General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2019

May 2019

Aug 27, 2019

Trump's Push For Russia's Return Divides Top Leaders

The future reintegration of Russia into the elite G7 group of the world's rich nations divided leaders at its summit in France, as US President Donald Trump pushed for Moscow to be allowed back after its 2014 expulsion.
Russia was kicked out of what was then the Group of Eight even as Moscow was holding its presidency - after it annexed Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, a move never recognised by the international community.
But Trump, who will host 2020's G7 summit, would certainly invite Russia to the event, though he doubted his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin would want to come if it was only as a guest.
And the host of this year's event, French President Emmanuel Macron, said it would be appropriate to include Russia if key conditions concerning the conflict in Ukraine are met.
But Britain, whose ties with Russia hit a new low following the 2018 chemical poisoning on its territory of ex-Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, which London blamed on the Kremlin, has spoken out against Moscow's readmittance.

G7 Summit: Modi Meets Senegal President

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President of Senegal, Macky Sall, and discussed counter-terrorism and bilateral ties, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Biarritz
Modi is in Biarritz of Paris to attend G7 Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
India is not a member country of the G7, and the invitation to participate in the summit was extended by France.

2 AWACS, Air-To-Air Missiles On Agenda For Netanyahu Visit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit India for a day two weeks from now. On the agenda are the acquisition of two more Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) and extended range air-to-air Derby missiles and joint projects in agriculture, water and waste management.
Netanyahu is expected to endorse the scrapping of articles 370 and 35A in Kashmir as an internal matter and support the bilateral resolution of issues between India and Pakistan.
India plans to order two PHALCON AWACS mounted on Russian A-50 platform (worth $ 2 billion) for better control of the war theatre.The order is awaiting a green signal from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
While India has five AWACS platforms, Pakistan already has seven such with another three on order from China. Islamabad already has three SAAB Erieye and four ZDK-03 from China, which were deployed 24X7 after the Balakot air strike by the Indian Air Force on a terrorist facility in Pakistan.

Jaishankar In Hungary, Meets FM Peter Szijjarto

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto in Budapest . The EAM arrived in Hungary for a two-day visit on August 25, 2019.
Following his meeting with the Hungarian Foreign Minister, a cultural exchange programme was inked between the two nations.
He also addressed the Hungarian Ambassadors' Conference at Szijjarto's invitation. Jaishankar also exchanged views on bilateral economic cooperation with the Hungarian Finance Minister an Deputy Prime Minister Mihaly Varga.

A Photo Exhibition on India-Hungary relations was also inaugurated by the EAM at the India Embassy in Budapest. It commemorates the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Swedish Teen Activist's Yacht Expected In New York

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is expected to arrive in New York on August 27, 2019, completing her zerocarbon Atlantic crossing on a yacht.
The Malizia II racing yacht skippered by Pierre Casiraghi, the son of Monaco's Princess Caroline, and German round-theworld sailor Boris Herrmann left Plymouth in southern England on August 14, 2019 for a two week voyage in order to enable the Swedish teen to attend a UN summit on zero emissions in September in New York.
The 16-year-old, whose school strikes inspired children to protest against global warming, refuses to fly because of the carbon emissions caused by planes.

PM Addresses G7 Summit's Session On Climate, Biodiversity And Oceans

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the session on 'Biodiversity, Oceans, Climate.' He highlighted India's large scale efforts towards eliminating single use plastic, conserving water, harnessing solar energy and, protecting flora and fauna for a sustainable future.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India's large scale efforts towards eliminating single use plastic, conserving water, harnessing solar energy and, protecting flora and fauna for a sustainable future in his address to a G7 session on environment in Biarritz, France.
Prime Minister Modi addressed the session where he highlighted India's large scale efforts towards eliminating single use plastic, conserving water, harnessing solar energy and, protecting flora and fauna for a sustainable future.

Aug 26, 2019

Gehlot holds Meeting With Australian Delegation For Cooperation In Disability Sector

A five member Australian Delegation headed by Mr Duncan Maskell, Vice-Chancellor, University of Melbourne met the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot in New Delhi to discuss the issues relating to implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries in November 2018 for cooperation in disability sector.
The discussions centred around undertaking various activities under the MoU such as co-curriculum designing of the Community Based Inclusive Development programme, leadership training and research in disability sector. Melbourne University has been identified as an agency for undertaking certain specific activities under the ambit of the MoU.
The Minister expressed his desire to understand the experience of Australian side for empowerment of persons with disabilities especially in the area of early intervention, community participation etc.
The Australian side appreciated the efforts of Government of India in the disability sector and were hopeful that the activities under the MoU will provide scope for learning for both the sides.

G-7 Summit

The 45th G7 summit is being held from August 24–26, 2019, in Biarritz, France. In March 2014, the G7 declared that a meaningful discussion was currently not possible with Russia in the context of the G8. Since then, meetings have continued within the G7 process.
Attendees of the 45th summit of the G7 includes the leaders of the seven G7 member states as well as representatives of the European Union.
The President of the European Commission has been a permanently welcome participant at all meetings and decision-making since 1981, but is not attending due to surgery.
The President of the European Council has been the EU's co-representative since the 36th G8 summit hosted by Canada in June 2010.
This is the first G7 summit for the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. It is also the last summit for Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conteand Council President Donald Tusk.
The President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron invited the Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister of SpainPedro Sánchez and the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to attend the outreach session of the G7 Summit in Biarritz as special invitees.

