1. Exercise INIOCHOS-23
Tags: Defence International News
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in Exercise INIOCHOS-23, a multi-national air exercise hosted by the Hellenic Air Force, the air force of Greece.
An overview of the news
The exercise will be conducted at the Andravida Air Base in Greece from 24 Apr 2023 to 4 May 2023.
The Indian Air Force will be participating with four Su-30 MKI and two C-17 aircraft.
The exercise will be conducted in a realistic combat scenario involving a wide variety of air and surface assets.
It will also enable participating parties to engage in professional interactions, providing valuable insight into each other's best practices.
Objective of Exercise INIOCHOS-23
The exercise aims to enhance international cooperation, synergy and interoperability among the participating air forces.
About exercise INIOCHOS-23
This exercise to be held at Greece's Andravida Air Base is considered to be Europe's biggest air exercise.
Many countries like France, Italy are participating in this. The Indian Air Force will participate in this exercise for the first time.
The exercise will see participation of air assets from countries like France, USA, Italy, Saudi Arabia and Jordan apart from India's Su-30MKIs.
2. 8th India-Thailand Defence Dialogue
Tags: International Relations International News
The 8th India-Thailand Defence Dialogue was held in Bangkok on 20th April.
An overview of the news
The meeting was co-chaired by Nivedita Shukla, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Defense and General Nuchit Sribunsong, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Defense of Thailand.
They reviewed defence cooperation between the two countries and explored new initiatives to further strengthen bilateral ties.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of common interest.
India and Thailand share a strategic partnership and defense is a major pillar of this cooperation.
India-Thailand relations
India and Thailand share a maritime boundary in the Andaman Sea.
Thailand was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with India in 1947.
Since 2001, India-Thailand economic and commercial relations have grown significantly.
India and Thailand have been cooperating in various multilateral fora such as ASEAN and BIMSTEC, a sub-regional grouping consisting of Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan.
India is a member of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) initiated by Thailand in 2002 and the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) grouping of six countries.
The India-AESAN Agreement on Trade in Goods was implemented in January 2010.
Since 2015, India has been participating in the largest Asia Pacific military exercise X-Cobra Gold.
Exercise MAITREE (Army) and exercise SIAM BHARAT (Air Force) are Bilateral exercises between both countries.
About Thailand
Prime minister - Prayuth Chan-ocha
Capital - Bangkok
Head of State - King Vajiralongkorn
Official Language -Thai
Official Name - Ratcha Anachak Thai (Kingdom of Thailand)
3. China launched Fengyun-3 satellite
Tags: Science and Technology International News
On 16th April 2023, China successfully launched the Fengyun-3 meteorological satellite using Chang Zheng-4B carrier rocket from Jiuquan Cosmodrome in Gansu Province.
An Overview of the News
The primary objective of the Fengyun-3 satellite is to monitor and provide information on severe weather conditions, especially heavy rainfall, which can cause natural disasters such as floods and landslides.
This was the 471st mission for the Chang Zheng rocket family.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)
It is a state-owned organisation that serves as the primary contractor for China's space program.
CASC has several subsidiaries that specialise in the design, development and manufacture of a variety of space-related technology, including spacecraft, launch vehicles, missile systems and ground equipment.
The organisation is responsible for overseeing all aspects of China's space program, from research and development to mission planning and execution.
Establishment - 1 July 1999
Headquarters - Beijing, China
President - Zhang Zhongyang
About China
Government - Unitary Marxist-Leninist One Party Socialist Republic
President -Xi Jinping
Capital -Beijing
Official language - Standard Chinese
Currency - Renminbi
4. Kenya Launched Its First Operational Earth Observation Satellite "Taifa-1"
Tags: Science and Technology International News
Kenya launched its first operational Earth observation satellite "Taifa-1" on a rocket of Elon Musk's rocket company ‘SpaceX’ from Vandenberg Base in California on 15 April 2023.
