1. India announces additional contribution of ‘$ 5 million’ to ASEAN-India science and technology fund
Tags: Science and Technology Summits International News
The Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on 12 November 2022 announced an additional contribution of USD 5 million to the ASEAN-India Science and Technology Fund (AISTDF) to enhance cooperation in sectors of public health, renewable energy and smart agriculture.
The announcement came during the three-day visit of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar to Cambodia for ASEAN-India and East Asia summits.
ASEAN India S&T Development Fund (AISTDF)
ASEAN-India Science & Technology Collaboration formally started in 1996 with the establishment of the ASEAN India S&T working group (AIWGST).
Initially, the collaborative S&T projects and activities between India and ASEAN were supported through ASEAN India Fund (AIF).
In 2008, a dedicated ASEAN India S&T Development Fund (AISTDF) with an equivalent amount of USD 1 million was established jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Science and Technology (DST) to support Research and Development projects and associated project development activities.
The AISTDF was enhanced to an equivalent amount of USD 5 million through an announcement by the Prime Minister of India on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Summit in Malaysia in November 2015.
2. India, Cambodia sign 4 MOUs in the areas of culture, wildlife & health
Tags: International Relations International News
On November 12 India and Cambodia signed 4 MoUs in areas of health, technology, biodiversity conservation and preservation of ancient buildings.
Important facts
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar holds a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on the sidelines of the ongoing ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on November 12.
The two had extensive discussions on bilateral relations including human resources, mining and development projects.
Cambodia also stressed on enhancing cooperation on mine clearance to help Cambodia reach the goal of "a mine-free Cambodia by 2025".
Four memorandum of understanding (MoU)
MoU between the Institute of Technology of Cambodia and the Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur for digitalisation of Cambodian heritage sites.
MoU regarding reintroduction of tigers in Cambodia between the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, India and Ministry of Environment, Cambodia for Cooperation in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Wildlife Management.
MoU between the Ministry of Health and the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on cooperation in the fields of health and medicine.
MoU on Financing Agreement on the Preservation of Wat Raja Bo Pagoda Paintings in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
3. COP27 presidency launches Sharm-el-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda
Tags: Environment International News
At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt, the COP27 Presidency launched the Sharm-el-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda to enhance resilience for the four billion people living in the most climate-sensitive communities by 2030.
Important facts
The Sharm-el-Sheikh adaptation agenda represents a significant contribution to elevating global action on adaptation and resilience as a top priority.
Each outcome presents a global solution that can be adopted locally to respond to local climate contexts, needs and risks
This will help bring about the necessary changes in mechanisms to protect vulnerable communities from increasing climate hazards, such as extreme heat, drought, floods, or extreme weather.
Developing countries also demanded that the fund should be easily accessible.
It aims to reduce the devastating effects of climate change.
The presidency sought to raise $140 billion to $300 billion to advance these goals.
Developing countries, including India, are asking rich countries to agree to a new global climate finance target, also known as the New Collective Quantitative Target on Climate Finance.
These actions will be carried out in five impact systems – Food and Agriculture, Water and Nature, Coastal and Ocean, Human Settlements, and Infrastructure.
These actions will include enabling solutions to plan and finance these areas.
4. Year 2022 declared as ASEAN-India Friendship year
Tags: International News
The year 2022 has been declared as the ASEAN-India Friendship Year, as ASEAN and India celebrate 30 years of partnership.
Important facts
A series of events have been planned to celebrate the occasion throughout the year.
An Indian media delegation is visiting Singapore and Cambodia as part of the ASEAN-India Media Exchange Program from November 8 to 13.
In the first leg of the visit, the delegation visited the Singapore-India Chambers of Commerce and Industries (SICCI).
The delegation exchanged views on India-Singapore relations with a special focus on business-friendly policies and business expectations.
Evolution of India -ASEAN relationship
India was initially made a sectoral partner by ASEAN in 1992. With the increasing depth in the relationships the status was changed to a Dialogue Partner in 1996.
