Top Headlines Related to Country in News 2024: Latest Current Affairs

Country in News 2024 focuses on crucial news concerning countries, making headlines in the current year. Stay updated with the monthly current affairs related to this topic, which is crucial for various competitive exams including UPSC, SSC, RRB NTPC, and others.

Country in News 2024, January to December

June 2024

• China is the world’s largest emitter of Nitrous Oxide, according to the “Global Nitrous Oxide Budget 2024” report.

• Armenia has become the 43rd nation to sign the ‘Artemis Accords’.

• Egypt and Bahrain have joined China as international partners to develop and deliver scientific instruments for the Chang’e-7 mission.

• India has claimed the fourth spot in the Global Equity Market.

• According to the ‘2024 Environment Performance Index (EPI)’, Estonia has topped the index.

• Russia has the biggest inventory of nuclear arsenals, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

• INS Komemiyut, a landing craft, is associated with Israel.

• Archaeologists have found the remains of the old city of Tu’am, associated with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

• New Zealand will reverse a controversial burping tax on farmers aimed at reducing methane emissions from livestock.

• Ukraine has become the first country in the world to establish a military branch dedicated to drone systems.

• Scientists in South Korea have created “meaty rice,” an innovative rice grain infused with cultured beef cells.

• Chad will become the first country in 2024 to eliminate the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness).

• China has launched the Space-based Multi-band Variable Object Monitor (SVOM) astronomical satellite in collaboration with France.

• “Fire Dragon 480,” a tactical ballistic missile capable of sinking the US Navy’s Ticonderoga-class cruiser, is associated with China.

• The Indo-Mediterranean Initiative (IMI) has been launched to study, support, and promote the partnership between India and Italy.

• Tropical Cyclone ‘Gamane’ has impacted Madagascar, killing at least 18 people and displacing thousands more.

• China‘s spacecraft has successfully brought samples from the far side of the moon back to Earth, marking the first-ever return of materials from this lunar region.

• Paraguay has become the 100th country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a full member.

• India has assumed the Chair of the Colombo Process for 2024-26 for the first time.

• China has unveiled a Rifle-armed Robotic dog weighing 15 kilograms and equipped with a 4D wide-angle perception system.

• A village in Enga province was almost wiped out due to Mount Mungalo collapse, associated with Papua New Guinea.

• Djibouti has released genetically modified (GMO) mosquitoes to fight malaria.

• A Philippines court has revoked biosafety permits for commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice and Bt eggplant.

• China has proposed the “One Person, One File” (OPOF) program to make digital surveillance and censorship much stricter.

• Israel Defence Force (IDF) has taken operational control of the entire route along Philadelphi Corridor, which shares a border with Egypt.

• South Korea has launched the country’s first space agency to lead policy and industrial development in its aerospace sector.

• South Korea has completed the development of its Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM) system.

• The inaugural Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) summit was held in Zambia.

• Musankwa sanyatiensis, a new species of dinosaur, has been found in Zimbabwe.

• Singapore has become the top investor with $11.77 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India during FY24.

• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has signed a 30-year concession agreement to operate Container Terminal 2 at Dar es Salaam Port in Tanzania.

• Claudia Sheinbaum is set to become the first female president of Mexico.

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has moved 100 Metric Tonnes (MT) of gold stored in the United Kingdom to domestic vaults in FY24.

• Cambodia will start constructing the Chinese-backed ‘Techo Funan Canal’ to lower transportation costs.

• A sarcophagus fragment discovered beneath the floor of a religious center belongs to Ramesses II, associated with Egypt.

• Dr. Helen Mary Roberts has become the first woman to be promoted to the rank of one-star officer in Pakistan’s military history.

• China has become the first country to display its national flag on the moon’s far side.

• Russia is set to build Central Asia’s first nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan.

• A cleanup campaign for River Sunkosi has been organized in Nepal.

• India has participated in the inaugural Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Clean Economy Investor Forum organized in Singapore.

• The Netherlands has emerged as India’s third-largest export destination in FY24.

