1. US President Biden nominates Julie Turner as North Korea human rights envoy
Tags: Person in news International News
US President Joe Biden has nominated Julie Turner as special envoy for human rights in North Korea on 24 January.
An overview of the news
The move to fill the post, which has been vacant since 2017, comes amid debate over human rights issues as well as efforts to counter Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.
Julie Turner is currently the director for East Asia and the Pacific in the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
Turner has served in the office for East Asia and the Pacific for more than 16 years, primarily focusing on initiatives related to the promotion of human rights in North Korea.
The post of special envoy had become controversial in South Korea as the previous administration tried to bring North Korea to the negotiating table.
Some activists said that human rights had been sidelined due to national security priorities.
North Korea has repeatedly denied allegations of human rights abuses and blamed the sanctions for the dire humanitarian situation.
A landmark 2014 United Nations report on North Korean human rights concluded that North Korean security chief and leader Kim Jong Un should face justice for Nazi-style atrocities.
2. Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival
Tags: International News
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The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival will be organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting through the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) in Mumbai from January 27 to January 31, 2023.
An overview of the news
The SCO Film Festival is being organised during the Presidency of India in the SCO.
The festival aims to build cinematic partnership, act as a bridge between the cultures of different countries in the SCO and create harmony among the film communities of the SCO members through a collective cinematic experience.
A total of 57 films from SCO countries will be screened at the SCO Film Festival. In which 14 feature films will be screened in the competition section and 43 films will be screened in the non-competition section.
Marathi film Godavari directed by Nikhil Mahajan and Gujarati film 'The Last Film Show' directed by Pan Nalin have been nominated from India.
Shoojit Sircar's Sardar Udham, SS Rajamouli's period film RRR SCO focus are included in the country.
About SCO
SCO is a multilateral organisation, which was established on 15 June 2001.
Headquarters - Beijing, China
Member Country
Eight member countries - China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
three observer states - Belarus, Iran and Mongolia
3. Brazilian government declares medical emergency in Yanomami
Tags: International News
Recently in Brazil, the government has declared a medical-emergency in the Yanomami region amid reports of child deaths from diseases caused by illegal gold mining and malnutrition-related conditions.
An overview of the news
The purpose of the state of emergency declaration is to restore health services for the Yanomami people that had come to a standstill during the previous government's tenure.
In the four years of Bolsonaro's presidency, 570 Yanomami children died from preventable diseases, mainly from malnutrition as well as malaria, diarrhoea, and mercury used by wildcat gold miners.
The government announced food packages to the Yanomami, where about 26,000 Yanomami live in an area of rainforest and tropical savanna.
The Yonomami area has been a victim of illegal gold mining gangs for decades.
About Yanomami tribes
They are also called South American Indians.
They live in the remote forests of the Orinoco River Basin in southern Venezuela and the northernmost part of the Amazon River Basin in northern Brazil.
They live in small, scattered, semi-permanent villages, speak the Ziriana language, and hunt.
Their population is about 26,000.
Davi Copenava, a Brazilian leader who secured the land rights of the Yanomami people, has been awarded the Right Livelihood Award-2019, also known as Sweden's alternative Nobel Prize.
4. International seminar on knowledge sharing on conservation of natural and cultural heritage in Kathmandu
Tags: International News
On the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, an International seminar on Knowledge sharing of conservation of Natural and cultural heritage was organised by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in Kathmandu.
An overview of the news
It was organised in coordination with the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.
Ambassador of India, Naveen Shrivastav informed about the Indian government’s contribution to conserving cultural heritage.
The Government of India provided USD 50 million in aid for the reconstruction of two UNESCO heritage sites—Pashupatinath Temple and Bhandarkhal of Patan Durbar Square after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.
The guest of honour of the event, Nepal's Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati appreciated the efforts of the Indian Embassy in bringing together conservation experts from India and Nepal for the reconstruction and restoration of the natural and cultural heritage.
Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)
It was established in 1984 in New Delhi with the objective of heritage awareness and conservation in India.
Currently INTACH is recognized as one of the largest heritage organisations in the world with more than 190 chapters across the country.
Over the last 31 years, INTACH has pioneered the conservation of intangible heritage along with natural and built heritage.
5. New Zealand's ruling Labor Party elected Chris Hipkins as the country's 41st prime minister
Tags: Person in news International News
New Zealand's ruling Labor Party on 22 January elected Chris Hipkins as its leader and the country's 41st prime minister, replacing Ms Jacinda Ardern.
An overview of the news
Hipkins was the only candidate for the position and was confirmed by 64 MPs in what is known as the Labor caucus.
Known as "Chippy", Hipkins played a key role in the response to COVID-19.
He was first elected to Parliament in 2008 for the Labor Party.
He was appointed Minister of Health in July 2020 before becoming the Minister of COVID Response.
Before Hipkins can officially become prime minister, Ardern must submit her resignation to King Charles III's representative in New Zealand, Governor General Cindy Kiro.
Kiro Hipkins will then be appointed to the role and sworn in.
