1. ICJ ask Russia to stop military operation in Ukraine
Tags: Popular International News
The top United Nation court , International Court of Justice(ICJ), has asked Russia to immediately stop its military operations in Ukraine. In a 13-2 judgement pronounced on 16 March 2022 the court ordered the”Russian Federation to immediately suspend the military operations that it commenced on Feb 24, 2022 on the territory of Ukraine.”
The court also ordered that Russia must also ensure that other forces under its control or supported by Moscow should not continue the military operation.
Ukraine filed its case at the ICJ shortly after Russia's invasion began on Feb. 24, saying that Moscow's stated justification, that it was acting to prevent a genocide in eastern Ukraine, was unfounded.
During hearings earlier this month, Ukraine said there was no threat of genocide in eastern Ukraine, and that the U.N.'s 1948 Genocide Convention, which both countries have signed, does not allow an invasion to prevent one.
Although the rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are binding, it has no direct means of enforcing them, and in rare cases in the past countries have ignored them.
Russia never participated in the ICJ hearing on the Ukraine case and it has rejected the ICJ ruling.
International Court of Justice(ICJ)
The International Court of Justice is successor to the Permanent Court of Justice set up in 1920 by the League of Nations.
After the Second World war, it was replaced by the International Court of Justice in 1945. The United Nation replaced the League of Nation in 1945.
ICJ is one of the six principal organs of the United Nation and is also called the World Court.
It hears cases relating to disputes between the member states of the United Nations according to International law.
Headquarters of the ICJ : The Hague, Netherlands
ICJ is composed of 15 Judges elected by the UN for a term of Nine Years .
Four Indian has so far been elected as the Judge of the ICJ
B.N RAU, in 1952 -53
NAGENDRA SINGH ( He was the President of the ICJ from 1985-1988). He was the first Indian judge to have been elected for a 9 years term
R.S.Pathak (1989-91)
DALVEER BHANDARI (2012- till date)
2. Indian embassy shifts to Poland from Ukraine
Tags: International News
The Government of India has temporarily shifted its embassy from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv to Poland. The decision has been taken due to the fear that the Russians will launch a full scale attack on Kyiv after many of the foreigners have left the Ukrainian capital.
The decision of the government of India also was influenced by the fact that all Indians had been evacuated from Ukraine under operation Ganga.
The last big group of students from the besieged town of Sumy in Ukraine were flown back to India on 11 march 2022, after being seen off on trains to Poland by Indian Ambassador to Ukraine Partha Satpathy.
The neighbouring countries of Ukraine are Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Russia, and Belarus.
Important for Exam
Poland
It is an Eastern European country.
Capital : Warsaw
President : Andrzej Duda
Currency : Polish zloty
Poland is located in the exact geographical centre of the European continent.
Poland is the first European country (1791) and second country overall to have written a constitution. The first country in the world to have a written constitution was the United States of America (1789).
Note- russia-ukraine
3. India ranked 4th on the Global firepower Index
Tags: Popular International News
The Global Firepower report 2022 has ranked India as the 4th most powerful military in the world in 2021. The Global Firepower ranks the countries on its potential war making capabilities across land, air and sea fought by conventional means. It means it does not take into account the country's nuclear capability.
The most powerful country in the world was the United States followed by Russia, China, India and Japan.
Iceland was ranked at 142 and was considered as the least military powerful country in the world,
The report has been released by Global Firepower since 2006.
4. OECD suspends Russia and Belarus
Tags: International News
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Economic development (OECD) has suspended Russia and Belarus from participating in any activities of the OECD due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Neither Russia nor Belarus is a member of the OECD.
Russia's application to join the OECD was postponed after the country annexed Crimea in 2014 and was cancelled in February 2022 as a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Belarus has been punished for its role in supporting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine
The exclusion of Russia and Belarus will mean they're barred from participating in negotiations on issues including taxation, international business regulation and trade.
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Economic development (OECD)
It is a group of the world’s most developed and rich countries. It discusses a wide range of global issues like trade, taxation, money laundering,international business regulation etc and sets the agenda for the world .
It was founded in 1961.
Headquarters : Paris, France
Total member countries 38
Costa Rica was the 38th country to join the OECD.
Russia, China, and India are not members of OECD .
Full Form for exam
OECD: Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Economic development
Belarus
Belarus or also called Byelorussia is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe.
