1. Bangladesh-born Fahmida Azim wins 2022 Pulitzer prize
Tags: Awards International News
Bangladesh-born illustrator and story writer Fahmida Azeem, who works for America's online magazine 'Insider', has been selected for the Pulitzer Prize for the year 2022.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- He will be given this award for the category of Illustrated, Interpretive Reporting and Commentary.
Fahmida Azeem has been selected to work on the persecution of Uighurs in China.
Four journalists of Insider magazine including Fahmida Azeem have been selected for the award –
fahmida azeem
Anthony Dale Colonel
Josh Adams
Walt Hickey
Fahmida Azeem was born in Bangladesh and later settled in America.
His work has focused on themes of identity, culture and autonomy.
His works are published in many international magazines like Glamour, Scientific American, The Intercept, Vice, The New York Times.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
About Pulitzer Prize :
The award was established in the year 1917 by provisions written in the will of Joseph Pulitzer.
Columbia University administers the award.
The Pulitzer Prize is considered America's most prestigious honour in the field of journalism.
The award is given in a total of 22 categories. In which 15 categories of journalism and 7 categories of book, drama, music etc. are included.
In 21 categories, each winner receives USD 15,000 and a certificate. A gold medal is awarded to the winner in the Public Service category of the award.
Govind Bihari Lal was the first Indian to receive the Pulitzer Prize in 1937.
2. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to be awarded the 'Liberty Medal' award for the year 2022
Tags: Awards International News
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has been nominated for the 'Liberty Medal' for the year 2022 by the 'National Constitution Centre'.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- He has been chosen for this honour for his heroic defence of freedom in the face of Russian tyranny.
He will be honoured in October 2022 at the National Constitution Centre (NCC), Philadelphia, USA.
Other awards given to Volodymyr Zelensky :
Ronald Reagan Freedom Award 2022 - It is given to those who have made a great contribution to the cause of freedom.
John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award 2022
About Liberty Medal Award :
The 'Liberty Medal' award is an annual award given by the NCC of the United States of America.
It was founded by the Philadelphia Foundation.
The major winners of this award are Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, Malala Yousafzai and Colin Powell.
This award is given to a person of courage and conviction who has fought to protect the cause of freedom of the people.
3. 8th India-Brazil Joint Commission Meeting
Tags: Summits International News
External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar who is on his first ever visit to South America, co-chaired the 8th India-Brazil Joint Commission Meeting on 24 August with his Brazilian counterpart, Carlos Franca.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The two leaders held wide-ranging discussions on trade, investment and other consular domains.
The two ministers signed agreements in the field of broadcasting and taxation, exchanging views on BRICS, IBSA, UN, G20 and Ukraine conflict.
The Joint Commission meeting saw wide-ranging discussions on trade and investment, petroleum, biofuels, edible oils and minerals, health, pharma, traditional medicine, science and technology, agriculture and livestock, space, defence, terrorism and consular.
The Brazilian Government released a commemorative stamp on the occasion of India's 75th Independence day.
On 22 August, Jaishankar concluded his first ever official visit to Paraguay where he inaugurated the newly-opened Indian Embassy in the capital city Asuncion.
He also unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Paraguay on 21 August and appreciated the Asuncion Municipality’s decision to locate it at the prominent waterfront of the city.
He also visited the historic Casa de la Independencia, from where Paraguay's independence movement began more than two centuries ago.
India-Brazil Relations :
Diplomatic relations were established between India and Brazil in 1948, both countries opened embassies in the same year.
India's strategic partnership with Brazil continues to intensify with several high-level partnerships.
President Bolsonaro was the chief guest at India's Republic Day parade in 2020.
As strategic partners, India and Brazil have several institutional mechanisms to coordinate various aspects of their bilateral relations.
This includes Joint Commission Meeting, Strategic Dialogue, Foreign Office Consultations, Trade Monitoring Mechanism, Economic and Financial Dialogue, Dialogue on Consular and Mobility Issues, Joint Defence Commission, Joint Committee on Science & Technology and India-Brazil Business Leaders Forum.
In Brazil, the Brazil-India Parliamentary Friendship Group has been established.
