Table of Contents
Topic 9 – Resolution 2593 on Taliban: UNSC
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 2593 was adopted on August 30, 2021, following the fall of Kabul and the subsequent Taliban takeover in
About resolution 2593
- It was put forward by US, UK, and France and adopted after 13 council members voted in favour.
- The permanent members Russia and China abstained from voting (not veto).
- India voted in favour.
Topic 9 – Resolution 2593 on Taliban: UNSC
Russia and China’s Abstention
- Demand of inclusion of groups like Islamic State (ISIL) and Uighur East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in the document
- Non inclusion of freezing Afghan financial assets in the document
- The UNSC 1267 Committee (also known as al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee) was established as a result of resolution 1267 in 1999.
- If an individual/organisation is included in the 1267 list, it helps in restricting their movement, financial penalties, and assets freeze among others.
Topic 10 – Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
- The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has retained Pakistan on its ‘grey list’ or ‘increased monitoring list’.
- There are 17 countries on the grey list of the FATF.
- Zimbabwe has been excluded from the list.
About FATF
- It is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.
- FATF is an inter-governmental body, established in 1989 during the G7 summit in Paris, France.
- Secretariat: located at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) headquarters in Paris.
- Organizational composition: It currently comprises 37 member jurisdictions and 2 regional organizations. It also has observers and associate members.
- India is a member of the organization since June 2010. It had earlier acquired ‘Observer’ status at FATF in 2006.
- The FATF Plenary: is the decision-making body of the FATF which meets thrice a year.
FATF prepares two lists
- Grey List: Countries that are considered safe-haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put in the FATF grey list.
- Black List: Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put on the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities.
Topic 11- New Quad
- The first virtual summit of the foreign ministers of the US, India, Israel, and UAE was recently held.
- The four nations agreed to form a new international economic forum to utilise the “unique array of capabilities, knowledge and experience” that each offers.
Topic 11- New Quad
About the group
- The group is already being dubbed the ‘New Quad’ or the ‘Middle-Eastern Quad’ on the lines of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD).
Abraham Accord
- The new grouping is possible after the resumption of formal diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE, through the Abraham Accord.
- Abraham Accords are a joint statement made between Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates on August 13, 2020
Significance for India
- Over the years, India has built vibrant bilateral ties with all the countries in the new
- It is a member of the Quad with the US, Australia and Japan, which have common concerns and shared interests in East Asia.
- Israel is one of India’s top defence suppliers.
- The UAE is vital for India’s energy security and hosts millions of Indian workers.
Topic 12 – Black Sea
- S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin urged more defence cooperation among Black Sea allies ahead of a NATO Ministers summit.
About
- Lying between Europe and Asia.
- It is bordered by Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
- It is supplied by major rivers, principally the Danube, Dnieper, and Don.
- The Black Sea ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea, via the Turkish Straits and the Aegean Sea.
- The Bosporus Strait connects it to the small Sea of Marmara which in turn is connected to the Aegean Sea via the Strait of the
- To the north, the Black Sea is connected to the
Sea of Azov by the Kerch Strait.
- The Black Sea covers 436,400 km2 (not including the Sea of Azov), making it the world’s largest inland body of water.
- It is an important crossroads and strategic intersection for the entire region.
Topic 12 – Black Sea
Russian Interest in Black Sea
- Close historical ties with Russia.
- Trade via mediterranean.
- Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 and carved off the strategically vital
peninsula of Crimea.
US Interest in Black Sea
- The Black Sea is bordered by Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.
- All these countries are NATO countries.
Topic 13 – Rail Link between Nepal and India
- The rail link between Nepal and India is ready to resume on the neighbouring country’s first-ever broad gauge passenger service (Jainagar-Bijalpura- Bardibas railway project).
First Stretch
- A 34-km line between Bihar’s Jainagar and Nepal’s Kurtha, with the Hindu pilgrimage city of Janakpur Dham (in Nepal) in between.
Topic 13 – Rail Link between Nepal and India
Second Stretch
- A 17 km of the railway line from Kurtha to Bijalpura is also getting the finishing touches.
Managing Body
- The Konkan Railway Corporation Limited has got the contract for operations and maintenance of the line.
Topic 14 – One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG)
- Recently, an initiative was announced by India and the United Kingdom to tap solar energy and have it travel seamlessly across
- They call for ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’ to improve the viability of solar power.
About
- It was announced on the second day of the COP26.
- This brings together the International Solar Alliance and the UK’s green grid initiative and complements India’s focus on harnessing the sun’s energy.
- The grid will be set up over the next few years by the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
- It includes a group of governments called the Green Grids Initiative — One Sun One World One Grid group — and was announced at COP26 by summit host United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Three Phases of the Plan
- First Phase: It will entail interconnectivity within the Asian continent.
- Second Phase: It will add Africa.
- Third Phase: It is about global interconnection.
Topic 15 – China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
- Pakistan signed a new agreement with China to begin the second phase of the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
- Pakistan has discussed Taliban-led Afghanistan joining the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
About
- Launched in 2015, the CPEC is the flagship project of the multi- billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
- A pet project of Chinese President Xi Jinping, aimed at enhancing Beijing’s influence around the world through China-funded infrastructure projects.
- The 3,000 km-long China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
consists of highways, railways, and pipelines.
- CPEC eventually aims at linking the city of Gwadar in South Western Pakistan to China’s North Western region Xinjiang.
India’s Concerns on Afghanistan joining CPEC
- The primary concern with Afghanistan joining CPEC is that India is apprehensive of its investment in Chabahar port in Iran.
- India has been the biggest regional donor to Afghanistan investing more than US$2 billion.
- China trying to take over the Bagram air force base in Afghanistan.
- The Bagram airport is the biggest airport and technically well-equipped as the Americans kept it for their use till the end, instead of the Kabul airport.
Topic 16 – Build Back Better World (B3W) Initiative
- It was launched by the G7 countries.
- The initiative was launched to counter the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) of China.
About
- Led by the United States.
- Aims to address 40 trillion USD worth of infrastructure
that is needed by the developing countries.
- To be achieved by 2035.
- The B3W will catalyze funding from the private sector.
- It supports those investors who are interested in climate, digital technology, and health.
Blue Dot Network
- Build Back Better World (B3W) Initiative was built over the Blue Dot Network.
- The Blue Dot Network was formed by Japan, the USA, and Australia.
- The Blue Dot Network provides assessment and certification of infrastructural projects.
- It was launched in 2019.
- It was launched at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum held in Bangkok.
- It aims to build a network that lends to build bridges, roads, ports, airports, and power plants.
Components of B3W
- Climate,
- Health and health security, Digital technology, 4.Gender equity and equality
Belt and Road Initiative
- The BRI project was launched in 2013
- It broadly aims to facilitate cross-border transportation of goods, and access to energy, creating demand for existing excess capacity in Chinese industries.
- China had an overall exposure of investment of around $750 billion between 2013 to mid-2020.
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