It was once part of the Soviet Union and became independent after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Capital : Minsk
Currency : Belarusian ruble
President : Alexander Lukashenko
5. 5th NSA meeting of Colombo Security Conclave held in Maldives
Tags: International News
The 5th National Security Advisor’s meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave was held at Male, Maldives on 9 March 2022.
The Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval represented India at the meeting.
India, Sri Lanka and Maldives are the members of the Colombo Security Conclave.
At the meeting, Mauritius was included as the fourth member. Bangladesh and Seychelles participated as Observers.
NSAs discussed the significance of close cooperation between member and observer countries in maritime safety and security and countering terrorism and radicalisation.
These countries agreed that they shall play the role of the first responders for the region.
6. India abstains in UN Human Rights council vote on Ukraine -Russia Conflict
Tags: International News
India again abstained on the United Nation Human Rights Council resolution on 4 March 2022, calling for an investigation of alleged human rights violation and international humanitarian law by Russia during its invasion of Ukraine .
So far India has abstained from three votes at the UN Security Council, two at the UN General Assembly in New York, two at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, and one at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna on resolution which has condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine .
Only Eritrea and Russia voted against the resolution while 13 countries including India abstained from the vote. .
The resolution was passed by two-third majority and it asked the Un Human Rights Council President to appoint a three member panel .
Russia has rejected all the allegations of human rights violation or targeting civilians during the conflict .
United Nations Human Rights Council
The United Nations Human Rights Council was set up by the United Nation General Assembly in 2006. It replaced the United Nations Commission Human Rights which was set up in 1946.
Main Functions
As it names suggest it was set up to ;
Strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe;
for addressing situations of human rights violations and makes recommendations on them.;
It discusses human rights issues and situations around the world .
Members
It has 47 members who are elected for three years by the United National General Assembly . The membership is distributed among regions. 13 members come from Asia and 13 from Africa , 6 come from East Europe, 7 from Western Europeand other groups and 8 from South America and Caribbean countries .
Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland
President : Federico Villegras of Argentina .
7. 117th meeting of Indus Water Commission held in Pakistan
Tags: International News
The 117th Meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) comprising of Indus Commissioners of India and Pakistan was held from March 1-3, 2022 in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The Indian delegation was led by Shri PK Saxena, the Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters.
Under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty (Treaty), signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, the two Commissioners are required to meet at least once every year, alternately in India and Pakistan.
The last meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) was held from March 23-24, 2021 in New Delhi.
During the meeting, technical discussions were held regarding on-going projects including Pakal Dul, Kiru and Lower Kalnai.
Both sides discussed the issue of the Fazilka drain, and Pakistan assured that all necessary actions will continue to be taken to ensure the free flow of Fazilka drain into the river Sutlej.
Indus Water Treaty 1960
It was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960. It divided Indus and its tributaries between India and Pakistan.
Pakistan was given the right to use the waters of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum while India was to use Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers for irrigation, power projects etc..
The Indus Water Treaty was mediated by the World Bank.
8. Russia Captures, Ukraine’s Nuclear Complex
Tags: Popular International News
Russian troops have taken control of the Ukrainian Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex.
Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex is the largest nuclear plant in Europe and fifth largest in the world.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has an installed capacity of 6,000MW.
It provides one-fifth of Ukraine's electricity needs.
Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex is in southeastern Ukraine near the city of Enerhodar.
Russia has already captured the Chernobyl nuclear plant of Ukraine , which was the site of a major nuclear accident in 1986.
Important for Exam
The largest Nuclear Power plant in the world is Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Japan with an installed capacity of 7,965MW.
India’s largest nuclear power plant is at Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu with an installed capacity of 2000 MW and additional 2000 MW is under construction . It is being built with the help of Russia .
Note-Update on Russian -Ukrainian war Click Here
9. India abstain at the UN Vote on Russia again
Tags: Popular International News
India abstained during the voting at the United Nation General Assembly resolution titled “on Aggression against Ukraine”.This is the fifth time that India has abstained from voting on Ukraine related resolutions on the UN platform .
The UN resolution ,deplored in strongest terms the “Russian aggression against Ukraine”. It demanded that Russia immediately cease use of force in Ukraine and unconditionally withdraw its forces from internationally recognised borders of Ukraine.It also reaffirmed its commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity . It called all the parties to abide by the Minsk agreement in 2014 and 2015.
The resolution was supported by 141 members out of 193 countries and 34 countries including China abstained .
Only Russia, North Korea,Eritrea, Syria and Belarus voted against the resolutions.
The Indian permanent representative to the United Nation, T.S.Tirumurti presenting government of India policy called for a diplomatic solution to the problem .
