April 2021 International Affairs

Sakshi Education

US President Joe Biden calls massacre of Armenians during World War I as genocide
US President Joe Biden has called the massacre of Armenians during the World War I as a genocide. He is the first US president to describe the atrocities on Armenians in 1915 as such. The US President’s statement is issued when the Armenians are commemorating the start of the mass killings.

Mr Biden said, they remember the lives of all those who died in the Ottoman-era Armenian genocide and recommit to preventing such an atrocity from occurring ever again. He said, the intention was not to cast blame but to ensure that what happened is never repeated.

However, Turkey has rejected the US decision. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on twitter that they will not take lessons from anyone on their history. Later the Turkish foreign ministry said it had summoned the US ambassador to convey Ankara's reaction.

The killings took place in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, the forerunner of modern-day Turkey. Ottoman Turks had accused Christian Armenians of treachery after suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of Russian forces and began deporting them en masse to the Syrian desert and elsewhere. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians were massacred or died from starvation or disease.

Turkey acknowledges the atrocities but reject the term genocide.
Hardline Islamist organisation Hefazat-e-Islam of Bangladesh dissolves central committee
The hardline Islamist organisation Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has announed the dissolution of its 249 member central committee. In a facebook video message released on Sunday night, Chief of the Hefazat-e-Islam JunayedBabunagari announced that the central committee of Hefazat has been dissolved considering the overall situation in the country.

Secretary General of the dissolved committee Nurul Islam Jihadi announced the formation of a five member convening committee. Junaid Babunagari was named as the Amir of the dissolved committee. He also held the same position in the dissolved committee. MuhibullahBabunagari was named the Chief adviser of the convening committee. He held the same post in the dissolved central committee.

Nurul Islam Jihadi declared himself as the Secretary General of the Convening committee. He informed that the full convening committee will be announced soon.

Hefazat-e-Isalm has been accused of large-scale arson and violence in the country in the wake of protests during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh on March 26-27.

Government of Bangladesh has taken a tough stance against the leaders of the Hefazat-e-Islam subsequent to the violent protests. 19 of its important leaders including many from the central committee have been arrested for their involvement in the violence and conspiracy in the country. At least 77 cases have been filed against Hefazat leaders and activists in Bangladesh.

In another development, the government recognised Madrasa board Al-HayatulUlayaa Lil-Jami’atilQawmia announced on Sunday that students and teachers of the Qawmi madrasas will not take part in any political activity.
World Immunization Week (24th-30th April)
World immunization week is celebrated every year in the last week of April. The theme of the year 2021 is ‘Vaccines bring us closer’. Vaccine have proved to be the life saver and for over 200 years vaccines have protected us against diseases that threaten lives and prohibit our development. With the help of Vaccine, we can save thousands of lives, which is in danger. By this we can bring people together.

This year as per the WHO, the WHO, partners and individuals around the world will unite to:

Increase trust and confidence in vaccines to maintain or increase vaccine acceptance

Increase investment in vaccines, including routine immunization, to remove barriers to access

Using this year’s theme as vaccines bring us closer, world immunization week will urge and bring the engagement around immunization globally to promote the importance of vaccination in bringing people together, and improving the health and wellbeing of everyone, everywhere throughout life.
When is International day for Multilateralism, Diplomacy for Peace observed?
International Day for Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace was observed on April 24.

In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri reaffirmed Pakistan's abiding commitment to multilateralism and the central role of the United Nations in promoting a peaceful and prosperous world order.

The spokesperson said this International Day should serve to renew our collective resolve to uphold the UN Charter and its purposes and principles.

The spokesperson said nations all over the world look up to the UN to achieve peaceful and just resolution of disputes, and for the maintenance of international peace and security. The people living under foreign occupation, in particular, hold great expectations from the Organisation to enable them to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.

He said the complex challenges faced by the international community today are a stark reminder of the need for enhancing cooperative multilateralism.

Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said Pakistan will continue to play its part in promoting international and regional peace and security, sustainable development and climate action, and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.
When is World Laboratory Animals day observed?
The World Day for Animals In Laboratories (WDAIL); also known as World Lab Animal Day or World Day for Laboratory Animals, is observed every year on 24 April.

The day was instituted in 1979 by the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS), as an “international day of commemoration” for animals in laboratories.

WDAIL aims to end the suffering of animals in laboratories around the world and promote their replacement with advanced scientific non-animal techniques. Apart from this, the “World Week for Animals In Laboratories” (Lab Animal Week) is celebrated from April 20 to 26.
WHO unveils global immunization strategy to save 50 million lives by 2030
A UN-led global immunization strategy was unveiled yesterday to reach more than 50 million children who have missed lifesaving jabs against measles and other diseases because of COVID-19 disruption.

WHO, along with UNICEF and the vaccine alliance Gavi, said their new global strategy has the potential to save 50 million lives within less than a decade.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, to avoid multiple outbreaks of life-threatening diseases like measles, yellow fever and diphtheria, it must be ensured that routine vaccination services are protected in every country in the world.

A WHO survey showed more than one third of countries were still seeing disruptions to their routine immunisation services. The joint statement said, around 60 mass vaccination campaigns were currently postponed in 50 countries, putting 228 million people, mostly children, at risk of diseases such as measles and polio.
When is World Malaria Day observed?
World Malaria Day globally celebrated on April 25th every year. The World Health Organisation introduced World Malaria Day in May 2007 as a part of their initiative to raise awareness of malaria, worldwide.

Malaria has been a serious concern for over 10000 years and if statistics are to be believed, around 20,00,000 people become its victims every year.

To tackle this killer disease which is a preventable one too, ‘education and understanding of malaria’ are equally important. ‘Zero malaria starts with me’ was the theme for WMD in 2019. Today, we are going to outline a crucial aspect for tackling malaria –the diet. Know about adequate nutrition, what to avoid eating, and strengthen immunity:

Foods to eat:
Papaya leaf extract and Raw papaya: Both these ingredients of papaya have antimalarial properties and aid in increasing the platelet count.

Fruits: The fructose is important during malaria. Consume fruits for instant energy. Ripe papaya, sweet lime, grapes, berries, lemon, orange, kiwi, melon, pineapple are rich in vitamin C; they detoxify the body, and help the body fight the disease.

Fluids: Green coconut water, sugarcane juice, pear-pomegranate juice, musk melon-papaya juice, sugar-salt-lemon water, electoral water, ‘sherbat’, glucose water are a must to treat malaria.

Soups and vegetables: Have carrot and bell pepper soup, broccoli broth, basil soup; besides adequate antioxidant-rich vegetable intake including cabbage, okra, bottle gourd, beetroot, beans.

Pulses: Masoor dal porridge, moong dal, palak porridge, urad dal, chickpeas are great sources of an adequate protein diet.

Omega-3: Intake of flax seeds, walnuts, chia seeds, almonds are must to ensure supply of omega-3 fatty acids, as these reduce inflammation in the body.

