1. US court approved extradition of 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana to India
Tags: International News
A US court has approved the extradition of26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Pakistani-origin Canadian Tahawwur Rana to India.
An overview of the news
California District Court Judge Jacqueline Chooljian has approved the Indian government's request for Rana's extradition.
Rana was arrested in the US on an extradition request by India for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which killed over 160 people, including six Americans.
India has charged Rana with offenses including conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, waging war, murder and forgery.
Rana was convicted in Chicago in 2011 of providing material support to the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which planned the Mumbai terror attacks.
India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing his role in the 26/11 attacks carried out by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists in 2008.
What is Extradition?
Extradition is the formal process of surrendering a person from one state to another.
The purpose of this process is the prosecution or punishment for offences committed by a person within the jurisdiction of the requesting country.
The extradition of a fugitive criminal to India is regulated under the Indian Extradition Act, 1962.
The Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division, Ministry of External Affairs is the central/nodal authority to administer the Extradition Act.
Extradition process can be initiated in case of under-investigation, under-trial and convicted criminals.
2. India, EU agree to coordinate policies in strategic semiconductor sector
Tags: International News
India and the European Union have entered into an agreement to coordinate their policies in the semiconductor sector.
An overview of the news
The joint statement was issued after the first India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting held in Brussels.
It aims to enhance cooperation, foster innovation and strengthen competitiveness in this vital industry.
The agreement emphasizes collaborative research and development activities between Indian and European companies, research institutions, and universities.
By pooling their expertise and resources, both parties aim to drive technological advancements in semiconductor manufacturing, design, and applications.
Recognizing the importance of a skilled workforce, the agreement focuses on promoting skill development initiatives in the semiconductor sector.
India and the EU will jointly work towards training programs, knowledge exchange, and capacity building to nurture a talent pool equipped with cutting-edge skills.
The agreement signifies the establishment of a long-term strategic partnership between India and the EU in the semiconductor sector.
What are Semiconductor Chips?
It is a material which has conductivity between conductor and insulator.
Compounds of silicon or germanium or gallium, arsenide or cadmium selenide are used in this.
Why are semiconductors or chips so important?
It serves as the centre and brain of all modern electronics and information and communication technology products.
The chips are used as data-storing memory chips, or logic chips that run programs.
Manufacturing of chips requires a lot of precision as well as investment.
This requires special conditions where even small disturbances around or inside the manufacturing unit can hamper production.
About European Union
The European Union is a group of 27 European countries.
The United Kingdom which was the founding member of the European Union has left the organisation.
It was founded on 1 November 1993
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
3. Libyan parliament suspends its prime minister Fathi Bashagha
Tags: Person in news International News
Recently, the Libyan Parliament has decided to suspend the Libyan Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha from his post.
An overview of the news
The suspension reflects the internal conflicts and challenges facing the government in the country.
Fathi Bashagha has served as Prime Minister of Libya, leading the Government of National Accord (GNA).
He has been an influential figure in Libyan politics, contributing to stabilization efforts during a challenging period.
Reasons of suspension
The Libyan parliament's decision to suspend Fathi Bashagha stemmed from various factors and internal disputes.
These include allegations of mismanagement, corruption, or policy disagreements.
Impact on Libyan governance
The suspension of Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha has significant implications for Libya's governance and stability.
This highlights the internal power struggle and the need for political consensus among various factions within the country.
This event may lead to a reshuffle in government positions and possible changes in the political landscape.
Political disorder and fragmentation
Libya has been experiencing political disorder and fragmentation since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011.
The suspension of the prime minister underscores the challenges faced by the Libyan government in achieving stability, consolidating power and meeting the needs of its people.
About Libya
Libya is a country located in North Africa. Most of the country lies in the Sahara desert.
Capital - Tripoli
Currency - Libyan dinar
Chairman of the Presidential Council - Mohamed al-Menfi
4. India & Bangladesh launch '50 Start-ups Exchange Programme'
Tags: International Relations International News
India and Bangladesh have recently jointly launched the '50 Start-up Exchange Programme' to promote collaboration and exchange between the start-up ecosystems of the two countries.
An overview of the news
The objective of the program is to strengthen bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh by promoting cooperation in start-up and innovation sectors.
