1. Volker Türk appointed new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Tags: Person in news International News
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Volker Turk of Austria as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, following approval by the General Assembly on 8 September 2022.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Turk will succeed Michelle Bachelet of Chile, who served as High Commissioner from September 1, 2018 through August 31, 2022.
- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
- The High Commissioner for Human Rights is the principal human rights official of the United Nations.
- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is accountable to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and is responsible for all the activities of OHCHR, as well as for its administration.
OHCHR :
- The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also known as the UN Human Rights Office , is mandated to promote and protect all human rights established in the UN Charter and in international human rights laws and treaties.
- The headquarters of the OHCHR: Geneva, Switzerland.
2. Britain's Queen Elizabeth dies at the age of 96
Tags: Person in news International News
Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, died on 8 September at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Her age was about 96 years.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Queen Elizabeth ruled for 70 years, former Prince Charles will now be Britain's new monarch.
The Queen ascended the throne in 1952 and she witnessed a great social change.
During her reign there were 15 prime ministers, including Ms Truss, starting with Winston Churchill.
Queen Elizabeth II was born on 21 April 1926 in Mayfair, London.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth became the longest-serving British monarch In 2015, surpassing her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.
In June 2022, she overtook Thailand's King to become the world's second-longest reigning monarch.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand ruled for 70 years and 126 days between 1927 and 2016.
Louis XIV of France is the longest reigning monarch in the world with 72 years and 110 days.
- In honour of Queen Elizabeth II, the Government of India has decided that on September 11, there will be a one-day state mourning across the country.
3. Second India-Japan 2plus2 Ministerial Dialogue begins in Tokyo
Tags: International Relations International News
The 2nd India-Japan 2022 Ministerial Dialogue began in Tokyo on 8 September.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended the second India-Japan 2+2 ministerial dialogue along with their Japanese counterparts in Tokyo on 8 September.
Rajnath Singh said, there has been significant progress in Indo-Japan bilateral relations in recent times.
India and Japan are set to complete 70 years of diplomatic ties in December this year and the two countries will hold an event to mark the occasion in New Delhi in December.
The meeting reflects the commitment of both the countries towards strengthening bilateral security and defence cooperation.
It also demonstrates the strength of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
During the talks, the two sides will review bilateral cooperation in various fields and decide the way forward.
India's '2+2' format of dialogue :
It is a format of the meeting of the Foreign and Defence Ministers of India and its allies on strategic and security issues.
India has 2+2 dialogues with four major strategic partners - the US, Australia, Japan and Russia.
Apart from Russia, three other countries are also India's partners in the Quad.
The '2+2' dialogue with Japan was launched in 2019 to further deepen bilateral security and defence cooperation.
The first Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue with Japan was held in New Delhi in December 2019.
4. US President Joe Biden nominates Indian-American attorney Arun Subramanian to US District Judge in New York
Tags: Person in news International News
US President Joe Biden on September 6 nominated Indian-American attorney Arun Subramaniam to be the US District Judge for the Southern District of New York.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Subramaniam was the first South Asian judge to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York after being confirmed by the Senate.
Subramaniam did his Juris Doctor (JD) from Columbia Law School in 2004 and a BA from Case Western Reserve University in 2001.
Currently he is a partner at Susman Godfrey LLP in New York where he has worked since 2007.
Subramaniam also served as a law clerk for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the Supreme Court of the United States from 2006 to 2007.
The Indian-origin attorney has expertise in matters relating to the False Claims Act, public entities, trafficking in child pornography, consumers and persons injured by unfair means.
5. Sheikh Hasina confers scholarships on descendants of Indian soldiers killed in Bangladesh Liberation War
Tags: International Relations International News
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conferred the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Student Scholarship at a function in New Delhi on 7 September.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- This scholarship was awarded for the first time to the descendants of soldiers, officers of the Armed Forces of India who were martyred or grievously injured during the historic liberation war of 1971.
This scholarship was awarded to 100 - 100 students of class 10 and 12 which is a tribute to the Indian heroes who made supreme sacrifice for the country.
The award is named after Hasina's father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
A total of 200 family members of Indian Army personnel have received scholarships.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Liberation War of 1971 :
In the 1950s, Pakistan was ruled by a military-bureaucratic rule that ruled the entire country (East and West Pakistan) in an undemocratic manner.
The Bengalites had no political representation in this system of governance.
This dominance of West Pakistan was challenged by the Bengalis during the general elections of 1970.
In the general election of 1970, the Awami League of East Pakistan's Sheikh Mujibur Rahman got a clear majority.
West Pakistan was not ready for any leader of East Pakistan to rule the country.
On March 26, 1971, West Pakistan launched Operation Searchlight in East Pakistan.
As a result, lakhs of Bangladeshis had to take refuge in India.
The Pakistani army had to face defeat due to the bravery of the 'Muktiwahini Sena' and Indian soldiers who fought for the independence of Bangladesh.
