1. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to India
Tags: International Relations
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived in Ahmedabad on 8 March on a four-day (8-11 March) visit to India to participate in the India-Australia Annual Summit.
An Overview of the news:
After reaching Ahmedabad, the Prime Minister of Australia visited the Sabarmati Ashram and paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi. He also participated in a cultural program at the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar, followed by a program at an Australian university in Albany Ahmedabad.
Albanese will visit Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi respectively during his visit. This is the first visit to India by an Australian Prime Minister since 2017.
On the first day of his visit, the Prime Minister of Australia participated in the Holi program at the Raj Bhavan beside the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese watched part of the 4th Memorial Cricket Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
On March 9 itself, the Australian Prime Minister went to Mumbai, where he was given a guard of honour at INS Vikrant.
This is the first visit of Anthony Albanese, who became the Prime Minister of Australia in May 2022, and during this time there will be talks on various bilateral issues ranging from economic cooperation, defence cooperation.
Australia and India have committed to a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) to further economic cooperation and trade agreement.
Free Trade Agreement (FTA):
FTA is an agreement between two or more countries to reduce barriers to imports and exports.
Goods and services can be bought and sold across international borders with little or no government tariffs, quotas, subsidies, or prohibitions to constrain their exchange.
FTAs of India:
India has signed 13 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with its trading partners, including 3 agreements:
India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA).
India-UAE Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IndAus ECTA).
India-Australia ECTA:
Australia exports largely raw materials to India, while India exports finished goods.
ECTA is based on this complementarity, creating better opportunities for both countries.
India's imports from Australia are estimated at US$17 billion, while its exports to Australia are estimated at US$10.5 billion in 2022.
However, India's imports from Australia are mainly (96%) raw materials and intermediate goods.
2. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz calls on President Droupadi Murmu
Tags: International Relations International News
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on President Draupadi Murmu, in New Delhi on February 25.
An overview of the news
India and Germany enjoy a long-standing relationship, based on shared values and shared goals for both countries.
Bilateral relations cover a wide spectrum, reflecting the mutual trust that has been nurtured over the decades.
Germany is India's largest trading partner in Europe and also among the top investors in India.
Germany is also India's second largest development cooperation partner and has played an important role in India's development journey.
In recent years, Germany has emerged as a preferred destination for Indian students and researchers seeking to pursue higher education, especially in science and technology.
India and Germany also have strong cultural ties, with a long tradition of German Indologists working in India.
India and Germany share a common objective in maintaining democratic values, rules-based international order, multilateralism, as well as reform of multilateral institutions.
Federal Republic of Germany
Germany is also known as Deutschland.
Capital : Berlin
Currency : Euro
President : Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Chancellor : Olaf Scholz
The German Chancellor is equivalent to the Prime Minister in India.
3. India and Fiji sign MoU on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports
Tags: International Relations International News
India and Fiji signed a Memorandum of Understanding on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders on 16 February in presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
An overview of the news
Under this agreement, holders of diplomatic and official passports will be able to enter, transit and stay in each other's territory without a visa for a period of 90 days.
India and Fiji share close and long-standing relations and the two countries also reviewed bilateral relations.
India and Fiji have inaugurated the solarisation of the State House in Suva and this is the first of a series that India is supporting in the Pacific Islands.
It shows India's commitment towards climate action.
The Visa Waiver Agreement will be helpful in encouraging greater travel between the two countries.
Republic of Fiji
It is an archipelago consisting of around 300 islands in the South Pacific Ocean.
Capital: Suva
Currency: Fijian Dollar
President : Wiliame Katonivere
Prime Minister: Sitiveni Rabuka
4. India and Spain agreed to cooperate in digital infra, climate action, clean energy
Tags: International Relations International News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez on February 15 agreed to collaborate on issues such as digital infrastructure, climate action, clean energy and sustainable development.
An overview of the news
They also discussed several bilateral and international issues of mutual interest.
They reviewed bilateral initiatives and expressed satisfaction at the growing cooperation in the defence, economic and commercial sectors.
Sanchez extended full support to India's initiative of chairing the global bloc G20.
India-Spain Relations
Relations between the two countries have been cordial since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1956.
To give impetus to trade and investment ties, the India-Spain Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation (JCEC) was established in 1972.
The commission was established under the Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement and has met ten times since then.
Spain is India's 7th largest trading partner in the European Union.
India's exports to Spain include organic chemicals, textiles, iron and steel products, motor vehicle components, marine products and leather goods.
Spain is the 15th largest investor in India.
Bilateral Agreements between India and Spain
Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation, 1972
Agreement on Cultural Cooperation, 1982
Civil Aviation Agreement, 1986
Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, 1993
Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement, 1997
Extradition Treaty, 2002
MoU on Institutionalisation of Political Dialogue, 2006
5. 11th India-Mongolia Joint Working Group Meeting Held in New Delhi
Tags: International Relations International News
The 11th meeting of the India-Mongolia Joint Working Group was held on 10 February 2023 in New Delhi.
An overview of the news
Co-chaired by Dr. Ajay Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence, India and Brigadier General Gankhuyag Davgdorj, State Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mongolia, the meeting of the Joint Working Group took place for the first time since the pandemic.
Both the countries reviewed the progress of various bilateral defense cooperation initiatives and identified measures to further enhance the existing areas of cooperation.
Both sides reviewed the progress of various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and expressed satisfaction at the efforts made in this direction despite the restrictions imposed by the COVID pandemic.
India -Mongolia Relation
India established diplomatic relations with Mongolia in 1955 and upgraded relations with Mongolia to a strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mongolia in 2015 upgraded it to a "strategic partnership" and declared it as an essential component of the 'Act East Policy'.