• Peru has partnered with NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) to become the first South American country to introduce a UPI-like real-time payments system.

• Slovenia has legally recognized Palestine as a sovereign state.

• Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah has officially sworn in as Crown Prince of Kuwait.

• ‘Thismia malayana’, a distinctive plant stealing nutrients from underground fungi, has been discovered in the tropical rainforests of Malaysia.

• Akatsuki, humanity’s only mission to Venus, has lost contact with Earth station, associated with Japan.

• Australia will soon start recruiting non-citizens from select countries to its armed forces to meet the acute shortage of troops.

• The world’s largest optical astronomy digital camera is ready to be installed in Chile.

• China is NOT one of the formation members of the ‘Biopharmaceuticals Alliance’ launched to build a resilient supply chain in the biopharmaceutical sector.

• Somalia has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for a two-year term beginning 2025.

• Hungary has inaugurated a pedestrian bridge ‘The Bridge of National Unity’ connecting Szár Hill and Vár Hill.

• India is looking to operate Mongla Port and build a new terminal in Bangladesh.

• Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog has announced the launch of ‘AIM – ICDK Water Challenge 4.0’ in partnership with Denmark.

• European Commission has removed Tanzania from the list of countries eligible for its 18 million Euro conservation grant to be launched in East Africa as part of its NaturAfrica initiative.

• Peru and Slovakia have signed NASA’s Artemis Accords.

• United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has included military of Israel in a global list of offenders committing violations against children.

• Panama is set to become the first country to evacuate an entire island community due to climate change.

• Russia and Belarus have commenced the second stage of joint drills focused on tactical nuclear weapons.

• India has participated in the recently conducted ‘BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting’ hosted by Russia.

• Saulos Klaus Chilima, Vice-President of Malawi, and nine others were killed in a plane crash.

• Kenya has announced an action plan to eliminate a million Indian House Crows (Corvus splendens) by the end of 2024.

• The world’s last wild horses ‘Przewalski’s horses’ have returned to Kazakhstan after an absence of about 200 years.

• Paleontologists have discovered a new species of pterosaur in Australia after analyzing 100-million-year-old fossilized bones.

• Armenia has decided to leave the ‘Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)’, a Russian-led military alliance.

• 21 school students have been invited to the Sakura Science Programme 2024 to develop intellectual horizon and scientific exploration among young learners, associated with Japan.

• Nepal has approached India to set up Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Mauritius was the first country to adopt the ‘Jan Aushadhi Scheme’.

May 2024

• India and Oman are set to sign a trade deal eliminating duties on Indian exports worth $3 billion annually.

• India has been designated as the guest country for the 11th Neiba International Book and Culture Fair 2024 in the Dominican Republic.

• India has become the first country to receive over $100 billion in remittances in 2022, as per the ‘World Migration Report 2024’.

• Venezuela has become the first country in modern history to lose all its glaciers.

• India and Moldova have signed an agreement on visa waiver for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

• Australia has decided to ban live sheep exports by sea from May 2028.

• India received two honours at the 5th Minister of Foreign Affairs Excellence Awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

• The Philippines and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have introduced ‘D4AgPH’, an online platform for data-driven decision-making in rice-based agri-food systems.

• China has introduced a new chatbot named ‘Chat Xi PT’, a large language model trained on the political philosophy of its president.

• Ghana has collaborated with Reliance Jio’s subsidiary Radisys, Tech Mahindra, and Nokia to establish 4G and 5G fixed broadband network infrastructure.

• Japan’s annual diplomatic policy Bluebook has mentioned Dokdo/Takeshima Islands as its territory, a disputed region with South Korea.

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting was recently held in Kazakhstan.

• India topped the medal tally at the 2024 Hyundai Archery World Cup Stage 1.

• The Okavango Delta, recently in the news, is associated with Botswana.

• China is set to launch the Chang’e-6 mission, a robotic spacecraft aimed at collecting samples from the moon’s far side.

• India and Bangladesh have agreed on the renewal of the MoU, which includes capacity-building programs for 1500 officers from 2025-2030.

