Current Affairs search results for tag: international-news
By admin: Oct. 13, 2022

1. World’s first space tourist Dennis Tito to ride to moon again on SpaceX

Tags: Person in news International News

World’s first space tourist, Dennis Tito, has signed up with the Elon Musk Company SpaceX, to fly around the Moon aboard the Starship rocket.

The SpaceX Company on 12 October 2022 said that the rocket will take Tito and his wife, Akiko, within 200km (125 miles) of the far side of the Moon without landing on its surface.  The date of the launch has yet to be announced as the Starship is yet to be tested.

Dennis Tito, an American engineer and entrepreneur became the first human space tourist to visit the International Space Station in 2001.

He was launched onboard a Russian rocket with the help of US-based Space Adventures in 2001.

Few companies in the world are striving to make space travel a reality. They are SpaceX , Richard Branson-founded Virgin Galactic SPCE.N, and  Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin  which currently offers suborbital joyrides that hit an altitude of about 106km (66 miles) above the Earth.

90 year old American actor, William Shatner, who played the role of Captain James T Kirk on the TV series Star Trek, became the oldest person to ride a rocket into space when he travelled on a Blue Origin flight last year.

Human Space Flight 

The first person to go into space was Yury Gagarin of the Soviet Union on 12 April 1961 onboard the Vostok Rocket.

The first woman to go into space was Valentina Tereshkova of the Soviet Union on 16 June 1963 onboard the Vostok 6 Rocket.

The first American to go into space was Alan Shepard in 1961.

Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma is the only Indian to go into space. He was part of the Soviet mission aboard Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984. 

By admin: Oct. 12, 2022

2. India improves its ranks to 123 on the Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index 2022

Tags: National International News

India has improved its ranking by 6 places in the recently released Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index (CRII) 2022. It has been ranked 123th in the world out of 161 countries.  India was ranked 129 in the 2020 Index. 

India’s rank has improved primarily due to improvement in indicators quantifying the impact of public spending and the impact of tax on reducing inequality.

The index ranks the countries on the policies made by the government and action taken to fight inequality in the first two years of covid pandemic.

Norway has been ranked as the top country followed by Germany and Australia.  South Sudan has been ranked 161st at the bottom of the Index. 

Composition of the Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index (CRII)

The Index which is prepared by Oxfam International and Development Finance International (DFI) measures governments policies and actions in three areas proven to have a major impact on reducing inequality.

The three areas are public services (health, education, and social protection), taxation and workers' rights.

India’s performance 

Public service 

India has been ranked 129th in the Public service spending. It was ranked 141 in the 2020 report.

According to the Index, India features among the lowest performers on health spending. It dropped to 157th rank, a drop of two places. The Indian government spends 3.64 % of all it’s spending on health which is lowest among all neighbouring countries.  Pakistan spending is at 4.3%, Bangladesh is at 5.19%, Sri Lanka is at 5.88%, and Nepal is at 7.8%, 

Progressive taxation 

India was ranked 16 on progressive taxation in 2022 while it was ranked 19 in 2020.

Labour Ranking (workers’ rights and wages)

India was ranked 151 on labour ranking (which includes workers’ rights) while in 2020 also it was ranked 151.

South Asian country’s ranking 

Country

Public service ranking 

Tax ranking 

Labour ranking 

Regional ranking 

Maldives

71

12

54

1

Bangladesh

136

47

101

2

Sri Lanka

128

85

93

3

Nepal

116

36

126

4

Bhutan

114 

27

140

5

India

129

16

151

6

Pakistan 

151

77 

113

7

Afghanistan 

158

115

117

8

OXFAM International

Oxfam International was formed in 1995 by a group of independent non-governmental organizations. They joined together as a confederation to maximize efficiency and achieve greater impact to reduce global poverty and injustice.

The name “Oxfam” comes from the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, founded in Britain in 1942. 

The Oxfam International Secretariat is based in Nairobi, Kenya

Oxfam India CEO : Amitabh Behar 

By admin: Oct. 12, 2022

3. INS Tarkash reaches South Africa to participate in 7th edition of IBSAMAR

Tags: Defence International News

INS Tarkash reached Port Gqeberha (also known as Port Elizabeth), South Africa to participate in the 7th edition of IBSAMAR, a joint multinational maritime exercise among Indian, Brazilian and South African Navies from 10 - 12 Oct 2022.

Important facts

  • The previous edition of IBSAMAR (IBSAMAR VI) was conducted at Simons Town, South Africa from 1 to 13 October 2018.

