August 2020 International Affairs

Sakshi Education

Turkey discovers a large natural gas reserve in Black Sea
Turkey discovered large natural gas reserves in the Black Sea coast. The announcement was made by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The discovery included 320 billion cubic metres of natural gas.

If the natural gas reserve can be extracted, it could help the country to reduce its energy dependence on imports from countries such as Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan.

Highlights:
Turkey aims to use the discovered natural gas by 2023.

The country has made the biggest discovery of natural gas in its history in the Black Sea.

The new natural gas reserves come amid the rising tensions between Ankara and Athens over oil and gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean.

The discovery has come up in the middle of tensions between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies Greece and Turkey are running high in disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey highly depends on Russia, Iran, and Iraq for its energy resources. In the year 2019, the Turkish energy imports from these countries were $41 billion. The discovery of the new oil exploration will help to reduce the country's imports.
Sri Lanka to Draft a New Constitution
The Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (elected in 2019), while addressing the inaugural session of the Parliament, said that Sri Lanka will draft a new Constitution and abolish the 19th Amendment that curtailed the powers of the President and strengthened the role of Parliament.

Sri Lanka’s new Cabinet includes members from the Rajapaksa family.

MahindaRajapaksha is the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

The Rajapaksa led Sri Lanka People’s Party (SLPP) won a landslide victory in the recently held parliamentary elections (August 2020), allowing the influential family to consolidate power for the next five years.

19th Amendment:
It was passed in 2015 during the former President MaithripalaSirisena-Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe’s term (2015-19).

It sought not only to clip the President’s executive powers, but also to strengthen independence of key pillars such as the judiciary, public service and elections.

It brought back the two-term limit on Presidency.

It was hailed by many, including members of civil society, as a progressive legislation in contemporary Sri Lankan history, even as its critics found it falling short in some respects.

However, the Rajapaksa camp viewed its clauses as primarily intended to prevent its leaders’ return to power.

It prevented dual citizens from contesting elections. At the time, two of the Rajapaksa family members including the current president were dual citizens of the USA and Sri Lanka.

Its abolishment will strengthen Rajapaksa's grip on power because the country will return to its previous constitutional status, in which the President could appoint officials for the police, judiciary and public service and dissolve Parliament anytime after one year.

New Constitution:
The President said that the new Constitution would prioritise the concept of “one country, one law for all the people.”

Sri Lanka's constitution has been changed 19 times from 1978, creating a lot of uncertainties and confusion.

Changes will be made to ensure the stability of Parliament and people’s direct representation, while retaining the salutary aspects of the proportional representation system.

Rights activists see the planned changes to the Constitution as an attempt to further empower the SLPP and the Rajpaksha brothers’ mainly Buddhist - Sinhalese speaking electorate.

The Rajapaksa family, which dominated the government from 2005 to 2015, witnessed the climax of the country’s long civil war (1983-2009).

The war divided Sri Lanka along ethnic lines - pitting the majority Buddhist Sinhalese-dominated government against Tamil rebels who wanted a separate state.

The rebels were defeated by government forces in 2009.
International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is observed on 21 August
International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is observed on 21 August. The day is observed to commemorate the core values of the United Nations (UN).

he Day aims to raise awareness to the indiscriminate threat that affects people and countries across the globe.

History:
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed its resolution 72/165 (2017) and established 21 August as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.

The day was established to honor and support the victims and survivors of terrorism and to promote and protect the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief is observed on 22 August
International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief is observed on 22 August. The day aims to appreciate the efforts taken by the UN to combat intolerance, discrimination and violence against persons based on religion or belief.

The day aims to promote and protect human rights, including the human rights of persons belonging to religious minorities, including their right to exercise their religion or belief freely.

History:
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has passed its resolution A/RES/73/296 and designated 22 August as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.

The day aims to recognize the importance of providing victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief and members of their families with appropriate support and assistance in accordance with applicable law.

The move deplores all acts of violence against persons on the basis of their religion or belief, as well as any such acts directed against their homes, businesses, properties, schools, cultural centres or places of worship, and all attacks on and in religious places, sites and shrines that are in violation of international law.
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition is observed
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition is observed on 23 August.

The day is observed annually to commemorate the remembrance of the slave trade and its abolition.

History:
The International Day was intended to inscribe the tragedy of the slave trade in the memory of all peoples. The day is observed in accordance with the goals of the intercultural project "The Slave Route".

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition was first observed in some countries, in particular in Haiti on 23 August 1998 and Goree in Senegal in 23 August 1999.

The day was initiated to offer an opportunity for collective consideration of the historic causes, the methods & the consequences of this tragedy, and for an analysis of the interactions to which it has given rise between Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean.
China launches warship for Pakistan Navy
China has launched the first of the four advanced naval warships it is building for Pakistan.

Pakistan had signed a contract with the China Shipbuilding Trading Company Ltd. (CSTC) for the delivery of two Type-054 A/P frigates in 2017.

In 2019, the Chinese official media reported that China would build four advanced frigates for the Pakistan Navy.

Details:
The latest development comes amid deepening defence ties between the two all-weather allies.

The first warship that has been launched is of Type-054 class frigate.

The Type-054 class is equipped with the latest surface, subsurface, anti-air weapons, combat management system, and sensors.

It will be one of the technologically advanced surface platforms of the Pakistan Navy fleet.

The launching of the ship coincided with the 2nd strategic dialogue between the Chinese Foreign Minister and his Pakistani counterpart.
WHO declared Africa free of Wild Polio
The Africa Regional Certification Commission, the independent body, has declared Africa free from wild polio.

The announcement was made by the African Regional Certification Commission for Polio Eradication during a World Health Organization (WHO) event.

Highlights:
The Africa Regional Certification Commission confirmed that all 47 countries in the WHO's Africa region have eradicated Polio. The poliovirus, commonly, attacks the nervous system and causes irreversible paralysis within hours.

Nigeria was the last African country to be declared free from wild polio. Nigeria accounted for more than half of all global cases less than a decade ago.