On 6 December 1971, a new nation Bangladesh was born out of 13 days war with the intervention of India.
6. Piyush Goyal launches India US Startup SETU - Supporting Entrepreneurs in Transformation and Upskilling programme in San Francisco
Tags: National Economy/Finance Government Schemes International News
The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goel launched the India US Startup SETU - Supporting Entrepreneurs in Transformation and Upskilling programme in San Francisco, United States on 6 September 2022.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
Aim of the Startup:
- Piyush Goyal said it will act as a bridge between Indian and American companies and will support entrepreneurs in transforming, upskilling and leveraging on the success stories of the Indian Diaspora in the US.
- The minister observed that some good ideas of startups don't take off for lack of mentorship, guidance, funds.
- The initiative would connect start-ups in India to US-based investors and start-up ecosystem leaders with mentorship and assistance in various areas including funding, market access and commercialization.
- The interaction will be supported through the mentorship portal under the Startup India initiative MAARG, or the Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience, and Growth program, which is a single-stop solution finder for startups in India.
What is MAARG ?
- It is a portal which has been launched by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the startups India initiative.
- The portal has been developed with the idea that a mentor shall be accessible to the startups, anywhere in the country.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Points to remember :
- January 16 is observed as Startup day as on this day in 2016 the government of India launched its flagship Startup India initiative. The first Startup day was observed in 2022.
- India has become the third-largest Startup ecosystem in the world after the US and China.
- Bengaluru based Neobank Open is the 100th Unicorn Startup in India.
7. India donates 5000 tonnes of rice to Madagascar
Tags: International News
Indian Ambassador to Madagascar Abhay Kumar presented 5000 tonnes of rice to President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar at a donation ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Antananarivo.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Earlier, India donated 15 thousand bicycles to Madagascar on the occasion of World Bicycle Day. World Bicycle day is observed on 3 June every year.
- President Rajoelina thanked the Government and people of India for the generous donation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Madagascar :
- It is an island country off the South-East coast of Africa.
- It is the fourth largest island in the world after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo.
- Capital: Antananarivo
- Currency: Ariary
- President: Andry Rajoelina
8. PM Modi addresses plenary session of Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia
Tags: International News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a video address on 7 September at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) 2022 being held in Russia's Vladivostok.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Prime Minister Modi was the chief guest at the EEF in 2019.
The Seventh Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) was held in the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok from 5 September.
It was attended by participants from more than 60 countries and regions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the EEF's plenary session on global processes and the development of Russia's Far East on 7 September.
Theme of Eastern Economic Forum 2022 - "The Path to a Multipolar World".
This year's forum aims to shed light on global transformation led by the new economic model and provide a dialogue platform for all stakeholders.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
About Eastern Economic Forum :
It is a key international platform for establishing and strengthening ties within the Russian and global investment communities.
It was established by Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin in 2015 to promote the economic development of Russia's Far East and to expand international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
9. Indian-origin Suella Braverman appointed Britain's new Home Secretary
Tags: Person in news International News
Indian-origin barrister Suella Braverman was appointed as Britain's new Home Secretary( Home Minster in Britain is known as Home Secretary) on 6 September.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Suella Braverman has been an aide to former Indian-origin Home Secretary Priti Patel.
She has served as the Attorney General in the Boris Johnson-led government.
She is the daughter of Tamil origin mother Uma and Goan origin father Christy Fernandes.
Her mother immigrated to the Britain from Mauritius, while her father immigrated to the Britain from Kenya in the 1960s.
After the resignation of Indian-origin Priti Patel, the newly appointed Prime Minister of Britain, Liz Truss, announced her appointment to this post.
10. Committed to deepen strategic ties with Mongolia: Rajnath Singh
Tags: Defence Person in news International News
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who is on an official visit to Mongolia said that New Delhi is committed to further deepening multifaceted Strategic Partnership with Mongolia.
Rajnath Singh is on a five-day visit to Mongolia and Japan beginning 5 September 2022 with an aim to expand India's strategic and defence ties with the two countries.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
Visit to Mongolia :
His visit to Mongolia from 5-7 September 2022 is the first-ever tour to the East Asian country by an Indian defence minister.
He met the Mongolian defence minister Saikhanbayar Gursed in Ulaanbaatar on 6 September 2022.
The Minister also met President of Mongolia, U. Khurelsukh.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
India Mongolia relationship :
India and Mongolia share warm and cordial bilateral relations. Mongolia regards India as its “third” and a “spiritual neighbour”.
The bilateral relationship was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2015 during the historic visit of Prime Minister Modi to the country.
India has provided a loan of USD 1.236 billion to Mongolia to build a 1.5 million metric tonnes oil refinery near Sainshand in southern Dornogovi province of Mongolia.
It is being constructed by India’s public sector Engineers India Limited.
Mongolia :
It is located in North Central Asia.
Capital: Ulaanbaatar
Currency: Tugrik
President: Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh
