General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - October 2017

Oct 2017

May 02, 2022

EU Emerges Top Purchaser of Fossil Fuels from Russia since Ukraine Invasion: CREA Report

According to data published by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), the European Union (EU) was the top purchaser of fossil fuels from Russia, since the country invaded Ukraine in February 24, 2022, with imports worth €44 billion that accounted for 71 per cent of Russia's exports of the commodity worth €63 billion in the period.
Interestingly, despite the West's focus on India's economic dealings with Russia, New Delhi's purchase of crude and fossil fuel from the country in the period was much below $ 1 billion and even lower than purchases made by the US, according to data projected in the report.
Western powers, including the EU and the US, announced a number of economic sanctions against Russia following its attack on Ukraine, in order to financially isolate it. However, because of the dependence of many countries, including European nations, on Russian fossil fuels, the report shows that trade is continuing to take place.

Delhi-NCR Ranks 9th in Asia Pacific in Occupancy Cost for Office Space

According to Knight Frank India, Delhi-NCR ranked ninth in Asia Pacific in terms of occupancy cost for prime office space at USD 60.1 per square feet per year. Hong Kong SAR was at the first position with an occupancy cost of USD 186 per square feet, followed by Singapore (USD 105), Tokyo (USD 101.2), Sydney (USD 98.6) and Beijing (USD 84.8).
Hong Kong SAR continued to be Asia's most expensive office market with a cost at USD 186 per square feet per year. Delhi-NCR was the 9th most expensive market at USD 60 per square feet per year (Rs. 376/sq ft/month). Mumbai at USD 50.9 per sq ft per year (Rs. 318 per square feet per month) and Bengaluru at USD 26.7 per square feet per year (Rs. 167 per square per month) were at 15th and 21st positions in terms of most expensive office locations, respectively.

PM Participates in Unveiling of Sardar Patel's Statue in Canada

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated virtually at an event in Canada's Markham where a statue of Sardar Patel was unveiled at the Sanatan Mandir Cultural Centre. PM Modi hailed the unveiling of the statue as a great initiative by the Indian diaspora to deepen cultural linkages with India.
Noting that the unveiling of the statue took place on the occasion of Gujarat Diwas, the Prime Minister hoped along with the Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, the event will enable people of Canada to look more closely at India.

India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to Provide Enhanced Market Access and Redu...

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the United Arab Emirates came into force on May 1, 2022 that would allow 90% of the country's exports a duty-free access to the Emirates.
Officials of the commerce and industry ministry flagged off the first consignment of goods from India to UAE under the pact. The CEPA is likely to benefit about $26 billion worth of Indian products that are currently subjected to 5% import duty by the UAE, India's third-biggest trading partner behind the US and China.

India, Russia, China on United States' Intellectual Property Protection 'Priority Watch List'

India, China, Russia, and four other countries were added to the US's annual 'Priority Watch List' for intellectual property protection and enforcement. Argentina, Chile, Indonesia, and Venezuela are among the other countries on the Office of the United States Trade Representative's list. All seven countries on this year's list were also on the previous year's list.
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai indicated in her Special 301 Report on the adequacy and effectiveness of US trading partners' protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights that these nations will be the focus of particularly intense bilateral engagement in 2023. The Special 301 Report is an annual assessment of the state of intellectual property protection and enforcement around the world.

May 01, 2022

Mission SAGAR IX: INS Gharial Reaches Colombo, Delivers Critical Medical Aid to Sri Lanka

With the overarching aim of providing critical medical aid to Sri Lanka during the ongoing crisis, INS Gharial as part of Mission SAGAR IX reached Colombo. It delivered over 760 kg of 107 types of critical lifesaving medicines. The shipment was received by Sri Lankan Health Minister Channa Jayasumana.
In line with the Government's vision of SAGAR - Security And Growth for All in the Region - the Indian Navy undertakes several deployments titled Mission SAGAR to assist friendly countries. Since May 2020, the Indian Navy has successfully concluded eight such missions, deploying ten ships to 18 Friendly Foreign Countries.

Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Agrees to Remove Brother as PM

As per reports, Sri Lanka's President agreed to replace his older brother as Prime Minister in a proposed interim government to solve a political impasse caused by the country's worst economic crisis in decades.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa agreed that a national council will be appointed to name a new prime minister and a Cabinet comprised of all parties in Parliament.
Rajapaksa earlier reshuffled his Cabinet and offered a unity government in an attempt to quell the protests, but opposition parties refused to join a government headed by the Rajapaksa brothers.

Apr 29, 2022

Russia Withdraws from UN Tourism Body Ahead of Vote on its Suspension

Russia withdrew from the United Nation's tourism body, the UN World Tourism Organization ahead of a vote to suspend Moscow's membership over its military operation of Ukraine.The UNWTO announced in March 2022 that it wanted to suspend Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The decision must be approved by two-thirds of its 159 member states at a two-day extraordinary general assembly which got underway in Madrid in April 2022. The UNWTO said the vote will go ahead even though Russia has said it is withdrawing from the body to give member states their say.

