1. Australia reopens for International tourist
Tags: International News
Australia has reopened its border for international tourists after nearly two years .
The country imposed some of the world's strictest travel bans after shutting itself off in March 2020 due to Covid-19.
From 21 February 2022 all fully vaccinated international travellers, including those planning a holiday or visiting friends and relatives, or those intending to travel for business can enjoy quarantine free entry and won’t need to seek a travel exemption.
India was ranked seventh in the list of countries traveling to Australia before covid time.
Fact File
Australia
It is the smallest continent by area on Earth after Asia, Africa, North America , South America, Antarctica ,Europe and Australia.
It is the 6th largest country in the world after Russia, Canada, China, United States, and Brazil.
Australia has been called “the Oldest Continent,” “the Last of Lands,” and “the Last Frontier.”
Its unique flora and fauna include the only egg-laying mammals on Earth, the Platypus and Echidna. It is also famous for its Kangaroos,Koala bears.
It is the second driest continent after Antarctica.
Its highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko, rises to only 7,310 feet (2,228 meters).
Its Capital : Canberra
Currency : Australian Dollar
Prime Minister : Scott Morrison
The United Kingdom Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the State of Australia.
2. Russia recognises breakaway Ukrainian regions
Tags: International News
Russian President Valdimir Putin signed a Presidential decree to recognize two Ukrainian breakaway regions - the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic backed by Russian backed sepratist as an Independent countries .
These two regions situated in Eastern Ukraine are dominated by the Russian speaking population. The regions have been locked in armed conflict with the Ukrainian government army since a Russia backed armed uprising in the region following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Their independence, proclaimed following referendums, is not recognised by the international community.
In a televised address President Putin said that eastern Ukraine was part of ancient Russian land and demanded that Ukraine drop its long-term goal of joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
Putin said that Ukraine had no history of Independence and ordered the Russian troops to move into the Eastern Ukrainian territory for a peacekeeping operation . This action of Putin has sparked fear in the Western countries that Russian troops will soon cross into Ukraine, sparking a major war and conflict in the region .
Putin's announcement drew U.S. and European condemnation and vows of new sanctions. American President Joe Biden, who also spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, signed an executive order to halt all U.S. business activity in the breakaway regions and ban import of all goods from those areas.
The United States says Russia has massed a force numbering 169,000-190,000 troops in the region, including the separatists in the breakaway regions, and has warned of invasion at any moment.
Russia denies any plan to attack its neighbour, but it has threatened unspecified "military-technical" action unless it receives sweeping security guarantees, including a promise that Ukraine will never join NATO.
For a detailed and comprehensive view of the crisis kindly Click Here
FactFile
Ukraine
It is the second largest country in Europe after Russia (area wise).
As an Independent country it emerged only after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Ukraine had experienced a brief period of independence in 1918–20, but portions of western Ukraine were ruled by Poland, Romania , and Czechoslovakia in the period between the two World Wars.
Capital : The capital is Kyiv (Kiev), located on the Dnieper river in north-central Ukraine.
President : Volodymyr Zelensky
Currency : Hryvnia
3. Atlantic storm Eunice pummels Europe
Tags: International News
An Atlantic storm with a speed up to 196 Km battered North -Western Europe on 18 February 2022 killing at least 9 people .
The storm named Eunice developed in the Atlantic ocean and struck England, and created havoc there . It led to the closure of airports, rail and road networks and death of people .
The storm also affected Wales, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands ,and Germany.
The storm is now headed towards Scandinavian countries and Northern Europe.
The name Eunice was coined by the United Kingdom Meteorological office and the next storm which will hit the United Kingdom will be called Franklin .
What is the United Kingdom/Scandinavia/Nordic Countries
England , Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are together called the United Kingdom.
While England , Wales and Scotland are part of Great Britain.
The Queen of England is the head of the United Kingdom and Great Britain.
Scandinavia
It is a part of Northern Europe which consists of Norway, Sweden and Denmark . These countries were once part of a common Kingdom .
Greenland, which is a Danish territory, and the Faroe Islands, which is a self-governing part of Denmark, are also included in the list.
Nordic countries
The term Norden refers to Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. These form a group of countries having similarities with one another and are distinct from the rest of Europe . They are also called Norse countries .