Avoid the following diet:
High fibre foods: Stay away from whole grain cereals, green leafy vegetables, thick-skinned fruits.

Spicy and Processed foods: Packaged, oily or junk, spicy foods (chips, pastries, cornflakes, pasta, instant noodles, canned foods, pickle) must be avoided at all costs. They meddle with your digestion, weaken immunity, and make the body prone to diseases.

Caffeine: Do not consume cola, soft drinks, coffee, cocoa while suffering from malaria.
When is International Delegates day observed?
International Delegate's Day is observed on 25th April every year. The day aims to raise awareness of the role of the representatives and delegates of the Member States to the United Nations.

History:
International Delegate's Day marks the anniversary of the first day of the San Francisco Conference which is also known as the United Nations Conference on International Organization. On 25 April 1945, delegates from 50 countries came together for the first time in San Francisco.

The conference happened after the devastation of the second world war. The delegates aimed to set up an organization that would restore world peace and imposes rules on the post-war world order.

On 26 June 1945, the Charter of the United Nations was signed by representatives of the 50 countries that attended the conference. The agreement resulted in the creation of the United Nations (UN).

The UN comprises 193 Member States and serves as the main international venue for collective dialogue between the delegates of its Member States. On 2 April 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 25 April as International Delegate’s Day.
When is World Veterinary Day?
World Veterinary Day is widely observed annually on April 24th every year across the world. With the objective, ‘to provide global leadership for the veterinary profession and promote animal health and welfare and public health, through advocacy, education, and partnership’, World Veterinary Association (WVA) set out with its endeavour.

History:
In 1863, in Hamburg (Germany), Veterinary College Professor John Gamgee from Edinburgh led the first International Veterinary Congress meeting. The agenda of the meeting involved epizootic diseases, their preventive measures and lay out standard rules for cattle trade in Europe. This congress came to be addressed as the World Veterinary Congress.

Eventually, in the 8th World Veterinary Congress, a ‘Permanent Committee’ was created to function as an organizational link between congresses. During the 15th Congress in Stockholm, the ‘Permanent Committee’ along with the members realized the requirement of an international organization and constitution.

As a result of which in 1959, during the very next meeting held in Madrid, Spain, the world witnessed the foundation of the World Veterinary Association (WVA). It was in 2001 that WVA came up with the World Veterinary Day. WVA now comprises members from more than 70 nations and has national veterinary associations from all over the world.

Significance:
As the name suggests, the World Veterinary Association’s endeavour is to promote animal health and welfare; eradicate issues pertaining to animal safety, environment, ensure availability of necessary natural resources to raise livestock.

Also, with the pandemic hovering, WVA has been highly focussed on the improvement of the environment, food safety, and practices of animal transport and quarantine. It collaborated with other prominent organizations such as OIE, WHO, and FAO to materialize its goal.

Theme:
Moreover, there are awards set aside to honour great work of veterinary organizations. The World Veterinary Day Award was introduced in 2008 to recognize and encourage the extraordinary organizations that are involved in spreading awareness, executing responsibilities, and making excellent contribution to the year’s theme. WVA declared the theme for 2021 as ‘The Veterinarian Response to the Covid-19 Crisis’; keeping in mind the ongoing pandemic situation that took a toll on animal welfare as well.
When is World Penguin Day observed?
The World Penguin Day is held every 25th of April. It recognizes penguins, which is one of the most unique birds on the planet. Penguins are native creatures in the area of Antarctica, north of the world. In addition, the day also happens during the season when penguins migrate northwardly.

The main focus of the day is for people to gain more knowledge about penguins, understand how they live, and also to know the simple things they can do to protect the penguin’s habitat.

History:
The day was started to be celebrated at McMurdo Station, which is an American research center located in Ross Island. The researchers there noticed that a particular species of penguins, called Adelie penguins, began to migrate during this day.

Hence, a large number of penguins can be seen during this day. They dedicated their time during the day to encourage awareness of the migration process.
Singapore, Hong Kong agreed to open travel bubble from 26 May
Singapore and Hong Kong have agreed to open a travel bubble from 26 May between the two cities.

The long delayed travel bubble was first slated to begin in November, but was suspended after a sudden spike of Covid infections in Hong Kong.

If it goes ahead, this travel bubble will be the second major air route in the region after Australia and New Zealand resumed flights last week.

It is expected to provide a boost to the tourism sectors of both cities.
India third highest military spender in 2020: SIPRI
India was the third largest military spender in the world in 2020, behind only the US and China.

The US accounted for 39 per cent of the money spent on military globally, China accounted for 13 per cent, and India accounted for 3.7 per cent of the globe’s share.

The US spent a total of $778 billion in 2020, China spent $252 billion and India’s military expenditure was $72.9 billion.

The United States’ military spending was 3.7 per cent of its GDP while the corresponding numbers for China and India were 1.7 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively.

The other top spenders included Russia with $61.7 billion, the UK at $59.2 billion, Saudi Arabia at $57.5 billion, followed by Germany and France at just under $53 billion each.

Increase in spending in the year of pandemic

SIPRI said that the total “global military expenditure rose to $1981 billion last year, an increase of 2.6 per cent in real terms from 2019.

2.6 per cent increase in world military spending came in a year” when the global GDP shrank by 4.4 per cent largely due to the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Military spending as a share of GDP—the military burden—reached a global average of 2.4 per cent in 2020, which is the biggest year-on-year rise in the military burden since the global financial and economic crisis in 2009.
US orders non-essential staff to leave Kabul due to threats
The United States has ordered non-essential staff to leave its Kabul embassy citing increased threats as Washington prepares to end its 20-year war in Afghanistan. The order came two weeks after President Joe Biden announced that US troops would leave the country by September.

Meanwhile, Zalmay Khalilzad, Washington’s special envoy to Afghanistan, said in a Senate hearing that aid could be slashed if a Taliban-dominated government did not respect human rights.

Ross Wilson, the acting US ambassador in Kabul, said the State Department took the decision in light of increasing violence and threat reports in Kabul. He said the order affected an unspecified relatively small number of employees and that the embassy would remain operational.
Bangladesh offers emergency medical support to India to fight COVID pandemic
Bangladesh has offered emergency medicines and equipment to India to fight the COVID pandemic.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Bangladesh said that it is ready to dispatch approximately 10,000 vials of injectable anti-viral, oral antiviral, 30,000 PPE kits, and several thousand zinc, calcium, vitamin C and other necessary tablets for the people of India on an emergency basis in view of the Corona situation in India.

Expressing deep sorrow and condolences at the loss of lives in India due to the spread of the COVID pandemic, Bangladesh expressed solidarity with India. It said at this critical moment Bangladesh is ready to provide and mobilize support in every possible way to save lives.
China launches core module of its space station
China has launched the core module of its space station, kicking off a series of key launch missions that aim to complete the construction of the station by the end of next year.

The Long March-5B Y2 rocket, carrying the Tianhe module, blasted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of the southern island province of Hainan.

The Tianhe module will act as the management and control hub of the space station Tiangong, meaning Heavenly Palace, with a node that could dock with up to three spacecraft at a time for short stays, or two for long, Bai Linhou, deputy chief designer of the space station at the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) said as reported by China’s state news agency.

Tianhe has a total length of 16.6 meters, a maximum diameter of 4.2 meters and a take-off mass of 22.5 tonnes, and is the largest spacecraft developed by China. The space station will be a T shape with the core module at the centre and a lab capsule on each side. Each module will be over 20 tonnes.

When the station docks with both manned and cargo spacecraft, its weight could reach nearly 100 tonnes. The station will operate in the low-Earth orbit at an altitude from 340 km to 450 km. It has a designed lifespan of 10 years, but experts believe it could last more than 15 years with appropriate maintenance and repairs.
UK Is First Country to Green Light Self-Driving Cars on Motorways
The UK government became the first country to announce it will regulate the use of self-driving vehicles at slow speeds on motorways, with the first such cars possibly appearing on public roads as soon as this year.

Britain’s transport ministry said it was working on specific wording to update the country’s highway code for the safe use of self-driving vehicle systems, starting with Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS) – which use sensors and software to keep cars within a lane, allowing them to accelerate and brake without driver input.

The government said the use of ALKS would be restricted to motorways, at speeds under 37 miles (60 km) per hour.

The UK government wants to be at the forefront of rolling out autonomous driving technology and the transport ministry forecasts by 2035 around 40% of new UK cars could have self-driving capabilities, creating up to 38,000 new skilled jobs.

But insurance companies warn that Britain’s goal of being a leader in adopting self-driving cars could backfire unless automakers and regulators spell out the current limitations of the technology available today.

They say calling ALKS ‘automated,’ or using the synonymous term ‘self-driving’, will confuse British drivers into thinking the cars can drive themselves, causing accidents and risking a public backlash against the technology.
1st emergency COVID-19 relief shipment from US arrives
The first of several emergency Covid-19 relief shipments from the United States arrived in New Delhi. More such flights are expected in the next week.

US is providing Oxygen support, Oxygen Concentrators, Oxygen Generation Units, PPE, Vaccine-Manufacturing Supplies, Rapid Diagnostic Tests, Therapeutics & Public Health Assistance.
US: Pentagon to cancel Trump’s Mexico wall projects using military funds
In the US, the Pentagon said it was cancelling the construction of parts of former US President Donald Trump’s border wall with Mexico that were being built using military funds.

Former US President Trump had declared a national emergency in 2019 in an effort to redirect funding to build a wall along the U.S. southern border. The diversion of funds from the Pentagon had been heavily criticized by US lawmakers, who said it put national security at risk and circumvented congress.

US President Joe Biden had issued a proclamation on January 20th, his first day in office, ordering a freeze on border wall projects and directing a review of the legality of its funding and contracting methods.
Pfizer begins to export U.S. made COVID-19 vaccine shots
Pharma Giant Pfizer has now begun to export COVID-19 vaccine shots made in its US facilities. Earlier it was only exporting vaccine shots made in its Belgium production plant.

The shipment of its COVID-19 vaccine to Mexico this week includes doses made in its United States plant. The development comes after restriction imposed by former US President expired on 31 March this year.

Pfizer has become the largest supplier of COVID-19 vaccine to Mexico after shipping over 10 million doses to the Latin American country. Pfizer, with its partner BioNTech SE have been supplying doses from its main European production plant in Belgium.

The pressure has been rising on the US government to provide surplus vaccines to other nations, which are in urgent need.

Pfizer has said it will be making up to 25 million shots each week in the US by mid-year, which is more than it needs to meet its commitment to deliver 300 million doses to the US by the end of July.
Myanmar approaching point of economic collapse: UN Report
The political turmoil in Myanmar combined with the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic could result in almost half of the nearly 50 million population in the country living into poverty by early next year.

According to a report of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the ongoing political crisis will compound the socioeconomic impact of the COVID 19 pandemic. Consequently close to 48.2 percent of the Myanmar population will live in poverty by 2022 compared to 24.8 percent in 2017.

The World Bank has projected a 10 percent contraction in the Myanmar economy in 2021 due to a combination of several factors like insufficient stimulus and investment, government relief not matching earning losses among others.

The banking operations are in a standstill situation in the country. Almost 80 percent of Myanmar's international trade is seaborne. UNDP estimates that the trade volume in ports has dropped by between 55 and 64 percent in the two months since military take over on Feb 1. All these factors point out to the possibility of Myanmar approaching the point of economic collapse, says the UNDP report.
Sale of Electric cars rise by 140 per cent in first quarter of 2021
The sale of Electric cars rose by 140 per cent in the first quarter of 2021, breaking last year’s record of 41 per cent surge on EV registrations despite pandemic hitting the economies badly.

In 2020, consumer spending on EVs touched 120 billion dollars while car registrations rose by 41 per cent. International Energy Agency, IAE says, last year electric cars made up 4.6 per cent of overall car sales. People spent 50 per cent more than the previous year to buy a record three million electric cars.

In 2020 the global average Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) price was around 40,000 dollars and for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle it was 50,000 dollars.

The International Energy Agency thinks that the EV industry is on track for a decade of strong expansion. But IEA executive director, FatihBirol says, electric vehicles have an indispensable role to play in reaching net-zero emissions worldwide. He said current sales trends are very encouraging, but our shared climate and energy goals calls for even faster market uptake.
When is World Haemophilia Day observed?
Every year on 17 April World Haemophilia Day is recognised worldwide to increase awareness of haemophilia, von Willebrand disease and other inherited bleeding disorders.

This is a critical effort since with increased awareness comes better diagnosis and access to care for the millions who remain without treatment.

World Haemophilia Day was started in 1989 by the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH), which chose 17 April as the day to bring the community together in honour of WFH founder Frank Schnabel’s birthday.

This year the theme is Adapting to Change. Living during a pandemic can pose many challenges, not only for our health, but also for our mental health and wellbeing.

In 2021 World Hemophilia Day is a platform across the globe for exploring our community’s resilience and how we will overcome this new challenge - as we have overcome other challenges in the past.
When is UN Chinese Language Day observed?
UN Chinese Language Day is celebrated on April 20, 2021. The event was established by the UNESCO in 2010 to seeking "to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six of its official working languages throughout the organization".

April 20 was chosen as the date for the Chinese language "to pay tribute to CangJie, a mythical figure who is presumed to have invented Chinese characters about 5,000 years ago".

Originally the indigenous speech of the Han majority in China, Chinese forms one of the branches of the Sino-Tibetan language family and is now spoken by many Chinese ethnic groups.

About one-fifth of the world's population, or over one billion people, speaks some form of Chinese as their first language. Varieties of Chinese are usually perceived by native speakers as dialects of a single Chinese language.

