1. China's funding for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor down 56%
Tags: International News
China's funding to Pakistan for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) declined by about 56% in the first half of 2022.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Other countries such as Russia, Egypt and Sri Lanka saw a 100% drop of BRI engagement compared to 2021.
The project is running from Gwadar port in Pakistan to Kashgar city in Xinjiang, China.
The project is not running as per the initial promise due to lack of transparency, debt problem, poor management and corruption.
The project is facing local opposition and frequent attacks on the project and its personnel in Pakistan and other security challenges.
Apart from this, the deteriorating economic condition of Pakistan is also affecting the project.
According to reports, China has recently asked for its military presence in Pakistan to safeguard and look after the project.
China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project, on the other hand, is also facing global criticism for its inadequate transparency of loans.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) :
It is a project connecting China's northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gwadar Port in Pakistan's western province of Balochistan.
The length of this project is 3,000 km.
It is a bilateral project between Pakistan and China.
It aims to promote connectivity across Pakistan through a network of energy, industrial and other infrastructure development projects, highways, railways and pipelines.
It is a part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
2. HAL to open office in Kuala Lumpur for business operations in Southeast Asia
Tags: International News
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a MoU to set up an office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- This office will help HAL to tap new business opportunities for Fighter Lead-in Trainer (FLIT) and other requirements of Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) such as Su-30 MKM and Hawk upgrade.
This will strengthen India's commitment in supporting the Malaysian Defence Forces and industry for a sustainable aerospace and defence landscape in Malaysia.
HAL had submitted a proposal in October 2021 for the supply of 18 FLIT LCAs against a global tender issued by RMAF to the Ministry of Defence, Malaysia.
Being one of the largest producers of Russian-origin Su-30 aircraft, HAL stated that it has the capability to provide necessary support to the RMAF for the Su-30 MKM fleet, which is facing low serviceability due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
Other HAL platforms such as HTT-40, Do-228, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) are likely to be inducted by the RMAF in the future.
HAL's office in Kuala Lumpur will market promotion of HAL's range of products and services not only in Malaysia but throughout Southeast Asia.
3. Thai Public Broadcasting Service signs MoU with Prasar Bharati
Tags: International Relations International News
The Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) on 18 August signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India's public broadcaster Prasar Bharati for comprehensive cooperation between Thailand and India to strengthen their bilateral ties.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Thai PBS and Prasar Bharati share the same values as public broadcasters.
The MoU will contribute to better understanding between the peoples of the two countries and is the first step in cooperation in exchange of news and programmes.
Indian Ambassador to Thailand Suchitra Durai represented Prasar Bharati in signing the MoU.
Both countries also signed MoU on Health and Medical Research Cooperation between Indian Council of Medical Research and Department of Medical Sciences, Thailand.
India -Thailand relations :
The year 2022 is the 75th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Both countries share a maritime boundary in the Andaman Sea.
Thailand was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with India in 1947.
In 2021, Thailand became India's fourth largest trading partner in ASEAN.
In 2021-22, Thailand was India's 22nd top trading partner, with a total trade of US$6.6 billion.
The MoU on Defence Cooperation between India and Thailand was signed on 25 January 2012.
Since 2015, India has participated in the largest Asia Pacific military exercise Ex-Cobra Gold as an 'Observer Plus' category.
4. India, Thailand jointly inaugurate Indian Embassy Residence Complex in Bangkok
Tags: International News
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar inaugurated the Indian Embassy Residence Complex in Bangkok along with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand Don Pramudwinai on 17 August.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- Jaishankar is on a visit to Thailand to attend the 9th India-Thailand Joint Commission meeting.
He also paid a visit to the Temple of Emerald Buddha in Bangkok.
9th India-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting was held in Bangkok on 17 August.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of External Affairs of Thailand and S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India.
Both countries discussed advancing contacts in political, economic, security as well as defence, connectivity and health domains.
The two sides also discussed cooperation within ASEAN and BIMSTEC and shared their perspectives on the Indo-Pacific.
About Thailand :
Primeminister - Prayuth Chan-ocha
Capital - Bangkok
Head Of State - King Vajiralongkorn
Official Language -Thai
Official Name - Ratcha Anachak Thai (Kingdom of Thailand)
5. London home of Dadabhai Naoroji gets Blue Plaque honour
Tags: International News
Dadabhai Naoroji's south London home, where he lived for eight years in the late 19th century, has received a commemorative 'blue plaque' award.
Important facts
Under the 'Blue Plaque' scheme, the English Heritage Charity honours historically significant buildings across London.
Naoroji made seven trips to England and lived in London for more than three decades.
Naoroji's plaque was unveiled on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence.
Dadabhai Naoroji
Dadabhai Naoroji (4 September 1825 – 30 June 1917) was a Parsi intellectual, educationist, cotton merchant and early political and social leader of British India.
He is also known as 'Grand Old Man of India' and 'Official Ambassador of India'.
He proposed the principle of economic exit or drain of money.
Dadabhai Naoroji founded the East India Association in London in 1866.
Poverty and UnBritish Rule in India is a major book written by him.
