Current Affairs search results for tag: international-news
By admin: Oct. 10, 2023

1. North America's first Gandhi Museum opens in Houston, Texas

Tags: International News

North America's first Gandhi museum, the Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston (EGMH) was inaugurated in Houston, Texas, USA.

An Overview of the News

  • The inauguration ceremony took place on 2 October 2023, coinciding with Gandhi's 154th birth anniversary.

  • The museum officially opened to the public on August 15, 2023.

Special guest at the inauguration ceremony:

  • The event was attended by prominent personalities, including Dr. Rajmohan Gandhi (grandson of Mahatma Gandhi), Isaac Newton Farris Jr. (nephew of Martin Luther King), and Consul General of India (CGI) in Houston D. Manjunath.

Architectural Features and Design:

  • The architecture of the museum is inspired by Gandhi's iconic twenty-four-spoke Chakra Charkha.

  • A prominent statue of Gandhiji is prominently displayed in front of the museum.

  • The museum's semicircular exterior walls depict notable peace activists including Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and Betty Williams.

Interactive Display:

  • Inside the museum, visitors can see interactive exhibits that narrate Gandhi's life story in three different parts: "His Journey," "Our Journey," and "My Journey."

By admin: Oct. 6, 2023

2. Bangladesh receives the first batch of Russian Uranium for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant

Tags: International News

The Russian Embassy in Bangladesh officially delivered the first batch of uranium from Russia to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).

An Overview of the News

  • After the commissioning of the Rooppur plant, Bangladesh is on its way to becoming the 33rd country globally to produce nuclear power.

  • A formal "graduation ceremony" marked the handover of radioactive fuel from the Russian contractor, Rosatom, to RNPP officials.

  • Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Russian President Vladimir Putin virtually attended the ceremony held at the Gana Bhavan and the Kremlin respectively.

  • Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev presented the fuel, and the ceremony was presided over by Minister of Science and Technology Architect Yefesh Osman.

  • International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi also participated via video conference.

Uranium Shipment and Transportation:

  • The second batch of uranium-making nuclear fuel for the first unit of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant arrived in Dhaka via a special plane at Dhaka Shahjalal International Airport on October 5.

  • The initial batch of uranium reached Bangladesh on 28 September and was safely transported by road to the nuclear power plant site the next day.

Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Overview and Expenses Fuel Management:

  • Rosatom, the Russian contractor, is responsible for the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, which has a total capacity of 2400 MW and consists of two units, each capable of producing 1200 MW of electricity.

  • After nuclear fuel is loaded into the plant's reactors, it can generate electricity for up to a year before needing to reload the fuel.

  • Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that Russia is committed to reclaiming the spent fuel from the Rooppur plant and an agreement has been signed with the Russian Federation for the management of the spent fuel.

By admin: Oct. 4, 2023

3. India-Bangladesh SAMPRITI-XI: Joint Military Exercise Begins

Tags: Defence International News

India and Bangladesh began the 11th edition of their annual joint military exercise, SAMPRITI, in Umroi, Meghalaya on October 3, 2023.

An Overview of the News

  • SAMPRITI is organized by both countries on a rotation basis and is a symbol of their strong bilateral defense cooperation.

  • Around 350 troops from India and Bangladesh will participate in SAMPRITI-XI and the exercise is scheduled to last for 14 days.

  • SAMPRITI-XI consists of a Command Post Exercise (CPX) and a Field Training Exercise (FTX).

  • The CPX consists of 20 officials from each team and focuses on making decisions after thorough deliberations.

  • FTX validates ground-level operations and includes joint tactical exercises for counter-terrorism operations, such as hostage rescue and crowd control measures.

Verification Exercises and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' Tools:

  • A validation exercise will be conducted at Darrang Field Firing Range in Assam on October 14 and 15, 2023.

  • During this exercise, participants will see the capabilities of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' equipment highlighting indigenous manufacturing.

Strengthening Bilateral Relations:

  • SAMPRITI-XI aims to enhance defense cooperation between India and Bangladesh.

  • It promotes deeper bilateral relations, cultural understanding and mutual benefit through shared experiences in sub-traditional operations.

  • The exercise emphasizes on improving interoperability, sharing tactical expertise and promoting best practices between the two armies.

About Bangladesh

  • It is located in South Asia and is bordered by India to the north, east and west and Myanmar to the southeast.

  • The country is home to several major rivers, including the Padma (Ganga), Meghna and Jamuna, which flow through the country and create fertile plains important for agriculture.

