democratically run Taiwan as its own territory, to be taken by force if needed.
As per Taiwan's defence ministry, it had clearly defined procedures for the island's first response amid high frequency of harassment and threats from the enemy's warships and aircraft this year.

Belarus Opposition Appeal to EU Fails to Unblock Sanctions

European Union foreign ministers failed to agree sanctions against Belarusian officials, despite an appeal by the country's main opposition leader.
After a sixth straight weekend of huge protests against President Alexander Lukashenko, opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya travelled to Brussels to try to convince the EU to follow through on a sanctions threat it announced last month.
So far the bloc has yet to approve a list of some 40 Belarusian officials to be hit with travel bans and asset freezes. Cyprus has been seen as blocking approval by tying the Belarus measures to unrelated sanctions it wants on Turkey in a gas exploration dispute.
According to EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell, although there is a clear will to adopt the sanctions, the required unanimity was not reached, referring to EU rules that all 27 states must agree.

Lebanese President Warns of 'Hell' If No New Govt. is Formed

Lebanon's President warned that the crisis-hit country could be going to hell if a new government was not formed soon.
President Michel Aoun criticised his political allies, the Shiite groups Hezbollah and Amal, for insisting on holding on to the Finance Ministry portfolio in any new government and on naming the Shiite ministers in the Cabinet.
Their insistence has undermined a French initiative led by President Emmanuel Macron for a Lebanese government of independent specialists that was to be formed by September 15 to enact desperately needed reforms meant to extract the country from a devastating economic and financial crisis.
The crisis, which has led to the collapse of the Lebanese currency, has been worsened by the August 4 explosion at Beirut's port caused by the detonation of thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate, which killed nearly 200 people, injured thousands and caused losses worth billions of dollars.

Sep 21, 2020

Thailand Protests: Activists Challenge Monarchy by Laying 'People's Plaque'

Anti-government protesters have installed a plaque declaring Thailand 'belongs to the people', in a bold show of opposition to the monarchy.
The plaque was laid near Bangkok's Grand Palace in the latest challenge to Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Student-led protests calling for reform of the country's monarchy and political system have been going on since July.
The protests over the weekend were some of the largest in years, with thousands defying authorities to demand change.
Their calls for royal reform are particularly sensitive in Thailand, where criticism of the monarchy is punishable by long prison sentences.
Protesters are also demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who took power in a 2014 coup and won disputed elections last year.

Opposition Parties in Pakistan Launch Alliance to Oust Imran Khan

Demanding Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's immediate resignation, the country's major opposition parties have launched an alliance to hold a countrywide protest movement to oust his government.
A 26-point joint resolution was adopted by the All Parties Conference (APC), which was hosted by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and attended by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) and several other parties.
At a joint press conference after the end of the multi-party meeting, JUI-F chief Mualana Fazl ur Rehman read out the resolution and said that the Opposition parties have agreed to launch an alliance named Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to organise countrywide protests against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government from October.
The resolution alleged that the Khan government has been granted "fake stability by the same establishment" that interfered with the elections to bring the incumbent rulers to power.
The protests would start in phases. In the first phase, the opposition parties will hold joint rallies in all four provinces in October. The second phase will begin in December during which the opposition will hold huge rallies across the country.
Finally, a "decisive" long march towards Islamabad would start in January next year to oust the government.
The forum also demanded that elections be held again in a transparent manner and that electoral reforms should be passed in order to ensure free and fair polls.

Sep 20, 2020

France, UK, Germany Reject US Call to Return Iran Sanctions

The U.S. has no authority to demand a snap-back in sanctions against Iran after quitting the 2015 nuclear deal two years ago.
Since quitting the nuclear accord in May 2018, the Trump administration has intensified efforts to pressure the Islamic Republic, ratcheting up sanctions. But the U.S. moves have united partners like the U.K., France and Germany with Russia and China, who have sought to salvage the accord.
That has left the U.S. isolated on the UN Security Council, with most nations saying America has no authority to demand the return of international sanctions since it's no longer a party to the agreement.

White House Receives Envelope Containing Poison Ricin

Federal officials intercepted an envelope addressed to the White House that contained the poison ricin.
The letter was intercepted at a government facility that screens mail addressed to the White House and President Donald Trump.
A preliminary investigation indicated it tested positive for ricin, a poison found naturally in castor beans.

Thai Protesters Challenge Monarchy as Huge Protests Escalate

Openly challenging the monarchy of Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, thousands of protesters marched in Bangkok to present demands that include a call for reforms to curb his powers.
Protesters have grown ever bolder during two months of demonstrations against Thailand's palace and military-dominated establishment, breaking a longstanding taboo on criticising the monarchy - which is illegal under lese majeste laws.
The Royal Palace was not immediately available for comment. The king, who spends much of his time in Europe, is not in Thailand now.
The marchers were blocked by hundreds of unarmed police manning crowd control barriers.

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