Current Affairs - International

Sealand, Christiania, and Crimea are not recognized by the United Nations as independent countries.

Italy is experiencing a severe demographic crisis, with the number of births hitting a new low this year. According to preliminary data from the national statistics bureau ISTAT, there were 3,500 fewer births between January and June of this year compared to the same period in 2022. In 2022, the total number of births fell by 1.7% to 393,000, marking the 14th consecutive annual drop and reaching the lowest level since Italy's unification in 1861. The decline in births is attributed partly to the challenges faced by Italian women in balancing work and motherhood. The Italian government has allocated approximately 1 billion euros ($1.05 billion) to tackle this crisis, which it considers a national emergency for the country, the third largest economy in the Eurozone.

India has partially resumed visa services for Canadians after a suspension caused by strained relations, particularly due to a dispute related to a Sikh separatist's killing in British Columbia.

North Korea has officially incorporated its nuclear weapons status into its constitution, making it the only country in the world to do so. This demonstrates the country's commitment to maintaining its nuclear arsenal for national security.

Sri Lanka has approved visa-free entry for Indian visitors and six other countries, namely China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand. This pilot project began on October 24, 2023, and will continue till March 31, 2024.