In the thousands of children in Africa were paralyzed by the virus. The disease is now only found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. There is no cure but the polio vaccine protects children for life.
World Urdu Conference
Union Education Minister addressed the inaugural session of the two days World Urdu Conference organised by National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL ) in New Delhi.

BACKGROUND:
The Education Minister also announced that Urdu writers and literators will be honoured with awards and honours in the name of important personalities of Urdu like Amir Khusrow, MirzaGhalib, Agha Hashar, Ram BabuSaxena and Daya Shankar Naseem to encourage Urdu writers for literary and creative services by the Urdu Council from next year.

The National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD), Department of Secondary and Higher Education, Government of India.

It was setup in 1996 as the National Nodal Agency for the promotion of the Urdu language.
Israel-UAE Peace Deal
The President of the USA has announced that Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state.

Both the UAE and Israel are the USA’s close allies in West Asia.

Highlights:
The UAE has become the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties with Israel.

Under the deal, Israel would suspend its plans to annex large parts of the occupied WestBank.

A joint statement from the USA, the UAE and Israel has been issued which says that delegations would meet in the coming weeks to sign deals on direct flights, security, telecommunications, energy, tourism and health care.

It remains unclear what prompted Israel and the UAE to make the announcement now.

BACKGROUND:
Formed in 1971, the UAE is a USA-allied federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula which did not recognise Israel over its occupation of land home to the Palestinians.

The UAE relied on white-collar (people who perform professional, desk, managerial or administrative work) Palestinians in creating its nation and maintained its stance that Israel should allow the creation of a Palestinian state on land it seized in the 1967 war.

In recent years, ties between Gulf Arab nations and Israel have quietly grown, in part over their shared enmity of Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The UAE also shares Israel’s distrust of Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and the militant group Hamas that holds the Gaza Strip.
Universal Ratification to Child Labour Convention
In the International Labour Organization’s (ILO’s) 101-year history for the first time, a labour standard has been universally ratified.

BACKGROUND:
The ILO defines child labour as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to their physical and mental development.

In the least developed countries, slightly more than one in four children (ages 5 to 17) are engaged in labour that is considered detrimental to their health and development.

The eradication of child labour is part of the Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7.

The UN General Assembly has declared 2021 as the year for the elimination of child labour.

Universal Ratification:
It means ratification by all the members of an organisation. Convention No. 182 has received ratification from all the 187 members of ILO.

Convention No. 182:
The convention was adopted by ILO member states meeting in Geneva in 1999.

It aims to protect children from the worst forms of child labour, which include slavery, prostitution, trafficking, deployment of children in armed conflict and other conditions that compromise their overall well-being.

Challenges?
An estimated 152 million are trapped in child labour and 72 million of them are engaged in hazardous work.

The current efforts would have to be stepped up significantly to achieve the goal of total abolition of the scourge of child labour by 2025.

But the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening a reversal of recent gains.

There are widespread job losses, deterioration in conditions of work, decline in household incomes and temporary school closures.
World Humanitarian Day is observed on 19 August
World Humanitarian Day is observed on 19 August every year. The World Humanitarian Day aims to commemorate the involvement of aid workers in humanitarian services by risking their own lives.

This year, the day is organized in a special way to fight against the deadly COVID-19. The day focuses to pay tribute to aid workers who involve themselves in humanitarian services by risking their lives.

It aims to create awareness, share ideas, and encourage individuals in the photography field.

History:
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) initiated the observation of the World Humanitarian Day to remember the demise of Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 of his fellow humanitarians in a bombardment of the Baghdad headquarters of the United Nations (UN).

Sergio and people like him worked every day for the betterment of the needy, the poor and underprivileged, and those living in areas of war, starvation, and pestilence. In 2009, the UNGA formalized the day as World Humanitarian Day.
World Photography Day is observed on 19 August
World Photography Day is observed annually on 19 August. The day aims to pay homage to the beautiful form of art and to recognize the importance of photography in the world.

The day aims to encourage photography as both a hobby and a profession and to learn more about this craft.

History:
The day was initiated in 1837 when Frenchman Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce invented the daguerreotype, a photographic process. The operation of photography began on January 9, 1839.

The French government announced the invention to the world on August 19, 1839. In 1861, Thomas Sutton took the first durable color photograph. The first digital photograph was taken in the year 1957. On 19th August 19 when the World Photo Day hosted its first global online gallery.
Turkey-Greece Stand-off
Recently, France has deployed its military in the eastern Mediterranean Sea amid tensions between Greece and Turkey over recently-discovered gas reserves.

According to France the military has been deployed to strengthen the autonomous assessment of the situation and to affirm France’s commitment to free movement, to the security of maritime navigation in the Mediterranean and respect for international law.

Key Points
The European Union (EU) and its allies in West Asia and North Africa made plans to build a gas pipeline from the Mediterranean to Europe’s mainland to transport the gas. However, they have kept Turkey out of it, which has infuriated Turkey.

The gas transport would help reduce the EU's dependency on Russia.

Earlier in 2019, the EastMed Gas Forum was formed by Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and Palestine, and Turkey was again excluded.

Turkey challenged the EU pipeline project and reached an agreement with Libya to form an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from its southern shores to Libya’s northern coast across the Mediterranean.

However, Greece claimed the Turkish zone violated its maritime sovereignty and later announced its EEZ with Egypt, which clashed with Turkey’s zone.

Reacting to the deal, Turkey sent its survey ship near the island of Kastellorizo area mentioned in the Greece-Egypt agreement.

This is not the first time Greece and Turkey have been at odds. Over the past four decades, the countries have gone to war at least three times.
Loya Jirga: Grand Assembly of Afghanistan
Recently, a three-day Loya Jirga-grand assembly has been called in Afghanistan to decide on freeing about 400 Taliban fighters convicted for serious crimes including murder and abductions.

Key Points
Need for Convening Loya Jirga:
The Loya Jirga has been convened after the Afghanistan President refused to release the Taliban prisoners. This threatened the derailment of intra-Afghan talks, tentatively scheduled for 10th August 2020 in Doha.

The Taliban has also threatened of more bloodshed if the prisoners are not released.

The USA believes that the talks between the Afghanistan government and Taliban will lead to reduction of violence and direct talks, resulting in a peace agreement and an end to the war in Afghanistan.

