International Current Affairs

Christopher Luxon was sworn in as New Zealand’s prime minister on November 27, 2023.

• The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by Governor-General Cindy Kiro.
• Luxon leads a conservative coalition formed after his National Party struck a deal with two smaller parties following a general election last month.
• The coalition agreement includes promises of tax cuts and a reduction in government bureaucracy, with a 6.5% cut to the public service.
• Luxon identified improving the economy as his top priority after taking office.
• He mentioned holding his first Cabinet meeting soon and aiming to finalize a 100-day plan promptly.

Q: Who was sworn in as New Zealand’s prime minister on November 27, 2023?

a) Cindy Kiro
b) Christopher Luxon
c) Anthony Albanese
d) Chris Hipkins

Ans : b) Christopher Luxon

Release of Hostages:

• 24 hostages, including 13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals, and a Filipino, were released by Hamas.
• The release occurred at the Kerem Shalom crossing bordering Israel and Gaza on November 24, 2023.
• It was part of the first stage of a prisoner swap under a four-day ceasefire deal.
• Israeli hostages, including women and children, underwent medical examinations before transfer.

Ceasefire and Aid:

• A temporary ceasefire is in place between Israeli and Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip.
• The ceasefire is initially for four or five days, with a possibility of extension.
• The United Nations reported the entry of the largest aid convoy since the start of the war into Gaza.
• The convoy is providing food, water, and medical supplies to hundreds of thousands of people.

Q.: Where did the release of hostages take place during Ceasefire between Israeli and Hamas forces in November 2023?

a. Tel Aviv
b. Kerem Shalom crossing
c. Gaza City
d. West Bank

Ans : b. Kerem Shalom crossing

India and Australia are scheduled to hold the second two plus two Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi on November 20, 2023.

1. The meetings will involve discussions between India’s Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, along with Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
2. The agenda includes a wide range of discussions on strategic, defence, and security issues at bilateral, regional, and global levels.
3. The aim is to further advance cooperation under the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
4. The ministers will exchange views on shared priorities for strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
5. Ongoing negotiations related to the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement will be assessed during the dialogue.
6. The India-Australia relationship has experienced significant growth in recent years.
7. The bilateral relationship was upgraded from a Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020.
8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited each other’s countries in the same year, taking steps to strengthen bilateral ties.
9. The inaugural India-Australia two plus two Ministerial Dialogue took place in September 2021.

Q,: Who represented India in the two plus two Ministerial Dialogue with Australia in November 2023?

• A) Narendra Modi and S. Jaishankar
• B) Rajnath Singh and S. Jaishankar
• C) S. Jaishankar and Amit Saha
• D) Anthony Albanese and Nirmala Sitharaman

Ans : B) Rajnath Singh and S. Jaishankar

Pedro Sánchez, the acting Socialist prime minister of Spain, secured a majority vote in the parliamentary session on November 16, 2023, to form a new government.

1. Sánchez received the backing of 179 lawmakers out of 350 in the lower house of parliament, with opposition coming primarily from right-wing deputies.
2. The vote followed almost two days of debate focusing on a controversial amnesty deal for Catalonia’s separatists, a key factor in securing support for Sánchez’s reelection.
3. Sánchez was able to achieve the necessary majority by gaining the support of six smaller parties, enabling him to form another minority coalition government with the left-wing Sumar party.
4. Spain’s national elections on July 23 resulted in a fragmented parliament, with the Popular Party receiving the most votes but failing to secure enough support to form a government.
5. The Socialists, finishing second with 121 seats, now have the backing of 179 lawmakers through various agreements and pacts.
6. The formation of the government will be a minority coalition, and it remains uncertain whether Sánchez can maintain the support of the smaller parties over the next four years.

Q.: Who was chosen by a majority of legislators to form a new government in Spain on November 16, 2023?

a) Emmanuel Macron
b) Pedro Sánchez
c) Edouard Philippe
d) Marine Le Pen

Ans: b) Pedro Sánchez

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the second ‘Voice of Global South Summit’ on November 17, 2023. India hosted the Summit in a virtual format.

1. Theme:
   • The theme of the inaugural Leaders’ Session was “Together, for Everyone’s Growth, with Everyone’s Trust,” and that of the Concluding Leaders’ Session was “Global South: Together for One Future.”
2. Sessions and Participants:
   • In addition to the inaugural session, there were four parallel Ministerial sessions by Ministers of External Affairs, Education, Finance, and Environment.
   • The Summit included afternoon sessions with four more parallel Ministerial discussions.
3. Discussion Topics:
   • External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi mentioned that global challenges, including the Israel and Palestine issue, may be discussed during the summit.
4. Focus of the Summit:
   • The Summit aimed to share key outcomes achieved in various G20 meetings during India’s Presidency.
   • It served as a platform for discussions on sustaining momentum toward a more inclusive, representative, and progressive world order.
5. Previous Summit and India’s G20 Presidency:
   • India hosted the inaugural Voice of Global South Summit in January of the same year in a virtual format.
   • Throughout its G20 Presidency, India emphasized the importance of addressing concerns and priorities of the Global South in finding solutions to global challenges.

