1. International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin for war crimes in Ukraine
Tags: International News
The International Criminal Court on 17 March issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of war crimes.
An overview of the news
The move mandates 123 member states to arrest Putin and transfer him to The Hague for trial if he steps onto their territory.
It was immediately rejected by Moscow while Ukraine on the other hand welcomed the decision.
Why did the International Criminal Court issue the warrants?
The International Criminal Court says Putin committed war crimes in Ukraine.
He is responsible for the crime of kidnapping and deportation of Ukrainian children.
According to the court, these crimes were allegedly committed from 24 February 2022 on Ukrainian-occupied territory.
The court also issued a warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights.
International Criminal Court (ICC)
It was set up in July 2002 under the Rome treaty of 1998.
It is the only permanent court to prosecute persons for crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes and crimes of agression.
At present 123 countries are its members. The United States, China, and Israel are not its members.
The court's jurisdiction extends to offences that occurred after July 1, 2002, that were committed either in a state that has ratified the agreement or by a national of such a state or the case which was referred to it by the United Nations Security Council.
The Headquarters of ICC: The Hague, Netherlands
ICC is different from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
ICJ is a United Nations court which hears disputes involving the member states of the United Nations.
2. Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav elected Nepal's third Vice President
Tags: Person in news International News
Ram Sahai Prasad Yadav has been elected as the third Vice President of Nepal and is the leader of the Janata Samajwadi Party.
An Overview of the News
In the voting, Yadav defeated Astalakshmi Shakya of CPN (UML) and Mamta Jha of Janmat Party.
Yadav received support from the ruling coalition, including the Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre), and CPN (Unified Socialist).
A total of 311 federal MPs and 518 provincial assembly members participated in the vote.
The polling station for the election was located in the Federal Parliament Building at New Baneshwar in Kathmandu.
According to the Constitution of Nepal, the Vice President can perform the duties of the President during the absence of the President.
The term of the Vice President is five years from the date of his election.
Yadav was a former Minister of Forest and Environment and a member of Nepal's first federal parliament.
About Nepal
The kingdom of Nepal was established by the Shah dynasty.
It is a landlocked country in South Asia.
President - Ram Chandra Paudel
Prime Minister - Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Capital - Kathmandu
Currency - Nepalese Rupee
3. India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline to be jointly inaugurated by PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina
Tags: International News
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline through video conference on March 18, 2023.
An Overview of the News
The India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline is a proposed 130 km long pipeline for high-speed diesel transport from Siliguri in India to Parbatipur in Bangladesh.
Maitri Pipeline is the first cross-border energy pipeline between India and Bangladesh with an estimated cost of Rs 377 crore.
The pipeline has a capacity to transport 1 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) of high-speed diesel (HSD), and will be constructed by India's Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) at an estimated cost of USD 1.6 billion.
Initially, the pipeline will supply high-speed diesel to seven districts in northern Bangladesh.
The operationalization of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline will provide a sustainable, reliable, cost-effective and environment-friendly mode of HSD transportation from India to Bangladesh.
The pipeline will enhance cooperation in energy security between India and Bangladesh.
This is part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Bangladesh in April 2017 to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector.
The pipeline will help Bangladesh meet its growing energy demand and reduce its dependence on imported fuel, while providing an opportunity for India to expand its energy exports to neighbouring countries.
About Bangladesh
Prime Minister - Sheikh Hasina
Currency - Bangladeshi Taka
Capital - Dhaka
4. The US Senate appointed of Eric Garcetti as the United States Ambassador to India
Tags: Person in news International News
Eric Garcetti has been confirmed by the US Senate as the new ambassador to New Delhi, chosen by President Joe Biden for the role.
An Overview of the News
Garcetti was supported by a majority of Senators, with 52 in favour and 42 against.
Seven Republican Senators joined the Democrats in backing Garcetti for the role.
Eric Garcetti served as the mayor of Los Angeles, California in the past..
He is the first LA mayor in more than 50 years to be nominated for a diplomatic position.
About the US Senate
The US Senate is one of the two chambers of the US Congress.
It has 100 senators, each state is represented by two senators, who serve for six-year terms.
The Senate has significant powers, including the ability to approve presidential nominations and treaties, and to serve as a court for impeachment proceedings.
The Vice President of America is the leader of the Senate, but votes only in case of a tie.
5. India and Luxembourg release joint Commemorative Postage Stamp
Tags: International News
India and Luxembourg celebrating 75 years of friendship on March 15, 2023. To mark the occasion, both the countries launched a joint Commemorative Postage Stamp.
An Overview of the News
The Postage Stamp symbolises the long standing and strong ties between India and Luxembourg.
Both the countries have been cooperating in the steel sector for the last 20 years.
The Paul Worth company of Luxembourg has been working in India for the last two decades under this collaboration.