• The embassy of Israel in India has officially joined the ‘Million Miyawaki’ project in collaboration with the Million Miyawaki Foundation.

• Researchers from the Netherlands and South Korea have developed artificial neurological junctions called synapses using a mixture of water and salt.

• India has agreed to grant USD 61.5 million for the Kankesanthurai Port project in Sri Lanka.

• The world’s deepest known blue hole, the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole (TJBH), was discovered in Mexico.

• China has launched the first of eight Hangor-class submarines being built for Pakistan.

• The United Kingdom (UK) has enacted “world first” laws to protect consumers and businesses from hacking and cyber-attacks.

• NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has signed a pact with the Central Bank of Namibia to develop a Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-like instant payment system.

• The Republic of Congo has recently declared an epidemic of mpox.

• Archaeologists have discovered a 7000-year-old pre-historic settlement in Serbia.

• In Indonesia, an orangutan has treated a facial wound with the medicinal plant called Akar Kuning, marking the first documented instance of such behavior.

• Ukraine has unveiled an AI-generated spokesperson named Victoria, who will make official statements on behalf of its foreign ministry.

• Shaksgam Valley, recently in the news, is a disputed region between India and Pakistan.

• India and Nigeria have identified several key sectors for enhanced cooperation, including pharmaceuticals, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and a local currency settlement system.

• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has planned port development in Bataan, Philippines.

• India has launched the World Castor Sustainability Forum (WCSF).

• The Defence Ministry of India has approved the procurement of 31 MQ-9B Predator drones from the United States.

• Russia has announced plans to hold a military exercise that will include practice for the use of tactical nuclear weapons.

• The Prime Minister of Japan has unveiled an international framework for the regulation and use of generative Artificial Intelligence.

• Nepal has announced the printing of a new Rs 100 currency note featuring a map that includes the Indian territories of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani.

• Pakistan has launched its maiden lunar mission, ICube Qamar (ICUBE-Q).

• Vietnam has marked the 70th anniversary of the ‘historic’ Dien Bien Phu victory.

• A new study has found that the desert that emerged due to the drying up of the Aral Sea has made the region much dustier. The Aral Sea was located between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

• Cyclone ‘Hidaya’ is expected to hit the coast near Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

• The Batagaika Crater in Russia is growing at an alarming rate of 35 million cubic feet every year due to the thawing of permafrost.

• The Japanese University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO), the world’s highest astronomical site, has begun operations in Chile.

• Sri Lanka has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 20 years with Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) to develop wind power stations.

• India and Moldova have signed an agreement on visa waiver, allowing holders of diplomatic and official passports from either country to travel without a visa.

• According to recent data shared by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), China has emerged as India’s largest trading partner with $118.4 billion in two-way commerce in 2023-24.

• Japan’s men’s hockey team has won its first Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy in 2024.

• The Ibu volcano, which has recently erupted, is located in Indonesia.

• The Catatumbo lightning phenomenon occurs over the Catatumbo River in Venezuela.

• The High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), set to be the first fourth-generation synchrotron light source in Asia, is associated with China and will begin operations soon.

• The parliament of Georgia has passed a controversial “foreign agents” bill requiring news outlets, NGOs, and other groups receiving more than 20% of their funding from outside sources to register as “foreign agents.”

• Japan has introduced the prototype of the world’s first high-speed 6G device, capable of transmitting data at 100 gigabits per second (Gbps).

• The United Arab Emirates has announced the ‘Blue Residency Visa’ program, offering long-term residency to individuals who significantly contribute to environmental protection and sustainability efforts.

• Malaysia has announced plans for an ‘orangutan diplomacy’ initiative aimed at countries that purchase palm oil.

• India has sent US$ 1 million in flood relief assistance to Kenya in the wake of the devastation caused by the floods.

• Russia has added a nuclear-capable missile known as ‘Bulava’ into its military arsenal.

• World Aquatics has unveiled a first-ever high-altitude pool in Bhutan as part of their Pools for All Programme initiative.

• Scientists have found “giant” viruses that are about 1.5 billion years old, in Yellowstone National Park, located in the United States.