  • The Indian Navy is represented by a Teg class guided missile frigate, INS Tarkash, a Chetak helicopter and personnel from the Marine Commando Force (MARCOS).

  • The Harbor phase of IBSAMAR VII includes major exercises such as damage control and fire fighting exercises, VBSS/Cross boarding lectures and interactions between Special Forces.

  • This joint maritime exercise will strengthen inter-operability for maritime security, joint operational training, sharing of best practices and addressing common maritime threats.

INS Tarkash

  • INS Tarkash is a state-of-the-art stealth frigate of the Indian Navy.

  • It is built by Yantar Shipyard at Kaliningrad, Russia.

  • It is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors capable of addressing threats in all three dimensions.

  • The ship incorporates the latest stealth features such as low radar, infra-red, acoustic and magnetic signatures, making it difficult to detect at sea.

  • The ship is part of the Western Fleet of the Indian Navy based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command.

By admin: Oct. 12, 2022

4. Lucknow's Jagriti Yadav becomes UK high commissioner for a day

Tags: Person in news International News

20-year-old Jagriti Yadav of Lucknow has been appointed to the highest post of British High Commission in India for a day under women empowerment after winning a competition on the occasion of International Girl Child Day on 11 October 2022.

Important Facts

  • Jagriti is the sixth person to receive this honour of becoming the British High Commissioner.

  • According to the British Embassy, Jagriti is the sixth winner to win the 'High Commissioner for a Day-India Edition' competition held every year since 2017.

  • Jagriti, who hails from Lucknow, remained Britain's highest diplomat in India for a whole day. She gained experience in many diplomatic activities.

  • Including holding meetings with various parties and presiding over the meeting. Apart from this, she has been involved in many events throughout the day.

  • During this, Jagriti met the Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi as well as met West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin.

High Commissioner for a Day-India Edition

  • The High Commissioner for a Day-India Edition competition is open to young girls in the age group of 18-23. Last year's winner was Aditi Maheshwari, 20, from Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.

  • To celebrate International Girl Child Day, the British High Commission provides a unique opportunity for women across India to experience the life of the UK's top diplomat in the country.

By admin: Oct. 10, 2022

5. S Jaishankar inaugurates new Indian High Commission Chancery at Wellington in New Zealand

Tags: International Relations International News

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on 9 October inaugurated the new Indian High Commission Chancery in Wellington, New Zealand.

Important facts

  • He said that coordinating each other's potentials is a more prudent way to further deepen the vital ties between India and New Zealand.

  • S. Jaishankar, who is on his first visit to New Zealand as External Affairs Minister, also said that there is a need to take the ties between the two countries afresh.

  • He also said that there is massive potential for partnership between India and New Zealand in the field of agri-business.

  • Strong cooperation between India and New Zealand will ensure peace, prosperity and progress in the shared region, he said.

  • There is huge potential in business, digital, agriculture, education, skills, traditional medicine and maritime security domains, he said.

About New Zealand

  • It is a remote, mountainous group of islands located off the southeast coast of Australia. 

  • Prime Minister - Jacinda Ardern

  • Capital - Wellington

  • Currency - New Zealand dollar

  • New Zealand was the first country to allow women to vote in 1893.

  • New Zealand's wetapunga is one of the heaviest insects in the world.

  • Major rivers - Waikato, Clurtha, Rangitaiki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Buller, Rakaia, Waitaki, Waiau

  • Major Mountain Ranges - Southern Alps, Kaikoura Ranges

  • New Zealand's two main islands - North and South Islands, are separated by the Cook Strait.

By admin: Oct. 8, 2022

6. U S and India launch a joint task force on energy storage technologies

Tags: Science and Technology International News

India and the United States have launched a new task force under the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP), which will focus on the accelerated deployment of energy storage technologies.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS), are devices that enable energy from renewables, like solar and wind, to be stored and then released when customers need power most.

The task force was announced during the meeting of the Union minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Puri and the US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in Washington on 7 October 2022. 

They also issued a US India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) joint statement which highlighted the importance of bilateral clean energy engagement to strengthen energy security and to accelerate clean, secure, and just energy transition.

By admin: Oct. 8, 2022

7. Solomon PM told Australia, no Chinese military presence in the country

Tags: place in news International News

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogaware assured Australia on 7 October that his country would not allow a Chinese military presence in its territory.

