International

Dennis Francis, the President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, arrived in New Delhi on a five-day visit to India on January 22, 2024.

• Key multilateral issues of mutual interest will be discussed during talks between Mr. Francis and External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar.
• Activities during the visit include paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, participating in a round table on India’s advancements in Digital Public Infrastructure, and delivering a public address at the Indian Council of World Affairs on Multilateralism and Peace, Prosperity, Progress, and Sustainability.
• Mr. Francis will also travel to Jaipur and Mumbai, where he will pay floral tributes at the 26/11 memorial, visit the National Stock Exchange, and address a session on New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism organized by the Observer Research Foundation.
• On Republic Day (26th January), Mr. Francis is scheduled to participate as a State guest in the Republic Day Parade of Maharashtra.

Q: Who is the President of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly?

a. Dennis Francis
b. Narendra Modi
c. Antonio Guterres
d. Joe Biden

Answer: a. Dennis Francis

Recent strikes between Iran and Pakistan have raised concerns about instability in the Middle East.

1. Border Region: The two countries share a volatile 900-kilometer border, with Pakistan’s Balochistan province on one side and Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province on the other. Both nations have a history of fighting militants in the Baloch region.
2. Unusual Attacks: While facing a common separatist enemy, it is uncommon for either side to attack militants on each other’s soil.
3. Iran’s Strikes: Iran initiated the conflict with strikes on Pakistan’s Balochistan province, leading to casualties, including two children. Iran claimed to target Iranian terrorists, but Pakistan deemed it a violation of international law and bilateral relations.
4. Pakistan’s Retaliation: Pakistan retaliated with highly coordinated and targeted military strikes on alleged separatist hideouts in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan. The strikes resulted in casualties, including women and children.
5. Tensions and Concerns: The prevailing tensions between the two countries are of serious concern. Both nations have faced terrorism, and there’s a global need for respect of sovereignty and independence.

Q: What is the main cause of the recent tensions between Iran and Pakistan?

• a) Religious differences
• b) Border disputes
• c) Economic competition
• d) Cultural conflicts

Answer: b) Border disputes

The 12th General Assembly of the Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace (ABCP) was inaugurated in New Delhi, India, on January 17, 2024, by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Delegates from various countries attended the two-day event, emphasizing their commitment to promoting the teachings of Lord Buddha on peace and universal humanity.

The theme of the assembly was “ABCP – The Buddhist Voice of Global South,” and the event held in the birthplace of Buddhism was deemed significant for fostering peace globally.

Question: Buddhism was born in which country?

a. India
b. China
c. Thailand
d. Nepal

Ans : a. India

• The 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum has commenced in Davos, Switzerland on 15 January 2024.
• The theme of the conference is “Rebuilding Trust,” focusing on exploring opportunities presented by new technologies and their impact on decision-making and global partnerships.
• Discussions will cover climate change, artificial intelligence threats, economic issues, cooperation amid geopolitical fragmentation, and global challenges.
• Ongoing conflicts like the Ukraine War and Israel-Hamas war are part of the agenda.
• Union Ministers Smriti Irani, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Hardeep Singh Puri, along with three Indian Chief Ministers and over a hundred CEOs, will represent India at the 5-day event.
• RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das and Ministers from Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana are also part of the Indian delegation.

Q: Where is the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum taking place?

a) New York, USA
b) Paris, France
c) Davos, Switzerland
d) Tokyo, Japan

Ans : c) Davos, Switzerland

Q: What is the theme of the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum?

a) Global Challenges
b) Rebuilding Trust
c) Technological Advancements
d) Economic Prosperity

Ans : b) Rebuilding Trust

1. A United Nations helicopter was captured by al-Shabab fighters in Somalia on January 10, 2024.
2. The helicopter experienced a technical glitch, prompting it to land close to Gadoon village in the Galgaduud region.
3. The helicopter took off from the city of Beledweyne, and there were nine passengers on board, including military personnel and a third-party contractor.
4. Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate, has been attempting to overthrow the Somali government since 2006 to establish its rule.
5. The group primarily operates in the center and south of Somalia, with thousands of fighters.