4. First case of Polio in Africa
Tags: International News
The African country of Malawi has declared a wild polio outbreak after a case was identified in a three-year-old girl. This is the first case of wild polio in Africa for more than five years.
The continent was declared free of all forms of wild polio in 2020. For a country to be certified polio-free, it must have had no wild polio cases for three consecutive years.
Only two countries in the world have wild polio strains, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The strain detected in Malawi is linked to the one found in Pakistan.
There will be no change in the status of Africa as a polio free continent because this was an imported case where the virus was brought from Pakistan.
Know about Polio:
Polio is a highly transmissible virus most often spread via the stool of an infected person, usually through contaminated water or food. It can also be spread via oral or nasal secretions.
The virus mainly affects children under five years of age.
There is no cure for the symptoms of polio.
Polio Vaccine
There are two types of Polio Vaccines, IPV and OPV
- IPV or Inactivated Polio Vaccine
The first inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) was developed by American scientist Jonas Salk using a dead virus in 1953.
- OPV or Oral Polio Vaccine
It was developed by Polish American scientist Albert Sabin. He used a weakened live polio virus to produce a vaccine.
Malawi
It is a landlocked country in South East Africa . It was earlier called Nyasaland.
Capital: Lilongwe
Currency :Malawian kwacha
- President: Lazarus Chakwera
5. India Signs CEPA with United Arab Emirates
Tags: International News
India signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates during a Virtual summit meeting held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on 18 February 2022.
The agreement was signed by Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal and Minister of Economy of UAE, H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri in the virtual presence of the two Leaders.
This is the first such agreement India has signed with a MENA / WANA country. Middle East North African Countries (MENA) or they are also called West Asia North Africa Countries (WENA).
Under the CEPA the tariff between the two countries will be reduced or eliminated on goods and services traded between the two countries. This will boost trade between the two countries.
The bilateral trade target between the two countries has been set up at $100 billion in the next five years from the present $60 billion.
India expects creation of 10 lakhs new jobs in labour-intensive sectors, like gems and jewellery, textiles, leather, footwear, furniture, agriculture and food products, etc.
India- UAE Trade Facts
UAE is the third largest trading partner of India after China and the United States.
UAE is the second largest export market for India after the United States. China is the third largest export market for India.
UAE was the second largest source of imports for India after China. The US is the third largest source of imports.
India ranks as the UAE’s number one trading partner for non-oil exports, accounting for nearly 14 percent of the UAE’s total non-oil exports globally.
Source : Economic Survey 2021-22
All the figures are for April to December 2021-22.
Fact Files UAE
It is a federation of seven Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Khaimah, Ajmain, Fujairah, Umm -Al-Quwain. It is an Arabian country.
Abu Dhabi is the largest of the emirates and is the centre of UAE oil business.
It is situated in the West Asia /Middle East region of the world in the Arabian Peninsula.
UAE in its present form came into existence in 1971.
Capital of UAE : Abu Dhabi
Currency : Emirati Dirham
President of UAE : Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He is the king of Abu Dhabi and the supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
6. Historic visit of the Saudi Land Force Commander
Tags: International News
The Commander of the Royal Saudi Land Forces, Lieutenant General Fahd Bin Abdullah Mohammed Al-Mutair visited India from 14 to 16 February 2022.
This is the first time that the Army Chief of the Saudi Arabia Army has visited India.
In Saudi Arabia the Army Chief is called as Land Force Commander
He met Indian Army chief Manoj Mukund Navarane.
In December 2020, the Indian Army chief M M Navarane visited Saudi Arabia. It was the first time that an Indian Army chief visited Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia
It is a West Asian kingdom founded by the Ibn Saud of the Saud family in 1923. It is named after the Saud family.
It has two of the holiest shrine of Islam, Mecca and Medina masjid
The world's largest mosque Al-Haram or forbidden mosques is in Mecca.
The world's second largest mosque, Mosque of the Prophet, or Masjid al-Nabawi is in Medina.
The Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) headquarters is also in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The world’s largest sand area, the Rub al-Khali (“Empty Quarter”) which is spread around 647,500 square km, is also in Saudi Arabia.