• According to the report titled “Shrinking democracy, growing violence: internet shutdowns in 2023”, India had the most number of Internet shutdowns reported anywhere in the world in 2023.

• Brazil has been declared as the host of the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

• NASA has taken a unique picture of a strange hole on Mount Nemrut capturing a ‘yin-yang’ symbol. Mount Nemrut is located in Turkiye.

• India has the most entries in the recently released ‘9th edition of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list 2024’.

• Australia has announced the implementation date for the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) for Indian Nationals.

• Scarborough Shoal, a disputed region between China and the Philippines, was in the news due to environmental damage.

• Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has exported its first-ever parcel of XP100, India’s 1st superior 100-octane premium fuel to its subsidiary in Sri Lanka.

• Australia has decided to ban live sheep exports from the country by sea from May 2028.

• The second global AI summit has been co-hosted by South Korea and the United Kingdom.

• Spain has become the 99th member of the International Solar Alliance.

• Indian spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has received the first stamp released to commemorate the completion of 200 years of Indian Origin Tamils (IOT) in Sri Lanka.

• India has become the only country to receive two honors at the 5th Minister of Foreign Affairs Excellence Awards ceremony held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

• Spain, Ireland, and Norway are set to formally declare Palestine as a state.

• Cyclone Remal is likely to cross between the Bangladesh and West Bengal coasts. This cyclone is named by Oman.

• The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed May 24 as the International Day of the Markhor. The Markhor is the national animal of Pakistan.

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has awarded the First-Class Medal of Independence to the Ambassador of Paraguay to the UAE.

• The Ambassador of the United States has officially visited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) headquarters and proposed the “QUAD satellite”.

• The 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS-4) has been held in Antigua and Barbuda.

• Scientists from South Korea have devised a special liquid metal mix to grow diamonds in 150 minutes at normal atmospheric pressure.

• The most powerful earthquake in decades struck the Campi Flegrei supervolcano region, which is associated with Italy.

• South Korea has begun a decontamination process to dismantle its first commercial nuclear reactor, the Kori-1 nuclear reactor.

• Chinese President Xi Jinping recently visited the Tourmalet Pass in the Pyrenees, a chain of mountains forming a natural border between Spain and France.

• Swiss startup Climeworks AG has opened the world’s largest operational Direct Air Capture and Storage (DAC+S) plant named “Mammoth” in Iceland to extract carbon dioxide from the air and store it underground as rock.

• Japan and the Nagaland government have joined hands in constructing the Kohima Peace Memorial commemorating World War II.

• Vietnam is pushing the United States to quickly change its “non-market economy” classification to “market economy.”

• Japan will allocate $1 billion to the Glide Phase Interceptor project, developed in collaboration with the United States.

• The Ritacuba Blanco Glacier, melting at an unprecedented rate, is located in Colombia.

• Venezuela has become the first country in modern history to lose all of its glaciers.

• India and Oman are set to launch a joint initiative to bolster research and conservation efforts concerning sharks and rays in the Arabian Sea.

April 2024

• Zimbabwe has declared a state of disaster due to a severe drought across the country.

• Nigeria has become the first country in the world to roll out a new vaccine (Men5CV) to protect against five strains of meningococcus bacteria.

• Kiribati has NOT signed an international treaty granting cetaceans like whales, dolphins, and porpoises legal personhood.

• Sweden has become the 38th country to sign the Artemis Accords.

• The first ‘International Rainbow Tourism Conference’ was organized in Kathmandu to promote the country as a safe and inclusive destination for LGBT tourists.

• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has appointed Judith Suminwa Tuluka as the nation’s first woman Prime Minister.

• Bulgaria has partially joined the Schengen travel zone.

• Katchatheevu Island is located between India and Sri Lanka.

• Germany has become the largest European Union nation to legalize cannabis for recreational use.

• India has initiated an anti-dumping probe into the import of ‘Insoluble Sulphur’ from China and Japan.

• Scientists from South Korea have set a new world record by generating plasma temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius for 48 seconds using an “artificial sun” nuclear fusion reactor.