It provides a platform for entrepreneurs, investors and stakeholders from both the countries to connect and collaborate.
The '50 Start-up Exchange Program' facilitates knowledge sharing and learning opportunities between Indian and Bangladeshi start-ups.
It encourages exchange of ideas, best practices and expertise to foster innovation and growth.
The program provides mentorship and guidance to participating start-ups, connecting them with experienced entrepreneurs, industry experts and investors.
People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Capital: Dhaka
Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina Wazed
President: Mohammad Shahabuddin
Currency: Taka
5. S Jaishankar meets Sweden’s Defence, Foreign Ministers during his Stockholm trip
Tags: International Relations International News
During his visit to Stockholm, Sweden, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar held a meeting with the Defense Minister and Foreign Minister of Sweden.
Purpose of meetings
Discuss bilateral relations
Strengthen diplomatic ties
To explore opportunities for cooperation between India and Sweden in defense and foreign affairs.
Highlights of the meeting
Bilateral Relations
Discussion on enhancing overall bilateral relations between India and Sweden including areas such as trade, investment, defense cooperation and cultural exchanges.
Defence Cooperation
Defense cooperation, joint military exercises, defense equipment procurement and sharing of defense technologies discussed in the meeting with the Defense Minister of Sweden.
Security Cooperation
The discussions included issues of regional and global security concern, counter-terrorism efforts and information sharing to address common security challenges.
Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy
Discussion on regional and global issues of mutual interest, multilateral cooperation and coordination on matters such as climate change, sustainable development goals and human rights.
Economic and trade relations
Ways were explored to enhance economic and trade ties between India and Sweden including investment opportunities, technology partnership and trade facilitation.
Cultural and people-to-people exchanges
The meetings emphasized the importance of cultural exchanges, academic cooperation and people-to-people interactions to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen ties between the two countries.
About Sweden
It is located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe.
The ancient name of the country was Svitiod.
Prime Minister - Ulf Kristersson
Capital - Stockholm
Currency - Swedish krona
King - Carl XVI Gustaf
6. MInister of State Dr L Murugan to lead delegation to Cannes Film Festival
Tags: Festivals International News
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan will lead the Indian delegation to the Cannes International Film Festival from May 16 to 27.
An overview of the news
They will also be joined by filmmaker Guneet Monga of The Elephant Whispers fame, Indian actresses Manushi Chhillar, Esha Gupta and acclaimed Manipuri actor Kangabam Tomba.
The India Pavilion is being conceptualised and designed by National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad with the theme - ‘Showcasing India’s Creative Economy’ to the global community.
The pavilion design has been inspired by the Saraswati Yantra, the abstract representation of goddess Saraswati.
Four Indian films,including Kanu Behl’s Agra and Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy, have made it to the official selection in the Cannes Film Festival.
Apart from these, many Indian films will be screened in Marche du Films.
A Manipuri film ‘Ishanhou’ will be showcased in the ‘Classics’ section.
About Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most prestigious international film festivals held annually in Cannes, France.
History and significance
The festival was first established in 1946 and has since become a prominent event in the global film industry.
It serves as a platform for showcasing and promoting a wide range of films from different countries and cultures.
Film screenings and competitions
The festival includes various competitive sections, such as the Palme d'Or for the best film, which is one of the most coveted awards in the industry.
Impact on filmmakers and films
The Cannes Film Festival serves as a launching pad for many acclaimed films and emerging talents.
Winning an award or receiving critical acclaim at Cannes can significantly boost a filmmaker's career and bring global recognition to their work.
7. G7 Ministerial Meeting on Health Innovation in Nagasaki, Japan
Tags: Summits International News
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the G7 Health Ministerial meeting on Global Health Architecture in Nagasaki, Japan on 13th May.
An overview of the news
The meeting was organized to discuss the global health challenges and ways to ensure preparedness, prevention and response to future health emergencies.
The health ministers of the G7 countries and the "Outreach 4" countries of India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand were invited to the meeting.
Objectives of the meeting
To foster collaboration and exchange ideas on health innovation.
Addressing global health challenges, and promoting advancements in healthcare research, technology, and policies.
