Current Affairs - International

India and Romania celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations, symbolized by the release of joint commemorative stamps. This milestone reflects the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the two nations, dating back to 1948. Romania, a southeastern European country with its capital in Bucharest, has shared diplomatic ties with India, fostering mutual collaboration and shared values over the decades.

The Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) signed two MoUs with the Emirates Defence Companies Council (EDCC) and EDGE Group during the India-UAE Defence Industry Partnership Forum held in Abu Dhabi. This forum, organized by the Indian Embassy in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Defence, aims to strengthen the defence ties between India and the UAE. These agreements represent a significant step toward enhancing collaboration in defence manufacturing and technology transfer between the two nations.

India will host the 2nd Formal Meeting of the COP9 Bureau and the 3rd Formal Meeting of the Fund Approval Committee under UNESCO’s International Convention against Doping in Sport on September 17-18, 2024, in New Delhi. These meetings will gather key global decision-makers to discuss anti-doping measures and promote fair sports practices. As the Vice-Chairperson of the COP9 Bureau, India is leading the initiative, playing a significant role in fostering international cooperation to ensure clean and fair competition in sports globally.

Angkor Wat, located in Cambodia, has been recognized as the most photogenic UNESCO World Heritage site in Asia by Times Travel. This accolade highlights the temple's stunning visual appeal, placing it ahead of other notable landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, and Petra. Angkor Wat is a significant historical site within the Angkor Archaeological Park, attracting hundreds of thousands of international visitors and generating substantial tourism revenue for Cambodia.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where polio remains endemic. The Taliban's decision to suspend polio vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan poses significant challenges to global polio eradication efforts. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Afghanistan has reported 18 polio cases this year, primarily in the southern region. This suspension threatens to undermine progress made in combating polio and may have far-reaching consequences for public health. The global campaign to eradicate polio has made significant progress, but endemic countries like Afghanistan require sustained efforts to eliminate the disease.