General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - November 2016

Nov 2016

Oct 17, 2024

Speaker Birla Led Indian Delegation at Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla led a parliamentary delegation to the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly held in Geneva. Besides Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chair Harivansh and some members from both Houses of Parliament attended the event.
Birla addressed the Assembly on the theme 'harnessing science, technology and innovation for a more peaceful and sustainable future.'
The Lok Sabha Speaker also participated in the meetings of IPU's Governing Council, the highest decision-making body of the organisation.
The Indian delegation also took part in the meetings of its Executive Committee, the four Standing Committees and working sessions during the conference.

Abu Dhabi Crowned World's Richest City in Sovereign Wealth Funds

As of October 2024, Abu Dhabi was recognised as the richest city globally regarding sovereign wealth funds, boasting an impressive $1.7 trillion in capital. This significant achievement highlights the city's financial prowess and strategic investments.
Following Abu Dhabi, other prominent cities include Oslo, which is home to the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global (NBIM). Other notable cities in this ranking are Beijing, Singapore, Riyadh, and Hong Kong. Collectively, these six cities manage approximately two-thirds of the total assets held by sovereign wealth funds worldwide.
Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) are state-owned investment funds or entities that manage a country's reserves for various purposes, including stabilisation of the economy, saving for future generations, and funding social programs.
The primary goals of SWFs include achieving long-term capital appreciation, diversification of national revenue sources, and stabilisation of the national economy against market fluctuations.

Azeema Takes Charge as Maldives Ambassador to India

A week after Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's first official visit to India following his election last year (2023), which was marked by an "India out" policy, senior diplomat Aishath Azeema was named as the Maldives' ambassador to India, replacing Ibrahim Shaheeb. This move signals the island nation's intent to restore and strengthen ties with one of its closest bilateral partners.
Azeema has served as the Ambassador to China from June 2019 to September 2023.
Previously, she has held other key roles, including Deputy Ambassador to the UK and various senior positions within the Foreign Ministry, such as Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary.

Oct 16, 2024

Shubha Tole Elected President-Elect of IBRO

Professor Shubha Tole, neuroscientist and dean of graduate studies, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, is president-elect of the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO).
The IBRO governing council, representing 69 scientific societies and federations from 57 countries worldwide, elected new officers during its annual assembly held in October 2024 in Chicago, the US.
IBRO is a global association of neuroscience societies established in 1961 and headquartered in Paris that aims to promote and support neuroscience around the world through training, education, research, outreach and engagement activities, and the publication of two journals, Neuroscience and IBRO Neuroscience Reports.

Oct 15, 2024

India Ranks 105th in Global Hunger Index 2024

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a comprehensive tool that tracks and measures hunger at the global, regional, and national levels. The 2024 GHI report shed light on hunger levels across 127 countries, with specific emphasis on India's ranking and challenges.
India ranked 105th out of 127 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2024, placing it in the serious hunger category.
India's GHI score is 27.3, indicating a severe level of hunger.
The 2024 GHI report is the 19th edition, published by Concern Worldwide (Ireland) and Welthungerhilfe (Germany).
India's ranking is worse than several neighbouring South Asian countries, further highlighting the challenges faced in addressing hunger.

Nicaragua Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Israel amid Ongoing Conflict

Nicaragua officially severed diplomatic relations with Israel, a move announced by Vice President Rosario Murillo following a congressional resolution. This decision aligns with Nicaragua's leftist government, led by President Daniel Ortega, which condemned Israel's actions in the ongoing Gaza conflict and labelled its government as "fascist and genocidal." While the announcement is largely symbolic, as there are minimal existing relations between the two nations, it underscores a broader trend in Latin America where countries with leftist ideologies are increasingly showing solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
This is not the first time Nicaragua has cut ties with Israel. The country previously broke relations in 1982 and again in 2010 under Ortega's administration. The recent move follows similar actions by other Latin American countries, including Colombia and Bolivia, which have also distanced themselves from Israel in light of its military actions.

Oct 14, 2024

Iceland Heads for Early Elections after Three-party Coalition Government Falls Apart

Iceland's three-party coalition government, in power since November 2021, collapsed due to disagreements on policy issues, with new elections to be held in November, Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson announced.
Benediktsson, the head of the conservative Independence Party, said that tensions had mounted within the coalition in recent months on a range of issues, from foreign policy to asylum seekers and energy matters.
The coalition comprised of the Independence Party, the Left-Green Movement, and the centre-right Progressive Party.

UNGA Elects 18 New Members to Human Rights Council for 2025-2027 Term

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) elected 18 new members to the 47-member Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term. This decision was made through a secret ballot held, with countries like Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Qatar, and Thailand among the newly elected. The newly elected members will begin their three-year terms on January 1, 2025. The Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, plays a crucial role in promoting and protecting human rights globally. The elections reflect a commitment to staggered terms, ensuring continuity within the Council's composition.
The Human Rights Council, established in 2006, aims to address human rights violations and promote fundamental freedoms. The recent elections continue the practice of rotating membership, with approximately one-third of the Council's 47 members changing annually. This system is designed to maintain a diverse representation of countries, promoting equitable geographical distribution.

Oct 12, 2024

PM Modi Holds Key Talks with Counterparts on Sidelines of ASEAN-India Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his first bilateral meeting with Japan's newly appointed Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, in Laos on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Summit.
The Indian Prime Minister highlighted that India continues to place great importance on its relationship with Japan, a trusted friend and strategic partner.
In a separate meeting, Prime Minister Modi also engaged in bilateral talks with New Zealand's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon.

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