• Juan Vicente Perez Mora, the oldest man in the world, has passed away in Venezuela.

• United States and United Kingdom have announced a joint effort to establish AI safety testing standards and protocols.

• Philippines is set to conduct joint naval drills with United States, Japan, and Australia in the disputed South China Sea.

• Zimbabwe has declared a state of disaster due to a severe drought across the country.

• Bhutan saw the biggest gains in life expectancy in the South Asia region according to a recent Lancet study.

• Ousmane Sonko has been appointed as Prime Minister of Senegal.

• Singapore has secured the first rank in the ‘Business Environment Rankings (BER) 2024’ by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

• Israel has passed a new environmental law adopting European standards for industries.

• Ireland scientists have found Criollo cattle best suited to surviving and thriving in a warming world.

• Nepal has endorsed the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Charter.

• Peter Pellegrini has won the presidential election in Slovakia.

• Sierra Leone has declared a national emergency on drug abuse.

• Mexico has suspended bilateral relations with Ecuador after Ecuador’s police entered its embassy in Quito.

• South Africa has decided to end captive breeding of lions (Panthera leo) due to concerns over trophy hunting.

• The central bank of Zimbabwe has launched a new currency backed by gold and foreign currencies.

• Nepal has launched the Mountain Cleaning Campaign 2024 in the Everest region.

• European Union (EU) and India have launched an Expression of Interest for startups working in Battery Recycling Technologies for Electric Vehicles (EVs) for a matchmaking event.

• Russia has declared a “federal emergency” in the southern Orenburg region amid floods.

• Canada has announced a $1.8 billion investment package to bolster its artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

• India has invoked the peace clause at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the marketing year 2022-23 due to breaching the prescribed subsidy limit for rice offered to its farmers.

• The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) will host its first clean economy investor forum in Singapore.

• Israel has deployed its C-Dome defence system for the first time.

• Neeraj A. Sharma was honored with the “Medal of Honour” for strengthening bilateral relations between India and Palau.

• India will post defence attaches in Mozambique, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Philippines, and other countries for the first time.

• Global Society for the Preservation of Baobabs and Mangroves (GSPBM) has initiated a mission to rejuvenate baobab trees in Madagascar.

• The 5th edition of the Joint Military Exercise “DUSTLIK” will commence between India and Uzbekistan.

• Citroën has become the first multinational car manufacturer to export electric vehicles (EVs) produced in India to Indonesia.

• India and Mauritius have signed a protocol to amend the double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA).

• An astronaut from Japan will become the first non-American ever to land on the moon.

• The first ever ‘World Cybercrime Index’ has been released, with Russia topping the list.

• A scientist from Zimbabwe is producing methanol and other energy materials using carbon dioxide from industrial activities.

• The Supreme Courts of India and Singapore have organized a two-day conference on Technology and Dialogue.

• The Queqiao-2 satellite is associated with China.

• Russia has tested its Angara-A5 space rocket for the first time.

• The Kinmen islands are associated with Taiwan.

• Mali has banned media from reporting on activities of political parties and associations.

• According to the recent Plastic Overshoot Day report, Belgium is the top generator of plastic waste.

• Nigeria has become the first country in the world to roll out a new vaccine (Men5CV) to protect against five strains of meningococcus bacteria.

• Lawrence Wong will become the Prime Minister of Singapore.

• The Tiantong Project, a satellite communication system, is associated with China.

• Archaeologists in Pompeii, Italy, have uncovered a black-walled banqueting hall adorned with vivid frescoes depicting scenes from Greek mythology.

• Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande has inaugurated a high-tech IT Laboratory in Uzbekistan.

• Bjarni Benediktsson has been appointed as prime minister of Iceland.

• India has delivered the first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines.

• The International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries has been organized in Paris.

• Mount Ruang has initiated its eruption and is located in Indonesia.

• According to recent report findings, arabica coffee developed over 600,000 years ago in the forests of Ethiopia.

• The 13th European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) 2024 has been organized in Georgia.

