1. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to visit Cyprus, Austria from December 29 to 3 January
Tags: Person in news International News
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit the Republic of Cyprus and Austria from December 29 to 3 January 2023.
Minister S.Jaishankar will be in the Republic of Cyprus from December 29 to December 31, 2022. This year marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Cyprus.
During his visit, Jaishankar will meet Cyprus foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides. He will also address the Cyprus business and investment community and interact with the Indian diaspora.
Jaishankar visit to Austria
In Austria, the External affairs minister will meet Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg. This will be the first visit of an Indian foreign minister to Austria in the last 27 years. 2023 marks 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Austria.
S.Jaishankar will also meet the foreign ministers of Austria, Czech Republic foreign minister Jan Lipavský and Slovakia foreign minister Rastislav Káčer who will be there in the Austrian capital Vienna for the Slavkov format meeting.
Slavkov is a place in the Czech Republic. The Slavkov format was created in 2015. It is a cooperation format between Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
During his visit, Jaishankar will call on Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer. He will also meet Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Republic of Cyprus
It is an island European country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
It gained its Independence from Britain in 1960. The country has a majority population which are of Greece descent while the minority population are of Turkish origin.
Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and created a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983. Except Turkey no country recognises Turkish Cyprus.
India also recognises the Cyprus government.
Capital: Nicosia
Currency: Euro
President: Nicos Anastasiades
2. 'Bomb cyclone' hits US, more than 200 million people affected
Tags: International News
Recently a powerful "Bomb Cyclone" has hit the United States, affecting at least 200 million people. At least 64 people have died.
Important facts
Temperatures are predicted to plunge -57 degrees Celsius in certain locations due to the largest winter storm to hit the country in decades.
Temperatures dropped across the United States and heavy snow caused power outages in cities, thousands of flights were cancelled and people were stuck in their homes without food.
New York's Erie County, which includes Buffalo, is one of the areas most affected by the winter storm, which stretches from the Canadian to the Mexican border.
What is a 'Bomb Cyclone'?
Bomb cyclone is used by meteorologists to denote a mid-latitude cyclone that rapidly intensifies.
It is a giant winter storm that hits the coast and brings strong winds, flooding, snow and ice.
It consists of a combination of rapidly decreasing pressure and extreme cold.
This particular storm is the most explosive ever seen on the East Coast.
It is called a bomb cyclone because in this the storm strengthens explosively while the pressure subsides.
Formation of 'Bomb Cyclone'
Storms form when a mass of low pressure air (warm air mass) meets a high pressure mass (cold air mass).
The lower the pressure, the stronger the storm.
This occurs when a mid-latitude cyclone intensifies rapidly, dropping at least 24 millibars (millibar measures atmospheric pressure) in 24 hours.
This rapidly increases the pressure difference, or gradient, between the two air masses, causing the winds to be stronger.
3. Former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen sentenced to 11 years in prison for money laundering and bribery
Tags: Person in news International News
The Maldives criminal court on 25th December sentenced former president Abdulla Yameen to 11 years in jail and fined him $5 million after he was found guilty of money laundering and accepting bribe.
Important facts
- The court found Yameen guilty of accepting money to lease an island owned by the government.
- The court sentenced the former leader to seven years in the money laundering case and four years in the bribery case.
- Yameen was accused that he had given permission to develop a resort on V Ara's land by taking money during his tenure.
- Yameen was accused of misusing his position to get the Ara's land to ex-parliamentarian Yusuf Nai by taking US $ 1 million.
- Yameen was also fined US $ 5 million in this case.
- According to the court's decision, Yameen will have to deposit the fine amount to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within six months.
About Maldives
- It is also called Maldive 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
4. Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' appointed as the Prime Minister of Nepal for the third time
Tags: Person in news International News
President Bidya Devi Bhandari of Nepal has appointed Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' as the new prime minister of Nepal on 25 December 2022. Prachand will become the prime minister for the third time.
In the recently held parliamentary election no party got any clear majority. Prachand’s Maoist Center Party won 32 seats in Nepal's 275-member House of Representatives.
