General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2016

Feb 2016

Feb 24, 2023

India, Seychelles Sign Pact on Information Sharing in Maritime Security

Expanding the network of information sharing to further the existing cooperation in maritime safety and security, the Indian Navy-affiliated IFC-IOR signed an MoU with the Seychelles-based Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC).
The IFC-IOR (Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region) is a regional maritime centre hosted by the Navy. As per the Indian Navy, the MoU signed by Capt Rohit Bajpai, Director, IFC-IOR and Capt Sam Gontier, Director, RCOC aims to promote collaboration between the two Centres towards enhancing maritime domain awareness, information sharing and expertise development.

Amid South China Sea Conflict, Indian Submarine Docks in Indonesia for First Time

An Indian submarine has, for the first time ever, docked in Indonesia, which is among the countries locked in a maritime dispute with China in the contentious South China Sea, as part of the continuing overall diplomatic-military outreach to ASEAN countries.
The 3,000-tonne diesel-electric submarine, INS Sindhukesari, reached Jakarta for its first 'operation turnaround' after transiting through the Sunda Strait.
INS Sindhukesari was rolled out in 2018 after it underwent upgrades and repairs in Russia at the Zvyozdochka Shipyard workshop in Severodvinsk. The upgrade gave INS Sindhukesari an extended service life of 10-35 years.

Feb 23, 2023

Indo-American Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy Announces 2024 Presidential Bid

Indian-American tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy launched his 2024 presidential bid with a promise to put merit back and end dependence on China, becoming the second community member to enter the Republican Party's presidential primary after Nikki Haley.
A second-generation Indian American, Ramaswamy founded Roivant Sciences in 2014 and led the largest biotech IPOs of 2015 and 2016, eventually culminating in successful clinical trials in multiple disease areas that led to FDA-approved products.
He founded other successful healthcare and technology companies, and in 2022, he launched Strive Asset Management, a new firm focused on restoring the voices of everyday citizens in the American economy by leading companies to focus on excellence over politics.

UAE to Host First I2U2 Vice-ministerial Meeting

The United Arab Emirates hosted the first vice-ministerial meeting of the I2U2 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It was attended by senior officials from the four countries India, Israel, the United States and the UAE.
Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez led the US delegation at the meeting in Abu Dhabi.
It was the first vice-ministerial meeting since the grouping was jointly announced by President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Lapid, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During the forum, partner countries discussed opportunities to advance regional cooperation and investment opportunities to build partnerships that address some of the region's most pressing issues, including management of the energy crisis and food insecurity.

UN Appoints Indo-Canadian Coordinator for Scaling Up Nutrition Movement

United Nations Secretary-General Antnio Guterres announced the appointment of Indo-Canadian Afshan Khan as the coordinator of the 'Scaling Up Nutrition Movement'.
The Scaling Up Nutrition or SUN Movement is a country-driven initiative led by 65 nations and four Indian states united in their mission to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030.
Afshan Khan succeeded Gerda Verburg of the Netherlands.
Khan started her work for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Mozambique in 1989 and is currently serving as the regional director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
She also has extensive knowledge of international civil society organisations, having served as the CEO of Women for Women International.

Feb 22, 2023

Bangladesh Demands Bangla be Adopted as UN's Official Language

A senior Bangladesh minister exhorted the United Nations to formally adopt Bangla as one of its official languages, on the day when the country celebrated the Language Martyrs Day to commemorate the pioneers of the Bengali language movement.
The UN has six official languages -- English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Arabic.
During the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly held last year, it adopted Bangla, Hindi and Urdu as the non-official languages following an India-sponsored resolution.
We are again demanding that Bangla be given the status of an official language of the UN, the ruling Awami League general secretary and senior government minister Obaidul Quader said.

