Current Affairs - International

The World Heritage Committee Meeting 2024 is taking place in New Delhi, India, from 21 to 31 July at Bharat Mandapam. This marks the first time India is hosting the event. The committee meets annually to manage World Heritage matters and decide on new sites for the World Heritage list. The 46th session will examine 27 nominations from various categories, including India's Moidams, the mound-burial system of the Ahom Dynasty, under Cultural Property. Hosting this prestigious event highlights India's role in global heritage conservation efforts.

Saudi Arabia has been selected to host the first-ever Olympic eSports Games in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the integration of eSports with traditional Olympic events. The country has committed to hosting the event regularly for 12 years, underlining its dedication to advancing the eSports industry. Additionally, Riyadh will hold the "eSports World Cup" from July 3 to August 25, featuring over 500 teams and a substantial prize pool exceeding $60 million. This initiative is part of Saudi Arabia's broader effort to strengthen global ties and promote eSports, including recent collaborations such as the MoU with the Japan eSports Union.

India's first overseas Jan Aushadi Kendra was inaugurated in Mauritius by S Jaishankar, alongside Mauritian PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. This initiative is part of India's commitment to provide affordable, made-in-India medicines and symbolizes the strengthened healthcare relations between India and Mauritius.

Belarus will introduce a visa-free policy allowing citizens from 35 European countries, including EU members and the UK, to stay for 30 days without a visa. This initiative, supported by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, allows entry and stay through road and rail checkpoints, enhancing Belarus's connectivity with Europe.

India and Taiwan have implemented the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for organic products, marking the first bilateral agreement for organic products between the two countries. The agreement, executed by APEDA from India and AFA from Taiwan, aims to streamline organic product exports by avoiding dual certifications, reducing compliance costs, and enhancing trade opportunities. This will facilitate the export of key Indian organic products such as rice, processed food, green/black and herbal tea, and medicinal plant products to Taiwan, boosting trade in the organic sector.