General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2019

May 2019

Nov 16, 2019

Serious Situation Developing Due to India, Says Imran

Pakistan Prime Minister, while addressing the concluding session of the Margalla Dialogue 2019 on "Peace and development in South Asia, Middle East and Central Asia", Imran Khan said that India was in the "hands of extremist ideologists and racists" who were promoting the "ideology of hate" in the region with far reaching consequences.
He warned the international community that a very serious situation was developing in the region because of India and said that this is the time that the international community should step in; otherwise the consequences will affect the entire world.

Hong Kong Protesters Defy Xi with Pro-democracy Rallies

Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters defied a warning by China's President Xi Jinping and again took to the city's streets, as the political turmoil seeped out to London where a Minister from the Southern Chinese city was confronted by masked demonstrators.
Hong Kong has seen relentless protests since June as many in the city of 7.5 million people have vented fury at eroding freedoms under Chinese rule.
Violence has escalated, and tensions have spilt out overseas, sparking friction between China and Britain, which governed Hong Kong until 1997.

Chile to Vote on Replacing Constitution

Lawmakers in Chile agreed to hold a referendum in April 2020, on replacing the country's dictatorship-era constitution, bowing to demands of protesters who want the country's social and economic model overhauled.
Voters will be asked whether they approve the idea of a new Constitution and whether current lawmakers should serve on the commission that would redraft the document.
The two-page Agreement for Peace and a New Constitution, was signed following intense negotiations, calls for a commitment to re-establish peace and public order in Chile.

Spy Swap: Five Freed in Russia-Lithuania-Norway Exchange

Russia has taken part in a carefully co-ordinated spy swap with Norway and Lithuania, in a deal that required the Lithuanians to change their laws.
It took place at Lithuania's southern border with Russia's Kaliningrad exclave and involved two Russians, a Norwegian and two Lithuanians.
The three countries have been working on the operation for weeks.

Nov 15, 2019

Dera Baba Nanak Railway Station Leading To Kartarpur Sahib Gets Free Wi-Fi Connection

Pilgrims on their way to Kartarpur Sahib through Dera Baba Nanak railway station will now be able to avail free Wi-Fi services introduced by RailTel.
The station, not far from the new international checkpost on the Indian side of the border, leads to Kartarpur Sahib.
The free Wi-Fi can be used inside the railway station premises by anyone who has a smart phone with a working connection for KYC consideration.
Sultanpur Lodhi station, which sees a rush of pilgrims visiting Dera Baba Nanak, has also been provided with Wi-Fi.

India-Russia-China Explore Alternative To SWIFT Payment Mechanism

India, Russia and China are exploring an alternative to the US-dominated SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) payment mechanism in a bid to smoothen trade with countries facing American sanctions.
Russia's financial messaging system SPFS will be linked with the Chinese cross-border interbank payment system CIPS.
While India still does not have a domestic financial messaging system, it plans to link the Central Bank of Russia's platform with a service that is under development.

Capacity-Building Programme For Afghan Diplomats Begins

Indian and Chinese began a course to train diplomats from Afghanistan at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) here run by the External Affairs Ministry.
The two-week intensive programme, launched in the presence of Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong, is designed to give the visiting diplomats an exposure to Indian diplomatic practices and traditions.
Inaugurating the event, J.S. Mukul, Dean of the Foreign Service Institute, said 179 Afghan diplomats had been trained at the FSI till date, the largest number of diplomats to be trained from any country at the institute.
It had emerged as an important centre of training of diplomats in South Asia.

India, Russia To Hold 1st Bilateral Regional Forum For States In 2020

India and Russia will hold their maiden Bilateral Regional Forum at the level of Russian Provinces and Indian States be held next year to dismantle the barriers of trade at regional level.
This was decided at a meeting between PM Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin in Brasilia on the sidelines of BRICS Summit.
Modi formally announced his visit to Moscow for Victory Day parade in May 2020.

Prince Charles Concludes India Visit, Holds Bilateral Talks To Deepen Cooperation

Britain''s Prince Charles concluded his two-day visit to India after holding a diverse range of engagements to deepen bilateral cooperation on issues like sustainability and climate change.
Charles began his visit by presenting a Commonwealth ''Points of light'' award to Keralan Jolly Johnson, the founder of Helping Hands Organisation (H20), the statement said.
Charles held a bilateral discussion with President Ram Nath Kovind, where they noted their mutual interest in green issues and traditional medicine, as well as the important role of the Commonwealth.
The president gave Charles a tour of the herbal garden, where he planted a champa tree in his name. He also visited the India Meteorological Department to discuss weather forecasting systems.

Nov 14, 2019

2nd edition of the Paris Peace Forum Held in France

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed more than 30 heads of state and government at the second annual Paris Peace Forum aimed at finding solutions to global challenges ranging from climate change and terrorism to migration and cyber security.
Making an impassioned plea for multilateralism in his opening address at the Paris Peace Forum, Macron called on all delegates to come together to fight climate change, economic inequalities, terrorism, disinformation and cybercrime.

