General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - February 2017

Feb 2017

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.

Jun 12, 2023

Boris Johnson Quits as UK Lawmaker

Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson shocked Britain by quitting as a lawmaker after being told he will be sanctioned for misleading Parliament.
Mr. Johnson quit after receiving the results of an investigation by lawmakers over misleading statements he made to Parliament about 'partygate', a series of rule-breaking government parties during the pandemic.
In a resignation statement, Johnson accused opponents of trying to drive him out , and hinted that he might try to return.

Sudan's Government Declares UN Envoy

The Sudanese government declared the UN envoy to the country, Volker Perthes, to be persona non grata, meaning it no longer recognises his position in Sudan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Government of the Republic of Sudan has notified the Secretary General of the United Nations that it has declared Volker Perthes persona non grata.
The head of the Sudanese armed forces and Sudan's de facto leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, recently accused Perthes of igniting the country's conflict.
After the start of the conflict between the army and its paramilitary rival, the Rapid Support Forces, the UN mission in Sudan had been targeted by protests denouncing alleged foreign interference.

US and UK Back New 'Atlantic Declaration' for Economic Cooperation

Britain and the United States backed a new "Atlantic Declaration" for greater cooperation on pressing economic challenges in areas like clean energy, critical minerals and artificial intelligence.
The joint declaration described the partnership as the "first of its kind" in covering the broad spectrum of the two countries' economic, technological, commercial and trade relations.
Under the plan, Britain and the United States will strengthen their supply chains, develop technologies of the future and invest in one another's industries.

Jun 11, 2023

'FarmersFZ' Chosen by UN for Food start-up 'Accelerator Programme'

A Kerala-based start-up, Farmers Fresh Zone (FarmersFZ), was selected for the 'Accelerator Programme by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN.
FarmersFZ has figured in the list of 12 agri-food start-ups around the world for the UN body to develop business.
The Kochi-based multichannel marketplace platform, which functions under the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), is one among India's two start-ups to qualify for the 'Accelerator Programme'. Its ultimate aim is to attain the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
KSUM is the nodal agency of the Kerala government for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.
FarmersFZ, which bridges the gap between rural farmers and urban consumers by providing healthy, premium-quality and pesticide-free vegetables from fields to the table within 24 hours of harvest, connects more than three lakh consumers and 2,000-plus farmers in Kerala.

Fraser Island Reverts to its Traditional Name of K'gari

The world's largest sand island is now officially known by its traditional name, K'gari, the government of the Australian state of Queensland announced.
The name change formally recognises the connection of the indigenous Butchulla people to the UNESCO World Heritage site on Australia's east coast.
The Butchulla are the Aboriginal Australians who owned and cared for the area long before European settlement.
The Queensland government began the process of changing the name back to K'gari—pronounced "GUR-rie" or "Gurri"—in 2021, following a years-long campaign by indigenous people.
Long popular with both foreign and domestic tourists, K'gari has a 75-mile beach, no roads, colored sand cliffs and approximately 100 freshwater lakes, according to the state's tourism body.
It is also the only known place in the world where a rainforest grows on sand.
K'gari was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1992. It was cited for its distinctive biological conditions, including majestic remnants of tall rainforest growing on tall sand dunes, a phenomenon believed to be unique in the world.

Pakistan, Turkmenistan Sign Joint Implementation Plan to Execute TAPI Gas Pipeline Project

Pakistan and Turkmenistan signed a joint implementation plan to execute the multibillion-dollar Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and a delegation of Turkmenistan led by Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma'a.
State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik and Turkmenistan's State Minister and Chairman of Turkmen Gas, Maskat Babayev inked the accord.
The TAPI project includes Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The 1,814-km natural gas pipeline originates from Turkmenistan and passes through Afghanistan and Pakistan to reach India.
The project is being developed by a consortium established by four individual state-owned gas companies Turkmengaz (Turkmenistan), Afghan Gas (Afghanistan), Interstate Gas Service (Pakistan), and Gas Authority of India and Indian Oil (India).
The construction work began in 2015 but made little progress due to instability in Afghanistan. But after the Taliban takeover, the situation has changed and the new rulers of Afghanistan have promised to raise a dedicated force for the security of the pipeline.

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