Switzerland's financial markets authority got a new Chief Executive as the rich Alpine country looks at ways to strengthen regulations after UBS hurriedly took over ailing rival Credit Suisse last year (2023) partly to prevent a global banking meltdown.
The Swiss government selected Stefan Walter, a German national who was director-general of the European Central Bank for the last decade, to head the Swiss financial authority known as FINMA.
Jan 24, 2024
Vienna International Arbitral Centre Appoints Arush Khanna as India's First-Ever Ambassador
The Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC) announced the appointment of Arush Khanna, Co-Founder & Partner, Numen Law Offices as its ambassador for India, marking a historic moment in the institution's 47-year history.
Khanna, who is also a Fellow at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London and an Officer of the International Bar Association brings a wealth of expertise in Commercial Disputes and Arbitration to this role.
Turkey Ratifies Sweden's Much-delayed NATO Bid, Ball Now in Hungary's Court
The Turkish parliament gave its long-awaited approval to Sweden's NATO membership, pushing the Nordic country significantly closer to the Western military alliance.
Three months after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan submitted a bill which approved Sweden's membership to parliament, the country's MPs voted in favour of ratification.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the approval of Turkey and appealed to Hungary to do the same, appealing Budapest to "complete its national ratification as soon as possible.
The approval by Turkey made Hungary the only country left to ratify Swedish membership.
Jan 23, 2024
Scott Morrison Former Australian Prime Minister to Quit Politics
Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced he will retire from politics at the end of February, ending a 16-year career in federal parliament, including four served as Prime Minister.
Morrison, a conservative who was first elected in 2007, was the country's leader from 2018 to 2022.
He oversaw Australia's pandemic response, the Aukus defence pact, and was embroiled in a historic scandal for secretly appointing himself to several ministerial positions while PM.
Jan 22, 2024
India Launches "Alliance for Global Good-Gender Equity and Equality" at World Economic Forum
On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, India unveiled the 'Alliance for Global Good-Gender Equity and Equality'. The initiative gained support from influential entities, with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Invest India joining as crucial partners.
WEF founder and Chairman Klaus Schwab pledged full support to India's initiative, designating WEF as a 'Network Partner' and Invest India as an 'Institutional Partner'.
The announcement took place during an India Reception, hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Hardeep Singh Puri, along with WEF Founder Klaus Schwab, were present at the event.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will support the alliance, which will be housed and anchored by the CII Centre for Women Leadership.
India First Vice Chair of COFI Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management
For the first time in 59 years, India was appointed as the first vice-chair of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management.
This came at a time when numerous countries are calling out China's illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing practices in international waters, often violating Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of other states.
Established in 1965, the COFI is an intergovernmental forum that addresses issues on international fishing and aquaculture, providing policy guidance on fisheries management, recognising global challenges, and promoting collective solutions to ensure the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the fishing industry.
The grouping also makes recommendations to the FAO Council or its Director-General. The Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management is a new sub-group formed under the COFI in 2022, during the 35th session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI), held in Rome. It works closely with the two other COFI sub-committees, the Sub-Committee on Aquaculture and the Sub-Committee on Fish Trade.
India is one of the top fishing nations with over 28 million inland and marine fisheries. It is also one of the founding members of the FAO, whose headquarters is in Rome.
Jan 21, 2024
Japan Airlines Appoints Ex-flight Attendant as First Female President
In a groundbreaking decision, Japan Airlines, the flag carrier of Japan, selected Mitsuko Tottori as its next president, marking the first time a woman has held this position within a major Japanese and global airline.
Tottori, who began her career as a flight attendant in 1985, expressed her hope that this significant appointment would inspire other women to advance in their professional journeys.
UNDP and Denmark Launch 'Green Rooms' in Ukraine
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Government of Denmark, introduced a groundbreaking initiative in Ukraine, the establishment of 'green rooms' at the National Police headquarters in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. This innovative project aims to create a safe and supportive environment for effective communication between law enforcement officers and child survivors or witnesses of crime.
The 'green rooms' are specially designed spaces within police facilities that prioritise the well-being and rights of child survivors during investigative and procedural processes. With the launch in Zaporizhzhia and Vilniansk, these rooms play a pivotal role in facilitating interactions that are sensitive to the needs of children involved in legal proceedings.
The initiative to establish these 'green rooms' originated from the Ehida Zaporizhzhia NGO and received support from UNDP. The Government of Denmark has played a crucial role by providing financial assistance for the successful implementation of the project.