General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - April 2020

Apr 2020

Dec 12, 2021

UN Suspends Food Aid in Ethiopian Towns after Warehouses Looted

The World Food Programme (WFP) has suspended distribution of food aid in two northern Ethiopian towns after gunmen looted its warehouses.
The United Nations said, looters from rebel Tigrayan forces held aid staff at gunpoint in the town of Kombolcha.
They stole large quantities of essential food supplies, including some for malnourished children.That led to the decision to halt food distribution in Kombolcha and nearby Dessie, two strategic towns in Amhara that sit on the road to the capital Addis Ababa.
The Tigrayan rebels have not commented on the allegations that their fighters stole food aid. The Ethiopian government recently announced that it had recaptured the towns from the Tigray rebels. But the rebels said the army had only recovered areas they had abandoned.

Putin Compares Donbas War Zone to Genocide

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been hardening his rhetoric over the situation in Ukraine, saying the war in the country's east looks like genocide.
Russian-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian troops there since 2014, and tensions have been growing as Russia amasses troops on the border.
Meanwhile US President Joe Biden discussed recent talks with Mr Putin in a call to his Ukrainian counterpart.
There are fears that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine, which Russia denies.
Tuesday's Biden-Putin video call was seen as an attempt to ease tensions.
Washington and its allies have warned the Kremlin of tough sanctions if it again attacks its neighbour.
- Russia has accused Ukraine of provocation, and sought guarantees against eastward Nato expansion and deployment of weapons close to Russia.
- Ukrainian authorities have said Moscow could be planning a military offensive at the end of January, although US officials say it is not yet clear whether President Putin has made a decision.

Dec 11, 2021

UN General Assembly grants Observer Status to International Solar Alliance

UN General Assembly has granted Observer Status to International Solar Alliance.
In a tweet, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations T S Tirumurti termed the decision as historic.
He said, in the last six years, International Solar Alliance has become an example of positive global climate action through partnerships to benefit global energy growth and development.

Nicaragua cuts ties with Taiwan in favour of Beijing

Nicaragua has become the latest country to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China.
Taiwan said it was "deeply saddened", adding that Nicaragua had "disregarded [their] many years of friendship".
The decision was praised by China, which demands that any country that wants diplomatic relations with it must cut existing ties with Taipei.
It comes as the US State Department called for democracies to "expand engagement with Taiwan".

Dec 10, 2021

US President Joe Biden Opens Democracy Summit Without China & Russia At White House

United States President Joe Biden opened the first of the two Summits for Democracy by noting that 50% of all democracies across the globe experienced a decline in at least one aspect of democracy in the last decade.
Biden said at the White House, "In the face of sustained and alarming challenges to democracy, universal human rights, and all around the world, democracy needs champions," while adding that the virtual event has been on his "mind for a long time." Biden avered, "I wanted to host this summit because ... here in the United States we know as well as anyone that renewing our democracy and strengthening our democratic institutions requires constant effort."
Addressing more than 100 leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector, US President said that the challenges posed to democracy are further "exacerbated" by global challenges which are "more complex than ever". Biden also called for a shared effort to address the concerns.

China is world's biggest captor of journalists: RSF Report

A new report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has said China is the world's biggest captor of journalists with at least 127 reporters currently detained.
China has justified the arrests of reporters and citizen journalists by accusing them of provoking trouble. The report titled 'The Great Leap Backwards of Journalism in China' reveals China's violations against its own international commitments to freedom of opinion and expression.
The report demonstrates how Beijing views journalism - not as a tool to provide information to the public to make informed decisions, but as an instrument of state propaganda.

UK, Canada join Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Winter Games

Canada joined Australia, Britain and the United States in a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, with China calling the boycotts "political posturing" and a smear campaign.
The United States was the first to announce the boycott this week, saying its government officials would not attend February's Beijing Olympics because of China's human rights "atrocities", weeks after talks aimed at easing tense relations between the world's two largest economies.

Dec 09, 2021

Scholz Elected by Germany's Parliament to Take Charge as Chancellor

Olaf Scholz was approved by Germany's parliament to become chancellor, clearing the way for the Social Democrat to take charge amid a worsening pandemic crisis and a raft of geopolitical challenges including the standoff over Ukraine.
The vote in the Bundestag was not in doubt because of his three-party coalition's majority, and was sworn in later, ending Angela Merkel's 16-year tenure and becoming the country's ninth chancellor since World War II.

Forbes Feature Sitharaman in 100 most Powerful Women List

For the third time in a row, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made it Forbes' 100 most powerful women in the world. This year, she was ranked at number 37, up from last year when she was placed at 41. She is also two spots ahead of her American counterpart Janet Yellen.
Every year, the American business magazine releases a list of 100 powerful women of the world. This year, the 18th annual list of power women included 40 CEOs, the most since 2015, who, according to the magazine, "oversee a record $3.3 trillion in revenue." The list also included 19 world leaders, an immunologist.
In another remarkable highlight of the list, it also featured a new number one for the first time in more than a decade, as philanthropist Mackenzie Scott replaced outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Dec 08, 2021

28 Agreements Signed During the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit

PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met during the 21st India-Russia Annual Summit to discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including regional and global issues.
The meeting saw the signing of 28 agreements across sectors from defence to energy to space exploration, science and technology, heavy engineering, to trade and investment.

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