1. India launches official website of SCO 2023 with a theme of ‘For a SECURE SCO’
Tags: International News
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has launched the official website of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) with the theme of a SECURE SCO. The website will highlight the events that will be undertaken under the chairmanship of India next year.
During the 22nd Head of State summit meeting 2022 of the SCO at Samarkand, Uzbekistan in September, India formally received the SCO rotating presidency. India will hold the presidency of the grouping for a year until September 2023.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had floated the concept of SECURE at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China in 2018. Explaining the SECURE concept, the Prime Minister said ‘S’ for security for citizens, ‘E’ for economic development, ‘C’ for connectivity in the region, ‘U’ for unity, ‘R’ for respect of sovereignty and integrity, and ‘E' for environment protection.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a regional group of 8 countries of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan .
2. India participates in ‘4th meeting of Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan’ held in Russia
Tags: place in news Summits International News
India participated in the fourth meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan held in Moscow on 16 November 2022. Special Envoys and Senior Officials from Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan also participated in the meeting.
According to the External Affairs Ministry, the participants discussed issues related to Afghanistan. These include the current humanitarian situation and the ongoing efforts of various stakeholders to provide assistance, intra-Afghan talks, formation of an inclusive and representative government, efforts to counter threats of terrorism and ensuring regional security.
Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan
The Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, launched in 2017, is a regional platform on Afghanistan involving the special envoys of Russia, Afghanistan, India, Iran, China, and Pakistan.
Its mandate is to facilitate political reconciliation between the then-internationally backed Kabul government and the Taliban, establish peace, and ensure regional security.
3. Russia and Ukraine agree to further extend the Black Sea grain deal by four months
Tags: Russia-Ukraine International News
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to extend the Black sea grain deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkiye by another 120 days. The agreement which was originally signed on 22 July 2022 was set to expire on 19 November 2022. The deal allows grain exports from the designated Ukrainian Black Sea port through a safe corridor in the Black Sea.
The agreement was reached between Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye and the United Nations at Istanbul, Turkiye.
The deal faced its first major crisis when Russia announced that it was suspending the agreement on 29 October 2022 after Ukraine attacked the Russian Black Sea Fleet near Sevastopol. However later Russia agreed to continue the deal.
The deal will continue with the existing provisions. Ships will carry grain from three Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk, Odesa and Yuzhny .They will travel through the humanitarian corridor set up in the Black Sea and stop in Istanbul for inspection before continuing to the final destination.
The grain deal is vital for many African countries as they face crop failure due to weather extremes and internal conflicts. The nations that will benefit from the deal include Egypt , Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan Senegal, Rwanda, Congo, Libya, Tanzania and Namibia.
4. Indians no longer need police clearance for Saudi Arabia visas
Tags: National International News
The Saudi Arabian embassy in India has announced that it will exempt Indian nationals from submitting a police clearance certificate (PCC) while applying to travel to the country. Over two million Indian citizens live in Saudi Arabia. The new rule would make visa application processing faster and easier for the Indians visiting Saudi Arabia.
According to the Saudi embassy this decision was taken as a part of the efforts of the two countries to further strengthen their relations.
A police clearance certificate is a document that Indian nationals willing to go abroad for employment, residential status, or long-term visa need to apply for if required by the visa of the destination country. The document helps in knowing the criminal record of the person.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is a West Asian kingdom founded by Ibn Saud in 1923. The country is known for its oil and Islam.
- According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2020, Saudi Arabia has the world’s 2nd largest oil reserves in the world after Venezuela.
- At present it is the world's largest exporter of crude oil.
- It has two of the holiest shrine of Islam, Mecca and Medina mosque
- The world's largest mosque Al-Haram or forbidden mosques is in Mecca.
- The world's second largest mosque, Mosque of the Prophet, or Masjid al-Nabawi is in Medina.
- The Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) headquarters is also in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- The world’s largest sand area, the Rub al-Khali (“Empty Quarter”) which is spread around 647,500 square km, is also in Saudi Arabia.
Capital of Saudi Arabia: Riyadh
Currency: Saudi Riyal
King of Saudi Arabia: King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia: Mohammed bin Salman
5. APEC summit disrupted in Bangkok due to North Korean ICBM test
Tags: Summits International News
The 29th summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) being held in Bangkok, Thailand was briefly interrupted on 18 November 2022 as they condemned the North Korea for its fresh test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). ICBM is a land based nuclear capable ballistic missile with a range of 5,600 Km or more.
The two-day (18 & 19 November) summit meeting was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Thailand Prayuth Chan-ocha on 18 November 2022.
The U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris called an emergency gathering of leaders from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Canada and New Zealand on the sidelines of the summit after North Korea carried out the missile test just an hour before its inauguration.
This is the third summit level meeting in the Asia Pacific region within a month after the East Asia Summit in Cambodia and G-20 summit at Bali, Indonesia.
Russia is a member of both G20 and APEC but President Vladimir Putin has stayed away from the summits. First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov is representing him at APEC.
The next Summit meeting will be held in the United States of America in 2023.
India is not a member of APEC.
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum with 21 member economies across Asia-Pacific region.
It was set up in 1989 to promote regional economic integration under a non-legally binding manner and friendly environment.
APEC group countries account for 38% of the global population, 62% of world’s gross domestic product and 48% of the world trade.
21 Member of APEC are:
Australia; Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand; United States, China; Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei(Taiwan), Mexico ,Papua New Guinea ,Chile , Peru; Russia; and Vietnam.