Important facts

  • The island nation has been at the centre of a diplomatic conflict in the southern Pacific Ocean between the United States, Australia and their allies on the one hand and China on the other.

  • Earlier this year, the Solomon Islands struck a security agreement with China, saying it needed Beijing's assistance with its domestic security situation.

  • The agreement shook the US and Australia.

  • There was concern that the deal could potentially lead to a Chinese military base and power test on the island nation.

  • The United States and its regional allies fear that China could open a Chinese naval base, which would significantly increase China's military reach in the South Pacific.

About Solomon Islands

  • The Solomon Islands is a nation located in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of more than 990 islands.

  • Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

  • It does not include the Santa Cruz Islands and the outlying islands such as Rennell and Bellona.

  • Its capital is Honiara, which is located on the island of Guadalcanal.

By admin: Oct. 7, 2022

8. Divyangana Sharma and Ritika Saxena have been honoured with the prestigious Victorian Premier Award.

Tags: Awards Person in news International News

Two Indian students, Divyangana Sharma and Ritika Saxena have won the prestigious Victorian Premier's award. Divyangana Sharma has won the coveted Victorian Premier's Award - International Student of the Year 2021-22, while Ritika Saxena won the International Student of the Year award in the Research category.

Divyangana has also won Victorian International Education Awards 2021-22 in the Higher Education category. Divyangana Sharma came to Melbourne to study nursing at Holmesglen Institute in February 2020.

Ritika moved to Melbourne as an 18-year-old and is now a PhD student involved in stem cell research,

Victoria 

Victoria is one of the six states of Australia. It is the second largest state of Australia after New South Wales.

Like all states of Australia, it has a constitution of its own.

The head of the Victorian government is called Premier. 

The current Premier is   : Daniel Andrews

Capital of Victoria: Melbourne 

By admin: Oct. 7, 2022

9. U.N. peacekeeping chief to visit India

Tags: International News

UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix is on a visit to India, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Japan from 6 October to 15 October.

Important facts

  • He participated in a two-day meeting organized by the Challenges Forum, which brings together leading policy makers, practitioners and academics on key issues related to peacekeeping.

  • India is one of the largest military contributors to its missions in UN peacekeeping.

  • The purpose of Lacroix's visit is to review the countries' contributions to and support for UN peacekeeping and progress in enhancing the effectiveness of peacekeeping.

  • The Challenge Forum (CAF) 22 was co-hosted by the organization's Indian partner United Service Institution of India (USI).

About UN Peacekeeping

  • UN peacekeeping began in 1948 when the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of UN military observers in the Middle East.

  • It helps to bring countries from conflict to a difficult path of peace.

  • It deploys soldiers and police from all over the world for peacekeeping.

  • India is one of the largest military and police contributors to UN peacekeeping operations.

  • There are currently more than 5,700 Indian peacekeepers deployed in nine of the 12 UN peacekeeping missions.

By admin: Oct. 7, 2022

10. UN Human Rights Council rejects debate on China's mistreatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang

Tags: International News


The United Nations Human Rights Council on 6 October voted against a Western-led resolution to discuss China's alleged human rights abuses against Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang.

Important facts

  • The vote was a diplomatic victory for China, proving that criticism of China's actions in Xinjiang was baseless, so the allegation was dismissed.

  • The US, Britain, Germany and other allies proposed holding the debate, but 19 members of the council voted against the resolution and 17 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while 11 did not participate in the vote.

  • India also did not participate in the voting.

  • The 47-member council is the apex human rights body of the United Nations.

Why was the motion brought up for debate?

  • In August, the United Nations published a report concluding that the rampant arbitrary detentions of Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang and "serious human rights violations" were occurring.

  • The report also said Beijing's action could be a crime against humanity.

  • The report detailed "credible" allegations of "brutal, inhuman or degrading" treatment, sexual and gender-based violence against detainees.

Who are Uighurs?

  • There are about 12 million Uighurs living in northwestern China, mostly Muslims, in the region of Xinjiang.

  • Uighurs speak their own language similar to Turkish.

  • They see themselves culturally and ethnically closer to the Central Asian countries.

  • Their population in Xinjiang is slightly less than half of the total population.

About Xinjiang

  • It lies in the north-west of China and is the country’s biggest region.

  • It is a mostly desert region, which produces about a fifth of the world's cotton.

  • It is also rich in oil and natural gas and Beijing sees it as an important trade link due to its proximity to Central Asia and Europe.