Background:
The prisoner exchanges are part of the agreements signed by the USA and Taliban and the USA and Afghanistan government in February 2020.

However, these were delayed for several months, and the intra-Afghan talks that were scheduled on 10th March had to be put off. Few argue that the current Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani is deliberately delaying peace talks with the Taliban to retain power because it is speculated that negotiations could seek a neutral interim government that may cost Mr.Ghani his post.

The USA announced to withdraw its forces and reduced its strength to about 8000, after pushing for the Afghanistan government to release the Taliban prisoners, and for the Taliban to release Afghan

soldiers and civilians in its custody.

Over the past few weeks, the USA government has been keen to speed up the Taliban-Afghan reconciliation process, with an eye on the November 2020 Presidential elections.

India’s Interests in Afghanistan:
India has a major stake in the stability of Afghanistan. India has invested considerable resources in Afghanistan's development. E.g. the Afghan Parliament, the Zaranj-Delaram Highway, Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam (Salma Dam) among others.

India favours the continuation of the current Afghanistan government in power, which it considers a strategic asset vis-à-vis Pakistan.

An increased political and military role for the Taliban and the expansion of its territorial control should be of great concern to India since the Taliban is widely believed to be a protégé of Pakistan.

Afghanistan is the gateway to Central Asia.

Withdrawal of US troops could result in the breeding of the fertile ground for various anti-India terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Mohammed.
International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is observed on 9 August
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on 9 August 2020. The day is observed by the United Nations (UN) and its member states.

The day marks the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in 1982.

Theme:
The theme of 2020 International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples "COVID-19 and indigenous peoples’ resilience".

The day is virtually commemorated. It featured a panel discussion on the innovative ways indigenous peoples demonstrate resilience and strength in the face of the covid-19 pandemic while confronting grave threats to their survival.

The theme highlights how the promotion and preservation of indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge and practices can be leveraged during this pandemic. The interactive virtual event was focused on building back the good practices stronger.
GCC Backs UN Arms Embargo on Iran
Recently, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) backing an extension of its arms embargo on Iran, just two months before it is set to expire.

Key Points
The GCC has alleged that Iran had not ceased or desisted from armed interventions in neighbouring countries, directly and through organisations and movements armed and trained by Iran.

Allegation on Iran:
The UN, the USA and other armament experts have accused Iran of providing arms to Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Iran allegedly arms Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon and Syria and also provides weapons to Shiite militias in Iraq and terrorist groups in Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The letter also mentioned Iran’s shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger plane and its navy accidentally killing 19 sailors in a missile strike during an exercise.

Iran also is suspected of launching an attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil industry in September 2019.

Arms Embargo:
In 2010, the UN banned Iran from purchasing foreign-made weapons like fighter jets, tanks and warships amid tensions over Iran’s nuclear program.

The embargo blocked Iran from replacing its ageing equipment, much of which had been purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

An earlier embargo had targeted Iranian arms exports.

In 2015, under Iran’s nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), the UN agreed to end the arms embargo in October 2020.

In 2018, the USA unilaterally withdrew from the deal as a part of the maximum pressure campaign to hurt Iran’s already ailing economy.

Internal Conflict in GCC: Even though the GCC has offered a unified statement, it remains affected by internal conflict among the member nations. For example:

Qatar crisis, which saw Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates cut diplomatic ties with Qatar and launch a boycott of the nation beginning in 2017.

Qatar has had good relations with Iran and has used its airspace while sharing a vast offshore oil and gas field with Tehran (Iran’s capital).

Qatar is home to the massive Al-Udeid Air Base and the forward headquarters of the USA military’s Central Command.

Oman also has had close ties to Iran and has served as an interlocutor between Tehran and the West.

On the other hand, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are suspicious of Iran and accuse it of stirring up dissent among Shiite populations in the region.

Iran’s Stand:
Iran has denied the various accusations of its involvement in arms supply.

Iran has condemned the GCC letter and called it an irresponsible statement that serves the USA’s interests.

It has also criticized the GCC countries for being “among the largest arms buyers in the region and the world,” even amidst the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
World Biofuel day is observed on 10 August
World Biofuel day is observed on 10 August. The day aims to highlight the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels. It is observed by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas since 2015.

The day also highlights the various efforts made by the Government in the Biofuel sector. The day also aims to honour the research experiments by Sir Rudolf Diesel. He ran an engine with peanut oil in 1893.

His experiment predicted that vegetable oil will replace fossil fuels in the next century to fuel different mechanical engines.

Theme:
The 2020 theme of World Biofuel day is “Biofuels towards Atmanirbhar Bharat”. Biofuels programme was hosted in synergy with the Government of India’s initiative of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Biofuels:
Biofuels are derived from renewable biomass resources. It is expected that the utilization of biofuels will address global concerns about the suppression of carbon emissions.

Biofuels are eco-friendly and it provides a strategic advantage to promote sustainable development. These fuels supplement conventional energy sources in meeting the rapidly increasing demand for transportation fuels.

Biofuels will reduce the import dependence, ensure a cleaner environment, generate additional income for farmers and employment generation.

Government of India (GoI) has taken a number of initiatives to increase the blending of biofuels from 2014.

The initiatives taken by GoI include simplifying the procurement procedures by OMCs, administrative price mechanism for ethanol, enabling lignocellulosic route to procure ethanol introducing a long term ethanol procurement policy, ethanol distillation capacity addition, and amending many provision in Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951.
Student Entrepreneurship Programme 2.0: AIM
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM - an initiative by the NITI Aayog) in collaboration with Dell Technologies has launched the second edition of its Student Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP 2.0) for student innovators of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs).

SEP 1.0 was launched in January 2019.

Key Points
SEP 2.0:
Objective: It will allow student innovators to work closely with Dell volunteers. They will receive mentor support; prototyping and testing support; end-user feedback; intellectual property registration and patenting of ideas, processes, and products; manufacturing support; as well as the launch support of the product in the market.

Background:
As many as 1500 innovations were submitted in the last season of ATL Marathon (2019). ATL Marathon is a nationwide contest where students identify community challenges and create grassroots innovations and solutions within their ATLs.