Q: Which terrorist group captured a United Nations helicopter in Somalia in January 2024?

a. Taliban
b. Al-Shabab
c. ISIS
d. Boko Haram

answer: b. Al-Shabab

• Sheikh Hasina, the President of the Awami League, is set to take the oath as Bangladesh’s prime minister for the fourth consecutive term.
• The oath-taking ceremony will take place at the Darbar Hall of Bangabhaban in Dhaka on Thursday.
• President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath not only to the prime minister but also to other members of the upcoming cabinet during the ceremony.
• The elected members of the 12th parliament are scheduled to take their oath on Wednesday.
• The Election Commission of Bangladesh published a gazette notification on January 9, providing details of the results of the 12th National Elections.
• In the elections, which occurred on January 7, the Awami League-led alliance secured a landslide victory, winning 225 seats. The Awami League alone secured 222 seats in the 12th National Elections.

Q: Who is elected as Bangladesh’s prime minister for the fourth consecutive term?

a. Mohammed Shahabuddin
b. Sheikh Hasina
c. Nawab Sharif
d. Mohamed Asif

Ans : b. Sheikh Hasina

• Gabriel Attal is appointed as the next Prime Minister of France as part of Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to revitalize his presidency.
• Currently serving as the education minister, Attal takes on the role of Prime Minister.
• At the age of 34, Gabriel Attal becomes the youngest Prime Minister in modern French history.
• This surpasses the previous record held by Socialist Laurent Fabius, who was 37 when appointed by François Mitterrand in 1984.
• Gabriel Attal replaces Élisabeth Borne, who resigned from the position after a 20-month tenure.

Q: At what age does Gabriel Attal become the youngest Prime Minister in modern French history?

a. 30
b. 34
c. 37
d. 40

Ans : b. 34

India and Maldives have had a long-standing relationship, with India being one of the first countries to recognize Maldives’ independence in 1965 In recent times, there have been some developments in the relationship between the two countries. Here are some of the latest developments:

• In December 2023, three deputy ministers of the Maldives made disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Lakshadweep, promoting it as a tourist hotspot. This led to a nosedive in India-Maldives relations. The Indian government raised the issue with Maldives, after which the Maldives government suspended the three ministers.
• In January 2024, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu visited China on an official visit, accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed and a delegation of senior government officials. This visit has deepened the diplomatic shift as India-Maldives ties strain.

Q: What was the cause of the nosedive in India-Maldives relations in December 2023?

a. Trade disputes
b. Disparaging remarks about PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep
c. Military conflicts
d. Economic sanctions

Ans : b. Disparaging remarks about PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep

• Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, a senior diplomat of India, assumed the position of secretary general of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) on 4 January 2024 at Dhaka.
• He is the 4th secretary general of BIMSTEC and will perform this duty for a period of the next three years. He has succeeded Tenzin Lekphell of Bhutan, said a media statement.
• On his arrival in Dhaka, Pandey was warmly received by Abdul Motaleb Sarker, director general (Saarc & BIMSTEC) and directors of the BIMSTEC secretariat.

What is BIMSTEC ?

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising of seven South Asian and Southeast Asian nations, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The organization was established in 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. The primary objective of BIMSTEC is to promote technical and economic cooperation among its member countries in various sectors such as trade, investment, tourism, health, education, and environment.

Q: Who assumed the position of Secretary General of BIMSTEC in January 2024?

a. Mani Sankar Ayer
b. Indra Mani Pandey
c. Lal Mani Tripathi
d. Mukesh Yadav

Ans : b. Indra Mani Pandey

• The Brics group, initially formed by Brazil, Russia, India, and China in 2006, expanded with the inclusion of South Africa in 2010.
• New members joining on January 1, 2024, are Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
• The expanded group is often referred to as “Brics +,” though no official name has been announced.
• Argentina was invited to join but declined under its new president, Javier Milei.
• Brics countries hold annual summits where decisions are made, and each member takes turns being the group’s president for a year.
• Brics countries are significant global powers, including China and Russia, as well as regional powers like South Africa and Brazil.
• The expanded group comprises about 3.5 billion people, representing 45% of the world’s population.
• The combined economy of Brics countries is over $28.5 trillion, contributing approximately 28% to the global economy.
• Brics countries are expected to produce about 44% of the world’s crude oil.

Q: When was the Brics group initially formed, and which countries were its founding members?

a) Formed in 2010 with Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa
b) Formed in 2006 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China
c) Formed in 2012 with Argentina, China, India, and South Africa
d) Formed in 2008 with Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa

Ans : b) Formed in 2006 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China

Q: Who are the new members set to join the Brics group on January 1, 2024?

a) Argentina, Brazil, South Africa
b) Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates
c) Mexico, Australia, Turkey
d) Canada, Japan, Germany

Ans : b) Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates