Current Affairs - International

NATO was founded in 1949, marking its 75th anniversary this year, with a special event in Brussels to commemorate seven decades of collective defence and expansion, emphasizing the significance of Article 5 in ensuring member states' security.

The 19th annual meeting of the secretaries of the security councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states was held in Astana, Kazakhstan. Ajit Doval, India's National Security Advisor, led the Indian delegation at this meeting, which aimed to address security challenges and cooperation among SCO member states.

Japan recently launched eVisa services exclusively for Indian tourists, allowing them to stay for up to 90 days for tourism purposes without the need for physical visa stickers. This initiative simplifies the visa application process and enhances travel convenience for Indian visitors to Japan.

Germany legalized recreational cannabis use on April 1, 2024, allowing adults over 18 to possess up to 25 grams of dried cannabis and grow up to three marijuana plants at home. This move marked a significant shift in Germany's drug policy despite opposition from some quarters.

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched CoViNet to expand global coronavirus surveillance, involving 36 labs from 21 countries. This initiative broadens expertise in human, animal, and environmental surveillance for comprehensive coronavirus management.