Topics discussed
The G7 health ministers discuss various pressing health issues such as infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, vaccine development, healthcare accessibility, digital health, and the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
Sharing best practices
The meeting provides an opportunity for G7 countries to share best practices, success stories, and lessons learned in healthcare innovation and delivery.
About G7
The G7 is a group of seven major industrialized countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The G7 holds annual meetings to discuss various global issues, but these meetings are usually held in different locations each year.
The 48th G7 summit was hosted by Germany in 2022.
8. UAE's Sharjah Police launches 'Stay in your lane' campaign
Tags: International News
On 11 May, theUAE's Sharjah Police launched a traffic campaigncalled "Stay in Your Lane"to tackle road violations.
An Overview of the News
The campaign aims to improve traffic culture among drivers and other road users by increasing awareness and promoting adherence to traffic rules and instructions.
The campaign includes the dissemination of awareness messages in three different languages through the social networking sites of Sharjah Police.
About United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Location:It is located in Western Asia.
Geographical Boundaries: It shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Maritime Borders: It also has maritime borders with Qatar and Iran in the Persian Gulf.
Religion: Islam is the dominant religion in the UAE, with the majority of the population being Sunni Muslim.
Capital - Abu Dhabi
Official language -Arabic
Government - Federal Islamic parliamentary elective semi-constitutional monarchy
President/Crown Prince - Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime Minister - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Vice President - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
9. 1st Ministerial meeting of India-EU Trade and Technology Council
Tags: Summits International News
The first ministerial meeting of the India and the European Union Trade and Technology Council (TTC) will be held in Brussels on 16 May.
An overview of the news
The meeting will be co-chaired by the Ministers of External Affairs, Commerce and Industry and Communications, Electronics and Information Technology from the Indian side.
India is only the second country after the US with which the European Union (EU) has a TTC, and the two sides agreed to launch the strategic mechanism during the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to India in April 2022.
The TTC aims to deepen trade and investment ties between India and the European Union, as well as foster greater cooperation on technology and innovation.
About India-EU Trade and Technology Council
The trade and technology council was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during Ms Leyen's visit to India in April 2022.
Three Working Groups under the TTC
1. A Working Group on Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance and Digital Connectivity
2. A Working Group on Green and Clean Energy Technologies
3. A Working Group on Trade, Investment and Resilient Value Chains
India-EU Trade relation
India is the 10th largest trading partner of the European Union, accounting for 2.1% of the total trade in goods.
The EU is India's third largest trading partner, accounting for €88 billion in goods trade in 2021 or a little over 10% of total Indian trade.
Trade in services between the two sides reached €30.4 billion in 2020.
About European Union
The European Union is a group of 27 European countries.
The United Kingdom which was the founding member of the European Union has left the organisation.
It was founded on 1 November 1993
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
10. Monkeypox no longer a global health emergency: World Health Organization
Tags: International News
The World Health Organization declared the end of a global health emergency on 11 May for the rare but potentially serious disease mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.
An overview of the news
According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, countries have reported about 90% fewer cases in the past three months.
The emergency declaration was issued in July 2022 amid a major global surge in cases.
Mpox belongs to the family of poxviruses, which also includes smallpox, and people with the disease often develop a rash on various parts of the body.
According to WHO, since January 2022, there have been more than 87,000 mpox cases and 140 deaths in 111 countries.
What Is Monkeypox?
It is a viral zoonotic disease that is transmitted from animals to humans.
Monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus similar to smallpox.
It has been identified as a smallpox-like disease in monkeys, hence it is called monkeypox.
It was first observed in 1958, in monkeys in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and in humans in 1970.
The disease outbreak in Nigeria in 2017 was the largest ever.
The monkeypox virus mutates at a high rate but is treatable once symptoms appear.
Symptom of disease
Fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes and a skin rash or lesions.
Infected people develop a rash resembling smallpox.
In the early stages of the disease, monkeypox and smallpox can be differentiated because the monkeypox lymph gland enlarges.
Transmission of disease
It spreads through close face to face, skin to skin and direct contact.
The disease can be spread through contact with bodily fluids, sores on the skin or internal mucous surfaces, such as the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects.
Treatment and Vaccine
There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for monkeypox infection.
The anti-smallpox vaccine has been shown to be 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.