Standard Chinese is a standardized form of spoken Chinese based on the Beijing dialect of Mandarin. It is the official language of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC, also known as Taiwan), as well as one of four official languages of Singapore. It is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. (With material from: Wikipedia) The text "UN Chinese Language Day" has been taken from www.cute-calendar.com
Singapore becomes first country to ratify RCEP trade agreement
Singapore has become the first country to complete the official process for ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.

The trade pact, which is the world's largest, was signed by all 10 ASEAN members and key partners including China, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand at the 4th RCEP leaders’ summit in November 2020.

Key Details
Singapore is the first RCEP participating country (RPC) to complete the official ratification process and deposit its ratification instrument.

Singapore deposited its ratification instrument with the secretary-general of ASEAN on April 9th.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was signed on November 15, 2020 after almost eight years of negotiations between the participating countries on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting.

The signatories of the agreement include 10 ASEAN countries - Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines and 5 key partners.

These 15 countries account for almost 29 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP).

Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said that Singapore's expeditious ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement signals its strong commitment to strengthening trade and economic linkages with its partners, for the benefit of its businesses and people.

The Minister further said that the nation looks forward to their fellow RCEP Participating Countries doing likewise, to expedite the entry into force of the agreement."
When is World Creativity and Innovation Day observed?
Every year on April 21, the UN celebrates World Creativity and Innovation Day.

The United Nations aims to raise awareness about the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development by celebrating the World Creativity and Innovation Day.

The is observed to raise awareness about the role of innovation and creativity in each aspect of human development. The main idea behind this day is to push countries into creative multidisciplinary thinking at both group and individual levels.

To appreciate the creative economy after almost a year of pandemic-induced lockdowns, the United nations is observing it as the International Year of the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.

History
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution to celebrate the day on 27 April, 2017. World Creativity and Innovation Day was founded on 25 May, 2001 in Toronto, Canada. The founder of the day was the Canadian Marci Segal, who was studying creativity in 1977 at the International Center for Studies in Creativity.

When the headline ‘Canada in Creativity Crisis’ appeared in the National Post newspaper, she decided to generate a World Creativity and Innovation Day. She was of the belief that generating new ideas, making new decisions and taking new actions could help people in tackling crisis.

Significance
The UN designated 21 April as World Creativity and Innovation Day to raise the awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development. It says that there may be no universal understanding of creativity. The concept is open to interpretation from artistic expression to problem-solving in the context of economic, social and sustainable development.

It lays emphasis on creativity and culture as it does not only yield economic value, but also have a significant non-monetary value that contributes to inclusive social development.

It urges its member countries to make cultural and creativity industries part of their economic growth strategies. The UN says, “These industries are among the most dynamic sectors in the world economy, generating $2.25 billion in revenue and 29.5 million jobs worldwide.”

According to the UN, innovation, creativity and mass entrepreneurship can give new impetus to economic growth and job creation.
World Homeopathy Awareness Week: April 10-16
World Homeopathy Awareness Week takes place between 10-16 April every year. Homeopathy is an alternative form of medicine founded by Dr Samuel Hahnemann in the 19th century, and 10 April marks both the start of the awareness week and Dr Hahnemann’s birthdate!

The is organised by the World Homeopathy Awareness Organisation, a non-profit group formed in 2008, and this year they are celebrating the 14th World Homeopathy Awareness Week.

They aim to raise awareness of homeopathy around the globe, share ideas and offer people more information about homeopathic practice. You can find out more about the awareness week at their website.

The theme for 2018 is ‘Homeopathy for Pregnancy an Childbirth’. Some of you might not be aware of homeopathy, or its benefits. But throughout this special week you’ll learn loads more! Homeopathy can offer effective help to those personally affected by crises. In such times the right homeopathic remedies can help treat individual and long term experiences.
Argentina, Brazil, Uganda and Vanuatu global winners of ICC development awards
Argentina, Brazil, Uganda and Vanuatu were on Tuesday announced as the global winners of the ICC development awards for 2020.

The awards are given to members for working to grow cricket in emerging markets in partnership with the ICC.

Following the announcement of the 20 regional winners across the four categories earlier this month, Argentina, Brazil, Uganda and Vanuatu have been unveiled as the global winners after their outstanding contribution to the sport through four exceptional programmes in 2020.

The winners were identified by a global independent panel consisting of 12 leaders including ICC Full Member Chief Executives, current and former international players, media representatives and other members of the cricket family.

The global award for the ICC Development Initiative of the Year has been awarded to Cricket Argentina for producing 17 coaching, umpiring and scoring courses in Spanish to attract local audiences in South America to cricket.

The programme, which was moved online due to the pandemic, resulted in 257 new coaches and provided people with an opportunity to participate in a new sport.

Cricket Brazil has been awarded the 100% Cricket Female Cricket Initiative of the Year after taking a huge step forward in the development of the women’s game in South America by awarding 14 professional central contracts to the women’s national team.

Later this year, Brazil will return to ICC women’s competition for the first time since 2012, when they participate in the Women’s T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier; a qualification event to the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.

The ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year has been awarded to the Vanuatu Cricket Association for providing cricket to fans during the pandemic when the Women’s T20 Grand Final was the only live sporting event available.

Vanuatu with a population of only 300,000 used the opportunity to reach over 16 million people through live streaming of the Grand Final and the Vanuatu T10 Blast. This has resulted in more people engaging with the sport and cricket participants in Vanuatu.
All about World Press Freedom Index
Media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontières on Tuesday said that India is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists to do their job properly.

In the latest World Press Freedom Index, the watchdog said that while India has not slipped further from its position at 142 out of 180 countries, it continues to be classified as “bad” for journalism – a title it shares with nations such as Brazil, Mexico and Russia.

In India, RSF said journalists are “exposed to every kind of attack, including police violence against reporters, ambushes by political activists, and reprisals instigated by criminal groups or corrupt local officials”.

The watchdog said that ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party won the general elections of 2019 with an overwhelming majority, pressure has increased on the media to toe the Hindu nationalist government’s line.
NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars makes oxygen from planet's carbon dioxide atmosphere
NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars has made oxygen from the planet's carbon dioxide atmosphere. It is the second successful technology demonstration on the mission, which flew a mini-helicopter last Friday.

The generation of oxygen was performed by a toaster-sized unit in the rover called Moxie - the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment.

It made 5 grams of the gas - equivalent to what an astronaut at Mars would need to breathe for roughly 10 minutes.

NASA is planning that future human missions would take scaled-up versions of Moxie with them to the Red Planet rather than try to carry all the oxygen needed to sustain them.

Mars' atmosphere is dominated by carbon dioxide (CO2) at a concentration of 96 per cent. The expectation is that it can produce up to 10 grams of O2 per hour.
World bank to provide USD 250 million for jobs
The government of Bangladesh signed an agreement for USD 250 million financing from the World Bank to help create more and better jobs, recover faster from the COVID-19 pandemic and build resilience to future crises.

