Current Affairs - International

Saudi Arabia has been appointed to chair the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) despite criticism of its poor record on women's rights. The appointment of Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz Alwasil has raised concerns among human rights groups regarding the kingdom's commitment to gender equality initiatives.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh attended the 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland. The IPU is an international organization of national parliaments that aims to promote democratic governance, accountability, and cooperation among its member countries.

Saudi Arabia sent its first contestant, Rumi Alqahtani, to the Miss Universe pageant, marking a significant step in the country's efforts to liberalize and showcase its presence in international beauty competitions.

Thailand's lower house of Parliament has passed a groundbreaking bill to legalize same-sex marriage, making it a pioneer in Southeast Asia for legalizing equal rights and recognizing the rights of same-sex couples.

India recently launched a database to record crimes against UN peacekeepers, emphasizing its commitment to monitoring and holding perpetrators accountable in UN peacekeeping missions.