Headquarters: Singapore
6. India fastest growing market for Microsoft owned professional networking site LinkedIn
Tags: Economy/Finance International News
The Microsoft owned business networking service company LinkedIn Chief Executive Officer Ryan Roslansky has said that India has become LinkedIn’s fastest-growing market as more and more companies and advertisers come online, with sales in the country rising at a 50% year-on-year .
He was speaking at the sidelines of the Bloomberg New Economy Forum meeting in Singapore.
He said that LinkedIn is looking for new business opportunities outside the United States as the economic situation in the United States is expected to become worse.
The majority of LinkedIn’s growth is happening outside of the United States, he said, adding that new members are joining the networking site in markets such as India, Indonesia and Western Europe.
LinkedIn is a social network of professionals designed to help people make business connections, share their experiences and resumes, and find jobs.
7. Paralympics-IPC suspends Russian, Belarusian committees with immediate effect
Tags: Sports Sports News International News
The International Paralympic Committee has suspended the National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) of Russia and Belarus with immediate effect on November 17, 2022, dashing the hopes of para-athletes competing in the 2024 Paralympics.
Important facts
Earlier athletes from both countries were barred from competing in the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics in March.
Russia's suspension was passed by 64 votes against 39 at the IPC's Extraordinary General Assembly in Berlin.
The suspension of the NPC of Belarus passed by 54 votes against 45.
Both NPCs have been suspended for "inability to comply with their membership obligations under the IPC constitution".
Due to the suspension, NPC Russia and NPC Belarus lose all rights and privileges of IPC membership, as per the IPC constitution.
The Russian team was also banned from the Rio Paralympics in 2016 over doping.
NPC Russia and NPC Belarus have the right to appeal against this decision.
About International Paralympic Committee
It was established on 22 September 1989 as an international non-profit organisation.
It is an athlete-centred organisation composed of an elected Governing Board, a Management Team and various Standing Committees and Councils.
Its objective is to enable Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to inspire and excite the world.
Headquartered - Bonn, Germany
President - Andrew Parsons
8. India wins Excellence in Family Planning Leadership (EXCELL) Award-2022
Tags: Awards International News
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India is the only country to have received the Leadership in Family Planning (EXCELL) Awards-2022 in the 'country category' at the International Conference on Family Planning held in Pattaya city, Thailand.
Important facts
India has made significant progress in adopting modern contraceptive methods, which have helped couples make choices about family planning.
These are reflected in the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) - 5 data.
As per NFHS-5 data, the total contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) in the country has increased from 54 per cent to 67 per cent as compared to NFHS-4.
Similarly, unmet needs for family planning showed a significant decline from 13 percent to 9 percent.
International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP)
It serves as a strategy for family planning and reproductive health worldwide.
It is the world’s largest scientific conference on family planning and reproductive health.
The last conference was held in 2018 at Kigali, Rwanda.
After 2009, this conference organised every two years.
The first conference was held in Kampala, Uganda, in 2009.
It provides an opportunity to engage with civil society, youth organisations, academia, governments, businesses, cities, parliaments, trade unions to disseminate knowledge, celebrate successes and recognize progress made towards universal access to family planning systems, services and products.
9. Army Chief General Manoj Pandey received guard of honour at Les Invalides in Paris
Tags: International Relations Defence International News
Army Chief General Manoj Pande who is on a four-day visit to France, received a Guard of Honour at the Les Invalides in Paris on 17 November, 2022.
Important facts
General Manoj Pande held talks with his French counterpart General Pierre Schille and discussed issues of mutual interest during his visit to the European country.
The Chief of Army Staff is on a visit to France from 14 to 17 November.
Gen Pande left for France on November 14 on a four-day visit with an aim to further strengthen the "bond of trust" between the Indian and French armies amid the rapidly evolving security matrix and geopolitical situation.
General Pande held extensive talks with the top military brass of France including the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Chief of the Army Staff and the Commander of the Land Combat Forces.
About France
France is located on the western edge of Europe
Prime minister: Élisabeth Borne
President: Emmanuel Macron
Capital: Paris
Currency: euro
10. MoU signed for exhibition of “Silver Treasures from Denmark and India” in the year 2023
Tags: International News
An MoU was signed between the National Museum, New Delhi and the Danish Museum Kolding for the exhibition “Silver Treasures from Denmark and India” on 17th November, 2022 in New Delhi.
Important facts
The exhibition will showcase the finest collection of silver from Museum Kolding and National Museum in New Delhi in March 2023.
The collaboration and exhibition is under the recently agreed Cultural Exchange Program between India and Denmark for the years 2022 to 2026.
The exhibition "Silver Treasures from Denmark and India" focuses on Danish and Indian silver artefacts, where both the museums will showcase the best silver items from their collections.
A total of 200 best displayed items will be selected in the exhibition.
For the first time, visitors to the National Museum will be able to see the parallel traditions of Indian and Danish silverware.
Major Museums of India
National Museum, New Delhi
National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru
Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata
Asiatic Society, Kolkata
National Museum of Natural History, New Delhi
About Denmark
Denmark is a country in northern Europe. It is made up of the Jutland Peninsula and more than 400 islands in the North Sea.
Prime Minister: Mette Frederiksen
Capital: Copenhagen
Currency: Danish krone
Danish Monarch: Queen Margrethe II
Official Language: Danish