In November 2015, Luxembourg hosted the 12th Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
The partnership between India and Luxembourg in various fields reflects their commitment to strengthen their friendship and explore future opportunities for cooperation.
About Luxembourg
Luxembourg is a small nation located in Europe and shares borders with Belgium, France, and Germany.
In 1994, Luxembourg City was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From 2013 to 2014, Luxembourg served on the United Nations Security Council for the first time.
Prime Minister - Xavier Bettel
Currency - Euro
Official languages - Luxembourgish, French, German
6. US recognizes McMahon Line as international border
Tags: International News
The United States has recognized the McMahon Line as the international boundary between Arunachal Pradesh and China in a recently passed bipartisan resolution, calling it an "integral part of India".
An overview of the news
The resolution rejected Beijing’s claim that the northeastern state Arunachal Pradesh falls under Chinese territory.
In addition to recognizing the McMahon Line, the resolution also condemned Chinese provocations in the region, including the use of military force by China to change the status quo at the Line of Actual Control.
The resolution also condemned the construction of villages in disputed areas, the publication of maps of cities in Arunachal Pradesh, and the expansion of Beijing's territorial claims on Bhutan.
The resolution, titled 'Reaffirmation of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory and condemnation of China's provocative activities in South Asia', came after a major clash between the Indian and Chinese forces in Arunachal's Tawang in December last year.
What is the McMahon Line?
India and China share a 3,500 km long border which is disputed.
The line that delineates the boundary between the two countries is called the McMahon Line.
The border of India and China can be divided into three parts. Western Zone, Central Zone and Eastern Zone.
The line separating India and China is the McMahon Line although China considers the McMahon Line illegal.
The McMahon Line was drawn during the Simla Convention of 1914, officially described as a convention between Great Britain, China and Tibet.
7. Denmark becomes the first country in the world to import CO2 and store it under the sea
Tags: International News
Denmark has launched a project to store carbon dioxide 1,800 metres below the North Sea, making it the first country in the world to bury CO2 imported from another country.
News Overview
CO2 burial project, where carbon is injected into the site of an old oil field to prevent further warming of the atmosphere.
The project is called "Greensand" and is being led by British chemical Giant Ineos and German oil company Wintershall Dia.
The project aims to store eight million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030.
The North Sea was chosen for the project because it already has pipelines and potential storage sites due to decades of oil and gas production.
According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), EU member states released 3.7 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2020 alone.
About Denmark
Capital - Copenhagen
Prime Minister - Mette Frederiksen
Official name - Kingdom of Denmark
Official language - Danish
Currency - Krone
Form of Government - constitutional monarchy
8. India world's largest arms importer: SIPRI report 2023
Tags: Reports International News
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According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's (SIPRI) 2023 report, India will become the world's leading arms importer in 2022.
News Overview
According to this report, between the years 2013-17 and 2018-22, India's arms imports have decreased by 11 percent.
According to the report's findings, over the past five years, the US had the world's largest military expenditure, accounting for 40% of the global share, followed by Russia (16%), and France (11%).
About SIPRI
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is a global non-profit research institute.
SIPRI focuses on resolving conflicts, controlling arms and promoting disarmament.
The institute provides data, analysis and advice regarding armed conflicts, military expenditure and the arms trade.
Establishment - 6 May 1966
Founders - Tage Erlander, Alva Myrdal
Chairman - Stefan Lofven
Director - Dan Smith
Headquarter - Solna
9. Tim Mayopoulos has been appointed CEO of Silicon Valley Bank by the FDIC
Tags: Person in news International News
Tim Mayopoulos, the former CEO of Fannie Mae, has been selected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as the CEO of Silicon Valley Bank, a subsidiary of the defunct SVB Financial Group.
News Overview
Prior to joining StartupBlend, Mayopoulos was CEO of mortgage financier Fannie Mae for more than six years.
About Silicon Valley Bank
Establishment - 1983
Founder -Roger V Smith
President - Gregory W. Baker
Headquarters - Santa Clara, California (United States)
About the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
Formed -1933
Jurisdiction - United States federal government
Founder - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Headquarters - Washington, D.C. (United States)
10. India and Sweden sign a MoC to strengthen cooperation & promote research networking
Tags: International News
A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was signed between India and Sweden to strengthen cooperation and promote research networking between research institutions from both countries.
News Overview
The MoC was signed by Dr. Akhilesh Gupta, Secretary, SERB and Dr. Andreas Gothenburg, Executive Director, STINT.
Its main objective is to promote opportunities for money mobility in both the countries.
The MoC aims to encourage academic collaboration through organising various mobility activities, such as exchange programmes, seminars, workshops and conferences.
About Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)
Establishment -2009
Secretary - Dr. Akhilesh Gupta
Headquarters - New Delhi
About Sweden
Prime Minister - Mr. Ulf Christerson
Capital - Stockholm
Official language - Swedish
Currency - Swedish Krona