This was the third and the last in the series of credits totalling USD 750 million under the Programmatic Jobs Development policy focussing on creation of inclusive and quality jobs while supporting the government in responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

It supports policies to modernize the trade and investment regime; improve social protection for workers; and help youth, women, and vulnerable people access quality jobs, said the press release issued by the World Bank on Thursday.

World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Mercy Tembon said that this financing supports government policies to protect those most affected by the pandemic.

He said it will create more and better jobs as Bangladesh continues its journey towards its vision of becoming an upper-middle income country.

Fatima Yasmin, Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Government of Bangladesh said that this program has helped protect the jobs and income of poor and vulnerable people while laying the groundwork for building resiliency to future shocks.

The Jobs Development Policy Credit series has helped the Bangladesh government protect 5 million jobs, and enabled firms to continue paying their workers’ wages.

It also supported the migrant workers who have had to return to Bangladesh due to the pandemic. The program will also support informal micro-entrepreneurs in recovering by extending micro-finance facilities.
When is World Earth Day observed?
Every year, on April 22, the world is reminded of the challenges facing planet Earth. The day is marked as Earth Day and it aims to educate people on the importance of protecting the natural habitat, counter climate change and stop destruction of biodiversity, all of which impact the livelihoods of people.

From rise in instances of forest fires, soaring temperatures to unpredictable weather patterns and spells of drought and floods, it is a full blown crisis that cannot be ignored.

Even the current crisis of COVID -19, the worst pandemic in over 100 years, lays bare the damage consistent loss of biodiversity and the resultant man animal conflict can cause.

As we celebrate April 22 this year, experts, environmentalist, activists and other stakeholders give a clarion call on the need to shift to a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet. Here is why celebrating Earth Day assumes importance:

Theme of Earth Day 2021
Every year, the day is marked with a unique theme. This year, it is – Restore Our Earth, which aims to educate people that together everyone can prevent the forthcoming disasters of climate change and environmental destruction.

History of Earth Day
Back in 1970, Earth Day was founded by Senator of United States Gaylord Nelson to promote ecology and raise awareness about the growing problems of air, water, and soil pollution.

Then in 1990, the Earth Day went global when a group of environmental leaders approached Denis Hayes, an advocate of environmental causes and potential of solar power, to organize another major campaign for the planet.

That year, the day helped mobilise 200 million people in 141 countries, putting environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day 1990 also gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The United Nations calls it by “International Mother Earth Day”.

In 2020, Earth Day marked 50 years with global activations that aim to mobilise a billion people worldwide for transformative action for the planet.
90 % of countries’ health services continue to be disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic: WHO
World Health Organization said, over one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, about 90 percent of the countries surveyed still report disruptions to their essential health services.

A recent WHO survey has found that about 66 percent of countries continue to report health workforce-related reasons as the most common cause of service disruptions.

In nearly one-third of countries supply chains are also still disrupted, affecting the availability of essential medicines, diagnostics and the personal protective equipment, PPE needed to safely and effectively provide care.

More than half of the countries surveyed reported service disruptions due to patients not seeking care, because of community mistrust and fears of becoming infected, while 43 percent cited financial challenges as a major cause of disruption.

This second round of a WHO pulse survey has marked no substantial global change since the first survey conducted in the last summer.

WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, it is encouraging to see that countries are beginning to build back their essential health services, but much remains to be done. The survey highlights the need to intensify efforts and take additional steps to strengthen services, he added.
When is World Book and Copyright Day observed?
April 23 is globally observed as the World Book Day, also known as the World Book and Copyright Day or International Day of the Book. With the objective to promote the importance of reading, lifelong love of literature and integration into the world of work, to inculcate joy and foster the growth of readers and emphasize the pleasure of reading, UNESCO introduced the event which is now celebrated in over 100 countries.

History:
The initial idea to celebrate World Book Day was conceived by the Valencian writer Vicente Clavel Andres in order to pay homage to the brilliant author, Miguel de Cervantes (known for Don Quixote), whose death day is April 23.

Following which, in 1995, during the General Conference held in Paris, the decision to mark April 23 as the World Book and Copyright Day was finalized. The reason being the significance in the date April 23 that bears witness to the birth and death of several distinguished authors around the world.

For instance, William Shakespeare, Cervantes, JosepPla and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega breathed their last on April 23, while Manuel Mejia Vallejo, Shakespeare, Haldor K Laxness and Maurice Druon were born on this day.

Regarding the death date of Shakespeare and Cervantes, there is a historical note that one must be made aware of. Though both died on the same date, it wasn’t the same day. The difference stems from the fact that during those years, Spain followed the Gregorian calendar, while England followed the Julian calendar.

Significance:
Books are incredibly important. It is to ensure the culture of reading continues to thrive and spread joy that this initiative by UNESCO was taken.

The endeavour is to maintain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of books in our lives; and at the same time acknowledge the insurmountable contributions of significant writers, publishers, who have aided the social and cultural progress of humanity.

The three major sectors of the book industry consist of – the publishers, booksellers and libraries. The eventful day celebrates all three aspects to promote reading, publishing and copyright.

UNESCO and other related global organizations to further the aim select the World Book Capital for a year.

Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia, has been chosen to be the World Book Capital in 2021. ‘To share a story’ would be the theme of this year’s World Book and Copyright Day, keeping the pandemic in mind.

UNESCO has devised a bookface challenge as a part of World Book Day 2021 celebrations.
When is UN English Language Day and UN Spanish Language Day observed?
The United Nations observes April 23 as English Language Day every year. The day is also traditionally known to be the birthday of William Shakespeare.

According to the history.com website, ''it has been traditionally known that the great English dramatist and poet William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23, 1564. It is impossible to be certain the exact day on which he was born, but church records show that he was baptized on April 26...Shakespeare's date of death is conclusively known...it was April 23, 1616.''

In 2010, the UN Department of Global Communications established language days for each of the world body's six official languages. The intent of celebrating an official languages day was to highlight ''multilingualism and cultural diversity''. The UN official languages apart from English include Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Observing English language Day started 1946 onwards and since then a number of activities are organised worldwide on this day. World Book and Copyright Day is also celebrated on this day.
Iran's nuclear Chief says Natanz nuclear facility hit by terrorist act
Iran's nuclear chief has said its Natanz nuclear facility was hit by a terrorist act.

A problem with the electrical distribution grid of the Natanz site had caused an incident. He earlier said that the incident caused no casualties or contamination. But later, AEOI chief described the incident as sabotage and nuclear terrorism.

The IAEA said it was aware of the reports of an incident but would not comment.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani had inaugurated new centrifuges at the Natanz site, which is key to the country's uranium enrichment programme, in a ceremony broadcast live on television. The facility, located in the desert in the central province of Isfahan, is the centre piece of Iran’s uranium enrichment programme and is monitored by inspectors of the IAEA.
Chinese regulators impose 2.75 billion fine on world's biggest online retailer Alibaba
Regulators in China have imposed a 2.75 billion dollar fine over the world's biggest online retailer Alibaba.