Border Haat at Indo-Bangladesh Border in Meghalaya Opens after Gap of Two Years

The Border Haat at Bangladesh-Meghalaya border was opened after a gap of two years. The decision to open the Border Haat between Balat in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya and Lauwaghar at Dalora in Sunamganj District of Bangladesh was taken by the Joint Border Haat Management Committee.
At present, India and Bangladesh have seven established Border Haats and nine more new Border Haats are in the pipeline. Border Haats enable local residents on both sides of the border to trade the local produce. At the Border Haats local community from Bangladesh and India gets an opportunity to sell locally produced agricultural and horticultural products, small agriculture and household goods, minor forest products, fresh and dry fish, cottage industry items, wooden furniture, handloom and handicraft items, etc.

India, European Union Agree to Establish Trade and Technology Council

India and the European Union (EU) agreed to establish a Trade and Technology Council, a strategic mechanism to address the challenges of ensuring trusted technology and security in the wake of rapid geopolitical changes — a move that is expected to deepen their strategic relationship.
The decision to set up such a council will be the first for India with any of its partners and second for the EU, following the first one with the US.
The announcement came in the backdrop of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's two-day visit to the national Capital.

Apr 28, 2022

Deepika Padukone to be Part of Cannes Film Festival Jury

Actress Deepika Padukone will be a part of the competition jury at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. French actor Vincent Lindon will be heading the jury at the 75th edition of the coveted festival, which will run from May 17-28. Padukone is part of the eight-member jury which will reward one of the 21 films in competition with the Palme d'or during the closing ceremony on Saturday May 28. Padukone, 36, was earlier the chairperson of Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival for two years.
She found fame with her 2007 film "Om Shanti Om", co-starring Shah Rukh Khan, and later featured in several blockbuster and critically-acclaimed movies like "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani", "Chennai Express", "Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela", "Bajirao Mastani", "Padmaavat" and "Piku".

Cabinet Approves Opening of Indian Mission in Lithuania

The Cabinet accorded approval to the opening of a new Indian Mission in Lithuania in 2022. The Opening of Indian Mission in Lithuania will help expand India's diplomatic footprint, deepen political relations and strategic cooperation, enable growth of bilateral trade, investment and economic engagements.
The decision comes at a time when the Baltic nation is facing an unofficial trade embargo by Beijing for not following the One China policy. Lithuania incurred the wrath of China after it allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in capital Vilnius. The opening of the mission will, among other things, facilitate India's trade with Lithuania. The proposal was finally approved after years of consideration.

Apr 27, 2022

Panchayati Raj Ministry, UNDP Sign Pact on Sustainable Development Goals

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a joint statement of understanding on localisation of Sustainable Development Goals.
About 65% of India's population lives in rural areas and the government is increasingly routing the funding of social sector schemes in sectors such as sanitation, housing and solid waste management through rural local bodies. The UNDP has been leading efforts in partnership with the NITI Aayog and the State governments, notably Haryana, Karnataka, Nagaland, Punjab and Uttarakhand, to localise and accelerate the SDGs through its signature solution of Sustainable Development Coordination Centres.

Myanmar Court Sentences Aung San Suu Kyi to 5 Years in Prison

A court in military-ruled Myanmar convicted the country's former leader Aung San Suu Kyi of corruption and sentenced her to five years in prison. Suu Kyi, who was ousted by an army takeover in February last year, had denied the allegation that she had accepted gold and hundreds of thousands of dollars given her as a bribe by a top political colleague. The maximum punishment for the offense is 15 years in prison and a fine.
News of the verdict came from a legal official who asked not to be identified because he is not authorised to release information. Suu Kyi's trial in the capital Naypyitaw was closed to the public, and her lawyers were barred from speaking to media.

India and Maldives to Establish Transmission Interconnection for Renewable Power Transfer

A draft agreement is being prepared for MoU on transmission interconnection under which a technical team from India would visit Maldives to assess its technical feasibility. Thereafter a detailed project report, including for undersea cable route survey and network augmentation, in Male (capital of Maldives) would be prepared jointly with Indian and Maldives agencies.
The proposal was discussed during the meeting between Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh and Maldives' Environment, Climate Change and Technology Minister Aminath Shauna in New Delhi. During the meeting, both leaders proposed two Memoranda of Understanding – on energy cooperation and on transmission interconnection under One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG).

World Bank Agrees to Provide US Dollar 600 Million in Financial Assistance to Sri Lanka

The World Bank agreed to provide Sri Lanka with 600 million US dollars in financial assistance to help meet payment requirements for essential imports. The World Bank would release 400 million dollars "shortly". The World Bank said that it would continue to help Sri Lanka to overcome the current economic crisis. Sri Lanka's worst financial crisis since independence in 1948 was caused by a drastic drop in its reserves that dropped 70 percent over the past two years, hitting 1.93 billion dollars at the end of March 2022. This left Colombo struggling to pay for essentials, including fuel, medicines and food.
The Sri Lankan government has also appealed to multiple countries and multilateral organisations for bridge financing until the IMF comes up with its aid. Thousands of people remained camped outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's seafront office to demand his resignation.

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