Capital - Dhaka

Currency - Bangladeshi Taka

Official Languages - Bengali, English

Prime Minister - Sheikh Hasina

By admin: Oct. 3, 2023

4. India to unveil largest BR Ambedkar statue in Maryland, USA

Tags: International News

India will unveil the largest statue of BR Ambedkar outside India in Maryland, North America on October 14.

An Overview of the News

  • This project is organized by the Ambedkar International Center (AIC).

  • The 19-foot statue, known as the "Statue of Equality", was created by renowned artist and sculptor Ram Sutar, who also created the statue of Sardar Patel in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

  • The statue of B.R. Ambedkar, an important figure in the Constitution of India, is located on 13 acres of land in the city of Accokeek, Maryland.

About Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar

  • The 132nd birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was celebrated as Ambedkar Jayanti in India on April 14, 2023.

  • Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, economist, and social reformer.

  • He was the first Minister of Law and Justice of independent India and Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly.

  • He was born in 1891 in a Dalit family.

  • Ambedkar played an important role in drafting the Indian Constitution and was a strong advocate of social justice, equality and democracy.

  • Dr. Ambedkar died in 1956.

  • Some of his notable books: Annihilation of Caste, Buddha and His Dhamma, Who Were the Shudras?, Thoughts on Linguistic States, Pakistan or Partition of India, Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Origin and Development, Development of Provincial Finance in British India, Hindu Riddles in religion, and the untouchables: who were they and why did they become untouchables?

By admin: Oct. 2, 2023

5. Union Minister Hardeep S Puri inaugurates India Pavilion at ADIPEC 2023

Tags: International News

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the Indian Pavilion at the International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2023).

An Overview of the News

  • The Indian pavilion is one of the 30 country pavilions at the event.

  • Minister Puri also participated in bilateral discussions with industry leaders, including the interim CEO of British Petroleum and other key personalities.

ADIPEC 2023

  • The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2023) opened on October 2, 2023 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

  • ADIPEC will involve more than 160,000 people from 164 countries.

  • The event will run until October 5 and focuses on the theme "Decarbonizing. Fast. Together".

  • ADIPEC's goal is to bring together the global energy industry to advance decarbonization efforts in today's energy systems and collaborate on the energy future.

Highlights of the Event

  • ADIPEC 2023 features more than 2,200 global companies across 16 exhibition halls.

  • The event covers four specialized areas: Decarbonization Accelerator, Maritime and Logistics Sector, Digitalization in the Energy Sector, and Manufacturing and Industrialization Exhibition and Conference.

  • Organized by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), ADIPEC facilitates networking, business development and the exploration of new products, solutions and technologies.

Global Importance and Timeliness

  • ADIPEC 2023 is strategically timed as it takes place ahead of the hosting of COP28 in the UAE, emphasizing the program's role in aligning the energy industry with low-carbon, high-growth energy solutions.

  • Experts from diverse sectors within the energy ecosystem have gathered to address critical energy and climate challenges, making ADIPEC 2023 an important event for a more sustainable energy future.

By admin: Oct. 2, 2023

6. Dr. Mohammed Muizzu wins the Maldives presidential election

Tags: Person in news International News

Dr. Mohammed Muizzu of the opposition PPM PNC alliance won the presidential election in Maldives with more than 53% of the votes.

An Overview of the News

  • Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of the ruling MDP received 46% of the vote in the runoff, up from 39% in the first round, but he fell short of the 50% needed to win.

  • The elections saw an improved turnout of 86% in the second round compared to 78% in the first.

About Maldives

  • It is officially called the Republic of Maldives.

  • It is located in the Indian Ocean.

  • It is classified as an archipelagic state.

  • This country is located in South Asia.

  • Geographically, it is located south-west of Sri Lanka and India.

  • Maldives is located about 750 kilometers from the mainland of the Asian continent.

Capital - Male

Currency - Maldivian Rufiyaa

Official language - Dhivehi

By admin: Sept. 30, 2023

7. Iran's IRGC successfully launches Nour 3 Military Imaging Satellite into Orbit

Tags: Science and Technology International News

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) successfully launched its third military imaging satellite, Nour 3, from Iran's Shahroud Spaceport.

An Overview of the News

  • The satellite was sent into orbit using a three-stage cassette carrier, which was developed by the IRGC.

  • In Persian,"nour" (or "noor") translates to "light", while "Qased" means "messenger".

  • Noor 3 was placed in low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of 450 km (280 mi) above the Earth's surface.

  • The primary purpose of the Nour-3 satellite is to collect data and images for intelligence purposes by the IRGC.

