India receives COVID-19 aid from Taiwan
Context: India received assistance from Taiwan including oxygen concentrators and cylinders, with more batches of medical equipment set to follow from Taipei. A first batch, consisting of 50 oxygen concentrators and 500 oxygen cylinders, landed in New Delhi on Sunday on a Boeing 747 of China Airlines, the government-owned airline of Taiwan. Relevance: GS-II: International […]
G7 seeks common front on China
Context: The Group of Seven wealthy democracies discussed how to form a common front towards an increasingly assertive China in the Foreign Ministers’ first in-person talks in two years. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Important International Groupings, Foreign Policies and conferences affecting India’s Interests) Dimensions of the Article: Group of Seven (G7) G7: First in-person talks […]
Manipur HC: Myanmar refugees can approach UNHCR
Context: The High Court of Manipur allowed seven Myanmar nationals, who entered India secretly following the February military coup in Myanmar, to travel to New Delhi to seek protection from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Important International Institutions, Foreign Policies and Agreements) Dimensions of the Article: United Nations […]
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan: Cross-border tensions
Context: A ceasefire on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan was held following a day of intense fighting between the two ex-Soviet Central Asian neighbours that killed 39 people and wounded more than 175. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Important developments in foreign countries affecting India’s interests) GS-I: Geography (Maps), Prelims Dimensions of the Article: […]
The rising sun in India-Japan relations
Context: The new Japanese Prime Minister’s visit to the United States in April 2021 has set the agenda for the wider Indo-Pacific engagement of Tokyo and its evolving priorities. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (India’s Neighbors, Foreign Policies and development affecting India’s Interests) Dimensions of the Article: Overview of India – Japan Relations Focus on China: […]
Foreign Secretary on medical support & ‘Vaccine Maitri’
Context: India’s Foreign Secretary said that Medical and oxygen-related support is being worked out from at least 40 countries that will send items to help India deal with the pandemic’s second wave. India is unlikely to resume its Vaccine Maitri programme for the neighbourhood, including Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, until at least July 2021, […]
EU Parliament approves post-Brexit trade treaty
Context: European lawmakers have approved the final ratification of the post-Brexit trade deal between the European Union and the United Kingdom, nearly five years after Britain decided to leave the bloc. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Foreign Policies and development affecting India’s Interests) Dimensions of the Article: About the recent developments regarding Brexit What is Brexit? […]
India, Australia and Japan push supply chain resilience
Context: The Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) was formally launched by the Trade Ministers of India, Japan and Australia – who are three members of the Quad grouping except the U.S. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (Foreign Policies and Agreements affecting India’s Interests), GS-III: Indian Economy Dimensions of the Article: What is Supply Chain Resilience? India, […]
Russia and the Czech Republic tensions
Context: In mirror moves, Russia and the Czech Republic have expelled diplomats from the other country over a story about a Russian plan to ‘poison’ Czech politicians in 2020. Prague (capital of Czech Republic) accused Russian embassy officials of being intelligence operatives, and said that it suspected them of being involved in a 2014 explosion […]
Aid pours in from the world for India
Context: Around 15 countries including the US, Russia, France and the United Kingdom are rushing critical emergency use equipment to enable India counter the COVID-19’s deadly second wave. Relevance: GS-II: International Relations (India and its Neighbourhood, Foreign Policies affecting India’s interests) Dimensions of the Article: Assistance from the U.S. Assistance from Other Countries India’s Vaccine […]