Current Affairs - International

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.

Iran took a significant step forward in its aerospace program by launching the Chamran-1 research satellite into orbit, its second successful satellite launch this year. The satellite was carried by the Ghaem-100 carrier rocket, manufactured by the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This launch demonstrates Iran's progress in advancing its orbital manoeuvring technology and solid-fuel satellite launching capabilities. Notably, Iran achieved another milestone earlier this year by sending a satellite into an orbit above 500 km using the Ghaem-100 carrier.

India participated in the G20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting in Cuiaba, Brazil, from September 12-13, 2024. The meeting aimed to enhance agricultural cooperation and address market access issues. Led by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ram Nath Thakur, the Indian delegation engaged in bilateral discussions with several global partners, including Japan, Brazil, the U.S., and Germany. The discussions covered various topics such as agricultural technology, food processing, sustainability, climate-smart agriculture, and organic farming. This meeting highlights India's efforts to strengthen its global partnerships in the agricultural sector.