An Overview of the News
The launch rocket carried 50 payloads from various countries, including Turkey, under SpaceX's 'rideshare programme'.
Taifa-1 was designed and developed by SayariLabs and EnduroSat and the satellite was built over two years at a cost of 50 million Kenyan shillings ($372,000).
The satellite's primary purpose is to collect agricultural and environmental data, including floods, droughts and wildfires, to help Kenya deal with disaster management and food insecurity.
Taifa-1
It is an optical camera that can take pictures in both multispectral and panchromatic modes.
The satellite can operate in and out of the visible light spectrum, allowing it to capture images even in low light conditions.
Taifa-1 is capable of capturing images in five different multispectral bands.
The Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) of Taifa-1 is 32 m for the multispectral band and 16 m for the panchromatic band.
About Kenya
Republic -12 December 1964
Capital -Nairobi
Official languages - Swahili, English
Currency - Kenyan shilling (Kesia)
Government -Unitary presidential republic
President - William Ruto
Deputy President - Rigathi Gachagua
Senate President - Amason Kingi
Assembly Speaker - Moses Wetangula
Chief Justice - Martha Koome
5. Efforts to revive the India-Brazil-South Africa Forum
Tags: International News
Diplomatic focus is likely to increase on the long-dormant trilateral India-Brazil-South Africa forum.
About India-Brazil-South Africa forum (IBSA)
It is a trilateral dialogue forum ofIndia, Brazil and South Africa which was created in the year 2003.
The grouping was formalized under the name of theIBSA Dialogue Forum under the Brasilia Declaration.
On June 6, 2003, at a meeting of the foreign ministers of the three countries in Brasilia (Brazil), the Brasilia Declaration was issued and the grouping was formalized and named the IBSA Dialogue Forum.
It brings together India, Brazil and South Africa, three large democracies and major economies from three different continents, facing similar challenges.
IBSA Fund was established in 2004 which facilitates the execution of human development projects to advance the fight against poverty and hunger in developing countries.
IBSAMAR is a joint multinational maritime exercise, among the Indian, Brazilian and South African navies.
Forum Meetings
Between 2011 and 2022, the forum has held only four trilateral ministerial commission meetings.
The latest is in September 2022, when senior ministers from the three countries meet in New York.
However, there has not been a meeting of their heads of state or government since 2011.
The meetings have become inactive in recent years.
6. Syria is the world's largest 'narco-state'
Tags: International News
Syria has become the world's largest 'narco-state' and most of its foreign exchange earnings come from the production and export of Captagon, a highly addictive amphetamine commonly referred to as "poor man's coke".
An Overview of the News
Drug trafficking, is especially Captagon, which is a significant part of Syria's economy.It accounts for more than 90 percent of the country's foreign exchange earnings according to criteria to be classified as a narco-state.
Experts have indicated that Syria is the major producer of Captagon, with much of it exported to the Gulf region. Following a crackdown on protesters by President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 and subsequent sanctions or trade embargoes with Syria, the Lebanese regime along with Hezbollah increased the production and export of Captagon to the Gulf countries.
The US enacted the Captagon Act last year, linking the drug trade to the Assad regime in Syria and labelling it an "international security threat".
About Syria
Capital - Damascus
Official language - Arabic
President - Bashar al-Assad
Vice President -Najah Al-Attar
Prime Minister -Hussain Arnoos
Speaker of the People's Assembly - Hammouda Sabbagh
7. Nepal became a founding member of the International Big Cats Alliance
Tags: International News
Nepal has become a founding member of the International Big Cats Alliance launched by India on 13 April.
An Overview of the News
The alliance was launched under India's initiative, and during the launch event, Nepal's Energy Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet presented a letter indicating Nepal's membership as a founding member to India's Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav. Handed over
The International Big Cats Alliance aims to conserve seven big cat species including tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards, cheetahs, jaguars and pumas.
Nepal's tiger population has seen a significant increase, increasing from 121 in 2010 to 335 in 2022.