Mongolia has publicly voiced its support for India's membership for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Both the countries are members of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Mongolia
It is located in North Central Asia.
Capital: Ulaanbaatar
Currency: Tugrik
President: Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh
6. Operation “DOST”
Tags: International Relations International News
India is carrying out a rescue operation named 'Operation Dost' with National Disaster Response Force personnel, essential items and medical equipment to help after the earthquake in Turkey.
An overview of the news:
On February 6, 2023, an earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale affected Turkey and Syria, causing massive devastation along with loss of life and damage to infrastructure in both countries.
A field hospital has been set up by the Indian Army in Turkey's Hatay province under Operation Dost.
C17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force has been put into operation.
Operation Dost is a symbol of the fact that India is a friend of Turkey, that is, both should strengthen their relations more.
Other operations carried out by the Government of India in the past:
Operation Ganga 2022
It was operated by the Government of India to provide humanitarian aid and to evacuate Indian nationals from Ukraine amid the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Operation Dev Shakti 2021
It was launched by the Indian Air Force and Air India to bring back Indians from Afghanistan after the Afghan capital Kabul was captured by the Taliban on 15 August 2021.
Vande bharat mission
In the year 2020, the Government of India launched 'Vande Bharat Mission' campaign to evacuate Indians trapped in other countries due to Coronavirus.
Operation Rahat 2015
It was launched by the Indian Navy, Air Force and Air India to rescue and bring back Indian and foreign nationals from Yemen following the intervention of Saudi Arabia-led coalition forces in the Yemen Civil War.
Operation Maitri 2015
This operation was launched by the Government of India after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.
7. India provided 50 buses to Sri Lanka under the economic assistance scheme
Tags: International Relations
India has supplied 50 buses to Sri Lanka on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of independence.
An overview of the news
Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay handed over these buses to Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland has bagged a contract for the supply of 500 buses from the Sri Lanka Transport Board.
Under the contract, 75 buses have been handed over to Sri Lanka in January 2023. The Indian Import-Export Bank is providing loans for these buses.
About sri lanka
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a tropical island nation located off the southeast coast of the Indian subcontinent.
Sri Lanka is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Munnar and the Palk Strait.
Capital: Colombo (Executive and Judicial) and Sri Jayawardenepura (Legislative).
Official languages: Sinhala and Tamil
President – Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prime Minister – Dinesh Gunawardena
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee
8. UN General Assembly president to visit India from Jan 29-31
Tags: International Relations International News
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Saba Korosi will visit India from January 29-31 to discuss multilateral and regional issues.
An overview of the news
Korosi, Hungarian diplomat who served as his country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, is visiting India at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
He became the President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2022.
Besides holding talks with Jaishankar on key multilateral and regional issues of mutual interest, Korosi will hold talks with senior officials of NITI Aayog and India's G20 Presidency team.
On January 30, Korosi will deliver a public speech at the Indian Council of World Affairs on the topic "Solidarity, Sustainability and Solutions through Science at the United Nations".
He will also attend the "Beating the Retreat" ceremony on January 29 and pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on January 30 on the occasion of Martyrs' Day.
On January 31, Korosi will travel to Bengaluru, which will include an interaction with scientists from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and a field visit to an IISc-led water conservation project.
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
It is the United Nation’s chief policy-making and representative organ and was created in 1945.
It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN).
It serves as the main deliberative, policy making and representative organ of the United Nations.
Its powers, structure, functions and procedures are set out in Chapter IV of the United Nations Charter.
Its main functions are to prepare the budget of the United Nations, appoint non-permanent members to the Security Council, appoint the Secretary-General of the United Nations, receive reports from other parts of the United Nations system, and make recommendations through resolutions.
9. Signing of MoU on Cultural Cooperation between the Government of India and the Government of Egypt
Tags: International Relations
India's Ministry of Culture signed an MoU with the Government of Egypt to strengthen cultural ties.
An overview of the news
The MoU was signed by the Culture Minister of India, Shri G. Kishan Reddy and the Foreign Minister of Egypt, Shri Sameh Hassan Shoukry, in the presence of the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi and the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El Sisi.
This MoU has been signed for a period of five years.
Under the aegis of the MoU on Cultural Cooperation signed between India and Egypt, both the countries will host cultural activities in the fields of music, dance, theatre, literature, libraries, organising festivals in the respective countries, research and documentation etc.
About Egypt
Egypt is a country located in North Africa.
Egypt is home to famous monuments such as the Giza Pyramid Complex. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Pyramids of Giza are located on the banks of the Nile River. The Great Pyramid of Giza was built in 2560 BC.
Capital - Cairo
President – Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Currency - Egyptian pound
10. India announces 100 million Maldivian Rufiyaa for community development projects in Maldives
Tags: International Relations International News
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar arrived in Maldives on 18 January as part of his three-day visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka.
An overview of the news
To strengthen bilateral ties, India and Maldives signed an MoU on development projects and held talks with top leadership in the country.
The agreement included grant assistance of 100 million rufiyaa (Maldives' currency) for the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP).
Under this funding, several socio-economic development projects are planned to be implemented in Maldives.
It also includes the development of a sports complex at Gahadhoo and academic collaboration between the Maldives National University and the Cochin University of Science and Technology.
India has handed over two sea ambulances to help the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
About Maldives
It is also called Maldives Islands, an independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean.
It extends more than 510 miles (820 km) from north to south and 80 miles (130 km) from east to west.
Basis of economy -fisheries, tourism
Industries - handicraft or cottage including the making of coir (coconut-husk fibre) and coir products, fish canning, and boatbuilding.
Capital -Male
President -Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
Official Language - Dhivehi (Maldivian)
Official Religion - Islam
Currency - Rufiyaa