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February as it is concerned that the Zelensky led Ukrainian government policy to join NATO(North Atlantic Treaty Organization ) military alliance led by the United States threatens the security of Russia .
India has very close ties with Russia which has consistently supported India on Kashmir, Bangladesh and China. India doesn't want to hurt Russia .
The General Assembly vote will not change anything on the ground and it is mainly symbolic in nature .
United Nation General Assembly
- The United Nation General Assembly was set up in 1945 under the charter of the United Nation.All the 193 member countries of the United Nation(UN) are members of the General Assembly .
- The General Assembly meets September to December each year (main part), and thereafter, from January to September
Function of the General Assembly
It can recommend policies or programmes to the member states but the member countries are not bound to legally follow it .
It has basically moral power in nature as it represents the voice of the world.
However the member countries have to follow the decision of the UN Security Council.
Some of the important functions of the General Assembly are as follows :
It can
take action in cases of a threat to the peace, breach of peace or act of aggression, when the Security Council has failed to act owing to the negative vote of a permanent member.
Elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of other United Nations councils and organs and, on the recommendation of the Security Council, appoint the Secretary-General
Consider and make recommendations on the general principles of cooperation for maintaining international peace and security, including disarmament
Discuss any question relating to international peace and security and, except where a dispute or situation is currently being discussed by the Security Council, make recommendations on it
Make recommendations for the peaceful settlement of any situation that might impair friendly relations among countries
Decision making process in the General Assembly
Unlike the Security Council where five permanent members , Russia, China, US, France and UK can veto any resolution,in the General Assembly no country has any veto power in the General Assembly
Every country has one vote.
On certain Important issues like recommendations on peace and security, the election of Security Council and Economic and Social Council members, and budgetary questions, two third majority of the member states are required for other matters; a simple majority is required .
Facts important for Exam
- The President of the UN General Assembly is elected every year.
- The current Chairman is Abdulla Shahid of Maldives
- Vijay Lakshmi Pandit became the first Indian and a woman to be the President of the UN General Assembly in 1953,
- The Headquarters of the UN: New York,United States of America
- The Secretary General of the UN :António Guterres of Portugal
- For a detailed Understanding of the conflict in Ukraine kindly see our blog on Russian -Ukraine Conflict
10. IEA to release reserve oils to cool the oil price
Tags: Popular International News
The International Energy Agency has agreed to release 60 millions barrels of oil reserves in the world market to deal with the shortfall in the oil after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
Importance of Russia in oil market
Russia is an important player in the world oil market.
It is the world’s third largest oil producer and the largest exporter.
Its exports of about 5 million barrels a day of crude oil represent roughly 12% of global trade – and its approximately 2.85 million barrels a day of petroleum products represent around 15% of global refined product trade.
Around 60% of Russia’s oil exports go to Europe and another 20% to China.
Source of Data (International Energy Agency )
Though the Western countries led by the United States have not yet imposed sanctions on the Russian oil industry, the buyers are avoiding Russian oils. The uncertainty of supply of oil has led to a sharp rise in the price of oil and it has crossed $100 per barrel . The continuous rise in oil prices has led to fear of high inflation around the world and it threatens the world economic recovery after the corona pandemic .
IEA stockpiles
IEA members hold emergency stockpiles of 1.5 billion barrels. The proposed initial release of 60 million barrels, or 4% of those stockpiles, is equivalent to 2 million barrels a day for 30 days.
This is the fourth coordinated attempt by the IEA to release oil from the reserves . It released oil from reserves in 1991, 2005 and in 2011.
Half of the planned release will come from the United States. The United States maintains half the worlds’ oil strategic reserves .The other 30 IEA members are required to hold oil in emergency reserves equivalent to 90 days of net oil imports
Japan has one of the largest oil reserves after China and the United States.
However many experts believe that it will not be able to cool the price of oil in the market .
International Energy Agency
It was set up by the developed countries in 1974 after the 1973 oil crisis .
It was initially set up to protect oil supplies .Now its field has been expanded to include issues like electricity security to investments, climate change, air pollution, energy access and efficiency, etc.
Total Member 31 countries . All are developed countries .(from Asia only Japan and South Korea are its member )
India, China are not members of the IEA . They are an associate state of the IEA .
Headquarters of IEA : Paris, France
Important reports released by EIA :
World Energy Report
Global Energy Review
Oil Market Report
Important for EXAM
One barrel of Oil is equivalent to: 158.987 liters of oil
: 42 gallons (US)