President - Jair Bolsonaro
Capital - Brasília
Official Language - Portuguese
Currency - Brazilian real
4. Sri Lanka ranks 5th among the 10 countries with highest food price inflation - World Bank
Tags: International News
Sri Lanka ranks 5th among the 10 countries with the highest food price inflation, according to the latest World Bank assessment.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- According to the World Bank assessment, Lebanon, Zimbabwe, Venezuela and Turkey ranked first four countries, while Iran, Argentina, Suriname, Ethiopia and Moldova ranked behind Sri Lanka.
The World Bank said record high food prices have triggered a global crisis that drives millions of people to extreme poverty, hunger and malnutrition.
The Ukraine war, supply chain disruptions, and the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed food prices to an all-time high.
Rising food prices have a greater impact on people in low- and middle-income countries.
These countries spend a larger share of their income on food than people in high-income countries.
Domestic food price inflation at high worldwide :
According to the data, almost all low and middle income countries have high inflation between April and July 2022.
The World Bank says countries should lift trade restrictions or export bans on fertilizers.
The use of fertilizers should be made more efficient by giving proper incentives to the farmers.
Investing in innovation to develop best practices and new technologies can help increase production per kilogram of fertilizer.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
Top 10 Countries hit hardest by Food Inflation :
Lebanon
Zimbabwe
Venezuela
Turkiye
Sri Lanka
Iran
Argentina
Suriname
Ethiopia
Moldova
5. Defence Minister to attend SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting at Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Tags: International News
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will attend the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting at Tashkent in Uzbekistan on 24 August.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- He will attend the Annual Meeting of the Defence Ministers' of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States.
Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu are also expected to attend the SCO meeting.
Other defence ministers of member countries of the grouping will also attend the meet.
The SCO Defence Ministerial meeting is taking place about three weeks before the annual summit of this grouping.
The annual summit will be held in Samarkand on September 15-16.
During his visit to Tashkent, the Defence Minister will call on the Defence Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Lieutenant General Bakhodir Kurbanov.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
What is Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) ?
It is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation.
It was founded in 2001.
The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and came into force in 2003.
It is a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation.
Its aim is to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.
China, Russia and four Central Asian states – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan – were founding members of the SCO.
Official Languages - Russian and Chinese
Chairmanship - On the basis of rotation for a year by Member States
6. World Water Week - 2022
Tags: Important Days International News
World Water Week - 2022 is being held in Stockholm, Sweden from 23 August to 1 September.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Theme of World Water Week 2022 - “Seeing the unseen: The value of water”.
The event has been organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).
The theme of World Water Week 2022 is covered under three main approaches -
The value of water for people and sustainable development
the value of water for nature and climate change
the financial and economic value of water
The event will provide many opportunities for people around the world to unite, promote ideas, innovate and discuss the future.
Around 300 sessions will be organised under World Water Week on water related topics including food security, health, agriculture, technology, biodiversity, climate change etc.
World Water Week will attract top scientists, UN experts, local community groups, entrepreneurs, top politicians, students, CEOs and many more.
This will help in achieving reforms towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
7. India handed over 21,000 tonnes of urea to crisis-hit Sri Lanka
Tags: International Relations International News
India on 22 August handed over 21,000 tonnes of chemical fertiliser to the crisis-ridden neighbour Sri Lanka.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- This has been done under a special assistance program that will help farmers in Sri Lanka and help strengthen bilateral cooperation for food security,
This is India's second such aid to the beleaguered island nation in recent months.
In May 2022, India had assured to supply 65,000 metric tonnes of urea to Sri Lanka immediately to avoid any disruption in the current Yala farming season in Sri Lanka.
Yala is the paddy cultivation season in Sri Lanka which lasts between May and August.
Ban of Fertiliser in Sri Lanka :
To move towards a green economy, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last year decided to ban imports of chemical fertilizers, causing a food shortage that has reduced crop yields by 50%.
This decision of the government badly affected the food production.
As a result, the President of Sri Lanka declared an economic emergency to curb rising food prices.
India's support to Srilanka :
India has pledged about $4 billion in loans, lines of credit and credit swaps to the debt-ridden Sri Lanka from January this year.