Capital of Saudi Arabia : Riyadh
Currency : Saudi Riyal
King of Saudi Arabia : King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
7. Emergency declared in Canada
Tags: International News
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on 14 February 2022, declared an emergency in the country in an effort to end protests that have shut important trade routes with the United States and paralyzed parts of the capital, Ottawa.
Protest started in Canada when a new rule was introduced last month that all truckers must be vaccinated to cross the US-Canada border.
The truckers started protesting against that and started a convoy of trucks, cars and other vehicles to block the key Ambassador Bridge.
It is a vital trade route between Canada and the United States. It carries around 25% of the total merchandise trade between the two countries.
The protest became popular as “Freedom Convoy”. It soon drew people who were opposed to Trudeau's policies on everything from pandemic restrictions to a carbon tax. Similar protests also emerged in New Zealand, Australia, Israel and France.
The protest was broken up by the police on 13 February after the United States government expressed concern at the blockade which was affecting the auto industry in Detroit, US.
The Canadian government accused the protesters of getting foreign funding and the protest was detrimental to the economy and public safety of Canada. Under the Emergency act the Canadian police and law enforcement agencies will have power to block foreign funding of the protesters.
Important for Exam
Ambassador Bridge
The Ambassador Bridge is an international suspension bridge on the river Detroit. It connects the Detroit city of Michigan, United States with the Windsor city of Ontario, Canada.
It is the largest suspension bridge in the world.
Detroit
It is known as the automobile capital of the world. It is also called Motor City.
It is the home of the automobile giants of the United States , General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.
It is the birthplace of the modern automobile industry. For the first time an assembly line production technique was used by Henry Ford to mass produce cars for the people. It was the famous T model.
India’s Detroit : Chennai is considered to be India’s Detroit.
Fact Files Canada
It is the second largest country in the world area wise after Russia.
It shares 8,890-km ,the longest land boundary in the world with the United States.
The British monarch is the head of the State of Canada.
Prime Minister of Canada : Justin Trudeau
Capital “ Ottawa
- Currency : Canadian Dollar .
8. S.Jaishankar visit to Philippines
Tags: International News
Indian external affairs minister, S. Jaishankar visited the Philippines from February 13 to 15 2022. It was his first visit to the Philippines after becoming the External Affairs Minister.
He met his counterpart, Teddy Locsin Jr ,Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines (Foreign Minister of Philippines).
Philippines became the first country in the world to buy India -Russia developed Brahmos missiles from India.
The $375 million deal was signed between the two countries on January 28, 2022. The Philippines Navy will receive the first of these missiles by the end of 2022.
Fact File
Philippines
It is an archipelago consisting of more than 7000 islands . It is a part of South East Asia in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Capital : Manila
Currency : Philippine Peso
President: Rodrigo Duterte
Asian Development Bank has its headquarter at Manila
9. Germany’s President Steinmeier re-elected for second five-year term
Tags: International News
Frank-Walter Steinmeier was elected to a second term as Germany's president on Sunday after a special assembly vote on 13 February 2022.
He has been elected for a five year term.
The President in Germany has little power and the real power is with the Chancellor of Germany.
Currently the German Chancellor is Olaf Scholz
The German president is elected by members of the German parliament Bundestag and the members of the Parliament of the 16 states of Germany
10. Freedom Convey in France to protes Covid Restrictions
Tags: International News
Inspired by the truckers that shut down the Canadian capital Ottawa, thousands of demonstrators from across France made their way to Paris in a “freedom convoy” of cars, trucks and vans.
This is a latest protest which rocked many countries where people are protesting the covid related restriction.
People have protested in the Australian capital of Canberra and New Zealand capital Wellington against the government rules of compulsory vaccination against covid.
Important for exams
France
It is a North Western European country
Capital : Paris
Currency: Euro
President: Emmanuel Macron
India has bought Rafale fighter aircraft from France for its Air Force .
Australia
It is the smallest continent by area on Earth after Asia, Africa, North America , South America, Antarctica ,Europe and Australia.
It is the 6th largest country in the world after Russia, Canada, China, United States, and Brazil.
Its Capital : Canberra
Currency : Australian Dollar
Prime Minister : Scott Morrison
New Zealand
It is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean .
Capital : Wellington
Currency : New Zealand Dollar
Prime Minister : Miss Jacinda Ardern