New Zealand Parliament Passes Euthanasia Bill

New Zealand lawmakers voted in favour of a bill to legalise euthanasia, a watershed moment that ended a contentious two-year debate.
But the final decision will rest with voters, who will need to approve the Bill in a referendum in 2020 for it to go into effect. Polls have indicated a majority support the measure.
The Bill was passed 69-51.
The Bill applies only to people who are terminally ill and likely to die within six months. To be eligible, a person must be in irreversible physical decline and experience "unbearable suffering" that cannot be relieved in any other way they find tolerable.

China-Bangladesh to build Dhaka's Mega new Town Project called Purbachal

A Chinese company will play a leading role in building Bangladesh's first smart city and the biggest planned township on the outskirts of capital Dhaka including a mega water project which upon completion will divert water from the Meghna river to the settlement.
The flagship project comes in the backdrop of Beijing pumping in billions of dollars in building the populous country's ports, power stations and roads, and a recent, violent clash between Chinese and local workers at a China-funded power station.
The 6,150-acre town in the northeastern suburbs of Dhaka is being developed as the first smart city in Bangladesh.
Purbachal is the biggest planned township in Bangladesh, with many mega infrastructures including an international exhibition center under construction by another Chinese firm.

India's Pledges to contribute USD 5 million in 2020 to Palestine

India has pledged to contribute USD 5 million in 2020 to the UN Palestine refugee agency, even as it voiced concern over the agency's "dire" financial situation due to the funding gaps that risk its core services to the refugees in the fields of education and health.
India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador K Nagaraj Naidu said as a mark of solidarity with the Palestine refugees, the Indian government has increased its annual financial contribution fourfold to the core budget of the UN Relief and Works Agency(UNRWA), from USD 1.25 million in 2016 to USD 5 million in 2018.

India, Russia Step up Cyber Security Cooperation after Attack on Kudankulam

India and Russia have stepped up their cyber security cooperation in the backdrop of cyber-attack on Kudankulam nuclear power plant built by global nuclear major Rosatom.
Deputy Chief of Mission of the Russian Embassy Roman Babushkin has said Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited has informed Russian authorities that the plant is safe and additional steps have been taken to enhance its security further.

PM Modi arrives in Brazil for BRICS Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Brazil's Brasilia on November 13, 2019. He landed in Brasilia for the 11th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit.
The Prime Minister took part in the summit on November 13-14, 2019. He addressed the BRICS Business Forum and interacted with BRICS Business Council as well as the New Development Bank on the sidelines of the summit.
The summit's theme is 'Economic Growth for an Innovative Future'

Nov 13, 2019

Next Round For US Prez Impeachment

The US House of Representatives will begin public hearings to impeach Trump over allegations that he misused his powers. Whistleblower and insider accounts have emerged claiming that Trump withheld military aid from Ukraine till its President agreed to investigate rival democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden to damage his campaign.
15 witnesses have testified in closed-door depositions
3 witnesses will appear in Public hearings
2 Whistleblowers have come forward so far
The hearing will begin with testimonies from two Trump officials: Bill Taylor, US Chief envoy to Ukraine, and George Kent, deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs.
Both have provided accounts of Trump pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to open a probe against Biden and his son Hunter.

Nov 12, 2019

PM Modi To Visit Brazil On Nov 13-14 for 11th BRICS Summit

Ministry of External Affairs' Secretary (ER) T.S. Tirumurti informed about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Brazil to attend the 11th BRICS Summit.
He said that PM Modi will visit Brazil from 13-14 November, 2019. This will be the sixth time that the Prime Minister will be participating in the BRICS summit.
PM Modi will be accompanied by officials as well as business delegation from India. The theme of BRICS Summit this year is 'Economic Growth for an Innovative Future'.

Bolivia's Former President Accepts Asylum Offer, Heads For Mexico

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales, whose resignation amid allegations of fraud in October's presidential election left his country without a leader and mired in growing chaos, departed Bolivia on a plane for Mexico, which offered him asylum.
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said his country decided to grant asylum "for humanitarian reasons, and given the urgent situation faced in Bolivia" after Mr. Morales made the request over a phone call.

Spanish Elections: Socialists Win Amid Far-Right Surge

Spain's governing Socialists (PSOE) won the most seats in election, but fell short of a majority - and right-wing parties made major gains.
The conservative Popular Party (PP) came in second, and far-right Vox more than doubled its seats to become the country's third most-powerful party.
This is Spain's fourth general election in as many years.
This time, the Socialist party won 120 of the 350 seats - three fewer than in April's vote. The PP has 88 seats, up from 66 in the previous poll, while Vox has 52 - up from just 24 in April.

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