1) India, Uzbekistan released Joint Statement to intensify security cooperation, exchanges.
- India and Uzbekistan released a Joint Statement (JS) to intensify security cooperation and exchanges. Modi visited Uzbekistan on the invitation of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.
2) Russia votes `genocide` resolution.
- Russia voted a draft U.N. resolution recognising the Srebrenica massacre as genocide, branding the measure “confrontational” and a setback to reconciliation in the Balkans.
- Britain had put forward the draft text, hoping the Security Council would formally recognise it as an act of genocide for the first time.
- Angola, China, Nigeria and Venezuela abstained from the vote on the draft resolution, days before Bosnia is due to mark the 20th anniversary of the murder of 8,000 Muslim boys and men by Bosnian Serb forces in July 1995.
3) BRICS Summit 2015:
- The BRICS group denounces military interventions as well as imposing economic sanctions that violate international law, the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa said in the Ufa Trade Union Declaration adopted.
- Pitching for closer cooperation and coordination among BRICS nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed a 10point initiative that includes India hosting the first trade fair for the grouping and establishing research centers for railways and agriculture.
Those 10 Steps are:
- BRICS Trade Fair
- BRICS Railway Research center
- Cooperation among supreme audit institutions
- BRICS Digital Initiative BRICS Agricultural Research Centre
- BRICS State/ Local
- Government`s Forum
- Cooperation amongst Cities in field of Urbanization
- BRICS Sports Council and
- Annual BRICS Sports Meet
- First major project of NDB to be in field of Clean Energy
- BRICS Film Festival
- BRICS Agricultural
4) `Overseas students should leave U.K. once they complete studies`.
- The British government would like to see overseas students who come to Britain to study in its world class universities leave as soon as they finish their courses - and not stay back to work or settle.
- Indian students are second only to China amongst non-EU overseas students in higher education in the U.K. rising tuition fees and an unfriendly visa system have seen the numbers drop.
- The revoking of the post-study work visa was a major deterrent for Indian students. Unlike their Chinese counterparts who usually come on Chinese Government scholarships, must take substantial loans to study.
5) India, Turkmenistan inked 8 agreements to increase regional cooperation & connectivity.
- India and Turkmenistan signed eight agreements/ Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two nations. They discussed ways to increase regional cooperation and connectivity.
- The agreements were inked during the two-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Turkmenistan at the invitation of the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Important list of Agreements/ MOUs signed:
- MoU on supply of chemical products between the Indian Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) ‘Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited’ and the Turkmen State concern ‘Turkmenhimiya’.
- MoU between the Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India and the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.
- MoU between India and Turkmenistan on cooperation in Yoga and Traditional Medicine.
6) US approves major Non-NATO Ally status to Tunisia.
- Uanited States has approved major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status to Tunisia. Decision in this regard was taken by US State Department.
- With this Tunisia became the 16th country to become a MNNA of US. In May 2015, US President Barack Obama had declared Tunisia as its non-NATO ally while hosting his Tunisian counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi at the White House.
- This decision was taken by US to support for Tunisia’s decision to join the world’s democracies.
- US is hoping to strengthen democracy in Tunisia especially after Beji Caid Essebsi became the first democratically elected President in 60-year history of Tunisia.
7) India accorded full membership of SCO at Ufa summit 2015.
- India has been accorded full accorded the full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at its Ufa summit held in Russia.
- Technically, India will become the member of SCO by 2016 after completion of certain procedures.
- This membership will help India to work with the 6 members grouping to enhance connectivity, combat terror and create an environment for boosting trade by easing barriers.
About Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):
- SCO is a Eurasian economic, political and military organisation.
- Headquarters: Beijing, China.
- Established: 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders 6 countries viz. China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
- It is an outcome of The Shanghai Five grouping established in 1996 by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
- SCO’s first enlargement was in 2001 with addition of Uzbekistan and second enlargement was in July 2015 with addition of 2 new members India and Pakistan.
- Presently it has four observers Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Since 2005, India was having an Observer status of SCO and had applied for full membership in 2014.
8) Modi pushes for TAPI (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India) project.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for early implementation of the $10-billion TAPI gas pipeline project during his talks with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as both countries inked seven pacts to ramp up engagement in key areas, including defence.