50 teams were selected and mentored by Atal Incubation Centres via the Student Innovator Programme 2.0.

Student Innovator Programme provides training on business and entrepreneurship skills to students.

The top 8 will take their prototypes to product through SEP 2.0.

SEP 1.0:
SEP 1.0 was a 10-month-long programme through which the top 6 teams of ATL Marathon 2017 got a chance to transform their innovative prototypes into fully functioning products, which are now available in the market.

ATLs:
Vision:
AIM is establishing ATLs in schools across India with a vision to cultivate one million children in India as neoteric (modern) innovators.

It is aimed at disrupting the Indian education system, creating a paradigm shift where children as young as 12 years of age are being introduced to the world of technology innovation.

Objectives: To foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds; and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing etc.

Eligibility: Schools (minimum Grade VI - X) managed by Government, local body or private trusts/society.

Financial Support: AIM provides grant-in-aid of Rs. 20 Lakh to each school that includes a one-time establishment cost of Rs. 10 lakh and operational expenses of Rs. 10 lakh for a maximum period of 5 years to each ATL.

Features:
ATL is a work space where young minds can give shape to their ideas through hands on do-it-yourself mode; and learn innovation skills.

Young children get a chance to work with tools and equipment to understand the concepts of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

CollabCAD was launched in ATL schools to provide students experience in creating and modifying 3D designs.

In order to foster inventiveness among students, ATL conducts different activities ranging from regional and national level competitions, exhibitions, workshops on problem solving, designing and fabrication of products, lecture series etc. at periodic intervals.
International Youth Day is observed on 12th August
International Youth Day (IYD) is observed on 12th August. The day aims to raise awareness about the problems and challenges faced by the youth. The day celebrates the role of young women and men as essential partners in change across the world.

Theme:
The 2020 Theme for IYD is "Youth Engagement for Global Action." The theme aims to highlight the several ways through which the young people at the local, national and global levels enrich the national and multilateral institutions and processes, draw lessons on the representation and engagement of the youth in formal institutional politics can be significantly enhanced.

History:
IYD was initiated by the youngsters from Vienna and Austria in 1991. In the year 1999, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) first designated 12th August as the observation of International Youth Day as per this decision by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, Lisbon in August 1998.

IDY was observed for the first time in 2000. The day aims to create awareness about the confrontation and problems that they usually face around the globe.
Indonesia’s Mt. Sinabung Erupted
Recently, Mt. Sinabung, an active volcano on Indonesia’s Sumatra island has erupted.

Mount Sinabung is located in Karo regency, North Sumatra.

Key Points
Mt. Sinabung:
It is among more than 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific’s Ring of Fire.

The volcano was dormant for 400 years before exploding in 2010. It exploded again in 2014 and 2016.

Ring of Fire:
The Ring of Fire, also referred to as the Circum-Pacific Belt, is a path along the Pacific Ocean characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.

It traces boundaries between several tectonic plates—including the Pacific, Cocos, Indian-Australian, Nazca, North American, and Philippine Plates.

75% of Earth’s volcanoes i.e. more than 450 volcanoes are located along the Ring of Fire. 90% of Earth’s earthquakes occur along its path.

The abundance of volcanoes and earthquakes along the Ring of Fire is caused by the amount of movement of tectonic plates in the area.

Along much of the Ring of Fire, plates overlap at convergent boundaries called subduction zones. That is, the plate that is underneath is pushed down, or subducted, by the plate above. As rock is subducted, it melts and becomes magma. The abundance of magma so near to Earth’s surface gives rise to conditions ripe for volcanic activity.

A significant exception is the border between the Pacific and North American Plates. This stretch of the Ring of Fire is a transform boundary, where plates move sideways past one another. This type of boundary generates a large number of earthquakes as tension in Earth’s crust builds up and is released.
Russian Covid Vaccine: Sputnik V
Russia became the first country to officially register a Covid-19 vaccine and declared it ready for use.

Key Points
The vaccine has been called Sputnik V, named after the first artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik-I launched by the Soviet Union.

It is the first Covid-19 vaccine to be approved.

However, a Chinese vaccine had been cleared for ‘limited use’ before this. It is an adenovirus vector vaccine approved to be administered only on soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army.

The Russian vaccine has outrun other Covid-19 vaccines like Oxford-AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer which are still in trials.

India’s Covaxin has been approved for human clinical trials. Another Indian vaccine ZyCoV-D has entered phase I/II of clinical trials.

This vaccine has been developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute in collaboration with the Russia’s defence ministry.

The vaccine is based on the DNA of a SARS-CoV-2 type adenovirus, a common cold virus.

The vaccine uses the weakened virus to deliver small parts of a pathogen and stimulate an immune response.

The vaccine is administered in two doses and consists of two types of a human adenovirus, each carrying an S-antigen of the new coronavirus, which enter human cells and produce an immune response.

Russian officials have said that large-scale production of the vaccine will start in September, and mass vaccination may begin as early as October.

Adenovirus Vector Vaccine:
In this vaccine, adenovirus is used as a tool to deliver genes or vaccine antigens to the target host tissue.

Adenovirus: Adenoviruses (ADVs) are DNA viruses ranging from 70-90 nanometre in size, which induces many illnesses in humans like cold, respiratory infection etc.

Adenoviruses are preferred for vaccines because their DNA is double stranded which makes them genetically more stable and the chances of them changing after injection are lower.

Rabies vaccine is an adenovirus vaccine.

However, there are drawbacks of adenovirus vector vaccines like pre-existing immunity in humans, inflammatory responses etc.

Just as human bodies develop immune responses to most real viral infections, they also develop immunity to adenoviral vectors. Since adenoviral vectors are based on natural viruses that some humans might already have been exposed to, these vaccines might not work for everyone.

Concerns Regarding the Vaccine:
Experts expressed concerns over the safety and efficacy of the vaccine due to its extremely fast production and lack of published data on the vaccine.

Russia has only made public the results of phase-I of the clinical trials, which it claimed were successful and produced the desired immune response.

