1. Russia quits Snake Island
Tags: International News
Ukrainian forces have taken control of Snake Island in the Black Sea, which was occupied by Russia at the beginning of the war.
The quitting of the Russians from the island is a major setback, and possibly undermines their control over shipping routes that are vital to Moscow's strategic objectives.
Last week Ukraine said it had inflicted "significant damage" on Russia in air strikes on the island.
Ukraine had claimed the first successful use of Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
About Snake Island
It is also known as Zmiinyi Island, Snake or Serpent Island.
It has a small piece of rock less than 700 metres from, that has been described as being “X-shaped”.
It is located 35 km from the coast in the Black Sea.
The island is marked on the map as a small village and belongs to Ukraine.
The island is close to the coast of Romania, with which Ukraine has had a dispute and which was settled in 2009 by the International Court of Justice.
It drew a new maritime border between the two countries.
Parts of the Black Sea around Snake Island are believed to have significant oil and gas reserves.
On 24 February, Russia invaded Ukraine and attacked Snack Island with two modern warships.
About Black Sea
It is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean.
It is located between Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
It is bound by Ukraine to the north and northwest, Russia and Georgia to the east, Turkey to the south, and Bulgaria and Romania to the west.
The Black Sea drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Turkish Straits and the Aegean Sea.
It has traditionally been Russia’s warm water gateway to Europe.
2. 'Partners in the Blue Pacific' program launched by US and allies
Tags: International News
Recently the US and its allies - Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United Kingdom have launched a new initiative called 'Partners in the Blue Pacific' for "effective and efficient cooperation" with the small island states of the Blue Pacific region.
The purpose of the PBP is to promote cooperation in the areas of "climate crisis, connectivity and transport, maritime safety and security, health, prosperity and education".
Partners in Blue Pacific (PBP) Initiative:
The PBP is an "informal mechanism" of five countries to support the Pacific islands and promote diplomatic, economic ties in the region.
It focuses on increasing "prosperity, resilience and security" in the Pacific region through closer cooperation.
That is, through the PBP, these countries together and individually will provide more resources to the Pacific Island countries to counterbalance China's aggressive outreach.
Former members will "promote Pacific regionalism" and forge strong ties with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) -
The Pacific Islands Forum is the region's premier political and economic policy organisation.
It was established in 1971.
It consists of 18 members including Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. countries are included.
3. Establishment of an India Centre to promote India-centric activities in South Korea
Tags: International News
The India Centre has been established at Busan University of Foreign Studies, South Korea to promote activities related to India.
This centre will act as a major organisation for India related programs in Busan.
It will provide necessary resources for interested students in India and will emphasise on increasing academic and cultural cooperation with Busan University.
An MoU was also signed on the occasion to promote cooperation in the field of education and cultural exchange between Busan University and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Seoul.
Busan University of Foreign Studies and Hanuk University of Foreign Studies in South Korea are the two higher educations where Hindi is taught as a full-time subject.
The Department of Hindi Language was established in 1983 at Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS).
About South Korea
South Korea is a country located in East Asia that is known as the 'Land of Quiet Mornings'.
The nation's capital, Seoul, is the world's second largest metropolitan area and a major global city.
North Korea is the only country bordering this country.
Martial arts Taekwondo originated in Korea.
President- Yoon Suk-yol
Currency- South Korean won
4. Gabon and Togo join the Commonwealth of Nations
Tags: Popular International News
Two African countries, Togo and Gabon, were inducted into the Commonwealth of Nations as the 55th and 56th members, respectively, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting held in Rwanda's capital, Kigali, chaired by Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
Rwanda was the last country to join the Commonwealth in 2009.
Togo and Gabon were historically French colonies that were never British colonies.
New members Togo and Gabon
The formal Commonwealth member process for the Central African nation of Gabon began in 2017 while the process for the West African nation of Togo began in 2014.
Gabon is surrounded by Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and the Republic of the Congo, which is also a member of the Commonwealth.
Togo is bordered by Ghana, a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as by Benin and Burkina Faso.
About Commonwealth -
The Rashtramandal, commonly referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political union of previously 54 and now 56 member states.
It was originally created as the British Commonwealth of Nations through the Balfour Declaration at the royal convention of 1926.
The current Commonwealth of Nations was formally formed in 1949 by the London Declaration.
The current head of the Commonwealth is Queen Elizabeth II.
Secretary General – Patricia Scotland
Headquarters- London
5. Discovery of high grade lithium in Nigeria
Tags: International News
Recently high grade lithium has been discovered in Nigeria.
Lithium
Lithium is an element and is abundantly concentrated in nature in two minerals, spodumene and lepidolite.
They are usually found in special rocks called rares and greases.
The Geological Agency described lithium as high grade because it is found with an oxide content of 1–13%. Exploration usually starts at a low of 0.4%.
Lithium has an atomic number of 3 and an atomic mass of 6.941.
It is the lightest known metal.
USE
Lithium disilicate (Li2Si2O5) is a chemical compound from which glass and ceramic objects are made.
Lithium metal is used to make useful alloys.
Lithium is used in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION -
The Greenbush mine in Western Australia is the largest hard-rock lithium mine in the world.
The largest importers of lithium are South Korea, China, Japan, the United States and Belgium.
Recent surveys by researchers from the Directorate of Atomic Minerals (under the Atomic Energy Commission of India) have estimated the presence of lithium reserves of 14,100 tonnes in a small stretch of land in southern Karnataka's Mandya district.
6. G7 announces $600 billion global infrastructure programs
Tags: International News
The G7 group has announced USD 600 billion global infrastructure programs for poor countries.