- During their comprehensive talks, both leaders resolved to step up efforts against cross-border threats of terrorism, organised crime and illegal drug-trafficking as they their reaffirmed their commitment for a stable Afghanistan.
9) India, US ink MoU to establish PACESetter Fund in New Delhi.
- The MoU was signed by Richard Verma, US Ambassador to India and Upendra Tripathy, Secretary, Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
- The PACESetter Fund seeks to support the Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE) track of the US-India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE).
- In turn, it will accelerate the commercialization of off-grid clean energy with the help of early-stage funding grants to develop and test innovative systems, products and business models.
10) India, Kyrgyzstan ink 4 pacts during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.
- India and Kyrgyzstan have signed 4 pacts/ agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two nations. These agreements were inked during the two-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kyrgystan as part of his official visit to 5 Central Asian countries and Russia.
Signed agreements are:
- Agreement on Defence Cooperation.
- MoU and Cooperation in the field of Elections.
- MoU on cooperation in the sphere of Standards.
- Agreement on Cooperation in Culture.
- Country: Kyrgyzstan.
- Capital: Bishkek.
- Currency: Kyrgyzstan Soma.
11) India, Turkmenistan ink 7 pacts to enhance regional cooperation & connectivity.
- India and Turkmenistan have signed 7 pacts/ agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
- These agreements were inked during the two-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Turkmenistan as part of his official visit to 5 Central Asian countries and Russia.
The signed agreements are:
- MoU on Supply of Chemical Products.
- MoU Foreign Service Institutes of both nations.
- Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Sports.
- Programme of Cooperation In Science And Technology.
- MoU on Cooperation in Yoga and Traditional Medicine.
- MoU on Cooperation in the Field Of Tourism.
- Agreement in the field of Defence.
- Country: Turkmenistan.
- Capital: Ashgabat.
- Currency: Turkmenistan manat.
12) India and Georgia signed MoU for cooperation in field of Election Management.
- India and Georgia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of election management and administration. The MoU was signed by Chief Election Commissioner of India Nasim Zaidi and Tamar Zhvania, Chairperson, Central Election Commission, Georgia.
- Till now, Election Commission of India has signed twenty MoUs with Election Management Bodies and international organizations across the world.
Major purpose of the MoU between India and Georgia:
- Promotion of exchanges of knowledge and experience in electoral processes.
- Exchange of information, materials, expertise and training of personnel.
- Production and distribution of materials pertaining to electoral systems, voting technology, voters’ education and awareness.
- Participation of women and minorities in electoral process.
13) Iran, P5+1 countries reached agreement on Iran`s nuclear programme at Vienna.
- Ending a 12-year stand-off, Iran and P5+1 countries comprising of the United States, the United Kingdom (UK), Russia, China, France and Germany reached an agreement on the Iran nuclear programme.
- The agreement called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) or Vienna agreement was reached after 17 days of almost uninterrupted negotiations in Vienna involving foreign ministers of seven countries.
- Now, the Vienna agreement needs to be ratified by the UN Security Council (UNSC) and will come into force 90 days later.
14) European Union gave in-principle approval for 86 billion euro bailout package to Greece.
- The European Union (EU) Summit gave in principle approval to a bailout package worth between 82- 86 billion euro to Greece. The Summit was held in Brussels, Belgium.
- A final Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) related to the bailout package will be reached between the creditors and Greece only after Greece undertakes certain reforms specified under the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) programme.
- If finalized, the financial assistance will be the third bailout package from the European Union (EU) under the ESM, the eurozone bailout fund, since Greece plunged into severe economic crisis during 2009-10.
15) US Defense Department set up Working Group on allowing Transgender persons into Military Service.
- United States (US) Department of Defense (DoD) decided to set up a working group to study the policy and readiness implications of allowing transgender persons to serve in the military of the nation.
- The decision to set up the working group was announced by the Defense Secretary Ash Carter.
- Besides, setting up a working group, the decision authority in all administrative discharges were directed to elevate all those diagnosed with gender dysphoria or who identify themselves as transgender to Carson, who will make determinations on all potential separations.