The human trials, which take several years in normal circumstances, have been completed in less than two months for Sputnik V. The late-phase human trials are important because the vaccine’s efficacy can differ on different population groups.

Russia, however, has claimed that this was made possible due to the fact that its Covid-19 vaccine candidate closely resembled a vaccine for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) disease, caused by another coronavirus, that had already been tested extensively.

Use in India:
Russia has claimed that around 20 countries have shown interest in the Sputnik V vaccine, including India.

India has also partnered with the USA for development of Covid-19 vaccine.

The approval for a vaccine is given by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, is the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) of India.

Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, CDSCO is responsible for approval of Drugs, Conduct of Clinical Trials, laying down the standards for Drugs, control over the quality of imported Drugs in the country and coordination of the activities of State Drug Control Organizations by providing expert advice.

CDSCO can ask Russia to conduct late-phase human trials, usually both phase-2 and phase-3, on an Indian population.

This is the usual requirement for all vaccines developed outside of India.

CDSCO can also give emergency authorisation without late-phase trials, considering the extraordinary situation.

The drug remdesivir was recently granted similar emergency approval to be used as a therapeutic on novel coronavirus patients.

However, this is unlikely as vaccines are given to a large number of people, and the risks involved are much higher.

There are also issues in manufacturing the vaccine as there is no agreement for its production in India right now.

Pune-based Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume, has already entered into tie-ups with developers to mass-produce their vaccines. Other Indian companies have also done similar agreements but there is none with Russia.
US allows H-1B visa holders to return to same jobs
US President Donald Trump's administration has relaxed the ban on H-1B visa, allowing H-1B visas holders to enter the United States to return to the same jobs they had prior to the proclamation of the visa ban.

The US Department of State advisory announced that the dependents of the H-1B visas holders including spouses and children will also be allowed to travel along with primary visa holders.

The Trump administration has also allowed travel by technical specialists, senior-level managers, and other workers holding H-1B visas, as their travel is necessary to facilitate the immediate and continued economic recovery of the United States.

The administration has also permitted travel of visa holders who are working as public health or healthcare professional, or as researchers to alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or conduct medical research in an area that would have substantial public health benefits.
Israel and UAE historic peace deal
Israel and the United Arab Emirates have reached a deal to normalise relations, with Israel agreeing to suspend its controversial plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.

Until now Israel has had no diplomatic relations with Gulf Arab countries.

President Trump called the deal between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan "a truly historic moment". It marks only the third Israel-Arab peace deal since Israel's declaration of independence in 1948, after Egypt and Jordan.

In a TV address Mr Netanyahu said he had "delayed" West Bank annexation plans, but those plans remain "on the table". Annexation would make some West Bank areas officially part of Israel.

"There is no change in my plan to apply our sovereignty to Judea and Samaria [West Bank] in full co-ordination with the US. I'm committed to it. That hasn't changed. I remind you that I was the one who put the issue of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria on the table. This issue remains on the table," he said.

Mr Netanyahu said Israel would co-operate with the UAE in developing a coronavirus vaccine, in energy, water, environmental protection and many other fields.
UN defeats US demand to extend arms embargo on Iran
The U.N. Security Council on Friday resoundingly defeated a U.S. resolution to indefinitely extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran, with the Trump administration getting support from only the Dominican Republic but vowing further action to prevent Tehran’s sale and export of conventional weapons.

The vote in the 15-member council was two in favor, two against and 11 abstentions, leaving it far short of the minimum nine “yes” votes required for adoption. Russia and China strongly opposed the resolution.

The Trump administration has said repeatedly it will not allow the arms embargo provision in the Security Council resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and six major powers to expire as scheduled Oct. 18.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the defeat of the resolution ahead of a very brief virtual council meeting to reveal the vote.
1947 Tripartite Agreement on Gurkha soldiers
Recently, the Nepal’s Foreign Minister has said that the 1947 Tripartite Agreement between India, Nepal and the United Kingdom (that deals with the military service of Gurkha soldiers from Nepal) has become redundant.

He also said that Nepal would prefer to handle the matter bilaterally with India and the United Kingdom.

Key Points
The Tripartite Agreement:
In 1947, when India became independent, it was decided to split Gurkha regiments between the British and Indian armies.

From the first quarter of the 19th century, Gurkhas had served under the British, first in the armies of the East India Company, and then the British Indian Army.

East India Company first recruited Gurkhas after suffering heavy casualties during the Anglo-Nepalese War also known as the Gurkha War. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816.

It ensured that Gurkhas in British and Indian service would enjoy broadly the same conditions of service as that of British and Indian citizens.

The services include all perks, remuneration, facilities and pension schemes etc.

Gorkha recruitment was the first window that was opened to Nepali youth to go abroad.

Issues Involved:
The objection from Nepal regarding the Gurkhas serving in the Indian military has become prominent in the backdrop of Nepal-India territorial dispute over the Kalapani region of Pithoragarh district that Nepal claims as its own.

Nepal has responded by publishing a new map that included the disputed territories of Kalapani region.

The issue became a talking point after Indian Army Chief remarked that Nepal’s strong protest against Indian road construction in the Limpiadora-Kalapani-Lipulekh area was at the behest of a third party (China).

The Napelese people believe that Indian Army Chief, who is granted the honorary post of a General in the Nepal Army has hurt the sentiments of the Nepali Gurkha Army personnel who lay down their lives to protect India.

Also the Gurkha veterans have been alleging that the United Kingdom has been discriminating against them in terms of pay, pension and other facilities.

The British government started providing equal pay and pension to Gurkhas in 2007.
China’s Presence Near Ecuador Waters
Recently, Ecuador has expressed an official discomfort over the sighting of a flotilla of 260 mostly Chinese fishing vessels near the Galapagos archipelago (a part of Ecuador).

The flotilla also consisted of some Liberia and Panama-flagged vessels which was detected in an international water corridor situated between two areas of Ecuadorian jurisdiction– 200 miles away from both the Galapagos Islands and mainland Ecuador.

Key Points
Past Occurrences:
Ecuador has stated that the situation is repeated every year and such vessels reach the outer limit of the archipelago, outside the country’s exclusive zone.