The Regulators said the internet giant abused its dominant market position for several years by stopping some sellers using other platforms. The fine amounts to 4 percent of Alibaba's revenue in 2019.

The company said it accepted the ruling and would ensure its compliance. Jack Ma is well-known in China as one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs.
When is the World Kidney Day 2021 observed?
Every year, World Kidney Day is marked on the second Thursday of March. This year, the day is being observed on March 11 worldwide. In India, annually about two lakh people get kidney diseases and it's difficult to diagnose it in its initial stage.

The objective of celebrating the event is to spread awareness about the increasing number of people contracting kidney diseases across the world. The day highlights the need for the strategies for prevention and management of kidney disease. It also encourages people to opt for regular screening and make changes for a healthy lifestyle.

History
The first time World Kidney Day was celebrated was in the year 2006. The aim is to raise awareness among people of kidney-related problems and treatment and the impact of kidney on our overall health. The number of kidney disease patients and following deaths have been increasing in our country. World Kidney Day is a global health campaign that brings focus to the importance of fighting kidney disease.

Theme
The theme of World Kidney Day 2021 is “Living Well with Kidney Disease”. World Kidney Day helps to reduce the impact of kidney disease and related health problems. Early symptoms of kidney disease include loss of appetite, fatigue and frequent vomiting, decreased urination, sleepiness, itching, and muscle strain. Some of the causes are consumption of alcohol, lack of water, overeating meat, high salt, excessive smoking, excessive use of analgesics, and less urination.

Significance
Kidneys are our body’s vital organs which filter the blood and help in passing waste as urine. The celebration of World Kidney Day was first started by the joint committee of International Society of Nephrology and International Federation of Kidney Foundations. Every year, health organisations celebrate the day to help people prevent kidney disease and also inform them to take precautions for a healthy life. They organise campaigns to spread messages about kidney diseases, their prevention and cure.
US President Joe Biden sets goal of July 4th to mark Independence from Covid-19
US President Joe Biden has said he is hopeful that America can mark independence from Covid-19 on July 4th if people get vaccinated. In his first televised prime-time address as president, Mr. Biden said he would order states to make all adults eligible for vaccinations by May Current measures prioritise people by age or health condition.

Mr. Biden was speaking exactly a year to the day after the outbreak was classified a global pandemic. Last year many Americans were forced to forgo the elaborate parades, fireworks displays and parties that feature in the national holiday on July 4th, which marks independence from Britain.

In his speech, President Biden said he did not expect large events to be able to go ahead, but he hoped small groups could meet again. The US has by far the highest death toll in the world from the virus, but death and infection rates have been declining in recent weeks as the vaccine programme picks up.

President Biden said the number of places where people could be immunised would be increased, with veterinarians and dentists among those also allowed to vaccinate people.
Increasing tendency to politicise humanitarian situations is unfortunate
India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations has said the increasing tendency to politicise humanitarian situations is unfortunate.

According to him, there is an urgent need for the donor community to scale up assistance to conflict-affected countries.

India speaking at the UNSC open debate on 'Conflict and Food Security' said nations must resist linking developmental aid with progress in the political process as this will only enhance food insecurity in conflict situations.

Citing estimates from the World Food Programme (WFP), India said the number of people suffering from food insecurity is projected to more than double by the end of 2020 to 270 million people, with the COVID-19 pandemic making it worse.

The "Global Report on Food Crises 2020'' by WFP and 15 other humanitarian and development agencies notes that more than 77 million people are suffering from acute food insecurity in conflict-affected countries.

Pandemic has only served to make food insecurity more complex by forcing countries to impose restrictions on the movement of people, thereby depriving farms of hands to reap the harvest.

It has resulted in loss of farm-based employment, limiting access to food in the rural areas and eroding the ability of the State to cope with the socio-economic pressure of the pandemic.

Fragile States generally have weak capacities to design, implement and monitor policies and programmes related to food, thereby increasing their vulnerability while facing a conflict situation.

India is of the view that armed conflict and terrorism combined with extreme weather, crop pests, food price volatility, exclusion, and economic shocks can devastate any fragile state leading to food insecurity and increase the threat of famine.
COVID-19 disruptions caused 1.4 million unintended pregnancies
UN sexual and reproductive health agency in collaboration with Avenir Health, a global health organization published United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report.

.An estimated 12 million women in 115 countries lost access to family planning services due to disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Supply chain problems, mobility restrictions and fear of seeking health services contributed to this massive disruption for millions of women.

The number of unintended pregnancies could be as high as 2.7 million at the higher end of projections, or as low as 500,000 at the lower end of projections.

These latest figures come as many countries, particularly high-income nations, show early signs of steeply declining birth rates. The impact of COVID-19 on access to health services has varied across countries and is ongoing.

The study was conducted in 115 low- and middle-income countries in January 2021. The projections showed that family planning services were largely disrupted in April and May of 2020.

An estimated 12 million women faced this disruption for a duration of 3.6 months on an average.

This number could be as high as 23 million on the higher end of projections, or as low as 4 million at the lower end of projections.

April 2020 estimates by the same partners had projected that 47 million women in 114 low- and middle-income countries would be unable to use modern contraceptives if the lockdowns or related disruptions continue for an average of 6 months. They had predicted it would result in seven million unintended pregnancies.

The unintended pregnancies have put a great strain on families, which were already struggling under pandemic-related financial burdens. They have also resulted in increased maternal morbidity and mortality, as well as rising numbers of unsafe abortions.

Fortunately, quick action has helped many health systems to maintain or restore essential health services, including contraceptives

Even amid rising costs and supply chain constraints, it was able to procure and deliver contraceptives and other reproductive health supplies, as well as personal protective equipment for health workers.

Creative efforts, such as using a ride-hailing app to deliver contraceptives, SMS outreach and targeting family planning counselling to quarantine centres, also helped maintain or restore services. The short message service (SMS) programme is part of a partnership between UNFPA, the World Food Programme (WFP).
When is the International River Action Day observed?
Celebrate International River Action Day on March 14th to raise awareness of the importance of rivers and climate change.

On this day, communities and individuals around the world work together to express their opposition to destructive water development projects, health and sustainable management of watersheds.

The day was earlier known as "International Dam Day" to commemorate rivers, water and life. In India, some projects to protect rivers or oppose the construction of dams have also been initiated. Narmada BachaoAndolan is one of them.

Participants of the First International Conference of Dam Influencers, held in Curitiba, Brazil in March 1997, passed the "International Day of Action on Dams and Rivers, Water and Life".

Representatives of 20 countries decided to designate the International Day of Action as the "Day of Action Against Large Dams" in Brazil on March 14.