He has formed a coalition government with the support of the Communist Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) party, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rastriya Prajatantra Party and other smaller parties. Prachanda has the support of 165 lawmakers in the 275-member House of Representatives.
According to the deal with the UML party he will remain prime minister for the first half of the five-year term and later will be replaced by a candidate from the UML party.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal will replace Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress party as the Prime Minister.
Nepal’s Parliament
The Federal Parliament of Nepal is called Sanghiya Sansad. It is a bicameral house.
The Upper house is called the National Assembly or Rastriya Sabha. It consists of 59 members. It is a permanent body and the term of a member of the house is six years.
The lower house is called the House of Representative or Pratinidhi Sabha. It consists of 275 members with a term of five years.
Currency of Nepal: Nepalese Rupees
Capital: Kathmandu
President: Vidya Devi Bhandari
5. Sitiveni Rabuka becomes the new Prime Minister of Fiji
Tags: Person in news International News
Sitiveni Rabuka became Fiji's prime minister on 24 December 2022 after a coalition of parties voted narrowly to install him as leader of the country. It also signals the end of the former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama's 16 years in power. In the 55 member Parliament of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka secured 28 votes against Bainimarama's 27 votes.
Rabuka now heads a three-party coalition government consisting of his People's Alliance, the National Federation Party led by Biman Prasad and the Sodelpa Party, led by Viliame Gavoka.
Fiji will have three deputy prime ministers in Biman Prasad (finance), Viliame Gavoka (tourism), and Manoa Kamikamica (external trade) under the coalition arrangement.
Republic of Fiji
It is an archipelago of 300 islands and 500 islets in the South Pacific Ocean near New Zealand.
It gained Independence from Great Britain in 1970.
About two-fifths of the Fijian populations are Indins who were brought as indentured labourer by the British from North India to work in the sugar fields of Fiji.
English, Fijian, and Fijian Hindi are the official languages of the country.
The Parliament of Fiji is unicameral and consists of 55 members. The term of the Fijian parliament is of four years.
Capital of Fiji: Suva
Currency: Fijian Dollar
President: Jioji Konrote
6. UNSC adopts first-ever resolution on Myanmar
Tags: International News
The U.N. The Security Council on 21 December adopted its first ever resolution on Myanmar in 74 years to demand an end to violence and urge the military junta to release all political prisoners, including ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Important facts
The 15-member council has long been split on how to deal with the Myanmar crisis with China and Russia arguing against strong action.
The resolution also demands “an immediate end to all forms of violence” and asks for “all parties to respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.”
The motion was adopted with 12 votes in favour. Permanent members China and Russia opted not to use the veto after amending the wording. India also remained absent.
The resolution sent a "strong message" to the world that the junta must "end its violence across the country" and free prisoners.
The only resolution regarding Myanmar was passed by the United Nations in 1948 approving its membership in the UN Security Council.
About Myanmar
Capital - Naypyidaw
Currency - Kyat
Prime Minister - Min Aung Hlaing
Nobel Laureate - Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League of Democracy (NLD) party, was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights.
7. US to provide its key Patriot missile defence system to Ukraine
Tags: International News
The United States has announced on 21 December that it would provide its key Patriot missile defence system to Ukraine.
Important facts
The White House stated that the Patriot missile system would be part of another 1.85 billion dollars in aid to Ukraine.
The package also includes military vehicles, mortars, ammunition for HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems), and small arms.
The aid announcement comes at a time when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is on a visit to Washington to strengthen military ties between the two countries.
About Patriot missile system
It is a surface-to-air guided missile system that was first deployed in the 1980s.
It can target aircraft, cruise missiles and short-range ballistic missiles.
Each Patriot battery consists of a truck-mounted launching system with eight launchers that can hold up to four missile interceptors each, a ground radar, a control station and a generator.
Patriot batteries can also shoot down aircraft.
In military circles this weapon system is seen as a protective shield, which protects the population, soldiers or even buildings from incoming fire.