In 2019, 245 Chinese fishing vessels were sighted in the area where Ecuador’s writ does not extend.

In 2017, a Chinese ship had entered Ecuador’s waters and its authorities seized the ship.

That time Ecuador had discovered 300 tonnes of wildlife on board, mostly the critically endangered scalloped hammerhead sharks.

It has been observed that the two-thirds of hammerhead shark fins found in Hong Kong markets come from the Galapagos area.

Reasons:
Chinese ships are frequent in Ecuador's waters during august month of the year as the cold Humboldt Current brings in nutrients that lead to a high congregation of marine species.

The Humboldt Current, also called the Peru Current, is a cold, low-salinity ocean current that flows north along the western coast of South America.

The Humboldt Current is a highly productive ecosystem. It is the most productive eastern boundary current system. It accounts for roughly 18-20% of the total worldwide marine fish catch.

Conflicts with Other Countries:
Chinese vessels have also run into trouble with other countries in the region.

In 2016, Argentina’s coast guard chased and sank a vessel that it claimed had been illegally fishing in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Diplomatic Consequences:
The matter has been escalated to a diplomatic level and Ecuador has officially expressed its “discomfort” to China.

Ecuador has also stated that it will discuss the threat with Peru, Chile, Colombia, and Panama – coastal countries of the region that have also been affected in the past.

The USA, which is already opposing China on multiple fronts, expressed its support for Ecuador. The USA has also expressed that it is against any aggression directed towards economic and environmental sovereignty.

China’s Stand:
China maintains that it is a “responsible fishing nation” with a “zero tolerance” policy toward illegal fishing.

It also stated that China respects Ecuador's measures to protect the environment and preserve marine resources.
Quadrilateral Dialogue: China, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan
Recently, China convened a quadrilateral dialogue with the Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan, Nepal and Pakistan.

Key Points
Four-point Plan:
China proposed a four-point plan to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, boost economic recovery and resumption of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure projects.

The four-point plan included:
To share consensus in fighting the pandemic as good neighbours.

To learn from China and Pakistan’s joint prevention and control model of the pandemic.

To look at opening up green channels as soon as possible by the four countries.

Green channel is the route followed in passing through customs in an airport, etc by passengers claiming to have no dutiable goods to declare.

China's expertise to the three countries in fighting Covid-19. It also included the vaccines that are being developed, to be shared with the three countries.

Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan actively supported the four-point cooperation initiative proposed by China.

Other Discussed Issues:
China also proposed extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan, as well as taking forward an economic corridor plan with Nepal, called the Trans-Himalayan Multi-dimensional Connectivity Network.

All the four countries supported the maintenance of multilateralism, strengthened the role of the World Health Organisation (WHO), backed the realisation of a ceasefire in Afghanistan during the epidemic, and the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

Concerns for India:
China asked the three countries at the quadrilateral meet to take advantage of their geography, strengthen exchanges and connectivity between the four countries and central Asian countries, and safeguard regional peace and stability.

The remarks assume significance as it came amid the border tensions between India and China.

The quadrilateral meeting also came at a time of deepening concerns over the India-Nepal relationship due to border disputes at Kalapani region.

Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Oli also accused India of trying to destabilize his government.
UK to Issue Coin in Honour of Mahatma Gandhi
Britain is considering minting a coin to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi.

Key Points
The consideration is seen as part of efforts to celebrate achievements of people from the Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

The British Finance Minister has written a letter to the Royal Mint Advisory Committee (RMAC), to consider recognising the contribution of BAME communities on Britain's coinage.

The RMAC is an independent committee made up of experts who recommend themes and designs for coins.

The RMAC supports a campaign called ‘We Too Built Britain’, which seeks representation of non-white icons on British currency.

Recently, the murder of a Black man, George Floyd, in the United States due to police butuality has led to Black Lives Matter protests against racism, colonialism and police brutality across the globe.

Triggered by the death of George Floyd, some British institutions began re-examining their past, which includes their history, colonialism and racism.
UN Report on the Impact of Covid-19 on Children
According to the recently released UN Report on the Impact of Covid-19 on Children, almost 24 million children could drop out or not have access to school next year due to the economic impact of Covid-19.

Key Points
Impact: The Covid-19 pandemic will impact the children all over the world in multiple ways:

Economic: An estimated 42-66 million children could fall into extreme poverty as a result of pandemic

The economic loss might reach 16,000 USD of lost earnings over a student’s lifetime, translating over time into 10 trillion USD of lost earnings globally.

Learning: 188 countries have imposed countrywide school closures, affecting more than 1.5 billion children and youth.

More than two-thirds of countries have introduced a national distance learning platform, but among low-income countries the share of distance learning is only 30%.

Online learning is not accessible for poor children, children from remote and conflict areas and children with disabilities.

A loss of learning by one-third (equivalent to a three-month school closure) during Grade 3 might result in 72% of students falling so far behind that by Grade 10 they will have dropped out or will not be able to learn anything in school.

Survival: Economic hardship experienced by families as a result of the global economic downturn could result in hundreds of thousands of additional child deaths in 2020,

This will reverse the last 2 to 3 years of progress in reducing infant mortality within a single year.

Health: Rising malnutrition is expected as 368.5 million children across 143 countries rely on school meals for a reliable source of daily nutrition.

There is a reduced access to essential reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health interventions.

Suspension of all polio vaccination campaigns worldwide and measles immunization campaigns in at least 23 countries will set back the decades-long effort to eliminate these diseases.

The effects of physical distancing measures and movement restrictions on children’s mental health represent another cause for concern.

Safety: Lockdowns and shelter in place measures come with heightened risk of children witnessing or suffering violence and abuse.

Children’s reliance on online platforms for distance learning has also increased their risk of exposure to inappropriate content and online predators.

Susceptibility to child marriage, early pregnancy and gender-based violence will also increase.

Uneven Distribution of Impact: The Covid-19 Pandemic has increased the existing socioeconomic disparities.

During the second quarter of 2020, 86% of children at the primary level have been effectively out of school in poor countries, compared to just 20% in highly developed countries.

The Covid-19 crisis is likely to increase the financing gap between education budgets and the money available to reach the Sustainable Development Goal of quality education by up to one-third.