The main purpose of facilitating this day is to make a concerted voice to oppose destructive water development projects, restore the health of the basin, and demand fair and sustainable management of our rivers. Theme 2021: Rights of Rivers.
When is the World Consumer Rights Day observed?
On March 15, 2020, World Consumer Rights Day was celebrated globally to protect the rights of consumers. The purpose of this day is to raise people's awareness of consumer needs and rights, and to ensure that they will not suffer from social injustice or market abuse that may undermine their rights.

Countries around the world commemorate World Consumer Rights Day by holding human rights conferences and discussing various ways to protect consumer rights.

World Consumer Rights Day was commemorated for the first time on March 15, 1983. Since then, this day of the year has been called World Consumer Rights Day.

The theme of World Consumer Rights Day (2019) is "Trusted Smart Products". This theme emphasizes consumer demand for IoT products such as smart phones and wearable devices. The theme of World Consumer Rights Day 2020 is "Sustainable Consumers".

Parliament passed the Consumer Protection Act 2019 in the month of August 2019 which replaces the 1986 Consumer Protection Act. India celebrates December 24th every year as National Consumer Day.

The inspiration for World Consumer Rights Day came from US President John F Kennedy. He sent a special message to the US Congress on March 15, 1962, in which he formally talked about consumer rights.

The consumer movement originally set this date in 1983 and at present uses this day every year to mobilize action on important issues and activities.

Theme for 2021 is: Tackle Plastic Pollution.
US President and Japanese Prime Minister hold talks in Washington to counter increasingly assertive China
US President Joe Biden yesterday sought to present a united front with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to counter an increasingly assertive China as the U.S. leader held his first face-to-face White House summit since taking office.

Biden hosted Suga for talks that offered the President, a chance to work further on his pledge to revitalize U.S. alliances that frayed under his predecessor Donald Trump.

China topped the agenda, underscoring Japan's central role in U.S. efforts to face down Beijing. Other pressing concerns at the talks included China's increased military movements near Taiwan, its tightening grip on Hong Kong and its crackdown on Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang.

At the White House news conference, Suga said he told Biden that he was committed to moving forward with the summer Olympic Games in Japan and that Biden offered his support. With the meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Suga and another planned summit with South Korea in May, Biden hopes to energize joint efforts with Australia, India and Japan in Quad, as well as with South Korea, to counter China and longtime U.S. foe North Korea.
When is World Voice Day observed?
The World Voice Day is observed globally on April 16. The day is celebrated to mark the importance of voice in the day to day lives of all humans.

The day, which celebrate the phenomenon of voice, aims and emphasizes on using it correctly. The World Voice Day encourages people to check on their vocal health and take necessary action to improve and maintain their good voice habits.

The day is celebrated with an aim to create awareness about how voice is important for us. Voice signifies one’s expression of thought and helps in bridging boundaries between people and communities.
Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov to arrive in New Delhi on two-day visit to India
Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov will begin a two-day visit to India beginning today.

The visit will present an opportunity to discuss aspects of bilateral ties and review preparations for the pending India-Russia annual summit later this year.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi had said that the visit will be a unique opportunity to discuss important aspects of our bilateral ties, also to review preparations for the next India Russia annual summit and also perhaps discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova had on Thursday said the Russian Foreign Minister, during his visit, will hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. After India, Mr Lavrov will visit Pakistan from April 6-7.
WTO revises upwards its projection for global trade volume growth in 2021 to 8%
India’s two top export destinations, the US and the EU, likely to see import growth of 11.4% and 8% respectively

Painting an optimistic picture for exporters, the World Trade Organisation has revised upwards its prediction for global merchandise trade volume growth in 2021 to 8 per cent compared to the 7.2 per cent growth forecast in October 2020.

Prospects for Indian exporters may even be brighter as North America, one of India’s top export markets, is projected to drive the growth in demand with an estimated 11.4 per cent increase in imports while demand in the EU, another big buyer of Indian goods, is likely to grow at 8 per cent.

Moreover, much of global import demand will be met by Asia, exports from which are expected to grow by 8.4 per cent in 2021, the report said.

Indian exporters have recently indicated that there has been a growth in enquiries and fresh orders from buyers in key Western markets although goods exports in fiscal year 2020-21 is set to be about 8-10 per cent lower than last fiscal’s figure of $314 billion.

The report, however, cautioned that Covid-19 continues to pose the greatest threat to the outlook for trade, as new waves of infection could easily undermine any anticipated recovery.

The decline in volume of world goods trade for 2020, too, has been pared to 5.3 per cent compared to a 9.2 per cent fall projected earlier.

The relatively positive short-term outlook for global trade is marred by regional disparities, continued weakness in services trade, and lagging vaccination timetables, particularly in poor countries, the report said.

World GDP at market exchange rates should increase by 5.1 per cent in 2021 and 3.8 per cent in 2022, after contracting by 3.8 per cent in 2020, the report pointed out.

Falling oil prices led to a 35 per cent contraction in trade in fuels in 2020 while travel services were down 63 per cent in 2020 and are not expected to fully recover until the pandemic wanes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signs law letting him run for president of Russia again
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law letting him run for the president of Russia again. The law was published on the official Internet portal of legal information.

A number of provisions of the law were developed on the basis of amendments to the Constitution. One of the newly introduced amendments is the restriction on the number of presidential terms for one person. It is applied to the incumbent president regardless of the previous presidential terms and allows the current head of state to contest the presidency twice.

Also, the law says that eligible to the office of the Russian president is any citizen of Russia no younger than 35 years of age who has been resident in the country's territory for no less than 25 years and never had the citizenship or permanent residence permit of another state.
Jordan: Prince Hamzah bin Hussein placed under house arrest
Prince Hamzah bin Hussein, half-brother of Jordan’s King Abdullah II has been placed under house arrest as part of a crackdown on critics.

Earlier, Jordan's army chief General Yousef Huneiti, had denied reports of the prince arrest. He had said an investigation is still continuing and its results will be made public in a transparent and clear form.

The military said the warning to Prince Hamza was part of a broader, ongoing security investigation in which a former minister, a junior member of the royal family and unnamed others were detained.

The move comes after a visit by the prince to tribal leaders where he is said to have garnered some support. King Abdullah had dismissed Prince Hamza as heir to the throne in 2004 in a move to consolidated his power.
When is World Health Day celebrated today?
World Health Day is observed on 7th April 2021. From its inception at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and since taking effect in 1950, the celebration has aimed to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization.

Over the past 50 years, this has brought to light important health issues such as mental health, maternal and child care, and climate change.

The campaign highlights WHO’s constitutional principle that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.

The theme of this year is Building a fairer, healthier world for everyone. WHO said, the COVID-19 pandemic has undercut recent health gains, pushed more people into poverty and food insecurity, and amplified gender, social and health inequities.
North Korea decides not to participate in Tokyo Olympics
North Korea will not participate in the Tokyo Olympics this year to protect its athletes amid the coronavirus pandemic. The decision was made at a meeting of North Korea’s Olympic committee, including its sports minister Kim Il guk, on 25th March.

