1. 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
2. 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.
3. 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
4. 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.
5. 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
6. 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
7. India, Australia convene fifth bilateral Cyber Policy Dialogue in New Delhi
Tags: International Relations International News
India and Australia held their fifth bilateral cyber policy dialogue on November 17, 2022 in New Delhi.
Important facts
The Cyber Policy Dialogue was held under the aegis of the India-Australia Framework on Cyber and Cyber-Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation and Action Plan 2020-2025 for Comprehensive and Deepening Cyber Cooperation.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (Cyber Diplomacy Division) Muanpuii Saiawi from the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Indian delegation consisted of senior officials from the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of Electronics and Information technology (MEITY), the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and CERT-In.
The Australian delegation included senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources and the Australian Federal Police.
Both sides agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration with the private sector and academia, including the Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership.
In addition, India and Australia will jointly organise a Cyber Bootcamp and Cyber and Tech Policy Exchange in collaboration with Indo-Pacific partners and the 6th India-Australia Cyber Policy Dialogue will be held in 2023.
Agenda of Dialogue
The Cyber Policy Dialogue provides a bilateral forum to discuss high-profile issues of mutual interest.
It discussed strategic priorities, cyber threat assessment, capacity building for next generation telecommunications (including 5G technology) and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, and the latest developments in cyber at the United Nations.
About Australia
Prime Minister: Anthony Albanese
Governor-General: David Hurley
Capital: Canberra
Currency: Australian dollar
8. 8th Norway-India Joint Working Group Maritime meeting
Tags: International News
8th India-Norway Joint Working Group Maritime meeting was held on18th November,2022 in Mumbai.
Important facts
In the meeting discussion was held on use of alternative fuels like green ammonia and hydrogen for futuristic shipping.
Important discussions took place on Norway-India cooperation on a green maritime future. Both the countries presented their vision and plans for the Green Sea Zone.
Additional Secretary Ministry of Ports,Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) highlighted that the maritime trade with Norway dates back since 1600.
Norway has technical expertise in the maritime sector and India has maritime sector development capabilities and a large pool of trained seafarers, making the two countries natural complementary partners.
India is part of the Norway Green Voyage 2050 project, both sides agreed on the will, dedication, partnership and capacity building to achieve common goals.
India is a signatory to the Hong Kong Convention for the Recycling of Ships.
Minister of Ports,Shipping and Waterways - Sarbananda Sonowal
India-Norway Joint Working Group
India-Norway Joint Working Group (JWG) on Maritime meetings are being held on a regular basis.
The 7th JWG on Maritime was held in Oslo (Norway) in November, 2019.
During the 7th meeting issues related to cooperation in shipbuilding, enhancement of skill of seafarers and environment friendly ships were discussed.
Kingdom of Norway
It is a Northern European country and lies in the Scandinavian Peninsula. Scandinavian islands consist of Norway and Sweden.
It is one of the largest exporters of crude oil and natural gas in the world .It has significant oil and gas reserves in North Sea.
Prime Minister: Jonas Gahr Støre
Capital: Oslo
Currency: Norwegian krone
9. Wipro the first Indian company to set up European Work Council
Tags: Economy/Finance International News
The Indian IT giant company Wipro has reached an agreement with its employee representative to set up a European Works Council (EWC). It has become the first Indian company to set up an European works councils for its workers in Europe.
The 27 member European Union has mandated the companies which have more than 1000 employees across the European Union countries to set up EWC. Wipro which is in the business of IT (Information Technology)outsourcing has more than 1000 employees in the 13 European Union member countries.
European works councils (EWCs) are standing bodies that facilitate the information and consultation of employees in Europe. It provides an opportunity to employees of the company to be informed and consulted on the transnational companies’ strategy and status.
The first meeting of the Wipro EWC will take place in the first quarter of 2024 where the EWC will elect its chairman and select committee members.
WIPRO
It is a diversified Indian multinational company.
It was set up as Western India Vegetable Products limited company by Mohamedhusain Hasham Premji in 1945. It later changed its name to WIPRO and diversified in the business of Information Technology under Azim Premji.
It is now one of the top IT companies of India which is present in more than 100 countries of the world.
Chairman: Rishad Premji
Headquarters: Mumbai
10. Climate Change Performance Index 2023
Tags: International News
The 18th edition of the Climate Change Performance Index -2023, compiled by German watch and the Climate Action Network, was released on 15 November, 2022.
Important facts
India has improved by two places to rank eighth among 63 countries in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2023.
India's two-place jump can be attributed to lower emissions and increased use of renewable energy.
The report track climate performance of the European Union and 59 countries, which together account for over 92 per cent of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the world.
The rankings from Germanwatch, the NewClimate Institute and the Climate Action Network are based on the efforts countries are making to halve their emissions by 2030.
The report ranked no country for the first three places because "no country performed well enough in all index categories to receive a high overall rating.
Denmark is placed fourth, Sweden fifth and Chile sixth in the ranking.
India earned a high rating in the GHG Emissions and Energy Use categories, while it got a medium rating in Climate Policy and Renewable Energy sections.
China, now the world's biggest polluter, fell 13 places to 51st in this year's ranking and received a very low rating overall because of its coal-fired power plants.
The US rose by three ranks to the 52nd place.
Iran (63rd), Saudi Arabia (62nd) and Kazakhstan (61st) fared the worst.
About Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)
It is developed by not-for-profit organisations German watch and New Climate Institute (Germany) together with the Climate Action Network (CAN International).
It is an important tool for increasing transparency in international climate strategy and enables comparison of climate protection efforts and progress made by individual countries.
