General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - December 2016

Dec 2016

Sep 29, 2025

Sri Lanka Hosts First-Ever AI Expo and Conference, Paving Path for Digital Future

Sri Lanka witnessed its first-ever AI Expo and Conference in September 2025, marking a milestone in the island nation's digital transformation. Organised by the Ministry of Digital Economy, the event was a bold step towards Sri Lanka's efforts towards a digitally integrated economy. At the inauguration, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya underlined the importance of balancing progress with caution. She said scepticism should not be viewed as resistance but as a safeguard to ensure technology remains in the service of humanity.
The expo expected to accelerate AI adoption across industries and strengthen Sri Lanka's role in the global digital economy. It is noteworthy that Sri Lanka's government has set an ambitious goal of expanding the digital economy from about US$3.5 billion in 2025 to US$15 billion by 2030. Artificial intelligence expected to drive up to 12 percent of this growth, making it central to the nation's economic vision.

Sep 28, 2025

UAE Unveils First Sovereign Mobility Cloud for Autonomous Transport

The UAE unveiled its first Sovereign Mobility Cloud at the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport, marking a major step in the country's autonomous mobility strategy. Enabled by Core42's Sovereign Public Cloud and powered by Microsoft Azure, the platform establishes a secure digital infrastructure for next-generation transportation.
The Sovereign Mobility Cloud is designed to accelerate autonomous mobility while ensuring all data is hosted within the UAE and governed under national regulations. It will support high-definition mapping, telematics, fleet operations, traffic management, and digital twins, creating a trusted environment for collaboration among government, industry, and research institutions.
The initiative will also enable live traffic management, fleet tracking, and integration of autonomous vehicles, while providing regulatory sandboxes and test hubs to advance innovation. Microsoft and Core42 will supply the sovereign-enabled cloud foundation and technical expertise, while Space42 will lead deployment through pilots and commercial rollouts.

Sep 27, 2025

Dubai Announces 15-km Dedicated Corridor for Driverless Vehicles & Marine Transport

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the launch of the Dubai Autonomous Zone (DAZ), a 15-kilometre dedicated corridor for driverless vehicles and marine transport, set to become operational in early 2026. The initiative, unveiled at the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport, supports the emirate's goal of making 25% of daily trips autonomous by 2030.
The zone will cover Al Jaddaf Metro Station, Dubai Creek Harbour, and Dubai Festival City, offering commuters a seamless network of self-driving options, including the driverless Metro, RoboTaxis, RoboBuses, autonomous shuttles, delivery robots, logistics vehicles, road-sweeping bots, and even autonomous abras for water crossings. "This is a glimpse into the future of mobility, where everything from taxis to street cleaners operates autonomously and interconnects for efficiency," said Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA's Public Transport Agency.
Trials for RoboTaxis are scheduled to begin by the end of 2025, aiming for 1,000 vehicles on the road by 2028. Uber is also collaborating with RTA and WeRide to integrate autonomous cars into its fleet, with pilot services launching in 2025.

Sep 26, 2025

7th Future Food Forum 2025 Opened in Dubai

The 7^th Future Food Forum opened in Dubai in September 2025, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and academics to explore pathways for advancing food security, trade, and innovation across the Global South. The discussions focused on building resilient food ecosystems through technology, sustainable practices, and cross-border partnerships.
The 7th Future Food Forum 2025 is held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, with Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri inaugurating the annual gathering.

Sep 24, 2025

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Withdraw from International Criminal Court (ICC)

The military-led West African nations of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, branding it a "neo-colonial" imperialist tool.
The juntas which took over in Bamako, Ouagadougou and Niamey after coups between 2020 and 2023 have since allied themselves in a confederation called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and distanced themselves from the West, notably from former colonial ruler France.
The court, based in The Hague, was "an instrument of neo-colonialist repression in the hands of imperialism," the three countries said in a joint statement.
The ICC has proven itself incapable of handling and prosecuting proven war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, and crimes of aggression.
The three States also said they wanted to create "indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice".
A State's withdrawal only takes effect one year after the official submission of the case to the UN general secretariat.

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