Under the program, the US government and its allies will try to touch the USD 600 billion mark during the years 2022 and 2027.
The move is intended to compete with China's Belt and Road Initiative.
The proposed G7 funding would rely largely on private companies, in contrast to the Chinese government-run Belt and Road Initiative.
The partnership has been unveiled by US President Joe Biden and G7 allies from Germany, Canada, Japan, Italy and the European Union.
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
The Belt and Road Initiative is formally known as the One Belt One Road initiative.
It is a global infrastructure development strategy, launched by China in 2013.
Under this, China had planned to invest in about 70 countries and international organisations.
The project is the centrepiece of Chinese leader Xi Jinping's foreign policy.
As of March 2022, 146 countries have signed the BRI.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is dedicated to providing loans for infrastructure projects.
About the G7
The G7 or Group of Seven is a grouping of the seven most advanced economies.
The seven countries are Canada, USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan and Italy.
It was formed in 1975.
The G7 countries meet annually to discuss issues of common interest such as global economic governance, international security and energy policy.
All G7 countries and India are part of the G20.
The G7 has no fixed headquarters.
7. "Global Liveability Index" 2022
Tags: Latest International News
Austria's capital Vienna has been ranked first as the world's most livable city in the annual Global Liveability Index released by The Economist magazine.
140 cities of the world have been assessed in this index.
The cities in this list have been ranked on the basis of many factors including political and social stability, crime, access to education and healthcare.
Delhi (112) topped the 6 South Asian cities followed by Mumbai (117).
Pakistan's financial capital Karachi and Bangladesh's capital Dhaka were ranked among the least livable cities in the world.
The Chinese capital Beijing is at number 71.
Damascus, the capital of Syria, is ranked at the bottom of the list.
Top 10 Cities -
1. Vienna (Austria)
2. Copenhagen (Denmark)
3. Calgary (Canada)
4. Zurich (Switzerland)
5. Vancouver (Canada)
6. Geneva (Switzerland)
7. Frankfurt (Germany)
8. Toronto (Canada)
9. Amsterdam (Netherlands)
10. Osaka (Japan)
8. Garuda Aerospace to set up its first aerospace plant in Malaysia
Tags: International News
Drone startup Garuda Aerospace has tied up with Hilse Global (Hilsay Drones) to set up its first aerospace plant in Malaysia.
The plant will be named Hilse Garuda Aerospace and will be built on 2.42 hectares.
For this, Garuda Aerospace will invest Rs 115 crore.
It has been decided to set up a drone manufacturing plant in Malaysia with a daily production capacity of about 50 drones.
The alliance will establish a drone ecosystem with state-of-the-art artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning technologies.
About Garuda Aerospace -
Garuda Aerospace is a drone-as-a-service start-up.
It designs and manufactures 30 different types of drones.
Establishment - 2015
Headquarters - Chennai
Founder and CEO - Agnishwar Jayaprakash
Brand Ambassador - Mahendra Singh Dhoni
9. Piyush Goyal inaugurates Mango Festival in Belgium
Tags: International News
Indian Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal inaugurated the Mango Festival in Brussels, Belgium to raise awareness of mangoes among Europeans and establish a market for Indian mangoes in Europe.
During the event, Banganapalli from Andhra Pradesh, Malihabadi Dussehri of Uttar Pradesh, Amrapali of Odisha, Lakshman Bhog, Himsagar, Jardalu Mango, Langra Mango as well as 12 GI-tagged items were on display.
For the first time, the Mango Festival was organised in Belgium, considered the capital of Europe.
Other information about Mango -
The scientific name of mango is Mangifera indica.
Most of it is produced in India.
It is considered the national fruit in India, Pakistan and the Philippines.
Its tree has the status of a national tree in Bangladesh.
India produces 41 percent of the world's mangoes. Apart from India, China and Thailand are the largest producers of it.
According to botanical classification, mango is a tree of the family 'Anacardiaceae'.
The main varieties of mango are Langra Mango, Dussehri Mango, Fazli Mango, Sundari, Malda Mango.
Raw mango is called kari.
Mango is rich in vitamins A, B and C along with other antioxidants.
Mango Revision Centre is located at Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and Vengurla in Maharashtra.
10. India is the fourth largest gold recycling country in the world : World Gold Council
Tags: International News
According to the World Gold Council (WGC) report, India has emerged as the fourth largest recycler in the world and the country has recycled 75 tonnes in 2021.
The report was titled 'Gold Refining and Recycling'.
According to the WGC's 'Gold Refining and Recycling' report, China tops the global gold recycling chart by recycling 168 tonnes of the yellow metal, followed by Italy with 80 tonnes and the US with 78 tonnes .
According to the WGC report 'Gold Refining and Recycling' from 300 tonnes in 2013, India's gold refining capacity increased by 1,500 tonnes (500%) in 2021.
Despite being the fourth largest recycler in the world, India recycles very little of its own gold stock - about 8% of the global scrap supply.
In the last five years, 11% of the country's gold supply has come from 'old gold'.
The names of China, America, Australia, South Africa and Russia are included in the 5 largest gold producing countries in the world, while on the other hand, India is far ahead of other countries in terms of gold consumption.
According to one figure, out of 52 percent of the world's jewellery consumption, most of the consumption is done in India.
About World Gold Council
The World Gold Council is a market development organisation for the gold industry.
It aims to boost the demand for gold and maintain it.
Most of the world's gold mining companies are involved as its members.
Its headquarter is in the United Kingdom.
