General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - August 2015

Aug 2015

Mar 23, 2025

The14th Meeting of ADMM-Plus Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism Concludes

The 14th meeting of ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (EWG on CT) concluded in New Delhi. Delegations from ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN countries (Lao PDR, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam), ADMM-Plus member states (China, USA, Russia, Australia, Japan and Republic of Korea) participated in the meeting.
During 14th ADMM-Plus EWG on CT, the co-chairs, India and Malaysia conveyed work plan for the activities planned for the cycle 2024-2027. It announced the conduct of Table-Top Exercise for EWG on CT in Malaysia in 2026 and Field Training Exercise in India in 2027.
During the two-day meet, discussions were held to focus on evolving a robust and comprehensive strategy to tackle the evolving threat of terrorism and extremism. The meeting was aimed to share the on-ground experience of the Defence Forces of ASEAN countries and its dialogue partners. The meeting laid a foundation for the activities/exercises/meetings/ workshops planned for the current cycle.
Earlier, Myanmar and Russia, co-chairs for EWG on CT during the previous cycle for 2021-2024, handed over the co-chairmanship to India and Malaysia for the present cycle (2024-2027). India is hosting the maiden EWG meeting for the current cycle.

Mar 22, 2025

Trump Signs Order Aimed at Dismantling US Department of Education

Flanked by students and educators, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order intended to essentially dismantle the federal Department of Education, making good on a longstanding campaign promise to conservatives.
The order is designed to leave school policy almost entirely in the hands of states and local boards, a prospect that alarms liberal education advocates.

Mar 21, 2025

Finland Tops the World Happiness Rankings for the Eighth Consecutive Year

For the eighth year in a row, Finland took the No. 1 spot on the World Happiness Report list of the happiest countries. Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden also made the top 10.
The report assesses the quality of life in over 140 countries based on resident feedback. The report evaluates various factors such as social support, health, freedom, generosity, perception of corruption, and gross domestic product (GDP) to determine the happiness levels of 147 countries.
Using a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 represents the best possible life imaginable, Finland scored an impressive average of 7.74, securing its position as the happiest nation globally.
India made a slight improvement in its happiness quotient, moving up from 126 in 2024 to 118 in the latest World Happiness Report, 2025.

Mar 20, 2025

Zelenskyy and Putin Agree to a Limited Ceasefire

Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire after President Donald Trump spoke with the countries' leaders, though it remains to be seen when it might take effect and what possible targets would be off limits to attack. The tentative deal to partially rein in the grinding war came after Russian President Vladimir Putin rebuffed Trump's push for a full 30-day ceasefire. The difficulty in getting the combatants to agree not to target one another's energy infrastructure highlights the challenges Trump will face in trying to fulfil his campaign pledge to quickly end to the war.

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.

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