U.S. RECOGNISES INDIA’S ROLE IN AFGHANISTAN
Why in news? The U.S. recognises India’s “constructive contribution” to Afghanistan, said U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan reconciliation. Details The U.S. side recognised India’s constructive contribution in economic development, reconstruction and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. They laid importance to India’s crucial and continuing role in sustainable peace, security and stability in Afghanistan. Expressing deep concern […]
3 INDIAN PHOTOGRAPHERS WIN PULITZER PRIZE
Why in news? The 2020 Pulitzer Prize winners were announced virtually on 4th May owing to the COVID-19 outbreak. Indians who won: The Associated Press was awarded the feature photography prize for images showing life in Kashmir as India revoked its semi-autonomous status. Three photographers — Mukhtar Khan, Yasin Dar and Channi Anand —were named for the […]
IRAN APPROVES NEW CURRENCY- TOMAN
Why in news? The Iran’s parliament has passed a bill allowing the government to slash four zeros from the Iranian ‘rial’. Iran’s national currency will be changed from the Iranian rial to the ‘Toman’, which is equal to 10,000 rials, under the bill. Why did they need a new currency? There was a sharp fall in the […]
INDIA ON PAKISTAN’S ELECTIONS IN GILGIT BALTISTAN
Why in news? The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a “strong protest” on 4th May over an order by the Pakistan Supreme Court allowing the Imran Khan government to hold elections in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Details The government said it had issued a demarche to protest what it called Pakistan’s […]
INDIA ABROAD
Why in news? The European Union Parliament’s discussion recently on India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA, is more proof of concern, particularly in the West, over the possible repercussions of the law and the protests across India. The EU parliamentarians went a step further: putting out six different and extremely critical resolutions, including one that spoke of […]
WHAT IS INDIA’S PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS?
Why in news? India has appointed diplomat T S Tirumurti, currently serving as Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, as its Permanent Representative to the United Nations, succeeding Syed Akbaruddin. What are Permanent Missions to the United Nations? The Permanent Mission is the diplomatic mission that every member state deputes to the United Nations, […]
SAUDI ARABIA’S INVESTMENTS IN INDIA ON TRACK
Why in news? Despite a massive 50% drop in oil revenues and a downturn in the economy, Saudi Arabia’s investments in India will not be affected, the Kingdom’s Ambassador to India Saud bin Mohammed Al Sati said in a written interview. At a time when a UN body has predicted a cut in about 1.7 […]
OMAN JOB CUTS NOT INDIA-SPECIFIC: CENTRE
Why in news? There are reports of continued job cuts in several Gulf countries, including Oman, which has instructed government-owned companies to replace expat workers “as quickly as possible” with Omanis. Amidst these reports, expat Indian citizens have played a significant role in creating prosperous economies in the Gulf region, the External Affairs Ministry said […]
BY ANY CALCULUS INDIA QUALIFIES FOR UNSC PERMANENT SEAT
Why in news? India is due for election to the temporary membership of the U.N. Security Council later in 2020. Priorities for India to work on India in many ways is a sui generis (unique)country, the only example in history of a billion-plus people working together in a democratic framework. Our USP (Unique selling proposition) is that […]
STUDY ON CHINA DAMS BRINGS THE BRAHMAPUTRA INTO FOCUS
Why in news? A new study highlighting the impact of China’s dams on the Mekong river has raised fresh questions on whether dams being built on other rivers that originate in China, such as the Brahmaputra, may similarly impact countries downstream. The Mekong flows from China to Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. What the […]