1. Indonesia announced ‘Digital Nomad’ Visas for travellers
Tags: International News
Indonesia has announced "Digital Nomad Visa" for travelers to attract foreign tourists.
Important facts
Bali is one of the most famous places in the country for beaches and bars, Indonesia is looking to bring back the sluggish economy due to Covid through these visas.
Who are digital nomads?
Digital nomads are people who work while travelling to different places and spend their earned income in the country they are travelling to.
Most workplaces were moved online during the pandemic, while some offices are beginning to open, with most organizations announcing remote work.
As the world moves towards vaccination and international borders have opened, people can continue to do their routine work remotely from anywhere in the world.
A study found that 10.9 million American workers described themselves as digital nomads in 2020, a 49 percent increase from 2019.
What is the “Digital Nomad Visa” of Indonesia?
The digital nomad visa will allow remote workers to live in Indonesia, which includes Bali that will be tax-free.
Its purpose is to promote tourism in the country, the visa will be applicable for five years.
The announcement of the Digital Nomad Visa is aimed at attracting over 3.6 million foreign travellers to the country to visit in the next year.
Which countries are providing Nomad Visas?
In March, Italy issued a new permit for non-EU citizens or digital nomads who can stay in the country for up to 90 days without a visa.
Antigua and Barbuda are offering nomadic visas for two years.
Barbados offers a one-year remote working visa that can be extended.
Croatia, Costa Rica, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Mauritius, Norway and Spain are also offering nomadic visas.
2. India will surpass China as the most populous country on earth in 2023: UN
Tags: Popular International News
According to a report by the United Nations released on 11 July India will surpass China as the most populous country on earth in 2023.
Important facts
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Population Division has said that the global population is projected to reach eight billion on November 15, 2022.
As per a UN report, the world's population is growing at its slowest pace since 1950. It has fallen under 1% in 2020.
According to the United Nations the world’s population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050.
This year's World Population Day, July 11, marks a milestone, when the birth of the eight billionth person on Earth is expected.
More than half of the projected growth in global population by 2050 will be concentrated in just eight countries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Tanzania.
India’s population in 2022
According to the report, India's population is 1.412 billion in 2022 as compared to China's 1.426 billion.
India, which will overtake China as the world's most populous country by 2023, is projected to have 1.668 billion people in 2050, far ahead of China's 1.317 billion people by the middle of the century.
World’s most populous regions in 2022
The world's two most populous regions in 2022 were East and South-East Asia, with 2.3 billion people, representing 29% of the global population.
Central and Southern Asia, with 2.1 billion, account for 26% of the world's population in 2022.
With a population of over 1.4 billion in 2022, China and India account for the largest populations in these regions.
Outflow of more than 1 million migrants
It is estimated that ten countries experienced a net outflow of more than 1 million migrants between 2010 and 2021.
In many of these countries, these outflows were due to temporary workers leaving their country.
Pakistan (net outflow of -16.5 million during 2010-2021), India (-3.5 million), Bangladesh (-2.9 million), Nepal (-1.6 million) and Sri Lanka (-1 million).
Projections of Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)
Alternative long-term population estimates have also been made by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).
In its recent projections, IHME projected that the global population will reach 8.8 billion in 2100.
3. Gita Gopinath becomes first woman to feature on IMF’s ‘wall of former chief economists’
Tags: International News
inscribed on the wall of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) former chief economists.
Important facts
The first Indian to receive this honour was Raghuram Rajan, who was the IMF's Chief Economist and Director of Research between 2003 and 2006.
Gita Gopinath was appointed Chief Economist of the IMF in October 2018 and was later promoted as the first Deputy Managing Director of the IMF in December 2021.
Gita Gopinath served as the first female chief economist of the Washington-based Monetary Fund for three years.
Gita Gopinath is one of the foremost economists. She is also known for her research on international finance and macroeconomics.
Geeta is the third woman to become a tenured professor (permanent professor) of Harvard's Department of Economics and the second Indian after Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.
In 2019, Geeta was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, which is the highest honour for Indians living outside the country.
About International Monetary Fund (IMF)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), a United Nations (UN) specialised agency, was established in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference to secure international monetary policies.
The International Monetary Fund is an organisation with 189 member countries.
First Deputy Managing Director- Geeta Gopinath
Headquarters- Washington, D.C., U.S.
Managing Director- Kristalina Georgieva
Chief Economist - Pierre Olivier Gourinchas
4. State mourning across the country on July 9 over the death of Shinzo Abe
Tags: International News
The government has decided to observe a one-day state mourning across the country on July 9 in honour of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He passed away on 8 July.
Important facts
Prime Minister Modi expressed deep grief over the incident and declared a day of national mourning on 9 July in the country as a mark of deep respect for him.