• Mount Etna volcano, located in Italy, has been sending up almost perfect rings of smoke into the air.
• Sweden has become the 38th country to sign the Artemis Accords.
• Israel has used GPS spoofing, the practice of manipulating or tricking a GPS receiver by broadcasting false GPS signals.

• The first-ever Hindi radio broadcast has started in Kuwait.

• Scientists have identified a new species of wild cat, the ‘clouded tiger cat (Leopardus pardinoides)’, in Brazil.

• Bhutan has hosted the Sustainable Finance for Tiger Landscapes Conference to mobilize $1 billion in new funding over 10 years for the preservation of tiger landscapes across Asia.

• Israel has launched a new fund called Yozma 2.0 to encourage institutional investors to increase their investments in high-tech companies.

• The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) has signed an MoU with Cambodia on cooperation in the field of Human Resource Development in Civil Service.

• The U.S. Department of State has decided to withdraw its troops from Niger.

• The United Kingdom (UK) has passed a bill to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda.

• The Rampage missile is associated with Israel.

• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has signed an MoU with Bulgaria to enhance collaboration and exchange of expertise in the field of auditing.

• The “Tagore on the Padma Boat” program was organized in Bangladesh.

• The recently released ‘National Defence Strategy (NDS) 2024’ of Australia names India as its top-tier security partner.

• Germany and Namibia have been appointed as co-facilitators of the intergovernmental preparatory process of the Summit of the Future 2024.

• Researchers from South Korea have developed a high-power hybrid sodium-ion battery that can be charged in seconds.

• Exercise Balikatan 2024 has been conducted between the United States and the Philippines.

• A recent study by Australian firm Compare the Market AU found that the United Arab Emirates‘ passport claimed the top spot for affordability.

• Nagorno-Karabakh is a region of conflict in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

• The electoral commission of Indonesia has officially declared Prabowo Subianto as the president-elect.

• South Korea has launched its second indigenous spy satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

• Col Edison Napyo has been appointed as the first Defence Advisor to India by Papua New Guinea.

• Kitum Cave, reportedly the origin point for Ebola and Marburg viruses, is located in Kenya.

• France and Germany have signed an agreement to progress the next phase of the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) programme.

• China has launched the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft carrying a three-member crew to its orbiting Tiangong space station.

• India and Kuwait have signed an MoU to share information regarding technologies and innovation within the financial and regulatory ecosystem.

• The Rocket Lab ‘Electron’ rocket has launched ‘NEONSAT-1’, an Earth observation satellite associated with South Korea.

• The World Border Security Congress 2024 has been conducted in Türkiye.

• The parliament of Iraq has passed a stringent law criminalizing same-sex relationships, imposing a maximum 15-year prison sentence.

March 2024

• The first-ever Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum was held in Colombia.

• NPCI International Payments (NIPL) partnered with Fonepay Payment Service for cross-border UPI transactions between India and Nepal.

• Sea6 Energy launched the world’s first large-scale mechanized tropical seaweed farm off Ekas, Indonesia.

• India became the second-largest manufacturer of mobile phones in the world.

• China officially disclosed a new territorial baseline in the northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin.

• Saudi Arabia inaugurated the world’s first mosque built using 3D printing technology.

• INS Tushil, the first Krivak-III frigate under Project 11356M, commenced sea trials, constructed by Russia.

• India was the world’s largest arms importer during 2019-23 according to SIPRI.

• President Droupadi Murmu visited the UNESCO World Heritage site “Aapravasi Ghat” in Mauritius.

• India and the United Arab Emirates signed the Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement for Cooperation on the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

• The United Kingdom successfully tested its first-ever laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) system, “DragonFire”.

• Iran, China, and Russia held the joint naval drill “Marine Security Belt 2024”.

• A volcano erupted on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland.

• India commenced the bilateral tri-service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise “Tiger Triumph – 24” with the USA.

• The USA approved the injectable weight-loss drug “Semaglutide” (Wegovy).

• Guyana signed a Line of Credit (LOC) Agreement worth USD 23.27 million with the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) for the acquisition of two Dornier-228 aircraft.

