General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - June 2015

Jun 2015

May 15, 2022

Bhagwant Khuba Delivers Keynote Address at Intersolar Europe 2022 on "India's Solar Energy Market"

Union Minister of State for Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Bhagwant Khuba attended the Intersolar Europe 2022 held at Munich, Germany. He delivered key note address at the investment promotion event on "India's Solar Energy Market".
Bhagwant Khuba in his key note address said that as Hon'ble PM Modiji's ambitious Panchamrit targets set during COP-26 India is all set to achieve net zero by 2070 and install 500GW of non fossil by 2030. India's vast renewable energy resource potential and strong policy backing provide a strong foundation for achieving these goals.
India has seen incredible growth of RE capacity in last 7 years and has achieved target of 40% cumulative electric capacity from non fossil fuel in 2021, 9 full years ahead of set target of 2030. Government of India is committed to promoting domestic manufacturing in the solar PV sector to achieve its ambitious deployment goals. Several policy measures have been undertaken to support the domestic PV manufacturing sector.

WEF to Focus on Emerging Technologies to Help Small, Marginal Farmers

The World Economic Forum (WEF), in collaboration with the government's research institute Niti Aayog, is focusing on how to better employ emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and drones to aid farmers, especially small and marginal farmers. Agriculture is an important part of the Indian economy, employing 43 percent of the country's workers.
Small holders, who account for 86 percent of all farmers in India and own less than 2 hectares of land (compared to 2-10 hectares for medium holders and more than 10 hectares for large holders), are still among the poorest people in the country, earning only 39 percent of what medium holders earn and only 13 percent of what large holders earn.

May 14, 2022

PM Modi Participates in Second Global Summit on Covid

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the second global virtual summit on COVID-19 hosted by US President Joe Biden. The summit intends to galvanise new actions to address the challenges of the pandemic and build a stronger global health security architecture.
Modi participated in the first global virtual summit on Covid hosted by Biden on September 22 last year. The Summit galvanized new actions to address the continued challenges of the Covid pandemic and build a stronger global health security architecture. Secretary-General of the United Nations, Director General of World Health Organization and other dignitaries also participated.

Ranil Wickremesinghe Sworn in as Sri Lanka's New Prime Minister

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka's new Prime Minister, days after his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned following violent protests over the worst economic crisis in the debt-ridden island nation. The 73-year-old United National Party (UNP) leader was appointed as the Prime Minister by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after they held closed-door discussions.
Wickremesinghe, who has served as the country's Prime Minister for four times, was in October 2018 fired from the post of Prime Minister by then President Maithripala Sirisena. However, he was reinstalled as the Prime Minister by Sirisena after two months. Wickremesinghe is widely accepted as a man who could manage the economy with far-sighted policies, and is perceived as the Sri Lankan politician who could command international cooperation.
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.

Sri Lanka Court Bans Former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, 15 others from Leaving Country

A Sri Lankan court banned former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and 15 others, including his son, MPs and senior police officers from leaving the country, for instigating violence that killed nine people and injured over 300.
Colombo's Magistrate court issued the travel ban order on Mahinda Rajapaksa, his son MP Namal, and 14 others who participated in meeting with his supporters who later carried out violent attacks on peaceful protesters in front of his house and his President's office.
The Attorney General Sanjaya Rajarantam, who has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate the violent attacks on peaceful protesters, had informed the courts to impose a ban on the former PM and others.

May 13, 2022

25-member Bangladesh Mukti Jodhas Visits Eastern Air Command Headquarters

As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations, a delegation of 25 Bangladesh Mukti Jodhas (Freedom Fighters) involved in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation visited Headquarters of Eastern Air Command of Indian Air Force in Shillong.
Air Marshal A. P. Singh, Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) interacted with the brave Mukti Jodhas and praised their role and efforts towards the liberation of Bangladesh during the 1971 Bangladesh war. They were accompanied by F. R. Kharkongor, Commissioner and Secretary of Arts and Culture Department, Government of Meghalaya.
This visit is being undertaken as part of the Golden Jubilee of the Liberation War of 1971 and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and provides an opportunity for members of the delegation to relive the moments of the Liberation War.

May 12, 2022

No Refuge to Rajapaksas, Won't Intervene in Sri Lankan Politics: India

India made it clear that it has no desire to intervene in Sri Lankan politics even as the island country continued to face political crisis with curfew in force and its Central Bank Governor threatening to quit if stability was not restored in a fortnight.
The Indian High Commission in Colombo was quick to squash reports in Sri Lankan media about India planning to send troops to restore order. The High Commission dismissed media reports about speculation on social media that members of the embattled Rajapaksa clan would be given refuge in India.