The Labour party has also selected Carmel Sepuloni as the deputy prime minister.
About New Zealand
Prime Minister: Chris Hipkins
Capital: Wellington
Currency : New Zealand dollar
6. UNESCO dedicates International Day of Education 2023 to Afghan girls, women
Tags: Important Days International News
UNESCO has decided to dedicate the International Day of Education to be celebrated on January 24, 2023, to Afghan girls and women.
An overview of the news
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said that no country in the world should prevent women and girls from getting education and it is a universal human right that should be respected.
The international community has a responsibility to ensure that the rights of Afghan girls and women are restored without delay.
UNESCO and other international organisations should take concrete steps to address the issue of women and girls in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
According to UNESCO, currently around 80 percent of Afghan girls and young women of school-age are out of school under Taliban rule, as they are denied access to secondary schools and universities.
Since 15 August 2021, Afghanistan has barred girls from attending secondary school, restricted the freedom of movement of women and girls, and excluded women from most areas of the workforce.
About UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN).
It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture.
It is also a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG), a coalition of UN agencies and organisations aimed at fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Headquarters: Paris, France
Director General: Audrey Azoulay
Founded: 16 November 1945 in London, United Kingdom
The organisation has 193 members and 11 Associate members.
7. India surpasses China to become most populous country in the world
Tags: Reports International News
According to projections by the World Population Review (WPR), India has surpassed China as the world’s most populous nation.
An overview of the news
As per WPR, India’s population was 141.7 crore as of the end of 2022.
According to official announcements, India's population is a little over 5 million, compared to 141.2 million declared by China on 17 January.
As per WPR estimates, India's population has increased to 142.3 crore as of January 18.
India, with 50 percent of its population below the age of 30, is poised to be the fastest growing major economy in the world.
According to WPR, although India's population growth has slowed down, it will still increase till at least 2050.
India, the third largest economy in Asia, is currently self-sufficient in food production.
India ranks second in terms of production of rice, wheat and sugar.
Apart from being a major importer of edible oils, India is also the largest consumer of sugar.
India is the third largest market for the purchase of crude oil, the second largest consumer of steel and gold.
In addition, India is the third largest domestic aviation market in the world.
8. Union Ministry of Tourism participates in FITUR, the world's largest International Travel Exhibition in Madrid
Tags: Summits International News
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, is participating in FITUR, the world's largest international travel exhibition in Madrid.
An overview of the news
Feria Internacional del Turismo or FITUR is being hosted in Spain from January 18-22.
India's participation in FITUR is important for promoting tourism.
The Ministry of Tourism has taken up 253 square metres of space, with over 30 participants exhibiting along with the India Pavilion, to participate in the exhibition.
The India Pavilion was inaugurated by Dinesh K Patnaik, Indian Ambassador to Spain.
The Indian delegation, led by Rakesh Kumar Verma, Additional Secretary in the Tourism Ministry, participated in key business meetings with the senior leadership of Melia Hotels International, Palladium Hotel Group, Expedia Group, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
The first Global Tourism Investors Summit will be organised by the Ministry of Tourism in New Delhi from 10 to 12 April.
9. India announces donation of 12,500 doses of pentavalent vaccines to Cuba
Tags: International News
Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, during her official visit to Cuba from January 12 to 14, announced that India has decided to donate 12,500 doses of pentavalent vaccines to Cuba.
An overview of the news
During her visit, Meenakshi Lekhi held a meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Caneland discussed bilateral importance and political and economic cooperation.
Both sides discussed issues of common interest and expressed desire to enhance cooperation in development assistance programmes, trade and investment, energy, disaster management, culture, health and pharma, AYUSH and biotechnology.
Pentavalent vaccine
Pentavalent vaccine provides protection to a child from 5 life-threatening diseases – Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae.
It is injected in three doses.
About Cuba
Prime Minister: Manuel Marrero Cruz
President: Miguel Díaz-Canel
Capital: Havana
Currency: Cuban peso
10. India announces 100 million Maldivian Rufiyaa for community development projects in Maldives
Tags: International Relations International News
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar arrived in Maldives on 18 January as part of his three-day visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka.
An overview of the news
To strengthen bilateral ties, India and Maldives signed an MoU on development projects and held talks with top leadership in the country.
The agreement included grant assistance of 100 million rufiyaa (Maldives' currency) for the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP).
Under this funding, several socio-economic development projects are planned to be implemented in Maldives.
It also includes the development of a sports complex at Gahadhoo and academic collaboration between the Maldives National University and the Cochin University of Science and Technology.
India has handed over two sea ambulances to help the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
About Maldives
It is also called Maldives Islands, an independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean.
It extends more than 510 miles (820 km) from north to south and 80 miles (130 km) from east to west.
Basis of economy -fisheries, tourism
Industries - handicraft or cottage including the making of coir (coconut-husk fibre) and coir products, fish canning, and boatbuilding.
Capital -Male
President -Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
Official Language - Dhivehi (Maldivian)
Official Religion - Islam
Currency - Rufiyaa