• Severe Tropical Cyclone “Megan” made landfall in Australia.

• The USA announced plans to construct a floating pier off the coast of Gaza as part of its Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) project.

• PM Narendra Modi was conferred the “Order of the Druk Gyalpo” by Bhutan.

• Leo Varadkar announced his resignation from the post of Prime Minister (taoiseach) of Ireland.

• India launched “Operation Indravati” to evacuate its citizens from Haiti.

• New Zealand announced a ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes (vapes).

• India and Mauritania held the first Foreign Office Consultations in Nouakchott.

• Vo Van Thuong resigned as the President of Vietnam.

• India presented a detailed model on behalf of the G4 nations for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Reforms, which includes Brazil, Japan, and Germany.

• “Punatsangchhu-I Hydro-electric Project”, “Punatsangchhu-II Hydro-electric Project”, and “Mangdechhu Hydro-electric Project” are in Bhutan.

• Luis Montenegro was appointed as the Prime Minister of Portugal.

• The USA, along with the United Kingdom and Australia, entered a new agreement to build Australia’s nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) under AUKUS.

• Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) launched four variants of milk in the United States of America.

• Tech Mahindra opened a Synergy Lounge in Singapore in collaboration with IBM to accelerate digital adoption.

• Pakistan cultivated and marketed Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) bred basmati rice varieties.

• India made a Guinness World record with the participation of 128 players on World Kabaddi Day 2024 (March 24).

• India launched a new database designed to record crimes against UN peacekeepers.

• India applied to the International Seabed Authority (ISBA), Jamaica, for rights to explore Afanasy Nikitin Seamount (AN Seamount) in the Indian Ocean seabed.

• China successfully launched the Yunhai-3 02 satellite.

• India provided the second tranche of INR/Nu 5 billion for the development of infrastructure related to the GyalSung Project in Bhutan.

• Sita Ram Meena was appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Niger.

• A subduction zone was identified beneath Gibraltar Strait, situated between Spain and Morocco.

• France is about to become the first country in the world to pass nationwide legislation to combat hair discrimination in the workplace and in public.

• Simon Harris became the new Prime Minister of Ireland.

• China introduced the ‘Z-20 attack helicopter’.

• “Al-Kambar 786” ship was associated with Iran.

• Saudi Arabia was appointed to chair the 69th session of United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in 2025.

• Belgium becomes the first European country to criminalize ecocide at national and international levels.

• France becomes the world’s first country to include the “Right to Abortion” as a constitutional right.

• Bangladesh ranks as the most polluted country in the world according to the World Air Quality Report 2023.

• Finland tops the World Happiness Report 2024 as the happiest country in the world.

• Thailand’s parliament approves a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.

• France is set to pass nationwide legislation to combat hair discrimination in the workplace and in public.

• Mauritius inaugurates new infrastructure projects at Agalega Island, including an airstrip and jetty.

• New Zealand announces the repeal of the world’s first law banning tobacco sales for future generations.

• France and Costa Rica co-chair the 1st ‘Blue Talks’ meeting hosted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences in New Delhi.

• India conducts the third edition of Naval Exercise “Samudra Laksamana” with Malaysia at Visakhapatnam.

• India flags off its first commercial trial shipment of Pomegranates to the USA via the sea route.

• Iran successfully launches the “Pars-I” remote sensing and imaging satellite into orbit from Russia.

• Nicaragua becomes the first Spanish-speaking nation to recognize Indian Pharmacopeia standards.

• Kosovo wins the Turkish Women’s Cup 2024 football tournament.

• Russia conducts the test fire of Yars intercontinental ballistic nuclear missile (RS-24 or SS-29).

• Tamás Sulyok elected as president of Hungary.

• Maldives signs a Military assistance defense agreement with China for supply of “non-lethal” military equipment and training.

• Panama becomes the 97th member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

February 2024

• Cameroon has adopted the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing.

• Qatar has released eight former Indian naval officers who were sentenced to death on charges of spying.

• “dzud,” an extreme winter event, is unique to Mongolia.