North Korea has one of the world’s strictest quarantine regimes, despite the government’s denial that any cases have been detected in the country.
President Joe Biden announces limited measures to tackle gun violence in the US
US President Joe Biden and his Attorney General Merrick Garland have announced limited measures to tackle gun violence in the United States.

The White House today described it as a first step to curb mass shootings, community bloodshed and suicides.

The new measures include plans for the Justice Department to crack down on self-assembled “ghost guns” and make “stabilizing braces” - which effectively turn pistols into rifles - subject to registration under the National Firearms Act.

It also outlined more ambitious goals that he needs the support of Congress to accomplish, including reintroducing a ban on assault weapons, lifting an exemption on lawsuits against gun manufacturers. The executive orders unveiled are not legislative. The White House promised that more action was coming.
US imposes sanctions on Pak-based human smuggling organisation
US President Joe Biden's administration has imposed sanctions on an alleged Pakistan-based human smuggling organisation, Abid Ali Khan Transnational Organization, after it was found involved and guilty of smuggling migrants to America.

The US Treasury Department confirmed that it has blacklisted Pakistan's Abid Ali Khan for running a prolific human smuggling organisation.
When is World Table Tennis Day observed?
World Table Tennis Day is annually celebrated on April 6 since 2015, also marking the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. We want this day to be socially inclusive and use it as an excuse to celebrate our sport for one day. The ultimate aim is to keep as many people as possible involved with table tennis.
US suspends all trade engagement with Myanmar until elected government returns
United States is immediately suspending all engagement with Myanmar under a 2013 trade and investment agreement until the return of a democratically elected government, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said. Saturday was the bloodiest day of protests in Myanmar since the February 1 military coup with 114 people killed.

Five more were killed yesterday when thousands took to the streets again in opposition to the military returning to power after a decade. Tai said that Myanmar security forces’ killing of peaceful protesters, students, workers and labour leaders and children has shocked the conscience of the international community. Tai also said that these actions are a direct assault on the country’s transition to democracy and the efforts of the Burmese people to achieve a peaceful and prosperous future.
Pak successfully test fires nuclear-capable ballistic missile Shaheen 1-A
Pakistan has successfully tested a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile on March 26, 2021. The missile has a range of 900 kilometers.

Pakistan has tested the Shaheen-1A surface-to-surface ballistic missile with the aim of re-verifying the various designs and technical parameters of the weapon system, including the advanced navigation system.

According to the Army Media Department, the missile has a range of 900 kilometers.

The missile consists of a complex and advanced guidance system, which makes it a highly accurate missile system.

Senior officials of the Strategic Planning Department, scientists and engineers of strategic organizations and strategic forces witnessed the launch of the missile.

It is Pakistan's land-based supersonic and short-to- medium range surface-to-surface guided ballistic missile.

It was designed and developed by a joint venture between National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) and the National Defense Complex (NDC).

The missile is named specifically for a type of Falcon inhabitants on the mountains of Pakistan.

It is also called Hatf IV. It has an optimal range of 750 kilometers and is propelled by a two-stage solid fuel rocket engine.

It can provide conventional and nuclear payloads, and its speed is much faster than liquid fuel missiles like Ghauri. The missile is considered very accurate.
Alternative to China’s BRI needed: Biden tells Johnson
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and U.S. President Joe Biden asked democracies to provide an alternative to China’s infrastructure strategy, the “Belt and Road” (BRI) initiative. Both leaders discussed by phone.

They discussed issues including COVID-19 and global health security, China, Iran, climate change, and the maintenance of political stability in Northern Ireland.

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a global infrastructure development strategy of the Chinese government.

Passed in 2013, the goal is to invest in 70 countries and international organizations.

The " Belt and Road " initiative is the core content of the Xi Jinping’s foreign policy and Communist Party of China.

The initiative was originally declared as the "Silk Road Economic Belt" by Xi Jinping during his official visit to Kazakhstan in September 2013.

Belt refers to the proposed land route for road and rail transportation through inland Central Asia along the historical trade routes in the western region.

The road refers to the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road" or the Indo-Pacific route through Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

The infrastructure projects include ports, railways, roads, skyscrapers, airports, dams and railway tunnels.
China signs 25-year deal with Iran in challenge to US
Iran and China signed a 25-year Strategic Cooperation Pact.

It includes the "political, strategic and economic" components.

This document is very effective for deepening relationships

A blueprint will be established for "mutual investment in transportation, ports, energy, industry and services."

The agreement was reached at the same time that China strongly supports Iran because it involves the continuing impact of sanctions. China is its largest trading partner.
When is the International Transgender Day observed?
International Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates on March 31 every year since 2009. The transgender community is an important part of cultures, but awareness of trans issues is inadequate.

Founded by US-based transgender activist Rachel Crandall, International Transgender Day of Visibility is marked on March 31 every year, with the aim to celebrate transgender individuals’ contributions to society.

The day also calls upon us to counter the homophobic, biphobic and transphobic social attitudes that inflict incredible harm on the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals across the globe.

The transgender community is an important part of cultures, but awareness of trans issues is inadequate. Sadly, trans individuals are seen as a threat to cultural values by some people. The latter often try to rationalise discrimination against trans people as a means to protect their beliefs in the name of tradition and culture. What is even more shocking is that this hatred is often codified into legal statutes that prevent trans people from exercising their basic human rights. Regardless of how diverse the beliefs, values and opinions of people are, tradition and culture cannot be used as a licence to discriminate against anyone.
Facebook & Google to set-up underground cables to connect US with Southeast Asia
Facebook has planned two new undersea cables to connect Singapore, Indonesia and North America in a project with Google and regional telecommunication companies to boost internet connection capacity between the regions.

"Named Echo and Bifrost, those will be the first two cables to go through a new diverse route crossing the Java Sea and they will increase overall subsea capacity in the trans-pacific by about 70%," Facebook Vice President of Network Investments, Kevin Salvadori, told Reuters.

The cables, according to the executive, will be the first to directly connect North America to some of the main parts of Indonesia, and will increase connectivity for the central and eastern provinces of the world's fourth most populous country.
BIMSTEC finalises connectivity master plan for Bay of Bengal region
The virtual meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Bay of Bengal Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) grouping finalised a major Connectivity master plan for the Bay of Bengal region.

The seven member regional grouping namely India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar will take up the Master plan for transport connectivity for adoption in the next summit of the organisation to be hosted by Sri Lanka in a few months from now.
US, South Korea and Japan agree to work together to keep up pressure on North Korea to give up its nuclear, ballistic missile programs
The United States, South Korea and Japan agreed in high-level security talks to work together to keep up pressure on North Korea to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The three countries also agreed on the need for full implementation by the international community of U.N. Security Council resolutions on North Korea, preventing proliferation, and cooperating to strengthen deterrence and maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.