On the day of mourning, on all buildings where the National Flag is flown regularly, the National Flag will remain at half-mast.
Awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2021
In January 2021, the Indian government honoured Shinzo Abe with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award.
Abe is considered to have played an important role in better relations between India and Japan.
Visited India most times while being the PM of Japan
Shinzo Abe visited India three times during his tenure as Prime Minister.
He was on official visits to India in January 2014, December 2015 and September 2017.
No other Prime Minister of Japan has made so many visits to India.
He was the first Japanese prime minister to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in 2014.
India-Japan relations under Shinzo Abe
The foundation for the "Global Partnership between Japan and India" was laid in 2001, and the annual bilateral summit was agreed in 2005, with Abe accelerating the pace of relations with India since 2012.
In August 2007, during his first visit to India as Prime Minister, he delivered the famous "confluence of two seas" speech which laid the foundation for the concept of Indo-Pacific.
In September 2014, Modi and Abe agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a "Special Strategic and Global Partnership".
During Abe's tenure, the two countries decided to hold a meeting of foreign and defence ministers (2+2).
In November 2019, the first 2+2 meeting was held in New Delhi.
An agreement for transfer of defence equipment and technology was also signed in 2015.
During his tenure, India and Japan came closer in the Indo-Pacific.
Abe had given the concept of Quad in 2007 and it was formed.
The Quad is a diplomatic network of four countries committed to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient.
During Abe's visit in 2015, India decided to introduce a bullet train.
Under Abe's leadership, India and Japan formed the Act East Forum and it is important for development in Northeast India.
Kindly also see 8 July 2022 post
5. OPEC chief Mohammad Barkindo dies in Nigeria at 63
Tags: Person in news International News
Mohamed Barkindo, Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has died in Nigeria at the age of 63.
Important facts
Barkindo was on a visit to his home country of Nigeria to attend the Energy Conference where he passed away.
Born in April 1959 in Adamawa State in northeastern Nigeria, Barkindo assumed the position of Secretary General of OPEC in 2016.
His term was to end in July.
About OPEC
It is a permanent, intergovernmental organisation that was established in 1960 at the Baghdad Conference by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
The purpose of this organisation is to coordinate and integrate the petroleum policies of its member countries and to ensure the stabilisation of oil markets to ensure efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to the consumer.
Headquarters - Vienna (Austria)
OPEC has 14 member states (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of the Congo, Angola, Ecuador and Venezuela).
OPEC plus
It is a coalition of OPEC members and the world's 10 major non-OPEC oil exporting countries.
Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan and Sudan.
6. Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shot dead in Nara
Tags: International News
Former Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated in Nara (Western Japan) on 8 July while campaigning for the upcoming election.
Important facts
The assailant shot Abe from behind with a shotgun with two bullets in the chest.
The 67-year-old world leader was taken to hospital in critical condition but could not be saved.
The incident happened around 11.30 am (8 am Indian time).
He was delivering an election speech on the street outside a railway station in the context of elections to the Upper House of Japan's parliament.
Abe was shot in the left side of his chest as the attacker fired multiple shots.
Tetsuya Yamagami, a 41-year-old man from the city of Nara, has been arrested on suspicion of shooting Abe with intent to kill.
Who was Shinzo Abe?
Early life
Abe was born in Tokyo on 21 September 1954, he was the son of Shintaro Abe, who served as Japan's foreign minister.
He got a bachelor's degree in political science from Seiki University in Tokyo in 1977.
He then went to the U.S. to study public policy at the University of Southern California.
In 1979 he began working at Kobe Steel as the firm was expanding its presence abroad.
He left the company in 1982 to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Political career
He was first elected as a Liberal Democratic Party legislator representing the southwestern prefecture of Yamaguchi in 1993.
Abe is seen as a conservative who was a member of the party's Mori faction, once led by his father, who died in 1991.
In 2005 Abe was appointed chief cabinet secretary under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
In the same year, he was elected head of the LDP, preparing him to take over as prime minister.
On September 26, 2006, Abe became Prime Minister of Japan for the first time, taking a tough stance on North Korea and implementing economic reforms.
After the electoral defeat in 2007 saw the LDP lose control of the legislature for the first time in 52 years, Abe resigned as prime minister.
In 2012 he was elected LDP president and became Prime Minister for the second time.
In 2013 seeking to boost growth, Abe launched his “Abenomics” policies featuring easy lending and structural reforms.
During 2014-2020 he was re-elected LDP leader and he served two additional terms as Prime Minister.
On August 28, 2020 he announced he will step down as Prime Minister due to health reasons.
Abe became Japan's longest-serving prime minister.
Abe served as prime minister for eight years between 2012 and 2020, and before that from 2006 to 2007.
On July 8, 2022, Abe was shot and seriously injured during an election campaign in the city of Nara, and later died.
