General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2019

May 2019

Sep 21, 2019

Trump Sanctions Iran's Central Bank in Wake of Strikes on Saudi Oil Facilities

Just days after an attack on Saudi oil facilities that the U.S. blamed on Iran, President Trump announced a new round of sanctions targeting the country's central bank and sovereign wealth fund.
The U.S. had called the Saudi oil attack an "act of war," with high-ranking officials such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury of Secretary Steve Mnuchin accusing Tehran of orchestrating the strikes.
The sanctions, which Trump called "the strongest sanctions ever put on a country," target Iran's central bank and national development fund.
Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Iran would respond to a U.S. or Saudi military strike with "an all-out war."

India, Mongolia to Explore Space Together

India and Mongolia signed MoUs on space cooperation and disaster management that will provide a new dimension to the India-Mongolia strategic partnership.
The agreements would allow India to support Mongolia in resource management and satellite communication.
A joint statement said the space cooperation would allow "peaceful exploration" of outer space and include remote sensing and weather forecasting.

Kiribati Cuts Diplomatic Ties to Taiwan in Favor Of China

The United States said it is deeply disappointed in Kiribati's decision to abandon its diplomatic ties with Taiwan, in favor of China.
Several Republican and Democratic lawmakers voiced grave concerns.
A Senate panel plans to move forward with a congressional proposal that could "impose consequences on nations downgrading ties with Taiwan."
The Pacific island nation of Kiribati severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan, becoming the second country to do so, and bolstering China's hand.
This comes as another blow to Taiwan, as its three decades' diplomatic relations with the Solomon Islands ended after the Pacific island state's cabinet voted in favor of switching ties to China.

India to Leverage Its Strategic Energy Partnership With US

India and US plan to further strengthen their Strategic Energy Partnership that was launched in New Delhi in April in 2018.
This may include larger energy imports from the US by the world's third-largest oil importer' state run firms such as Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL).
This comes in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the energy resource rich country where he will be addressing an energy round table in Houston.
US secretary of state Michael Richard Pompeo has promised India of adequate crude oil supplies even as India.

Sep 20, 2019

PM Modi To Inaugurate Gandhi Solar Park & Gandhi Peace Garden During UN Visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a 50 kilowatt Gandhi Solar Park and Gandhi Peace Garden during his visit to the United Nation in the next week.
At a contribution of about one million dollars, India has gifted solar panels that have been installed on the roof of the United Nation Headquarters, one panel each for every 193 member states.
Mr. Modi will also inaugurate the Gandhi Peace Garden during a special commemorative event on 24th September, 2019 marking Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary.
On this occasion, a special United Nation postal stamp on Gandhi's 150 years will also be released.
This garden is spread in 600 acres and dedicated in the memory of Gandhi wherein people adopted trees in the memory of their loved ones.

Statue of Lord Buddha Inaugurated at Gandan Monastery

Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. Prime Minister Modi and the Mongolian President jointly unveiled a statue of Lord Buddha at Gandan Monastery in Ulaanbaatar through video-conferencing.
Mr. Battulga will meet Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu. He will also participate in an India-Mongolia Business Forum in New Delhi.
In the evening, the visiting dignitary will meet President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bahavan where India and Mongolia are expected to sign and exchange agreements in different fields.
A Banquet will be hosted by President Kovind in honour of the visiting President.
Mr. Battulga was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President Ram Nath Kovind welcomed the visiting dignitary.
Later, Mr. Battulga paid tribute to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

US Expels Two Cuban Diplomats to The UN in New York

The US has expelled two Cuban diplomats to the UN in New York, accusing them of conducting "activities harmful to US national security."
All of Cuba's UN mission are now restricted to Manhattan where the UN is headquartered.
The US has yet to provide details about the alleged actions.
Cuba's foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez called the move "categorically unjustified".

Sep 19, 2019

Sri Lanka To Hold Presidential Election On November 16

Sri Lanka will hold presidential elections on November 16, 2019 the Election Commission announced. Nominations would be called on October 7, 2019.
The coming election has been drawing much interest locally and internationally, with Leader of Opposition and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa naming his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a controversial former Defence Secretary accused of war-crimes, as the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna candidate.

Mongolian Prez Arriving In New Delhi On Five Day State Visit

President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga arrived in New Delhi on a five day State visit.
He will be accompanied by a high-level official and business delegation. Mr Battulga will be accorded ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The visiting dignitary will meet President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During his stay, the Mongolian President will visit Agra, Bodh Gaya and Bengaluru. Mr Battulga's visit to India will be the first State visit by a Mongolian President in last 10 years.

Israel Election Results

Israel's ruling Likud party and its main rival Blue and White party are tied at 32 seats each, putting the country's longest serving prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a shaky ground with his right-wing bloc falling five short of a majority in the 120-member Parliament.
Netanyahu's Likud and centrist challenger Benny Gantz's Blue and White stood at 32 seats each after counting of 90 per cent of ballots were completed.
The secular Yisrael Beitenu party won 9 seats, making its leader Avigdor Lieberman the kingmaker in the elections.
Netanyahu, 69, called the snap election after failing to form a governing coalition with a viable majority.
Joint List, an alliance of mostly Arab Israeli parties, stood at the third place with 12 seats, followed by the ultra-Orthodox Shas with nine seats.

Sep 18, 2019

At 17.5 million, Indian Diaspora Largest in the World

India was the leading country of origin of international migrants in 2019 with a 17.5 million strong diaspora, according to new estimates released by the United Nations, which said the number of migrants globally reached an estimated 272 million.
The International Migrant Stock 2019, a dataset released by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) on September 18, 2019 provides the latest estimates of the number of international migrants by age, sex and origin for all countries and areas of the world.

Saudi Arabia Joins US-led Maritime Coalition After Attack

Saudi Arabia said that it has joined a United States-led coalition to secure the Mideast's waterways amid threats from Iran after an attack targeting its crucial oil industry.
The kingdom's decision to enter the International Maritime Security Construct came ahead of a planned visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Facebook Briefly Blocks Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu Chatbot On Election Day

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at Facebook after the social network blocked a "chatbot" from his right-wing Likud party's account for violating election day rules.
The function, a type of automated software that simulates a conversation with a user, was running again within a few hours.
Israel's Central Elections Committee said the chatbot had been used to publish poll data in contravention of regulations.

New York Becomes Second US State to Ban Flavored E-Cigarettes

New York became the second US state to ban flavored e-cigarettes, following several vaping-linked deaths that have raised fears about a product long promoted as less harmful than smoking.
A health council passed emergency legislation proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo outlawing flavored vaping products amid an outbreak of severe pulmonary disease that has killed seven people and sickened hundreds.
The ban comes into force with immediate effect. Michigan became the first state to declare a ban earlier in September 2019, but that law has yet to be implemented.

China Extends Influence in Pacific As Solomon Islands Break With Taiwan

The Solomon Islands' government has voted to sever its longstanding ties with Taiwan and take up diplomatic relations with Beijing.
The move is a huge blow to self-ruled Taiwan, which has lost six allies since 2016, and to Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen. It has sparked protests in the Solomon Islands.
The Solomon Islands, a country of about 600,000 people in the south Pacific, is the latest country to switch allegiance to China since Tsai came to office in 2016, following Burkina Faso, the Dominican Republic, São Tomé and Príncipe, Panama and El Salvador.

Taliban Suicide Bombers Strike Kabul And Rally For Afghan President

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani stepped out of an armored car, accepted bouquets from costumed schoolgirls and strode onto the stage of an outdoor campaign rally.
Beaming and raising his arms as thousands of people cheered and waved miniature Afghan flags.
Moments later, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle detonated outside the entrance to the event, a quarter-mile away, killing 26 people and wounding more than 30.
Ghani and his running mate in the elections, Amrullah Saleh, were unharmed.
Less than an hour afterward, in Kabul, the capital 35 miles south, a second suicide bombing near the U.S. Embassy and the Afghan Defense Ministry killed 22 people and wounded 38.
The attacks, both claimed by Taliban insurgents, made 17 September, 2019 as the deadliest day for civilians in Afghanistan.

Sri Lanka Unveils South Asia's Tallest Tower, Funded By China

Sri Lanka unveiled South Asia's tallest tower, costing over $100 million, 80% of which has been funded by China under the controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The 350-metre-tall 17-storey Lotus Tower, located in the heart of Colombo city, comprises a television tower, a hotel, a telecommunications museum, restaurants, auditorium, an observation deck, a shopping mall and a conference centre.
The tower, spread over an area of 30,600 sq. metres, was constructed at a cost of over $100 million, 80% of which was funded by China.

Sep 17, 2019

India, Slovenia Sign Seven Agreements And MoUs

President Ram Nath Kovind and his Slovenian counterpart Borut Pahor have agreed to strengthen multilateralism and promote multi-polar world.
Mr Kovind held a bilateral meeting with President Pahor at Lubliyana, the capital city of Slovenia.
In a statement issued after meeting, President Kovind thanked Slovenian President for supporting India in its fight against cross border terrorism.

France To Press Dropping Sudan From US Terror Blacklist

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that France will press to drop Sudan from the US blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism and to support efforts to reintegrate the country into the international community.
Le Drian was in Khartoum for a day-long visit, the first such trip to Sudan by France's top diplomat in more than a decade. His visit comes as the northeast African country transitions to civilian rule after decades of authoritarianism.
Decades of US blacklisting along with a trade embargo imposed on Sudan in 1997 has kept overseas investors away from the country, in turn isolating it from the global economy.

TN Officials to Learn Highway Safety Skills From Australia

Tamil Nadu has sent a team of senior bureaucrats to Australia to understand highway safety using Safe System Solution and emulate the best practices back home.
A team comprising S.K. Prabhakar, Principal Secretary (Highways & Minor Ports), Beela Rajesh, Secretary to Government (Health & Family Welfare), A. Arun, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) and A. Arun Thamburaj, Project Director, Tamil Nadu Road Sector Project left for Melbourne to participate in six-day workshop.
The programme is part of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the State Government with VicRoads and Highways Department, Australia.

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