General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Jun 17, 2023

UNGA Adopts Resolution to Honour Fallen Peacekeepers, Introduced by India

The United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus a draft resolution piloted by India to establish a memorial wall in the UN headquarters to honour fallen peacekeepers.
The passage of the resolution in the UNGA with a record 190 co-sponsorships came days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official state visit to the United States and his participation in the International Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations headquarters on June 21.
India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj introduced the draft resolution titled 'Memorial wall for fallen United Nations Peacekeepers' in the UN General Assembly Hall and it was adopted by consensus.
It welcomed the initiative of member states to establish at a suitable and prominent place at United Nations Headquarters in New York a memorial wall to honour the memory of fallen peacekeepers, giving due consideration to the modalities involved, including the recording of the names of those who have made the supreme sacrifice. While introducing the resolution, Kamboj said that the memorial wall will be a testimony to the importance that the UN bestows on peacekeeping.

UK Names First Female Envoy to Pakistan

The UK appointed senior diplomat Jane Marriott as the next British High Commissioner to Pakistan, making her the first female British envoy to Islamabad.
Prior to this appointment, Marriott was the High Commissioner to Kenya since September 2019. She replaced Christian Turner, who left Pakistan in January 2023 after serving as the envoy since December 2019.
Marriott brings a wealth of thematic and regional experience to her new role having joined the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in 2001, following roles in the Cabinet Office and Home Office.
She has also completed two diplomatic postings to Iraq and one to Afghanistan.

Jun 16, 2023

Bhupender Yadav Addresses the Plenary Session at the 111th International Labour Conference in Geneva

Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav addressed the Plenary Session at the 111th International Labour Conference in Geneva. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi India is moving towards Amrit Kaal with the commitment to provide social security and decent work to its workforce.
Yadav also said that through its G20 Presidency, India aims to push for tools to map skill gaps among countries and move towards harmonisation and mutual recognition of skills and qualifications, and also aims to work with the world to find out ways for sustainable financing mechanisms to provide universal and comprehensive social security coverage to all, including for gig and platform workers.
Yadav also met the Director General of the International Labour Organization Gilbert Houngbo on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference. Issues around Employment Working Group Priority Areas of Global Skill Gaps, Gig and Platform Economy and Social Protection and Sustainable Financing for Social Security under India's G20 Presidency were discussed.

Jun 15, 2023

World Bank Launches Its First Road Safety Project in South Asia

The World Bank (WB) launched its first dedicated road safety project in South Asia with a USD 358 million financing agreement signed in Dhaka with the government of Bangladesh. The project seeks to improve road safety and reduce fatalities and injuries from road crashes in selected cities, high-risk highways, and district roads.
Two national highways of Bangladesh, Gazipur-Elenga (N4) and Natore-Nawabganj (N6), will be taken up for the implementation of this project. The project will pilot comprehensive road safety measures, including improved engineering designs, signage and marking, pedestrian facilities, speed enforcement, and emergency care. These measures will help reduce road traffic deaths by more than 30 percent on these two highways.
Road signs, dividers, footpaths, zebra crossings, speed breakers and bus bays will be constructed on the two highways passing through the five divisions of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Mymensingh to reduce accidents and fatalities.

Global Slavery Index 2023 Released

The Global Slavery Index (GSI) provides national estimates of modern slavery for 160 countries.
It is presented by Walk Free, a human rights organisation, and is based on data provided by the Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, which, in turn, is produced by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Walk Free, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The fifth edition of the GSI released in 2023 is based on the 2022 estimates. The previous four editions were published in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2018.
In its report, Walk Free reported that 49.6 million people are living in modern slavery, out of which, India is home to 11 million.
There are three sets of key findings. The first set consists of countries that top in terms of the prevalence of modern slavery. The prevalence refers to the incidence of modern slavery per 1,000 population. On this count, the following 10 countries are the worst offenders: North Korea, Eritrea, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Tajikistan, the UAE, Russia, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.
The index states that these countries share some political, social, and economic characteristics, including limited protections for civil liberties and human rights.
The second set consists of countries with the lowest prevalence. The list includes countries such as Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Ireland, Japan, and Finland.
The third set consists of countries hosting the maximum number of people living in modern slavery. The list is as follows: India, China, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey, Bangladesh, and the US.

Jun 14, 2023

Mumbai and Delhi among Unfriendliest Cities Worldwide: Survey

In the World's Friendliest Cities for non-natives, 53 cities worldwide were assessed based on their friendliness towards non-natives. While no Indian cities made it to the 'friendly' list, Delhi and Mumbai marked their presence on the 'unfriendly' list.
The index considered six key metrics to determine the most welcoming and unfriendly cities globally. The metrics included visitor return rates, safety ratings, LGBTQ+ equality, overall happiness, ease of communication through a common language, and the friendliness of staff.
Accra in Ghana was ranked as the least friendly city for non-natives. Following closely behind was Marrakech in Morocco, claiming second spot. Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Rio de Janeiro, and Delhi occupied the slots that followed on the unfriendly list.
On the other hand, Toronto and Sydney emerged as the friendliest cities for non-natives in 2023, both receiving an impressive overall friendliness score of 7.97 out of 10. Edinburgh and Manchester secured the second and third positions, respectively, in terms of friendliness towards non-natives.

Mahmoud Abbas in China as Xi Jinping Set to Broker Israel-Palestine Talks

After a successful rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, China will attempt a far tougher mediation effort to resolve the Palestine-Israel conflict with as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas came to Beijing.
Abbas met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. The leaders exchanged opinions on the latest developments on the Palestinian arena as well as on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Jun 13, 2023

To Counter Chinese Presence, US May Soon Rejoin UNESCO

UN cultural and scientific agency UNESCO announced that the United States plans to rejoin and pay more than USD 600 million in back dues after a decade-long dispute sparked by the organisation's move to include Palestine as a member.
As per reports, the decision to return was motivated by concern that China is filling the gap left by the US in UNESCO policymaking, notably in setting standards for artificial intelligence and technology education around the world.
The US and Israel stopped funding UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011, and the Trump administration decided in 2017 to withdraw from the agency altogether the following year, citing long-running anti-Israel bias and management problems.
The return of the US, once the agency's biggest funder, is expected to face a vote by its 193 member states next month.

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