Japan
Present Prime Minister - Fumio Kishida
Japan's Capital - Tokyo
Japan's Currency - Yen
7. Boris Johnson resigns as Prime Minister of Britain
Tags: International News
Boris Johnson resigned as Prime Minister of Britain on 7 July. He also announced his resignation as leader of the Conservative Party.
Earlier, more than 50 of Johnson's ministers and aides had resigned leaving his side.
It has become clear that the Conservative Party will have a new leader and Britain will have a new Prime Minister.
Johnson, 58, will remain in charge of 10 Downing Street (British Prime Minister’s residence) until the process of electing a new leader is completed at a Conservative Party convention.
The country's new Finance Minister Nadeem Jahavi had demanded Johnson's resignation.
Johnson had appointed him as the new finance minister, 36 hours after which he demanded his resignation.
Reason of resignation
Defeats of Conservative Party in by-elections for two parliamentary districts, Wakefield, and Tiverton.
The defeat was especially significant because it overturned the Conservative Party’s 24,000 majority in the district, the biggest ever majority to be overturned in a by-election.
On June 24, the co-chairman of the party resigned.
The elections for both the seats were due to the resignations of Conservative Party MPs facing sex scandals.
One of them had quit after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage boy, and the other was caught watching porn in Parliament.
The Pincher scandal - party colleague Chris Pincher had to resign as Deputy Chief Whip last week over allegations of sexual misconduct.
8. S Jaishankar attends G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting in Bali
Tags: International News
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Bali, Indonesia on July 7 and participated in the G20 Foreign ministers’ meeting.
Important facts
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia is organising this meeting within the framework of the Indonesia G20 Presidency.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and discussed pending issues related to bilateral ties, including the status of the border dispute in eastern Ladakh.
The meeting focused on pending issues related to bilateral relations, including the situation on the border.
Other issues including students and flights were also discussed between the two.
Jaishankar reiterated the need to restore peace and stability in the border areas.
It is noteworthy that since May 5, 2020, the armed forces of India and China have maintained tense relations along the border in eastern Ladakh.
India and China have so far held several rounds of talks at the military and diplomatic level to resolve the Eastern Ladakh dispute.
In this regard, the two ministers reaffirmed that military and diplomatic officials from both sides should maintain regular contact and look forward to the next round of senior commanders' meeting at the earliest.
The two Ministers also exchanged their perspectives on other regional and global developments.
About G-20
It is an informal group of 19 countries and the European Union.
The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are its representatives.
The G-20 group is the world's largest advanced and emerging economies.
It represents about two-thirds of the world’s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, 80% of global investment and over 75% of global trade.
Member countries - Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.
It has no permanent secretariat or headquarters.
Italy will chair the G-20 in 2021, Indonesia will assume the role in 2022 and India will chair it in 2023.
9. 6th Deputy NSA level meeting of Colombo Security Conclave held in Kochi
Tags: International News
The 6th Deputy National Security Advisor-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conference is being held in Kochi, Kerala.
The seven-member Indian delegation is led by Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri.
Apart from India, delegations from Maldives, Sri Lanka and Mauritius are participating in the meeting.
Representatives of Bangladesh and Seychelles are also attending the meeting as observers.
The delegates called for cooperation among member states on issues such as maritime defense and security, counter-terrorism, countering radicalization, smuggling and organized crime, as well as protecting critical infrastructure.
Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)
It started in 2011 as a trilateral maritime cooperation mechanism between India, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
The Secretariat of CSC is located in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The membership of the group was extended with the inclusion of Mauritius in March 2022.
So far five meetings of the CSC have been held at the level of National Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor.
Since 2011, the mandate of the CSC mechanism has been enhanced to cover other issues of mutual interest.
Five pillars for cooperation
Maritime Safety and Security
Countering Terrorism and Radicalization
Combating trafficking and organized crime
Cyber Security
Protection of critical infrastructure, technology, humanitarian aid and disaster relief
10. Australia is Killing Millions Of Bees To Save Its Honey Industry
Tags: International News
Australian authorities have killed millions of bees over the past two weeks in an effort to stop a devastating parasitic plague called the Varroa mite.
The parasite named Varroa mite has spread to the south-eastern part of the country.
Now because of this, the honey industry worth crores of rupees is under threat.
In view of this, an alert was issued for the beekeepers.
The decision to kill bees could adversely affect the development of many crops including almonds, macadamia nuts and blueberries that depend on bees for pollination.
Bees are the most important pollinators.
What is Varroa Mite?
It is a parasitic insect that infects and feeds on honeybees.
It is often known as the varroa destructor.
It is reddish-brown in color and is capable of destroying entire colonies of bees.
This organism can spread five types of viruses in the hive which can destroy the entire colony of bees.
After clinging to one bee, it reaches another and thus takes the entire hive under its control.