The low and middle incomes already faced a USD 148-billion of the said financial gap.

Apart from the poor children, other vulnerable groups of children like migrants, the displaced, refugees, minorities, slum-dwellers, children living with disabilities, children living in refugee settlements, and children in institutions are likely to face a more severe impact.

The impact of Covid-19 is going to be more damaging for girls than boys, widening gender inequality.

Earlier this year, the Global Education Monitoring Report, 2020 was released by UNESCO which highlighted that the Covid-19 had worsened the inequalities in education systems worldwide.

Suggestions
Immediate rollout or expansion of social assistance to families, preferably through the use of universal child grants to prevent extreme poverty.

Securing food supply chains and local food markets, to protect children from a food security crisis.

Urgent adaptation of standard physical distancing and lockdown strategies in low-income and high population density settings.

Prioritizing the continuity of child-centred services, schooling, nutrition programmes, immunization and other maternal and newborn care, and community-based child protection programmes with a particular focus on equity of access.

Putting in place specific protections for vulnerable children.

Providing practical support to parents and caregivers to support the mental health and learning of the children.

Ensuring that children, adolescents and young people have access to Covid- 19 testing, treatment and vaccines as and when they become available.
Pakistan’s New Map
Recently, Pakistan has released a new political map that includes all of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Sir Creek and Junagadh.

The map has been released on the eve of the first anniversary of the abrogation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.

Key Points
The Map:
The map depicts entire Jammu & Kashmir as a disputed territory and does not show any borders in the east of Kashmir.

It has also renamed Kashmir Highway in Islamabad as Srinagar Highway.

It claims the Siachen, regions of Sir Creek and the erstwhile state of Junagadh in Gujarat as part of Pakistan’s territory.

This is not the first time Pakistan has tried to portray Junagadh as part of its territory. The 2012 Atlas of Pakistan also portrayed Junagadh as a Pakistan’s territory.

The map also shows the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as being part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

India’s Response:
India has called Pakistan's move as an exercise in political absurdity, which lays untenable claims to the Indian territories.

These assertions have neither legal validity nor international credibility and it only confirms the reality of Pakistan’s obsession with territorial aggrandisement supported by cross-border terrorism.

Concerns for India:
This is the second time in the recent past where India’s neighbouring country has published a new map claiming India’s territories. Nepal was the first country to do so.

Nepal published its news map claiming the territories of the Kalapani region.

Closeness of Nepal, Pakistan towards China.

Recently, China also changed the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the western sector in its favour.
Beirut Explosion
Recently, a massive explosion took place in Beirut, capital of Lebanon, which left more than hundred people dead and more than 4,000 injured, according to the reports until now.

Key Points
There were two explosions in the central port area of Beirut which occurred barely within minutes of each other within nearby buildings.

The blast affected residents living as far as 10 kilometres away from the site and was felt upto 250 Km.

The blast created seismic waves equivalent to a magnitude 3.3 earthquake.

The blasts were likely triggered by over 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been confiscated and stored by authorities near the port for over six years.

A two-week state emergency has been imposed in Beirut following the blast.

Impact of the Blast
Economic: Lebanon is an import-dependent country. The badly damaged port facility is Lebanon’s largest maritime gateway and it will make essential items expensive and threaten food security in the country.

Lebanon has already been struggling with a huge economic meltdown, with the rapid devaluation of the local currency and a volatile exchange rate on the black marketfueling inflation, shuttering businesses, unemployment and poverty.

It had also defaulted on a Eurobond repayment in March 2020.

It is in talks with the International Monetary Fund for a $10 billion loan program.

The blast will pose an additional financial burden of rebuilding the city.

Political: Lebanon faced nationwide protests against corruption, economic mismanagement and sectarian politics in October 2019, which forced the resignation of then-Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

This blast along with the growing economic crisis can again cause social unrest.

Health: The country’s health system is already burdened with the patients of Covid-19 pandemic and the victims of blast will add to this.
J&K Issue Raised at UNSC
Recently, China has called India’s move in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) “illegal and invalid” and raised the issue at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in New York (USA).

On 5th August 2019, the President of India promulgated the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019 effectively abrogating the special status accorded to J&K under the provision of Article 370.

5th August 2020 marks the one year anniversary of that move. On its eve, Pakistan released a new political map that includes all of J&K, Ladakh, Sir Creek and Junagadh.

Key Points
China’s Stand on Kashmir:
The Kashmir issue is a dispute left over from history between Pakistan and India, which is an objective fact established by the UN Charter, relevant Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements between Pakistan and India.

Any unilateral change to the status quo in the Kashmir region is illegal and invalid.

Kashmir region issue should be properly and peacefully resolved through dialogue and consultation between the parties concerned.

India’s Reaction:
India has noted the Chinese comments and held that Beijing has “no locus standi” on the matter and is advised not to comment on the internal affairs of other nations.

India and China are holding talks over the disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

UN’s Response:
The J&K issue has been raised at the UNSC three times in the last one year but there has been no concrete solution to it yet.

UN human rights experts have called on India to take urgent action to address the alarming human rights situation in the region.

If India fails to take any genuine and immediate steps to resolve the situation, meet the obligations to investigate historic and recent cases of human rights violations and prevent future violations, then the international community should step up.

Amnesty International India Report:
Amnesty International in its report has urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) to set up offices in J&K to facilitate easy access to the complaint filing process for the local people.

NHRC has been asked to appoint a special monitor for the region and to take up cases pending with the erstwhile State Commission.

NCW has been recommended to set up a J&K cell for addressing problems faced by women.

The report held that people in J&K do not have any way of redressal of the violations of their rights after the closure of the State Commission in 2019.

It also called on the government to release all political leaders, journalists and activists from detention; restore 4G mobile Internet; decongest prisons and start an independent investigation into attacks on journalists.

The report acknowledged that there may be security concerns that merit restrictions on the right to freedom of expression.

It suggested that curbs should be for a limited timeframe and as per the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which India is a state party.
USA Bars Federal Agencies from Hiring H-1B Visa Holders
Recently, the President of the USA has signed an executive order barring federal agencies from hiring H-1B visa holders and other foreign workers in place of USA citizens or green card holders.

