General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Nov 27, 2023

Malaysia Joins Thailand and Sri Lanka in Granting Visa-free Entry for Indians

Malaysia will grant a 30-day visa-free entry for Indian and Chinese citizens from December 1, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced, joining Thailand and Sri Lanka in recent weeks to offer such a facility to foreigners to promote tourism.
Ibrahim said the waiver was an additional facility to the existing visa exemptions currently enjoyed by Gulf nations and other West Asian countries, including Turkey and Jordan.
The 30-day visa-free entry is also currently enjoyed by eight ASEAN countries for the purpose of social visits, tourism and business.

Nov 26, 2023

Third World Hindu Congress Renounces 'Hinduism', Embraces 'Hindutva', 'Hindu Dharm'

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat inaugurated the World Hindu Congress in Thailand's capital Bangkok, which brought together thinkers, activists and leaders to deliberate on issues and challenges faced by the Hindus across the globe and discuss ways to address them.
The World Hindu Congress renounced the word 'Hinduism', contending that the term reflected oppressive and discriminatory and embraced 'Hindutva' and 'Hindu Dharma' to refer to the 'eternal' religion.
The third World Hindu Congress (WHC) adopted a declaration asserting that the word Hindutva was more accurate as it includes the gamut of all that the word 'Hindu' implies.

India to Chair International Sugar Organisation

India is set to take the helm as the chairman of the International Sugar Organisation (ISO) in 2024, marking a significant milestone for the country. As the world's largest consumer and second-largest producer of sugar, this leadership role reflects India's growing influence in the global sugar sector. The announcement came during the 63rd council meeting of the ISO, headquartered in London.
The chairmanship for 2024 brings a unique opportunity for India to lead the global sugar sector towards more sustainable practices. The focus will be on uniting member countries to adopt environmentally friendly approaches in sugarcane cultivation, sugar and ethanol production, and the efficient utilisation of by-products.

Nov 25, 2023

Four Indian Women Shine in BBC 100 Women 2023 List

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) unveiled its 11th edition of the BBC 100 Women list for 2023, featuring inspiring and influential women from various fields around the world. This prestigious list is categorised into Culture and Education, Entertainment and Sport, Politics and Advocacy, and Science, Health, and Tech. The BBC 100 Women list for 2023 includes four Indian women viz. Actress Dia Mirza, Cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur, Photographer Arati KumarRao, and Tibetan Buddhist nun Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo.
Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of the Indian Women's National Cricket Team in all three formats, was recognised in the Entertainment & Sport category.
Dia Mirza, an award-winning actress, has been actively involved in social and environmental causes.
Honored as UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador in 2017, she has also served as a brand ambassador for the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).
Tenzin Palmo, born in Hertfordshire, England, is a renowned author, teacher, and founder of the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh, India.
Arati Kumar-Rao, an independent photographer and National Geographic Explorer, is dedicated to capturing the impact of environmental degradation on biodiversity.

Nov 24, 2023

Afghanistan Announces Permanent Closure of Indian Embassy

In a major development, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan announced its permanent closure in New Delhi citing persistent challenges from the Indian government.
The decision follows the embassy's earlier cessation of operations on September 30, a move made in the hope that the Indian government's stance would evolve favourably for the normal continuation of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi.
The embassy said despite an eight-week wait, the objectives of visa extension for diplomats and a shift in the Indian government's conduct were not realised.

Pakistan Applies for BRICS Membership

Pakistan formally applied for membership in the multinational forum BRICS.
Islamabad filed the application to join the body and has sought Russia's support, quoted Pakistan's envoy to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali.
Pakistan is looking forward to joining the group of developing nations under Russia's presidency in 2024.
The bloc currently includes China, the world's second-largest economy, as well as Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa. Six new members --Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates-- will be added to the bloc in January 2024. Pakistan is hopeful about joining BRICS with these countries.

Nov 23, 2023

Delhi's Khan Market World's 22nd Priciest High Street Retail Location

Real estate consultant Cushman & Wakefield unveiled its 'Main Streets Across the World' report, shedding light on prime retail rental rates globally. Delhi's upscale Khan Market secured the 22nd spot, marking a slight drop from the 21st position last year (2022).
Despite the slip, New York's Fifth Avenue continued to dominate as the world's most expensive retail destination. Milan's Via Montenapoleone climbed to second place, displacing Hong Kong's Tsim Sha Tsui to third. London's New Bond Street and Paris's Avenues des Champs-Élysées retained the fourth and fifth positions.

CAG Girish Chandra Murmu Elected Vice-chair of UN External Auditors' Panel

In a significant achievement for India, Girish Chandra Murmu, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, was elected as the vice-chair of the UN Panel of External Auditors. This recognition not only highlights India's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of external audit but also showcases its active role in shaping the global audit landscape.
The independent body is composed of representatives from 12 countries, namely Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Philippines, Russia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Together, they conduct financial, performance, and compliance audits of UN entities, ensuring transparency and accountability in the organisation's financial activities.
The Panel of External Auditors of the United Nations, the Specialized Agencies, and the International Atomic Energy Agency was established by the General Assembly Resolution in 1959 to further the coordination of the audits for which its members are responsible and to exchange information on audit methods and findings. The Panel has an essential duty to contribute to enhancing accountability, transparency, and governance of the organisations that compose the United Nations system.

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