• PM Narendra Modi addressed the Indian community at the ‘AHLAN MODI’ event in the United Arab Emirates.

• The United Arab Emirates has launched its domestic card “JAYWAN” based on the digital RuPay credit and debit card stack.

• The 45th edition of the Chess Olympiad 2024 will be hosted in Budapest, Hungary.

• Saudi Arabia has announced the construction of its first luxury train, “Dream of the Desert.”

• UPI services have been launched in Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

• The United Arab Emirates has launched the $300-million initiative “Falcon Foundation,” dedicated to advancing open-source generative AI models.

• The United Nations has recognized the Living Indus Initiative from Pakistan as the World Restoration Flagship 2024.

• Oman has allotted a specific zone to India in the Port of Duqm.

• The naked-man “Somin-sai” festival was celebrated in Japan.

• North Korea has test-fired the new surface-to-sea missile “Padasuri-6.”

• India has launched the “Indian Housing Project” to construct 1,300 houses in Sri Lanka’s plantation areas.

• France has conferred Shashi Tharoor with the ‘Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur’ (Knight of the Legion of Honour).

• Malta has become the 119th country to sign the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement.

• The four Holy Piparahwa Relics of Lord Buddha and his Two Disciples have reached Thailand from India.

• Sri Lanka has announced the organization of the “International Gita Mahotsav 2024” in collaboration with Haryana’s Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB).

• SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has successfully launched the Merah Putih 2 communications satellite of Indonesia.

• Russia has unveiled the “Tupolev Tu-160M” nuclear-capable strategic bomber.

• China topped the medal tally in the 2024 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships held in Pattaya, Thailand.

• Algeria has inaugurated the world’s third-largest and Africa’s largest mosque, “Djamaa El-Djazair.”

• Kenya has confirmed the discovery of its first coltan (columbite-tantalite) deposits.

• Scientists have made a major discovery deep beneath Lake Rotorua in New Zealand.

• Bhutan received the largest share of development assistance from India in the recent Interim Budget 2024-25.

• The Netherlands won the first-ever men’s FIH Hockey5s World Cup 2024 held in Muscat, Oman.

• NITI Aayog and the Embassy of the Netherlands released the report titled ‘LNG as a Transportation Fuel in Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles.’

• More than 112 people have died in Chile’s Valparaíso region due to wildfires.

• India and Russia signed an agreement to cooperate in constructing additional nuclear reactors at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project site in Tamil Nadu.

• China’s Qinling Station has commenced operations in Antarctica.

• Mahmudia Wetland, recently in the news, is located in Romania.

• The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project is a bilateral project between India and Myanmar.

• Microsoft detected covert, targeted malicious activity by the hacking group “Volt Typhoon” based in China, targeting US critical infrastructure.

• The headquarters of the Confederation of International Small Tea Holders (CITS) will shift to India from China.

• Saudi Arabia is the Guest of Honor country at the 51st New Delhi World Book Fair 2024.

• Greece has become the first Christian Orthodox-majority country to legalize same-sex marriage.

• The Philippines is the first Asian country to ratify ILO Convention 190.

• Bangladesh is participating as the observer country in the 16th edition of the India-Maldives-Sri Lanka trilateral Exercise ‘Dosti-16’.

• Two-year-old Carter Dallas from Scotland is the youngest to reach Mount Everest base camp.

• The 2027 World Test Championship final in cricket will be held in England.

• Larsen & Toubro will establish an 1800 MWac Solar Photovoltaic Plant for the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in the United Arab Emirates.

• Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar has been sworn in as the 17th king of Malaysia.

• Taiwan has announced its first lunar mission, the “Deep Space Radiation Probe.”

January 2024

• The USA launched the X-37B robot spaceplane, while China launched “The Shenlong” (Divine Dragon) robot spaceplane.

• Argentina formally rejected the invitation to join BRICS.

• The 1st edition of the FIH Hockey5s World Cup 2024 will be held in Oman.

• Unique prehistoric rock art drawings were discovered in the Andriamamelo Cave in Madagascar.

• Matarbari Port is the first deep-sea port of Bangladesh.

• