Current Affairs - International

India withdrew its High Commissioner and senior diplomats from Canada in response to Canadian allegations linking Indian diplomats to the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan figure. This diplomatic escalation further strained relations between the two countries, with India also expelling six Canadian diplomats. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government made the allegations, which led to a significant diplomatic rift.

India has emerged as the second-largest supplier of restricted critical technologies to Russia, which includes essential components like microchips, circuits, and machine tools. These technologies are crucial for Russia's economy and military, especially amid its ongoing war efforts. India’s exports of these restricted items rose significantly, reaching $95 million in July 2024, an increase from $60 million in prior months. Only China surpasses India in supplying such restricted items to Russia.

Nicaragua has cut diplomatic ties with Israel, condemning its actions in Gaza and labelling its government "fascist and genocidal". This move aligns with Nicaragua's leftist stance and follows similar decisions by other Latin American countries. The country previously broke relations with Israel in 1982 and 2010 under President Daniel Ortega's administration. Nicaragua's government expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemned the war's expansion into Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran, reflecting a consistent stance among leftist governments in the region, emphasizing humanitarian concerns over diplomatic relations.

A recent drone attack in central Israel led to 40 injuries, including three individuals in critical condition. The attack was claimed by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and represents a significant escalation in conflict tensions in the region. Israel's advanced defence systems typically mitigate such incidents, making the scale of injuries particularly alarming. This attack is one of the most serious in recent times, reflecting Israel's vulnerabilities amid ongoing hostilities and indicating a troubling increase in aggression from militant groups like Hezbollah.

The 44th session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) took place in Dresden, Germany, from October 2 to October 6, 2024. India played a significant role in the meeting, making key interventions on probiotic guidelines and nutrient reference values. The committee's agreements on revising probiotic guidelines and determining combined nutrient reference values reflect India's influential contributions. Germany's hosting of the event underscores its commitment to global health cooperation and standardization in food nutrition. The meeting facilitated international collaboration, with India, Canada, Chile, and New Zealand working together to advance nutrition standards.