India Elected as Chair of the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) for 2022-24

India was unanimously elected as the new Chair of the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) for 2022-2024. The decision was taken at the meeting of the Executive Board and General Assembly in Manila, Philippines. Commission on Elections, Manila was the current chair of AAEA.
The Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) was established in 1998, in pursuance of the resolution passed by participants of the Symposium on Asian Elections in the 21st Century held from January 26-29, 1997 in Manila, Philippines. The new member of the Executive Board now includes Russia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Currently, 20 Asian EMBs are members of AAEA. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a founder member of the Election Management Body (EMB) of the AAEA. India also served on the Executive Board of the AAEA as the vice-chair during 2011-13 and chaired during 2014-16.

May 11, 2022

Yoon Suk-Yeol Sworn In As South Korean President

Yoon Suk-yeol was sworn in as South Korean president in a huge ceremony at Seoul's National Assembly, taking office at a time of high tensions with the nuclear-armed North.
- Yoon says the door to dialogue will be open to resolve North Korean nuclear threats. He says his government will be ready to work with the international community to present "an audacious plan" that will significantly strengthen North Korea's economy and improve its citizens' livelihoods.
- The former top prosecutor began his five-year term by taking command of South Korea's 555,000-member military and receiving a briefing on North Korea from his military chief at the new presidential office in central Seoul, formerly the Defence Ministry building.

Late dictator Marcos' son wins Philippines presidential election

The namesake son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos won the Philippines presidential election by a landslide and Sara Duterte, the daughter of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, has been elected Vice-President. The alliance ushers in six years of governance that has some human rights activists concerned about the course their country may take with the pair in power.
- Marcos, better known as "Bongbong", trounced bitter rival Leni Robredo to become the first candidate in recent history to win an outright majority in a Philippines presidential election, marking a stunning comeback by the son and namesake of an ousted dictator that has been decades in the making.
- Marcos fled into exile in Hawaii with his family during a 1986 "people power" uprising that ended his father's autocratic 20-year rule, and has served in congress and the senate since his return to the Philippines in 1991. Marcos Jr has defended his father's legacy and steadfastly refuses to apologise for or acknowledge the atrocities and plunder during the dictatorship.

Rodrigo Chaves take up as President of Costa Rica

- Rodrigo Chaves, Costa Rica's new president, was sworn in, promising to tackle corruption and rebuild the country's economy. He won a four-year term in a runoff against former President Jose Maria Figueres, who was also stained by a corruption investigation.
- The inauguration was attended by Spain's King Felipe VI, other leaders of state or government, and representatives from approximately 100 countries. Chaves signed his first orders shortly after his speech, including removing the requirement for most individuals to wear masks.
- Costa Rica is one of Central America's most politically stable countries, having a population of roughly five million people.

Mahatma Gandhi's personal belongings to bring nearly Rs 5 crore in UK auction

Mahatma Gandhi's personal belongings kept in Britain will be auctioned and are likely to fetch Rs 4.74 crore (5,00,000 British pounds). there are 70 items belonging to Gandhi including his hand-made khadi loincloths, letters he wrote while he was imprisoned and two pairs of his sandals, a pair of his sunglasses, an inkwell from his desk and a pair of spectacles, along with other items that will be auctioned.
- The online sale, which will end on May 21, is being arranged by East Bristol Auctions in the UK which sold a pair of Gandhi's spectacles for 260,000 British pounds in 2020.
- These items are considered "important to the history of the world". A standout in the collection is what is believed to be the last photograph taken of Mahatma Gandhi while he was alive.
- The other important item for online sale is a handmade sash which was probably given to him before commencing his famous Salt March in the 1930s. This includes a photograph of the sash being presented to him. The sash is expected to fetch between 6,000 and 8,000 pounds.

Pakistan appoints Trade Minister in Delhi Mission

In the first olive branch extended towards India after the formation of a new rainbow government in Pakistan, Islamabad approved the appointment of a Trade Minister in the country. Pakistan under then Prime Minister Imran Khan had ended all trade with India after the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in late 2019. The step suggests an inclination by the coalition government to restore trade with India.
- The last Minister Trade in Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was Irfan Tarar and the post, as also several others, including that of the High Commissioner, are vacant following a severe downgrading of ties.

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