Sri Lanka's annual fertilizer imports cost is USD 400 million.
India has provided financial assistance of about USD 3.5 billion to help safeguard Sri Lanka's food, health and energy security by supplying food, medicines, fuel, kerosene and other essential commodities.
In addition, India has recently supplied around 40,000 tonnes of rice under the extended USD 1 billion line of credit.
8. US, South Korea begin biggest joint military drills since 2018
Tags: Defence International News
South Korea and the United States began their biggest joint military exercise 'Ulchi Freedom Shield' since 2018 on 22 August with the resumption of field training.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, thousands of military personnel are expected to participate in the exercise.
It will run for two weeks starting 22 August.
The US and South Korea have said they are defensive in nature and will conduct exercises to coordinate security forces in response to North Korea's aggression.
The exercise is likely to involve warships, aircraft and armoured vehicles.
The US, South Korea and Japan conducted a joint missile defence exercise in Hawaii earlier this month.
The US, Japan and South Korea have warned that North Korea is preparing for its first nuclear test since 2017.
North Korea is trying to develop smaller weapons to attack US allies in Asia and could increase the power of those weapons that would be carried to the US by intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The US still has about 28,500 troops in South Korea and military leaders on both sides have said the exercises are necessary to prepare for any provocation by Pyongyang (North Korea).
Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise will improve South Korea's combat capability.
South Korea :
It is in East Asia. It is located on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.
In 2017 South Korea had the fastest internet connectivity globally.
President - Yoon Suk-Yeol
Prime Minister - Kim Boo-Kyum
Capital - Seoul
Official Language - Korean
9. S Jaishankar unveils Gandhi's bust in Paraguay
Tags: International Relations International News
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on his first ever official visit to South America, unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Paraguay on 21 August.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- He appreciated the decision of Asuncion Municipality to establish it on the main waterfront of the city.
The External Affairs Minister also visited the historic Casa de la Independencia from where Paraguay's independence movement began more than two centuries ago.
External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar is on an official visit to Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina from 22-27 August.
In Paraguay, S Jaishankar will also inaugurate the new Indian Embassy complex, which started functioning in January 2022.
EAM's visit is aimed at exploring new areas of cooperation in the post-pandemic era.
About Paraguay :
It is a land-locked country in south-central South America.
It is one of the world’s largest exporters of hydropower.
The rivers provide access to the Atlantic Ocean and serve as sites for hydroelectric power plants.
Paraguay is a member of MERCOSUR.
The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) is a regional integration process, initially established by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and later joined by Venezuela and Bolivia.
India has a preferential trade agreement with MERCOSUR.
Diplomatic relations between India and Paraguay were established in year 1961.
President - Mario Abdo Benitez
Capital - Asuncion
Currency - The guarani
10. US announces 775 million dollars additional military assistance for Ukraine
Tags: International News
On August 19, the United States government announced additional military aid of up to $775 million for Ukraine.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- This is the 19th Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package that the US Department of Defence has provided to Ukraine since August 2021.
The USA will provide Ukraine with ScanEagle surveillance drones, mine-resistant vehicles, anti-armor rounds and howitzers to help the Ukrainian military retaliate against Russian invaders.
The US sent eight HIMARS to Ukraine - which significantly strengthened Ukraine's defence against Russian weapons depots.
The US has promised to send four more HIMARS.
In the context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the US is helping Ukraine's military by providing them with weapons to strengthen it.
The latest aid comes as Russia's attack on Ukraine turns six months old.
HIMARS — a key weapon against Russia :
The US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is known as HIMARS.
The M142 HIMARS system (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a modernized, lighter and more agile wheel-mounted missile for US and allied forces.
The use of HIMARS has been effective in deterring Russian military positions.
It can hit targets up to 70 kilometres away.
Ukrainian troops can deploy this wheeled, high-tech lightweight rocket launcher outside the range of most Russian artillery.
US’ military aid to Ukraine :
This military assistance forms part of a long history of US support to Ukraine.
On 24 February this year, Moscow launched an invasion of Ukraine.
The United States has committed about $9.8 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.
Since 2014, the United States has given Ukraine more than $11.8 billion in security aid.
