The United States Senate has passed a gun safety bill, the most significant action against rising gun violence in the country.   What is the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act on gun violence? The bill was introduced with the aim “to make our communities safer”, and has been called the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The bipartisan… Continue reading Gun Safety Bill in the U.S.

European Union leaders granted Ukraine and Moldova the coveted status of official candidate to join their 27-nation club. However, it could take Ukraine and Moldova more than a decade to eventually join the bloc.   Highlights – New official candidates to join EU — Six years after Britons voted to leave the EU, Ukraine and… Continue reading EU Candidate Status

The 38th edition of India–Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) between Indian Navy and Indonesian Navy is being conducted.   Details – Indian Naval Ship INS Karmuk, an indigenously built Missile Corvette based at the Andaman and Nicobar Command, along with a Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft, is participating in the CORPAT whilst the Indonesian Navy is being represented… Continue reading IND-INDO CORPAT

As the Russia-Ukraine conflict rages on, the spotlight is on Kaliningrad, Russia’s westernmost region. The region is at the centre of a row after Lithuania decided to ban goods part of EU sanctions from moving through its territory to reach Kaliningrad. Russia wants the ban limited.   Location – As Russia’s westernmost federal entity, the… Continue reading Kaliningrad

Thailand becomes the first Asian country to legalise Marijuana.   Details – Thailand legalised the growing of marijuana and its consumption in food and drinks, the first Asian country to do so, with the aim of boosting its agriculture and tourism sectors but smoking pot is still against the law. Thailand, which has a tradition… Continue reading Marijuana

Rosatom State Corporation of Russia has supplied the first batches of more reliable and cost-efficient nuclear fuel over the existing one, the TVS-2M nuclear fuel, to India for the Units 1 and 2 of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP).   Background – Russia is building the KNPP under an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) of 1988 and… Continue reading Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant

Sri Lankan Cabinet has approved the 21st Amendment to the Constitution aimed at empowering Parliament over the executive President. The bill will now be tabled in the Parliament soon.   What are the proposed changes? Reduction of Presidency to a ceremonial position — The amendment is likely to reduce the Presidency to a ceremonial position.… Continue reading 21st Amendment in Sri Lanka

India will be taking over an ambitious hydropower project in Nepal — West Seti — nearly four years after China withdrew from it, ending a six-year engagement between 2012 and 2018.   Details – It is a proposed 750-megawatt Hydropower Project, which is to be built on the Seti river in far-western Nepal, which has… Continue reading West Seti Power Project

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for signing of an agreement between the Government of India and the United Nations on a ‘Way Finding Application’ to be used in the Palais des Nations, United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG).   What is it? The United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), consisting of five buildings… Continue reading Way Finding Application

The 12th Ministerial Meeting (MC12) of World Trade Organization (WTO) members concluded with first major deal in nearly nine years. In 2013, at the Bali Ministerial, members signed WTO’s first trade deal on a peace clause on public stockholding for food security purposes and trade facilitation agreement.   Outcome of 12th Ministerial Meeting of WTO… Continue reading Outcome of WTO’s 12 Ministerial Conference