India-US Hold a Round Of Bilateral 2+2 Intersessional Meeting

India and the United States held a round of the bilateral 2+2 Intersessional meeting in Monterey, California. The Indian delegation was led jointly by Shri Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs and Shri V. Anandarajan, Joint Secretary in Ministry of Defence.
The U.S. delegation was led jointly by Ambassador Alice Wells, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs and Mr. Randall Schriver, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.
The two sides reviewed the progress and development of bilateral relations in cross-cutting defence, security, and foreign policy areas since the inaugural 2+2 Ministerial meeting of September 2018, and explored further possibilities of cooperation in these fields based on common interest.
They also discussed regional developments, and agreed to pursue their quest for a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

PM Modi Meets UN Secretary General Antonio Gueterres

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres held "fruitful discussions" on a wide range of subjects in French town of Biarritz.
Their meeting came against the backdrop of the Indian government revoking the special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories.
The two leaders are in Biarritz to attend the G-7 Summit.
Modi arrived in Biarritz from Bahrain after concluding his three-nation tour to France, the UAE and Bahrain.
Earlier in August 2019, Guterres urged India and Pakistan to exercise "maximum restraint" and refrain from taking steps that could affect the status of Jammu and Kashmir.
He had also highlighted the Simla Agreement which rejects any third-party mediation on the issue after Islamabad asked him to play his "due role" following New Delhi's decision on Kashmir.
A rare closed-door consultation on Kashmir by the Security Council ended without any outcome or statement from the powerful 15-nation UN organ, dealing a huge snub to Pakistan and its all-weather ally China to internationalise the issue, which an overwhelming majority stressed is a bilateral matter between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Aug 25, 2019

World Leaders Gather For G7 Summit In France

World leaders have gathered in France for the G7 summit, a meeting that European Council President Donald Tusk said will be a "difficult test of unity and solidarity" due to deep divisions over a range of issues including trade and climate change.
The annual gathering of the G7 nations, some of the world's key industrial countries, kicked off on in the French coastal town of Biarritz.
Thousands of anti-G7 protesters rallied in the nearby town of Hendaye as the leaders from Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States descended on Biarritz.
The three-day summit is taking place against the backdrop of an escalating trade war between the US and China, Britain's impending exit from the European Union, growing tensions between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme and global concern over fires ravaging the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.

India, Bahrain Sign Agreements In Space Technology, Culture Exchange

India and Bahrain agreed to collaborate in the areas of space technology, solar energy and culture exchange as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held comprehensive talks with his Bahraini counterpart Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa to give a major boost to the entire spectrum of bilateral relations.
Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Bahrain, and Prince Khalifa after the delegation-level talks witnessed the exchange of MoUs in the areas of culture, space, collaboration with International Solar Alliance (ISA).
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Bahrain's National Space Science Agency agreed to collaborate in the area of space technology.
The two sides agreed on collaboration of the Kingdom with the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
The ISA, launched in 2015 by Prime Minister Modi and then French President Francois Hollande at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, is a major global initiative for contributing to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement through rapid and massive deployment of solar energy.

PM Modi Released Postage Stamps On Mahatma Gandhi To Commemorate His 150th Birth Anniversary

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi in presence of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed forces, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan released postage stamps on Mahatma Gandhi to commemorate his 150th Birth Anniversary in UAE.
The stamps were issued at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi. India and the United Arab Emirates share values of peace, nonviolence & pluralism.
A Zayed-Gandhi digital museum on Peace, Tolerance and Sustainability was mounted in Abu Dhabi to showcase the shared values and legacy of Baba Zayed and Mahatma Gandhi.
This year India is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi whose values of peace, tolerance & sustainability continue to be relevant and guide the world.
That the Gandhi stamp gets launched as UAE celebrates the Year of Tolerance has special significance.

Aug 24, 2019

PM Narendra Modi's Speech In France

PM Narendra Modi addresed the Indian diaspora at the UNESCO headquarters.

KEY POINTS:

1) The India-France alliance

"Nowadays we talk of 21st century 'INFRA'. That is 'IN' plus 'FRA' is the alliance of 'INDIA' and 'FRANCE'."

- "From Solar Infra to Social Infra, from Technical Infra to Space Infra, from Digital Infra to Defense Infra, the alliance of India and France is moving strongly."

- "I am told that the Ganpati Festival has become the main feature of the Parisian cultural calendar. On this day, Paris transforms into mini India. That is, a few days from now, the echo of Ganpati Bappa Maurya will also be heard here."

- "Indians living in France have a relationship with India, so you have a relationship with France. Your successes are a matter of pride for France, as well as they make India proud."

2) On climate change

3) Fighting terrorism

Sri Lanka Ends Emergency Rule

Sri Lanka ended four months of emergency rule imposed after suicide attacks on Easter Sunday killed more than 260 people.
The president's office said President Maithripala Sirisena allowed the emergency rule to lapse by not signing a decree extending it for another month.
The emergency laws gave the military and police sweeping powers to detain suspects.

Pakistan Blacklisted By FATF

The Asia-Pacific Group of the global watchdog for terror financing and money laundering has put Pakistan in the Enhanced Expedited Follow Up List (Blacklist) for its failure to meet its standards.
The Asia Pacific Group (APG) of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has also found that Pakistan was non-compliant on 32 of the 40 compliance parameters of terror financing and money laundering. FATF APG meeting was held in Canberra, Australia.
On 11 effectiveness parameters of terror financing and money laundering, Pakistan was adjudged as low on 10. Pakistan could not convince the 41-member plenary to upgrade it on any parameter.
Now, Pakistan has to focus on avoiding the blacklist in October 2019, when the 15-month timeline ends on the FATF's 27-point action plan.

PM Modi Inaugurates Memorial In Honour Of Victims Of Two Air India Crashes In France

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a memorial in the honour of the victims of two Air India crashes at the foothills of the Mont Blanc mountain in France in which several Indians, including Homi J. Bhabha, regarded as the father of India's nuclear programme, were killed.
The memorial at Nid d'Aigle, at the foot of Mount Blanc, was dedicated to Bhabha and several other Indians who were among the passengers and crew of the two Air India planes that crashed in 1950 and 1966.

Aug 23, 2019

Trump Looking To End Birthright Citizenship

US President Donald Trump said his administration was "seriously" looking to end the citizenship right for babies born to non-citizens - a 140-year-old constitutionally mandated law, that has been abused by undocumented immigrants and those involved in so-called "birth tourism."
Ending the law is a long-shot proposition as it was established by the US constitution's 14th amendment in 1868, which was enacted in the aftermath of the civil war to grant citizenship rights to African-Americans.
"All persons born or naturalised in the US, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the US and of the State wherein they reside," it reads.

Communist Party Of China's Youth League Hires Train To Get Singles Hitched

The Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) is taking its vow to play matchmaker to millions of singles in the country quite passionately.
10 compartments of a train from Chongqing in southwestern China to Qianjiang in Hubei province were hired solely for 1,000 single young men and women to spend a two-day, one-night journey.
Since its launch three years ago, the train, on its third trip and known as the 'Y999 Love-Pursuit Train', has set up a platform for more than 3,000 single youths in China's Sichuan province and Chongqing to make friends.The journey also involved celebrating 70 years of the founding of New China and "reliving" the history.
China had more than 200 million singles in 2018.
Their predetermined destination: love or the pursuit of it. The train was appropriately named the "love pursuit train" for the particular journey.
Those on the train were chosen through recommendations of other CYLC members. They mingled freely with others besides solving "love puzzles" and playing games related to relationships and friendship.

India, Pak Will Have To Fight Terrorism In Afghanistan: Trump

US President Donald Trump has said that countries like India, Pakistan, Iran, Russia and Turkey would have to fight against terrorists in Afghanistan at some point of time.
It could not be ascertained if the US president has raised the matter with India because this marks a significant shift in the American strategy, and his own 2017 South Asia Strategy, that envisaged a role for India only in reconstruction and development works in Afghanistan.
Though nearly decimated in Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State has been gaining ground in Afghanistan where it killed 63 people in a suicide bombing.
The US has been fighting the war in Afghanistan since 2001 and Trump said, it does not want to spend "another 19 years" there; and that other countries need to step up and contribute.

India, France Conclude Path Breaking Roadmap On Digital Technology Partnership

India and France concluded a path breaking road-map to make digital technology a transformative factor in their societies, to fight terror, to foster economic growth, sustainable development and secure enhanced internet access which is essential to bridge digital divide.
France and India affirm their commitment to an open, reliable, secure, stable and peaceful cyberspace. International law, and in particular the Charter of the United Nations, is applicable and is essential to maintaining peace and stability and promoting an open, secure, peaceful and accessible Digital environment.
They reaffirm the importance of promoting, and implementing voluntary norms of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace as well as confidence and capacity-building measures developed within the framework of the United Nations.
This ensemble is the foundation of peace and security in cyberspace.
France and India recognise that the rapid development of digital technology and its use must be accompanied by a cooperative, coherent, determined and resolute action by the international community, aimed at guaranteeing the sovereignty of States over the Digital Infrastructure located within the territory of the States as well as the protection of online human rights and freedom of expression.

US and Taliban Resume Talks On Ending America's Longest War

A United States envoy and the Taliban resumed negotiations on ending America's longest war.
U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad also met one-on-one with the Taliban's lead negotiator, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
Baradar is one of the Taliban's founders and has perhaps the strongest influence on the insurgent group's rank-and-file members.
Some in Afghanistan fear that Taliban fighters who reject a deal with the U.S. could migrate to other militant groups such as the brutal local affiliate of the Islamic State group, which claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a Kabul wedding over the weekend that killed at least 80 people.

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