International Issues

❖: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent Pyongyang visit culminated in a landmark pact between Russia and North Korea. Historical context of Russia-North Korea relations After WWII, the Soviet Union sought to establish a communist regime in Korea, offering significant military assistance to North Korean founder Kim Il Sung during the …

International Criminal Court Recently, an application was presented to a pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against five individuals linked to the conflict in Gaza. The five individuals are- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders Yahya …

GS Paper II (Governance): It highlights the importance of international cooperation in criminal justice matters. Interpol serves as a vital platform for such collaboration. GS Paper III (Internal Security): Interpol plays a role in combating transnational crimes like terrorism, drug trafficking, and cybercrime, which are relevant to India’s internal security. …

Introduction: The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1974 marks a significant milestone in global public health. It aimed to ensure universal access to life-saving vaccines for children, initially focusing on six childhood diseases: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, and tuberculosis. EPI: A …

Introduction The Mediterranean Sea, known for its idyllic weather and rich history, can also unleash powerful storms. Medicanes, a portmanteau of “Mediterranean” and “hurricane,” are tropical-like cyclones that occasionally form over this basin. While less frequent and intense than their tropical counterparts, medicanes pose a significant threat to coastal communities …

Concept : Governments impose anti-dumping duties as a trade remedy measure to protect domestic industries from unfair competition resulting from the dumping of goods by foreign producers. Dumping: Dumping refers to the practice of exporting goods to another country at prices lower than their normal value, typically the price in …

  Concept: The UNHRC is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) responsible for promoting and protecting human rights worldwide. It was established in 2006, replacing the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), with the aim of addressing the shortcomings of its predecessor and enhancing the …

TABLE OF CONTENTS UNODA Objectives and Functions Key Initiatives and Programs I.UNODA: United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs • Established in 1982, UNODA serves as the principal United Nations office dealing with disarmament matters. • Mandate includes promoting nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control, among other disarmament efforts. • Headquartered …

  The United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, also known as the Genocide Convention, is a landmark agreement – On December 9, 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Genocide Convention, the first human rights treaty, in response to the horrific atrocities of …

  Jammu and Kashmir boasts a rich and complex history spanning millennia, marked by diverse rulers, religious influences, and political upheavals. Here’s a brief overview of key historical events: Ancient Times (3000 BC – 13th Century AD): Indus Valley Civilization flourished in the region, leaving behind remnants in Burzahom and Gufkral. …

What is COP The way the world organises its collective response to the global challenge of climate change is through Conferences of the Parties (COPs). At the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, world leaders came together to establish the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In order …

India has a coastline of 7,516.6 km. bordering the mainland and the islands with Bay of Bengal in the East, the Indian Ocean on the South and the Arabian Sea on the West. There are nine States viz. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West …

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental body established in 1989 based in Paris. It originally included the G7 countries, the European Commission and eight other countries. Today, it comprises of 39 member countries, 2 observer jurisdictions and 9 FATF-Style Regional Bodies. It acts as global money laundering …

There is still a military and political war between Israel and the Palestinians. Commencing in the middle of the 20th century, it is one of the longest-running hostilities in history. Alongside various attempts to end the larger Arab-Israeli conflict, a number of attempts have been made to resolve the issue …

Syllabus: Environmental impact Why in NEWS Japan will release water from the stricken Fukushima power plant into the Pacific Ocean from Thursday. China, Hong Kong and Macau to place partial ban on Japanese imports. Japan insists that the gradual discharge is safe. Operator TEPCO says the water will be diluted …

Context The International Monetary Fund’s latest update to its world economic outlook posits a global economy showing signs of having weathered its most recent challenges, including the bank collapses in the U.S. and Switzerland, and likely poised to expand by 3% in 2023. Way Forword The Fund’s marginal 20 basis …

Tech firms and telecom operators are facing off over steep SMS tariffs, causing one-time passcodes and messages to consumers from abroad to cost several times more than what they cost domestically. In response to a consultation paper by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), telcos argued that there was …

The United Kingdom and the European Union struck a deal on February 27 regarding post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland, with a view to remove the border between Britain and Northern Ireland running through the Irish Sea. The fact that the Republic of Ireland remained with the EU after Brexit …

Sanctions are not hurting Russia, but the war is taking a toll on US and EU economies. February 24 marks the one-year anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war. Although it was believed this was going to be a one-sided battle, the US and its allies stepped in with weapons for Ukraine …

India and Pakistan make up one-third of the total number of people globally exposed to glacial lake outburst floods — around three million people in India and around two million people in Pakistan. According to a 2020 study, the number and total area of glacial lakes worldwide have increased by …