Key Points
H-1B Visas:
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows USA companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China to keep costs in check.

Such jobs in developed countries pay minimum wages, which are not lucrative enough for employable individuals of these countries.

Executive Order:
The executive order has asked the federal agencies to stop replacing USA workers and green card holders with H-1B visa holders or other foreign workers.

A green card holder (permanent resident) is someone who has been granted authorization to live and work in the USA on a permanent basis.

The order has also directed all agencies under the federal government to review the contracts they gave out in the two previous financial years and the performance of such contracts or subcontracts.

The heads of departments will undertake an audit and check whether the jobs could have been performed by the USA workers and whether opportunities for domestic workers were impacted by such hiring.

The Department of Labour will also finalise guidelines to prevent H-1B employers from moving H-1B workers to other employers’ job sites to displace American workers.

The order seems to be an extension of an earlier order in which the entry of non-immigrant visa workers had been banned until the end of 2020.

Background:
The USA government under Trump leadership is moving towards a more conservative work visa regime under the America First policy.

It has alleged Indian and Chinese IT companies of sending workers at very low cost, which hurt the prospects of skilled workers in the USA.

The immediate trigger was an announcement by the federally-owned Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) that it would outsource 20% of its technology jobs to foreign countries.

This action could result in loss of jobs for up to 200 highly-skilled American tech workers in Tennessee and could also lead to possible leaking of sensitive user data and theft of intellectual property, detrimental to national security.

The USA government has held that outsourcing of jobs should be avoided as far as possible because it is especially detrimental in the middle of a pandemic, which has already cost millions of Americans their jobs.

Impact on Indian Workers in the USA:
The H-1B visa is the most sought-after among Indian IT professionals.

Apart from workers hired by federal agencies, the order will also impact workers of Indian companies that are on contract with federal agencies.

Bigger federal agencies such as state-run banks give the contract for supply and maintenance of their databases and other services to bigger Indian companies such as Infosys, TCS or Wipro.

Impact on the USA:
The order comes at a time when there is a huge shortage of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills in the USA that workers on short-term non-immigrant visas like H-1B and L-1 help bridge.

Such a measure could slow down the recovery phase of the USA as countries start unlocking.
USA Opposes Cuba in UNHRC
The United States of America has urged United Nations members not to support Cuba’s bid to join the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Key Points
The USA has accused Cuba of “trafficking” its doctors under the guise of humanitarian missions.

Cuba's sale of medical services is its main source of foreign exchange.

Cuba has a generally respected healthcare system with 90,000 medical workers for a population of 1.1 crore.

It has a high life expectancy (79.74 years in 2016) and a low infant mortality rate (around 4.76 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013).

It also sends its doctors abroad to tackle outbreaks, as it did during the Ebola epidemic of 2014-16 and Covid-19 pandemic.

Cuba has applied to fill one of the regional vacancies for 2021-2023.

It was a member of the UNHRC in 2014-2016 and 2017-2019.

The USA and Cuba have had a strained relationship since the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

The USA severed diplomatic ties with Cuba after the revolution.

It had also placed a trade embargo on Cuba which was eased in 2000 and again in 2014. Travel restrictions, trade sanctions, restrictions on remittances to Cuba were partially lifted during these times.

The sanctions were reinstated in 2017.

The Cuba-US relationship also suffered during the Cuban Missile crisis in 1962.

The USA accuses Cuba of human rights violations and dictatorship as it has a leftist authoritarian regime.

A large number of Cubans have migrated to the USA after the Cuban revolution. This includes supporters of the overthrown regime, those whose property had been confiscated by the present Cuban socialist government and those in search of better employment and living conditions.

Earlier, the USA had also criticized Qatar and South Africa for accepting doctors from Cuba to battle Covid-19.

It had also blacklisted Cuba's defense minister, accusing him of human rights violations and supporting socialist Venezuelan President.

India and Cuba
India shares close, warm and historical relations with Cuba and both countries are founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement.

In 1959, the Cuban-Argentinean guerrilla commander Ernesto Che Guevara paid a diplomatic visit to India and was welcomed by the then Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.

In 2019, India supported the resolutions in the UN General Assembly calling for lifting of US sanctions against Cuba..

India and Cuba agreed to collaborate in the areas of Biotechnology, Homeopathy and the traditional system of medicine during the visit of the President of India to Cuba in 2019.
75th Anniversary of Hiroshima Bombing
Japan marked 75 years of the atomic bombing on Hiroshima on 6th August, 2020.

Survivors, relatives and foreign dignitaries attend the anniversary of Hiroshima every year to honour victims of the bombings and call for world peace.

Key Points
About:
On 6th August 1945, a US bomber dropped the uranium fission bomb, codenamed Little Boy, on Hiroshima, a city in Japan.

Three days later it dropped another bomb codenamed Fat Man, on Nagasaki.

The explosion and resultant firestorms are believed to have killed around 80,000 people in Hiroshima and around 40,000 people in Nagasaki.

Thousands more died in the following years due to the exposure to radiation from the blast and also from the black rain that fell in the aftermath of the explosions.

Long-term effects of the attack included birth defects, malnutrition, cancer and other illnesses

This bombing marked the end of World War II, with Japan surrendering to the Allies on 14th August 1945.

The Allies were one of the two major alliances during World War-II, led by Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union.

The other alliance, Axis was led by Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Aftermath:
The attacks were widely criticized around the world for being crimes against humanity.

Some historians argue the bombings ultimately saved lives by avoiding a land invasion that might have been significantly more deadly.

The United States has never apologised for the bombings.

However, in Japan, the attacks are widely regarded as war crimes because they targeted civilians indiscriminately and caused unprecedented destruction.

After the war, Hiroshima tried to reinvent itself as a City of Peace and continues to promote nuclear disarmament around the world.

The survivors of this attack are known as “Hibakusha", many of whom suffered physically and psychologically after the attack.

Japan's wartime experience has led to a strong pacifist movement in the country. At the annual Hiroshima anniversary, the government usually reconfirms its commitment to a nuclear-free world.

Japan signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in February 1970.