6. Italy's Lake Garda shrinks to historically low level due to drought
Tags: International News
Italy's worst drought in a long time threatens to shrink the country's largest Lake Garda, pushing its lowest ever recorded.
Important facts
Northern Italy received very little rainfall for months, and snowfall was also reduced by 70% in 2022, drying up important rivers such as the Po, which flow through Italy's agricultural and industrial region.
The dry condition of Italy's longest river, the Po, caused billions of euros in damage to farmers who usually depend on the river to irrigate their fields.
To make up for the loss, the authorities have allowed more and more water from Lake Garda to flow into the local rivers.
But at the end of July 2022, less money was spent protecting the lake and its associated economically important tourism.
Due to the diversion of large amounts of lake water into rivers, the lake has the lowest water level ever recorded.
About Garda Lake
It is best known as the playground lake.
Location - Veneto, Trentino Alto Adige and Lombardy regions in north-west Italy
Best - For fun and games for kids of all ages
7. North Korea fires two cruise missiles from west coast town of Onchon
Tags: International News
North Korea fired two cruise missiles from the west coast city of Onchon on the morning of August 17.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- The launch comes as South Korea and the United States begin a four-day preliminary joint exercise in preparation for the long-suspended live field training Ulchi Freedom Shield, which takes place from August 22 to September 1.
South Korean President Yoon Sek-yol said that his country is ready to provide phased economic aid to North Korea if it ends the development of nuclear weapons and begins denuclearization.
Unlike ballistic missiles, cruise missiles are powered by jet engines and remain close to the ground, making them difficult to detect.
Most cruise missiles are not designed to carry nuclear warheads.
Recent missile launches by North Korea :
North Korea has recently conducted a flurry of missile tests, making its 18th launch on August 17 this year.
North Korea only has four tests in 2020, and eight in 2021.
The last missile launch was on June 5 with eight short-range ballistic missiles – which were responded to by South Korea and the US firing eight more missiles into the waters off the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula.
About North Korea :
Capital - Pyongyang
Official Language - Korean
President - Kim Jong-un
8. US President signs major climate change and health care legislation
Tags: International News
US President Joe Biden has signed a historic climate change and healthcare spending bill into law on August 16.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- This law will go a long way in reducing health care costs and combating climate change.
According to the White House, the $740 billion investment bill is the largest commitment to combat climate change in the country's history.
The White House claimed that Biden's Inflation Reduction Act would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly a billion tons in 2030.
This law is ten times bigger than any climate law ever enacted.
The bill provides for significant investment in renewable energy through wind and solar power projects and heavy tax credits for electric vehicles.
The law would also stipulate the cost of the drug for Medicare recipients in excess of $2,000 annually.
The new law will also help the nearly 13 million Americans pay for their health insurance.
Similar climate packages announced by other countries :
In May 2022, Japan announced an ‘Invest in Kisida’ plan.
‘Invest in Kisida’ plan aims for a $1.1 trillion investment to bolster the Japanese economy.
Japan aims to transition to clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46 percent by 2030.
In June 2021, the European Union (EU) proposed a similar 'Fit for 55' plan to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030.
9. India contributes USD 400,000 to the United Nations Trust Fund
Tags: International News
Reflecting its commitment to global promotion and protection of human rights and support of UN human rights, India has contributed USD 400,000 to four voluntary trust funds.
IMPORTANT FACTS -
- As a founding member of the United Nations, India strongly supports the objectives and principles of the United Nations and has made significant contributions to the implementation of the goals of the Charter and the development of specialized programs and agencies of the United Nations.
India's deep engagement with the United Nations is based on its strong commitment to multilateralism.
India firmly believes that the United Nations and the standards of international relations that it has promoted are the most effective tools to address today's global challenges.
These global challanges are poverty eradication, environment, climate change, peace building and peacekeeping, terrorism, disarmament, human rights, migration and health and pandemics.
The United Nations also has an important role to play in newly emerging areas such as cyber security, space and frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Purpose of the fund :
The fund is meant to support victimization of atrocities, technical cooperation, implementation of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the participation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs)/Small Island Developing States (SIDs).
Global promotion and protection of human rights.
In 2007, India became the first country to deploy a women's contingent for a police unit set up for the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia.
United Nations Human Rights Council :
It is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system.
It is responsible for strengthening the spread and protection of human rights around the world.
It was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006.
It has been created in place of the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
10. UK becomes first nation to approve Omicron vaccine
Tags: International News
The UK on 16 August approved a booster dose against COVID-19, which is claimed to be effective against both the original and variant Omicron forms of the coronavirus.
Important facts
The agency's decision was based on clinical trial data showing that the booster dose triggered "a strong immune response" against both Omicron and the original 2020 coronavirus.
With this, Britain has become the first country to have approved such a vaccine.
The vaccine was found to meet the standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said that half of each dose of the booster vaccine Spike Vax Bivalent Original/Omicron, i.e. 25 micrograms, works against the original form, while the other half targets Omicron.
5 variants of coronavirus are cause of concern
Omicron - Identified in southern Africa in November 2021
Delta - emerged in India in late 2020 and spread around the world
Gamma - Emerged in Brazil in late 2020
Beta - Emerged in South Africa in early 2020
Alpha - Emerged in Britain in late 2020