Nepal successfully achieved its target of doubling the tiger population by 2022, as done during the first Tiger Summit in 2010 in St. Petersburg.
About the International Big Cats Alliance
The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was launched by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023, for the conservation of seven big cat species including tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma.
The alliance aims to reach 97 range countries covering the natural habitats of these big cats and strengthen global cooperation and efforts for their conservation.
Ministers from Bhutan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kenya, Nepal, Ethiopia and Malaysia expressed their support for India's efforts in alliance and conservation.
About Nepal
The kingdom of Nepal was established by the Shah dynasty.
It is a landlocked country in South Asia.
Prime Minister - Pushpa Kamal Dahal
President - Ram Chandra Paudel
Capital - Kathmandu
Currency - Nepalese Rupee
8. Buzi Bridge in Mozambique inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar
Tags: International News
On 14 April, India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar virtually inaugurated the Buzi Bridge built by India in Mozambique.
The bridge is part of the 132 km long Tika-Buzi-Nova-Sofala road project and was constructed by India.
An Overview of the News
The bridge represents the strong bond of friendship and solidarity between India and Mozambique.
Dr Jaishankar took a train ride from Maputo to Machava in an Indian made train and showcased India's contribution to the development of Mozambique's rail infrastructure.
About Mozambique
Mozambique is located in southeastern Africa, with the Indian Ocean to the east and several neighbouring countries to the north, northwest, west, and southwest.
The Portuguese arrived in 1498 and colonised Mozambique for four centuries before the country gained independence in 1975.
Mozambique descended into a civil war from 1977 to 1992, but has since held multi-party elections and become a relatively stable presidential republic.
Christianity is the largest religion in Mozambique, with Islam and African traditional religions also present.
Government - Unitary major-party semi-presidential republic
President - Filipe Nyusi
Prime Minister - Adriano Maleiane
Capital - Maputo
Official language - Portuguese
Currency - Mozambican metical
9. India opens its 16th Visa application center in Bangladesh's Kushtia
Tags: International Relations International News
The High Commission of India opened its 16th Visa application center in Kushtia town of Southwestern Bangladesh on 16th April.
An overview of the news
The new Indian Visa Application Center (IVAC) was inaugurated by High Commissioner Pranya Verma.
Mahbubul Alam Hanif, MP from Kushtia-3 was also present on this occasion.
This will provide greater ease and convenience to residents of Kushtia and its surrounding areas seeking visa services to visit India.
Continuous efforts are being made to improve visa facilities for the people of Bangladesh.
The new center will further strengthen people-to-people contact.
It will serve as a new platform to promote tourism, trade and people-to-people exchanges between India and Bangladesh.
The High Commission of India operates its largest Visa Operations Center in the world in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh accounts for the largest number of foreign tourists in India, including those availing medical, tourism, business and student visa facilities.
In the year 2019-20, more than 16 lakh visas were issued in Dhaka.
People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Capital: Dhaka
Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina Wazed
President: Mohammad Shahabuddin
Currency: Taka
10. India, Peru hold 2nd Joint Commission Meeting
Tags: International News
The 2nd India-Peru Joint Commission Meeting was held in New Delhi on 15th April.
An overview of the news
In the meeting both sides reviewed their traditionally friendly relations and discussed ways to take forward cooperation in areas of mutual interest including trade and investments.
The meeting was co-chaired by Saurabh Kumar, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs and Ignacio Higueras, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru.
They also discussed regional and multilateral issues of current relevance and underlined cooperation between the two countries in multilateral fora and international organizations.
The two sides also agreed to exchange visits and hold a series of business, cultural, educational and other bilateral events as part of celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
About Peru
Peru is the third-largest country in South America after Brazil and Argentina.
The world’s largest rainforest, the Amazon covers nearly half of Peru.
Capital: Lima
President: Dina Boluarte
Currency:Nuevo Sol
Official Language :Spanish, Quechua
