General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2019

May 2019

Dec 26, 2019

XUAR Muslims are Not the Target

China has appealed to Islamic countries not to believe in the fabricated western narrative of detention camps and religious repression in Xinjiang, saying the anti-terrorism policies in the troubled province do not target Muslims and their normal religious rights are fully protected.
Xu Guixiang, the deputy director of the publicity department of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region was addressing a gathering of selected journalists from Islamic countries and India, which has the largest Muslim population outside Muslim-majority countries.
There are no detention centres or camps in the province but only vocational training institutes where locals are taught the "national language", law and livelihood skills, aimed at deradicalisation of citizens influenced by religious extremism.

Philippines Hit by Typhoon Phanfone

Typhoon Phanfone pummelled the central Philippines on Christmas Day, bringing a wet, miserable and terrifying holiday to millions in the mainly Catholic nation.
At the height of the festive season, tens of thousands were stranded at shuttered ports or evacuation centres, while the rest of the region's population cowered in rain-soaked homes.

Dec 25, 2019

Iran Has Started New Operations

Iran began new operations at a heavy water nuclear reactor. The move was seemingly designed to intensify pressure on Europe to find an effective way around US sanctions that block Tehran's oil sales abroad.
Starting up the Arak heavy water reactor's secondary circuit doesn't violate Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. But it does inch Tehran's program closer toward weapons-grade levels.
Heavy water helps cool reactors, producing plutonium as a by-product that can potentially be used in nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. UK is helping Iran redesign the Arak reactor to limit its plutonium production. Iran has slowly stepped up violations of the nuclear deal to pressure world powers to provide more incentives to make up for the US withdrawal from the deal and economic sanctions, which are having a crushing effect on Iran's economy.

New Construction Seen at Pyongyang Missile Site

A new satellite image of a factory where North Korea makes military equipment used to launch long-range missiles shows the construction of a new structure.
The release of several images from Planet Labs came amid concern that North Korea could launch a rocket or missile as it seeks concessions in stalled nuclear negotiations with the United States.
North Korea warned that what "Christmas gift" it gives the U.S. depends on what action Washington takes.
One of the new satellite images shows the March 16 Factory near Pyongyang, where North Korea manufactures trucks used as mobile launchers for its long-range missiles.
Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia nonproliferation program at the Middlebury Institute, tweeted that the construction appeared to be an expansion of the factory.

Tayyip Erdogan Discusses Libya Ceasefire

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan paid a surprise visit to Tunisia to discuss cooperation for a possible ceasefire in neighbouring Libya, where Ankara supports the internationally recognised government. Erdogan, speaking at a joint news conference with Tunisia`s President Kais Saied, also reaffirmed Ankara`s willingness to send troops to Libya if it received such a request.
Erdogan`s visit to Tunis came a month after Turkey and Libya signed two separate accords, one on maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean and another on security and military cooperation. Turkey backs Fayez al-Serraj`s Government of National Accord (GNA), which has been fending off a months-long offensive by Khalifa Haftar`s forces in eastern Libya.

Senate Leaders at an Impasse over Trump Impeachment Trial

The fate of a Senate impeachment trial for President Donald Trump is at an impasse as Republican and Democratic leaders remained at odds over what form it would take and what witnesses would be called.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that he has not ruled out calling witnesses but also indicated that he was in no hurry to seek new testimony either. The Senate's top Democrat, Chuck Schumer of New York, responded that any trial without witnesses would be "Kafkaesque" and a "sham." He remained open to negotiating with Mr. McConnell, a Kentucky Republican.

South Korea, Japan, China Leaders to Promote North Korea-US Dialogue

Following a summit in China South Korean President Moon Jae-in said that the three countries China, Japan and South Korea agreed to work together to promote dialogue between the United States and North Korea.
North Korea has set a year-end deadline for the United States to change what it says is a policy of hostility amid a stalemate in efforts to make progress on their pledge to end the North`s nuclear programme and establish lasting peace.

Dec 24, 2019

Russia Hopeful of India's Free Trade Pact with EAEU

According to Nikolay Kudashev, Russia is looking forward to India concluding a new Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Kudashev said that both countries would move forward on military and technical cooperation based on commitments, with Russia seeking de-escalation of the domestic challenges that arose after the adoption of the new citizenship law in India. In 2020 Russia is hopeful of an early conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement between the EAEU and India and the next round of the Russian-Indian Strategic Economic Dialogue with the focus on transport, agriculture, small and medium enterprises.

Algeria Army Chief Dies

Algeria's powerful army Chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah died. Gaid Salah was seen as Algeria's de facto strongman following the April resignation of long-time President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in the face of massive protests. The army chief played a key role pushing through December 12 presidential elections in the face of stiff opposition from the street.

