Current Affairs - International

India received the highest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Singapore in 2023-24, despite a decrease of 31.55% compared to the previous year. Singapore has been the largest source of FDI for India since 2018-19, indicating a strong investment relationship between the two countries.

India held discussions with Libya to revitalize "Energy Sector Cooperation." During the meeting between Pankaj Jain, Secretary of India's Ministry of Petroleum, and Mohamed Khalil Issa, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of Libya, in New Delhi, the focus was on enhancing bilateral energy cooperation. This included increasing crude oil trade and resuming exploration and production projects in Libya, involving Indian public sector entities like Indian Oil, ONGC, and Oil India.

Sweden recently announced a historic military aid package to Ukraine, committing $1.25 billion in assistance, which includes the provision of ASC 890 surveillance aircraft. This aid aims to strengthen Ukraine's air defence capabilities amidst ongoing conflict.

China has implemented the 'One Person, One File' (OPOF) program, which aims to compile comprehensive personal data files on each resident. This initiative significantly expands the use of facial recognition cameras and utilizes AI to identify potential "threats," often misinterpreting harmless behaviour as subversive. The implementation of OPOF has raised concerns regarding privacy violations and digital discrimination, particularly evident in its targeting of Uyghurs and religious groups under ideological pretexts.

Russia's decision to remove the Taliban from its list of banned terrorist organizations signifies a significant shift in its foreign policy towards Afghanistan. Despite the group's controversial history, Russia has been actively engaging with the Taliban in diplomatic talks and trade discussions. This move reflects Russia's acknowledgement of the Taliban's control in Afghanistan and its efforts to foster closer ties with the current government. By aligning its policies with those of Kazakhstan, Russia aims to enhance its diplomatic and economic relations with Afghanistan, emphasizing stability and regional interests in the process.