8. India votes in favour of UNSC resolution on mental health of UN peacekeepers
Tags: International News
India on 21 December voted in favour of a resolution on the mental health of UN peacekeepers.
Important facts
India's Permanent Ambassador to the UN Ruchira Kamboj said, as one of the largest troop contributing countries over the years, India attaches the highest importance to the safety and well-being of UN peacekeepers.
Mental health is an essential component of the overall health in which UN peacekeepers work.
Therefore, the medical care and well-being of UN personnel is the collective responsibility of all Member States.
Meanwhile, Kamboj raised the issue of data and studies done in consultation with troop and police contributing countries and the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, or C34.
C 34 has been giving due consideration to the issue of mental health of UN personnel in peace operations.
UNSC resolution on mental health
members of the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution on mental health and psychosocial support for personnel of UN peace operations.
Mexico initiated the draft resolution on mental health and psychosocial support.
The draft resolution will be the first stand-alone Security Council resolution on mental health.
The draft resolution recognises the need to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and psychosocial support for UN peace operations personnel.
It references the 2018 United Nations Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of UN personnel and improving organizational capabilities to maintain and protect mental health, which Applies to the entire United Nations system.
9. Peru orders Mexico's ambassador to leave country within 72 hours
Tags: International News
Peru declared Mexico's ambassador in Lima "persona non grata" and ordered him to leave the country on December 20, Peru's foreign minister announced, amid heightened tensions between the two countries after Pedro Castillo was ousted as president.
Important facts
The order gives Mexico's envoy to the South American country just 72 hours to leave the country.
Castillo was removed from office earlier this month after trying to dissolve parliament. He is being investigated in Peru on charges of rebellion and conspiracy.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called Castillo's removal from office undemocratic.
The Peruvian government last week declared a 30-day nationwide state of emergency.
Protests have rocked the country in the tumultuous days since President Pedro Castillo was removed from office on charges of rebellion and conspiracy last week.
Castillo remains in government custody for 18 months.
Castillo was prevented from taking refuge at the Mexican embassy in Lima. The lawmakers then swore in 60-year-old Dina Boluarte as the new president.
About Peru
Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.
President: Dina Boluarte
Capital: Lima
Currency : Nuevo Sol
Major Mountain Ranges: Andes
Major Rivers: Amazon, Ucayali, Madre de Dios
10. UAE to host the 13th WTO Ministerial Meeting in 2024
Tags: Summits Economics/Business International News
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will host the 13th World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial meeting in February 2024. The African country of Cameroon had also expressed its willingness to host the 13th WTO ministerial meeting.
The WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 12 to June 17. It was originally meant to be held in Kazakhstan in 2020, but was postponed due to the covid pandemic.
The World Trade Organisation was set up on 1 January 1995 replacing the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT). Its main purpose is to promote rule based trading systems in the world and to settles trade related disputes between the member countries.
The Ministerial Conference is the topmost decision-making body of the WTO and usually meets every two years.
It brings together all members of the WTO and takes decisions on all matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements.
The headquarters of WTO is in Geneva, Switzerland. There are 164 member countries .
Director General of WTO : Dr Ngozi -Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria
WTO Ministerial Meeting
Number | Place | Date |
First | Singapore | 9 to 13 December 1996. |
second | Geneva, Switzerland | May 18 and 20, 1998 |
Third | Seattle, United States of America | November 30 and December 3, 1999, |
Fourth | Doha, Qatar | 9-14 November 2001 |
Fifth | Cancun, Mexico | September 10 to 14, 2003 |
Sixth | Hong Kong | December 13 to December 18, 2005, |
Seventh | Geneva, Switzerland | 30th November to 2nd December 2009, |
Eight | Geneva, Switzerland | December 15 to 17, 2011 |
Ninth | Bali, Indonesia | 3rd to 7th December 2013 |
Tenth | Nairobi, Kenya | December 15 to 19, 2015 |
Eleventh | Buenos Aires, Argentina | December 10 to December 13, 2017 |
Twelfth | Geneva, Switzerland | June 12 to June 17, 2022 |
