General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Aug 07, 2024

India's First GI-Tagged Fig Juice Exported to Poland

Purandar Highlands Farmers Producer Company Limited has achieved a significant milestone by exporting India's first GI-tagged fig juice to Poland. This follows the successful export of India's first commercial consignment of GI-tagged Purandar figs to Hong Kong in February 2023.
Purandar Highlands has become the first company to export Indian fig juice to the European market and the first to export commercial quantities of Purandar figs to Hong Kong.
The exported products are made from Purandar figs, renowned for their taste, size, and nutritional value, which have earned a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
The company acknowledges the crucial role of government support, including encouragement from Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Sharad Pawar, former Agriculture and Defence Minister.

Australia Announces Maitri Grants For Research And Cultural Collaboration With India

The Australian government has unveiled the Maitri Research and Cultural Partnerships Grants. These grants, aimed at fostering Australia-India collaboration, encompass sustainable manufacturing, energy transition research, and artistic projects. Minister Penny Wong praised the initiatives for strengthening bilateral ties, emphasising the importance of human connections in the relationship.
Among the recipients are projects focused on sustainable manufacturing of Australian technology in India, workshops connecting Australian energy transition researchers with Indian start-ups, and an artistic duo transforming Melbourne's Federation Square into a living canvas.
The Maitri grants, administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations, aim to deepen links and allow for closer collaboration between the two countries.
The five Maitri Research Grants will explore opportunities in agribusiness, critical technology, energy transition, and advanced manufacturing.

India and Saint Christopher & Nevis Sign MoU on Sports Cooperation

India and Saint Christopher & Nevis have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the field of sports. The agreement was formalised by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, India's Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, and Dr. Denzil Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saint Christopher & Nevis. This MoU outlines several key areas of collaboration aimed at improving sports infrastructure, training, and management between the two nations.

India to Build Green Highways with World Bank Aid

The Government of India and the World Bank have joined forces to construct the Green National Highway Corridor Project (GNHCP). This project aims to build 781 km of eco-friendly highways across four states (Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh) with a focus on safety and climate resilience.
The World Bank will provide a loan of US $500 million for the project, with a total cost of US $1288.24 million (Rs. 7,662.47 crore).
The GNHCP will showcase the use of green technologies in highway construction, including: (i) Conservation of natural resources through recycled materials, (ii) Utilisation of local and sustainable materials like fly ash and waste plastic, and (iii) Bio-engineering techniques for slope protection

Aug 06, 2024

Jakarta Hosts 5th AITIGA Joint Committee Meeting

The 5th AITIGA Joint Committee meeting, marking a significant milestone in ASEAN-India economic cooperation, concluded in Jakarta in August. The discussions aimed at reviewing and enhancing the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) were co-chaired by Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, India, and Ms. Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary General (Trade), Ministry of Investment, Trade & Industry, Malaysia. Delegates from all 10 ASEAN countries and India participated in the meeting.
During the meeting, the Indian delegation held bilateral discussions with Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam to align on key issues. Meetings were also held with ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn and ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Mr. Satvinder Singh to explore further economic cooperation opportunities.
The next AITIGA Joint Committee meeting is scheduled to be held in India from November 19-22, 2024.

Aug 05, 2024

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Resigns, Ending 15 Years in Power

Bangladesh experienced a monumental shift in its political landscape as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, abruptly tendered her resignation and left the country.
The timing of Hasina's resignation was particularly significant, coming just one day after a violent protest resulted in the deaths of 94 people. This tragic event underscored the escalating tensions and the government's increasingly tenuous grip on power.
Sheikh Hasina Wazed is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from June 1996 to July 2001 and later from January 2009 to August 5, 2024. She is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father and first President of Bangladesh. Having served for a combined total of over 20 years, she is the longest serving Prime Minister in the history of Bangladesh. Before leaving office in 2024, she was the world's longest-serving female head of government.

Janet Yang Re-Elected Film Academy's President

Film producer Janet Yang was re-elected for a third term as the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Alongside her re-election, several new board officers have been appointed to key positions within the Academy.
Board Officer Appointments: Lesley Barber: Vice President (Membership Committee Chair), DeVon Franklin: Vice President (Equity and Inclusion Committee Chair), Donna Gigliotti: Vice President/Treasurer (Finance Committee Chair), Lynette Howell Taylor: Vice President (Awards Committee Chair) and Howard A. Rodman: Vice President/Secretary (Governance Committee Chair).

Turkey Blocks Instagram amid 'Censorship' Row

Turkey blocked access to Instagram for its 85 million people, the country's Information and Communication Technologies Authority announced. According to Turkish media, there are more than 50 million users of the photo-sharing app in the country.
The Turkish government did not disclose a reason for the ban nor how long it would be in place. Reports however suggest the ban was a response to the platform removing posts related to the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Haniyeh, the head of the Palestinian militant organisation's political wing, was killed in a blast in Tehran while visiting the country for the inauguration of its new President. Iranian officials and Hamas blame Israel for what they say is an assassination, while Israel has declined to comment.
Unlike the U.S. and many of its Western allies, Turkey does not consider Hamas to be a terrorist organisation. Turkey's government has long been a vocal critic of Israel's military offensive in Gaza and its occupation of the Palestinian territories. Although it maintains diplomatic and economic relations with Israel and Turkish President Erdogan has described Hamas as "liberation fighters."

Aug 03, 2024

US Recognises Maduro's Rival Edmundo Gonzalez as Winner of Venezuelan Election

The United States recognised Edmundo Gonzalez, the opposition candidate, as the winner of Venezuela's disputed presidential election, rejecting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's claim of victory.
According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, given the overwhelming evidence, it is quite clear to United States and to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela's July 28 presidential election.

Aug 02, 2024

The 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE-2024)

India is hosting the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) in New Delhi from August 2-7, 2024, marking a 66-year hiatus since its last hosting in 1958. The conference, held every three years, is taking place at the Pusa Institute under the theme 'Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems'.
The conference is organised by the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) in collaboration with several key institutions, including the Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Agricultural Economics Research Association (India), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event.
The International Conference of Agricultural Economists was first established in 1929 by Leonard Elmhirst in Devon, England. It aims to bring together top agricultural economists and scholars to discuss global agricultural issues.

India Elected Vice-Chair of IPEF's Supply Chain Council

India was elected as the Vice-Chair of the Supply Chain Council under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). This appointment highlights India's critical role in developing a resilient supply chain in the Indo-Pacific region. The election, part of a larger agreement on supply chain resilience, establishes India alongside 13 other IPEF partners in shaping regional supply chain policies.
Under the IPEF's agreement, three key supply chain bodies were established:
Supply Chain Council: USA (Chair), India (Vice Chair)
Crisis Response Network: Republic of Korea (Chair), Japan (Vice Chair)
Labour Rights Advisory Board: USA (Chair), Fiji (Vice Chair)
Each body will operate with elected Chairs and Vice-Chairs for a two-year term.
The Supply Chain Council adopted Terms of Reference and will explore initial priorities in its first in-person meeting in Washington, D.C., scheduled for September 2024. The Crisis Response Network will conduct a tabletop exercise and plan its inaugural meeting alongside the Supply Chain Summit. The Labour Rights Advisory Board aims to enhance labor rights across IPEF supply chains.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

July GK, June GK, May GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services And Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26