Previous versions of the Noor satellite include:

  • Nour 1 - It was the first military reconnaissance satellite launched by Iran in April 2020. It orbited at an altitude of 425 km (265 mi) above the Earth.

  • Nour 2 - It launched in March 2022, and operated in a low orbit at an altitude of 500 km (310 mi).

Other satellites of Iran

  • In August 2022, Iran's high-resolution, remote-sensing Khayyam satellite was launched using Russia's Soyuz-2.1B rocket. The launch took place from the Russian-controlled Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

About Iran

  • President - Ibrahim Raisi

  • Capital - Tehran

  • Currency - Iranian Rial

By admin: Sept. 29, 2023

8. India and UN launch “India-UN Capacity Building Initiative”

Tags: International News

India and the United Nations jointly launched the "India-United Nations Capacity Building Initiative".

An Overview of the News

  • The India-UN Capacity Building Initiative aims to share India's development expertise with countries in the Global South.

  • The initiative was officially announced during the “India-UN for the Global South – Delivering for Development” event held in New York on September 23, 2023.

  • India's Foreign Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, and eminent personalities Dennis Francis, President of the 78th General Assembly, attended the event.

  • This initiative builds on India's established bilateral cooperation in development and capacity building with partner countries.

  • India's United Nations Development Partnership Fund has launched 75 development projects in 61 countries in the last six years, highlighting India's commitment to international development.

Strategic Partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:

  • Under this initiative, a strategic partnership has been formed between the UN India team and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

  • The partnership aims to utilize India's technical and economic cooperation platform to share India's development experiences and best practices with a global audience.

  • A Joint Declaration of Intent has been exchanged to formalize this cooperation.

India's G20 Presidency aligns with goals:

  • The “India-UN Capacity Building Initiative” aligns with the goals of India's G20 Presidency, including the G20 Action Plan.

  • These objectives include accelerating progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting technological transformation, and establishing digital public infrastructure, among other key priorities.

By admin: Sept. 29, 2023

9. Taiwan unveils first domestic submarine 'Haikun'

Tags: International News

Taiwan recently unveiled its first domestically built submarine "Haikun".

An Overview of the News

  • It aims to enhance its defense capabilities amid the constant threat of a possible Chinese attack.

  • Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen presided over the launch ceremony in Kaohsiung.

  • Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, is a democratic island nation that China considers a rebel province.

  • The enduring dispute over Taiwan's status has been a long-term source of regional tension, with China stressing its intention to reunify Taiwan with the mainland, even by force if necessary.

Importance of Taiwan's domestically built submarine

  • The $1.54 billion Haikun submarine is a diesel-electric powered ship that marks a substantial advance in Taiwan's defense capabilities.

  • Taiwan aims to establish a fleet of 10 submarines, including two older Dutch-built submarines, all equipped with missiles.

  • The purpose of this fleet expansion is to deter possible Chinese encirclement, invasion attempts, or naval blockade and act as a buffer until support from American and Japanese forces could be received.

By admin: Sept. 26, 2023

10. The world's largest Hindu temple will be inaugurated on October 8 in New Jersey, America.

Tags: International News

The world's largest Hindu temple, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, will be inaugurated on October 8 in New Jersey, USA.

An Overview of the News

  • The temple will be the largest in the United States and the second largest globally after Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

  • BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey was built with the help of more than 12,500 volunteers from different parts of the US.

  • Construction lasted for 12 years from 2011 to 2023.

Temple Dimensions and Design:

  • The New Jersey branch of Akshardham is spread over 183 acres and measures 255 feet x 345 feet x 191 feet.

  • It was designed according to ancient Hindu scriptures and incorporates elements of Indian culture, including 10,000 statues, sculptures and carvings of Indian musical instruments and dance forms.

Unique Temple Features:

  • The temple design consists of a main temple, 12 sub-temples, nine shikharas (spire-like structures), and nine pyramidal pinnacles.

  • Akshardham boasts the largest elliptical dome in traditional stone architecture, designed to last for a millennium.

  • Four types of stone - limestone, pink sandstone, marble, and granite - were chosen for their ability to withstand extreme temperatures.

  • Approximately two million cubic feet of stone was used, which was obtained from various locations around the world, including Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, India, and China.

Brahma Kund:

  • The temple's Brahma Kund, a traditional Indian stepwell, contains water from over 300 reservoirs around the world, including sacred rivers of India and all 50 states of the US.

  • BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham incorporates sustainable practices such as solar panel farms, use of fly ash concrete mix and the planting of over two million trees globally in recent decades.