General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - October 2014

Oct 2014

Mar 19, 2025

India's Free Speech Ranking in Global Index

Indonesia (56.8), Malaysia (55.4), and Pakistan (57.0) showed the biggest improvements, though they remained at the lower end of the ranking. India, with a score of 62.6, was placed 24th, between South Africa (66.9) and Lebanon (61.8). At the same time, some authoritarian-leaning nations — such as Hungary (85.5) and Venezuela (81.8) — scored high, "suggesting a disconnect between government restrictions and public attitudes".
A recent global survey by the U.S.-based think tank 'The Future of Free Speech' ranked India 24^th out of 33 countries in its Free Speech Index. The survey, conducted in October 2024, found that although free speech support in India has declined since 2021, a majority of Indians believe it has improved. The report, titled "Who in the World Supports Free Speech?", highlights the gap between public perception and actual protections for free speech in India, alongside broader global trends showing democratic backsliding in various nations.
Norway and Denmark dominated the rankings finishing at the apex of the Future of the Free Speech Index with scores of 87.9 and 87.0.

Mar 18, 2025

Stuart Young Sworn in as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago

Stuart Young is set to be sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago during a formal ceremony at the President's House in St. Ann's. He will take over the leadership from the outgoing Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, who has officially stepped down from his position.
Stuart Young, who currently holds the position of Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, has been chosen to succeed Dr. Rowley. His appointment comes as a part of a planned transition following Dr. Rowley's earlier announcement of stepping down before the end of his term.

Mar 17, 2025

Armenia and Azerbaijan Finalise Peace Treaty to End 40-Year Conflict

In a historic breakthrough, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on the text of a peace treaty, ending almost four decades of conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The peace agreement was finalised, marking a significant step toward establishing stability in the South Caucasus region. However, Azerbaijan demands a change in Armenia's constitution before signing the treaty, which has created uncertainty regarding the timeline for its official signing.

UN Chief Announces 'UN80 Initiative' to Boost Efficiencies amid Uncertainty

In response to the growing financial crisis and global uncertainty, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres launched the 'UN80 Initiative' to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness within the United Nations. This initiative aims to address the shrinking resources, streamline operations, and enhance the organisation's ability to deliver on its mandates effectively.
The task force will be headed by Under-Secretary-General Guy Ryder, with representatives from all UN bodies.

Mar 16, 2025

India Participates in 353rd Governing Body Meeting of International Labour Organisation in Geneva

The 353rd Governing Body meeting of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 10 to 20, 2025. The meeting brings together the tripartite constituents of ILO i.e. representatives from governments, workers, and employers, to discuss crucial matters relating to the world of work and the governance of ILO.
The Indian delegation, led by Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, made several interventions on key issues, showcasing India's achievements, learnings and perspectives to advance the shared agenda of promoting labour welfare, social justice and quality employment generation globally.

Mar 15, 2025

The 27th ASEAN-India Senior Officials' Meeting in Manila

The 27th ASEAN-India Senior Officials' Meeting (AISOM) took place in Manila, Philippines co-chaired by Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary (East), Government of India, and H.E. MA. Theresa P. Lazaro, Philippine SOM Leader from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Philippines currently serves as the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations. Senior officials from all ASEAN Member States, Timor Leste as an Observer, and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN were in attendance.
The meeting reviewed the progress on key decisions from recent ASEAN-India Summits and the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting (PMC+1), focusing on the three main pillars of ASEAN-India engagement: political-security, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation. Officials praised the successful implementation of the 10-Point Proposal presented by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit in Lao PDR in 2024. Notably, one of the key initiatives was the proposal to designate 2025 as the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism.

G7 Foreign Ministers Meet in Canada amid Tensions with Trump

Foreign Ministers of the G7 nations met in Canada after seven weeks of rising tensions between U.S. allies and President Donald Trump over his upending of foreign policy on Ukraine and imposing of tariffs.
The Group of Seven ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, along with the EU, met in the remote tourist town of La Malbaie, nestled in the Quebec hills for two days of meetings that in the past have broadly been consensual on the issues they face.

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