In 2022 the relationship was further upgraded to Summit level
And finally in 2012 it was elevated to Strategic partnership.
Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN)
It was set up in 1967 as a group of South-East Asian nations.
At present there are 10 members in the group.
They are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The headquarters of ASEAN: Jakarta, Indonesia.
5. 16th Asian Conference on Diarrhoeal Disease and Nutrition (ASCODD)
Tags: National Summits International News
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Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar addressed the 16th Asian Conference on Diarrhoeal Disease and Nutrition (ASCODD) at Kolkata on 11 November, 2022.
Important facts
Delegates from India and other Southeast Asian countries, African countries, US, European countries attended the conference through video conferencing.
The theme of the Conference was “Prevention and control of cholera, typhoid and other enteric diseases in low and middle-income countries through community participation : beyond the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic”.
The conference was organised by ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases.
The conference focused on issues such as intestinal infections, nutrition, policy and practice, development of cholera vaccines, contemporary approaches to antimicrobial resistance of intestinal bacteria, etc., including a roadmap to end cholera by 2030.
6. S Jaishankar holds bilateral talks with Foreign Minister of Belarus, Vladimir Makei
Tags: International Relations International News
External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar held bilateral talks with his Belarus counterpart Vladimir Makei in New Delhi on 9 November, 2022.
Important facts
The Foreign Minister of Belarus, Vladimir Makei arrives in New Delhi on November 9, 2022 for a two-day visit to India.
Both leaders held talks on a range of issues including bilateral economic ties, Ukraine conflict and multilateral cooperation.
India - Belarus Relations
India’s relations with Belarus have been traditionally warm and cordial.
India was one of the first countries to recognize Belarus as an independent country in 1991.
After formal diplomatic relations were established, the Indian diplomatic mission was opened in Minsk in 1992 and Belarus opened its mission in New Delhi in 1998.
Cooperation between the two countries is reflected in several multilateral fora such as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Belarus helped consolidate India's candidature for a temporary seat at the UNSC in July 2020.
India has supported Belarus in various international fora such as membership of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and other international and multilateral groups such as the IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union).
The two countries have established mechanisms for the exchange of views on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues through the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC), and the Joint Commission on Military Technical Cooperation.
The two countries signed several MoUs on various subjects including defence and technical cooperation, trade and economic cooperation, culture, education, media and sports, tourism, science and technology, agriculture, textiles, avoidance of double taxation, promotion of investment.
In the economic sphere, the annual bilateral trade turnover in 2019 is USD 569.6 million.
About Belarus
President - Alexander Lukashenko
Prime Minister - Roman Golovchenko
Capital - Minsk
Currency - Belarusian ruble
7. UN chief calls for a climate solidarity pact between developed and emerging economies
Tags: Environment International News
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a climate solidarity pact in which developed and emerging economies unite around a common strategy and mobilise resources to address the climate crisis.
Important facts
At the opening of the COP27 United Nations Climate Summit of the Parties in Egypt on 7 November, he said the proposed treaty would give all countries additional efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
He said the international financial system must be reformed to support low-income countries.
At the inaugural session of world leaders at COP27, he said all countries should make "extra effort" to cut emissions and end the construction of coal plants.
He said the two largest economies — the United States and China — have a particular responsibility to join efforts to make this pact a reality.
Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend COP27, although China has sent a delegation of negotiators.
Guterres also launched a plan for a global early warning system for extreme weather events, a project that would cost $3.1 billion over the first five years.
It will also deliver advance warnings about any extreme weather on the planet such as storms and heat waves.
COP27 is the 27th annual meeting of the United Nations on Climate. It is taking place in Sharm El Sheikh until 18 November.
8. At least 15,000 killed by Heat Wave in Europe this year : WHO
Tags: International News
The World Health Organization (WHO) on 8 November said, at least 15,000 people have died in Europe because of heat waves this year so far.
Important facts
According to reports recorded by health officials during the 3 months of summer, there have been nearly 4,000 deaths in Spain, more than 1,000 in Portugal, more than 3,200 in the United Kingdom and about 4,500 in Germany.
The three months of June-August were the hottest in Europe.
For example, France's National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) reported that more than 11 000 people died between 1 June and 22 August 2022, compared to the same period in 2019.
Temperatures in Europe have warmed significantly over the period 1961–2021 at an average rate of about 0.5 °C per decade.
According to a report released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), it is the fastest warming region.
More than 148,000 people have lost their lives due to extreme temperatures in the European region in the past 50 years.
World Health Organisation (WHO)
The World Health Organisation is a specialised agency of the United Nations which was founded on 7 April, 1948.
Headquarters of WHO : Geneva, Switzerland
Members : 194 countries
Director General of WHO: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia.
9. World Heritage glaciers to disappear by 2050 : UNESCO
Tags: Environment International News
According to new UNESCO data, by 2050, one-third of the World's Heritage Sites of Glaciers will disappear.
Key points of the UNESCO report
The report highlights the accelerated melting of glaciers regardless of efforts to limit temperature rise.
The report says that it is still possible to save the other two thirds of glaciers, if the rise in global temperatures does not exceed 1.5°C compared to the pre-industrial period.
The study, conducted by UNESCO in partnership with the IUCN, shows that these glaciers have been shrinking at an accelerated rate since 2000 due to CO2 emissions and higher temperatures.
Each year, glaciers are currently losing 58 billion tons of ice.
This is equivalent to the combined annual water use of France and Spain and is responsible for about 5% of the global sea-level rise.
Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emission
The study suggests that the only effective solution to this environmental threat is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as quickly as possible.
The report calls for a rapid reduction in CO2 emissions to save the glaciers and the biodiversity it supports.
In addition to reducing carbon emissions, UNESCO also advocated the creation of an international fund for glacier monitoring and conservation.
Some of the endangered glaciers
Kilimanjaro National Park and Mount Kenya (Africa)
Glaciers in Western Tien-Shan (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan) that have shrunk by 27% since 2000
The Dolomites (Italy) (Europe),
Yellowstone National Park (North America).
Importance of Glaciers
Glaciers are important for survival. Half of humanity is directly or indirectly dependent on glaciers as a water source for domestic use, agriculture and electricity.
Glaciers are also supporters of biodiversity, which keeps many ecosystems alive.
Due to the melting of glaciers, people will have to face other challenges including water scarcity, increasing number of disasters, and loss of biodiversity.
10. UK court approves India's request for extradition of Sanjay Bhandari
Tags: Person in news International News
A magisterial court in the United Kingdom has approved the request for extradition of middleman Sanjay Bhandari to India in connection with charges of money laundering and tax evasion on November 7, 2022.
Important facts
Indian authorities had made two requests for the extradition of 60-year-old Bhandari. The first request was related to money laundering, while the second was related to tax evasion.
District Judge Michael Snow heard the case earlier this year at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London.
He said in his decision that there was no stay on Bhandari's extradition and decided to refer the matter to British Home Minister Suella Braverman, who is authorised to order extradition based on a court decision.
The court passed order on the basis of the assurance of the Government of India that Bhandari would be kept in a separate cell in Tihar Jail in New Delhi along with the concerned health facilities during the trial.
Bhandari is accused of concealing foreign assets, using old documents, profiting from assets not declared to the Indian tax authorities and falsely informing the authorities that he does not have any assets.
What is Extradition?
Extradition is the formal process of surrendering a person from one state to another.
The purpose of this process is the prosecution or punishment for offences committed by a person within the jurisdiction of the requesting country.
The extradition of a fugitive criminal to India is regulated under the Indian Extradition Act, 1962.
The Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division, Ministry of External Affairs is the central/nodal authority to administer the Extradition Act.
Extradition process can be initiated in case of under-investigation, under-trial and convicted criminals.