Q.: Who led the second ‘Voice of Global South Summit’ on November 17, 2023?

a) Angela Merkel
b) Narendra Modi
c) Xi Jinping
d) Joe Biden

Ans : b) Narendra Modi

India supported a United Nations resolution on November 12, 2023, condemning settlement activities in the “Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan.”

• Global Support: The resolution received overwhelming support, with 145 nations, including India, voting in favor, seven against (Canada, Hungary, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, United States), and 18 abstaining.
• Previous UN General Assembly Draft: In the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict, India had abstained from voting in a previous UN General Assembly draft resolution by Jordan, which called for an immediate truce. This resolution did not mention the Hamas terrorist group, and India was one of 45 countries abstaining, with 120 nations voting in favor.

Q.: Which group launched an attack on Israel triggering the subsequent war?

• a) UN Security Council
• b) Hamas
• c) Marshall Islands
• d) Israel

Ans : b) Hamas

United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conducted a significant Cabinet reshuffle on November 13, 2023.

1. Former Prime Minister David Cameron was appointed as the new Foreign Secretary of UK.
2. Home Secretary Suella Braverman was fired and James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, was announced as Braverman’s successor.
3. Braverman had served as Sunak’s interior minister, but her confrontational rhetoric towards migrants, protesters, the police, and the homeless led to rifts in the Cabinet.

MCQs

Q.: What position did Suella Braverman hold before being fired in the UK Cabinet reshuffle?

a. Foreign Secretary
b. Chancellor of the Exchequer
c. Home Secretary
d. Interior Minister

Ans : c. Home Secretary

Q.: Who was appointed as the new Foreign Secretary in the reshuffle of UK Cabinet?

a. Rishi Sunak
b. James Cleverly
c. Suella Braverman
d. David Cameron

Ans : d. David Cameron

The Dubai Airshow 2023 is an exciting event that promises to shape the future of the aerospace industry. The Dubai Airshow 2023 will take place from November 13th to 17th at the Dubai World Central (DWC), also known as the Dubai Airshow Site. This prestigious event is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and UAE Minister of Defence.

What to Expect at Dubai Airshow 2023:

• Exhibitors: Over 1400 world-class exhibitors from 95 countries will showcase revolutionary innovations in aerospace.
• Aircraft Display: Witness a spectacular display of 180+ jaw-dropping aircraft, both in flight and on static display.
• Space Experience Program: With the support of the UAE Space Agency, space-related exhibits return in an expanded and innovative way.
• Industry Conferences: 9 conference tracks led by 300+ speakers will delve into various aspects of the aerospace industry.
• Start-up Hub VISTA: Explore cutting-edge ideas and innovations from emerging companies.

Q.: When is the Dubai Airshow 2023 scheduled to take place?

a. November 10th to 15th
b. November 13th to 17th
c. December 1st to 5th d
. October 20th to 25th

Ans : b. November 13th to 17th

Q.: What is the focus of the Space Experience Program at the Dubai Airshow 2023?

a. Maritime Innovations
b. Automotive Technologies
c. Aerospace Innovations
d. Environmental Sustainability

Ans : c. Aerospace Innovations

The fifth India-US 2 plus 2 Ministerial Dialogue occurred in New Delhi on November 11, 2023. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met their US counterparts, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. During this meeting, they discussed common issues, including those related to the Indo-Pacific and West Asia. Additionally, they announced collaboration on the production of combat vehicles.

What is the 2+2 Dialogue?

The 2+2 meetings involve high-level representatives from both India and the United States, specifically, the Foreign Affairs Minister and the Defence Minister from each country participate. The primary goal of these dialogues is to enhance strategic cooperation and deepen bilateral ties. By having such a mechanism, India and the US can better understand each other’s strategic concerns and work towards a more integrated relationship in our ever-changing global environment.

Why “2+2”?

The term “2+2” signifies the participation of two ministers from each side (Foreign Affairs and Defence). This format allows for a comprehensive discussion that covers both diplomatic and security aspects. The dialogue aims to foster mutual understanding and address shared challenges.

India’s 2+2 Partners:

United States: India’s oldest and most crucial 2+2 partner. The first 2+2 dialogue between India and the US took place in 2018 during the Trump Administration. It replaced the earlier Strategic and Commercial Dialogue held between the foreign and commerce ministers of both countries. The launch of this dialogue reflects the shared commitment to strengthen the India-US strategic partnership.

Q.: What does the term “2 plus 2” signify in the context of the India-US 2 plus 2 Ministerial Dialogue?

a. Two nations and two objectives
b. Two ministers from each side (Foreign Affairs and Defence)
c. Two hours of discussion on diplomatic issues
d. Two strategic partnerships

Ans : b. Two ministers from each side (Foreign Affairs and Defence)

Q.: Who are the key representatives from India in the fifth India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue held on November 11, 2023?

a. Prime Minister and Finance Minister
b. Defence Minister and External Affairs Minister
c. President and Trade Minister
d. Home Minister and Health Minister

Ans: b. Defence Minister and External Affairs Minister