Mukaab Indoor Super-City is Saudi Arabia's Next Mega-Project in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince unveiled The Mukaab, which is a 400-meter-high, wide, and long indoor super city in the centre of Riyadh. The Mukaab, the super city, will be large enough to hold 20 empire state buildings and it is aimed that the PIF-backed giga-project will become a new global icon of technology, sustainability, mobility, and Saudi Innovation.
The Mukaab will be in the center of the Wider New Murabba Development created by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister and Chairman of the New Murabba Development Company (NMDC) to bring the project to fruition. The Mukaab, the super city, is based on the Najdi architecture with more futuristic approach. The building will enclose a tower on top of a spiral base. The structure will feature two million square meters of floor space that will be a hospitality destination with retail, cultural, and tourist attractions, featuring residential and hotel units, commercial space, and recreational facilities.
The Mukaab, a new Murabba project will feature 1,04,000 residential units, 9000 hotel rooms, 9,80,000 square meters of retail space, and 1.4 million square meters of office space. It will also include a green area and walking paths to promote a healthy lifestyle.

As G20 Chair and Ahead of SDG Summit, India to Host Series of Roundtables at UN

As chair of G20 and ahead of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Summit later this year in New York, India's Permanent Mission to the United Nation will host roundtables at the UN headquarters.
A series of roundtables have been lined up for the next few months. The 2023 SDG Summit will be convened in September 2023, during the United Nations General Assembly high-level week.
A roundtable titled 'Gandhian Trusteeship: A panel discussion on Sustainable Lifestyles and Enduring Pace' will be held.
Next on March 9, a roundtable on 'A world we women and girls want: Technology enabled social and economic advancement' is being scheduled.
On March 16, a roundtable on 'Grassroots leadership and transformation: Charting the path of empowerment through technology and skill development' will take place.
On April 14, a special event commemorating the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar is being planned.
Focus will be on India's growth story and achievements and how these might be scaled for the potential benefit of the global South.

Putin Walks Out of Nuclear Pact

Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended Russia's participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with the United States.
Putin, while announcing Russia's exit from the last remaining arms reduction pact between the Washington and Moscow, accused the West of being directly involved in attempts to strike its strategic air bases.
The New START treaty is a nuclear arms reduction treaty that came into force in 2011. Signed between the two former Cold war rivals, United States of America and the Russian Federation, on "Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms", the treaty puts legally binding strategic offensive limits on both Russia and US.

Feb 21, 2023

Bangladesh Youth Delegation Corner Inaugurated

High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Pranay Verma and Bangladesh Deputy Minister for Education, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel jointly inaugurated the Bangladesh Youth Delegation (BYD) Corner at the Indian Cultural Centre, Gulshan in Dhaka. The event was part of a programme to reconnect with the alumni of the Bangladesh Youth Delegations.
In addition, a BYD alumni portal was also launched during the programme to further institutionalise the exchanges between the High Commission and the young alumni.
Bangladesh Youth Delegation is an International Youth Exchange programme between the governments of India and Bangladesh. It aims to promote cultural exchange, leadership development, and people-to-people contacts between the two countries. Since its inception, nearly 800 Bangladeshi youth selected under the BYD programme, have visited India to participate in various activities that promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two countries.

Japan Discovers 7,200 New Unknown Islands

A fresh survey of Japan's territorial waters led to the discovery of 7,000 new unknown islands in the country. After the Japanese government's first official survey of its territorial waters since 1987, the official number of Japan's islands is expected to double from 6,852 to 14,125, with the addition of 7,272 new islands.
The nation currently comprises 6,852 islands, but that figure dates back to a 1987 study conducted by the Japan Coast Guard. However, a lawmaker argued in 2021 that the data was old and the true figure could be vastly different.
The new survey which was conducted by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan will not increase the nation's territory. However, it would give officials a more accurate picture of Japan's territory.

Feb 20, 2023

UN Social Development Commission Elects Ruchira Kamboj its Chair for 62d Session

The UN Commission for Social Development elected India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj as its chair for the 62nd session.
Kamboj was elected chair by acclamation at the first meeting of the 62nd session of the UN Commission for Social Development at the UN headquarters in New York.
It also elected Jon Ivanovski from North Macedonia, Carla María Carlson from Dominican Republic and Thomas Lammar from Luxembourg as the Vice-Chairs of the 62nd session.

Indian-origin Meghana Pandit Named CEO of Oxford University Hospitals

Professor Meghana Pandit, a leading Indian-origin medic was appointed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, one of the UK's largest teaching hospitals.
Pandit became the trust's first female chief and she is also the first person of Indian heritage to be appointed CEO of any National Health Service (NHS) trust in the Shelford Group, which represents some of the biggest teaching hospitals in the country.

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