Boeing Fires CEO Muilenburg

Boeing Co has fired Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg after repeatedly failing to contain the fallout from a pair of fatal crashes that halted output of its best-selling jetliner and tarnished its reputation with airlines and regulators.
Chairman David Calhoun, a former General Electric executive who has been on the Boeing board since 2009, will take over as CEO and president, effective from Jan. 13, Boeing said. Until then, Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith will run the world's largest planemaker.

UK Announces Plan to Fast-track Visas

The Boris Johnson government announced the expansion of the list of UK-based fellowships whose international holders such as scientists and experts will be extended by a fast-track visa process, so that they can begin work as soon as possible.
This is one of the measures the Johnson government is taking in the near year to attract professionals and experts needed in the country, as the UK prepares to leave the European Union on January 31.

Beijing Attacks Washington for Weaponisation of Outer Space

Beijing warned that the US was turning the cosmos into a battlefield, after Washington announced a new military arm called the Space Force.
Following concerns that China and Russia are challenging its position in space, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the 2020 National Defense Authorisation Act, which created a new branch of the U.S. military.
Beijing responded by accusing the US of pursuing the weaponisation of outer space.
Ass per foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang, these actions from the U.S. strongly violate the international consensus of the peaceful use of outer space... posing a direct threat to outer space, peace, and security.

France Carries Out First Drone Strike in Mali

France's defence ministry announced that it had carried out its first armed drone strike, killing seven Islamic extremists in central Mali over the weekend. France joins a tiny group of countries that use armed drones, including the US. The drone strike targeted jihadists in the Ouagadou forest, where the Macina Liberation Front group is active. French commandos were attacked by a group of terrorists who infiltrated on motorcycles.

Dec 23, 2019

Eight West African Countries Agree to Sever Common Currency from France

Eight West African countries agreed to change the name of their common currency to Eco and severed the CFA franc's links to former colonial ruler France.
The CFA franc was initially pegged to the French franc and has been linked to the euro for about two decades.
Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo currently use the currency. All the countries are former French colonies with the exception of Guinea-Bissau.
The announcement was made Saturday during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer and France's former main colony in West Africa.

Thousands Protest in Iraq Ahead of Deadline to Name New PM

Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets ahead of a midnight deadline to name an interim Prime Minister.
Anti-government rallies have rocked Baghdad and the Shi'ite-majority South since October, protesting against corruption, poor services, and a lack of jobs. Protesters have called for an end to the political system imposed after the U.S. invasion in 2003.
Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's resigned. President Barham Salih and parliament have since missed several deadlines to appoint a new Prime Minister. Mahdi and his government had agreed to stay on in a caretaker role until a new Prime Minister is approved.

Dec 22, 2019

Trump Approved Sanctions on Russia Gas Pipeline

President Donald Trump signed a law that will impose sanctions on any firm that helps Russia's state-owned gas company, Gazprom, finish a pipeline into the European Union.
The sanctions target firms building Nord Stream 2, an undersea pipeline that will allow Russia to increase gas exports to Germany.
The US considers the project a security risk to Europe.
Both Russia and the EU have strongly condemned the US sanctions.
The almost $11bn (£8.4bn) Nord Stream 2 project has infuriated the US, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers opposing it.
The Trump administration fears the pipeline will tighten Russia's grip over Europe's energy supply and reduce its own share of the lucrative European market for American liquefied natural gas.

Chinese Public Pushes for Legalisation of Same-sex Marriage

Legalising same-sex marriage was among the top suggestions made by the Chinese public to lawmakers tasked with amending the civil code.
The public push came despite a recent crackdown in China on LGBT activists and the wider gay community, as well as censorship of content related to homosexuality in films and on social media.
Feedback from ordinary people was solicited in November by the commission for legislative affairs ahead of its meeting next week to discuss updates to the civil code, which mostly deals with matters relating to marriage and family.

UN Security Council Rejects Russia Resolution on Syria

The members of the United Nations Security Council decided not to support a Russian resolution that would have allowed cross-border humanitarian aid deliveries into Syria through two crossings for a period of six months.
The resolution received 5 votes in favour, while 4 members voted against it, and 4 countries abstained. A Security Council resolution requires nine votes and no veto from any of the five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Earlier in the day, Russia and China rejected a resolution drafted by Belgium, Germany, and Kuwait that called for authorizing deliveries through three crossings for another year.

Cuba Names Manuel Marrero Cruz as First Prime Minister

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel appointed Manuel Marrero Cruz the country's first Prime Minister in more than 40 years.
The post of Prime Minister was scrapped in 1976 by the then revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.
It was reinstated under the rules of a new constitution for the communist-run island passed earlier this year.
Mr. Marrero will take on some of the responsibilities that currently fall to the President.
The head of government will be the administrative right hand of the President of the republic.
However, critics say any such changes are purely cosmetic as the Cuban Communist Party and the military remain the only two real decision-making institutions on the island.

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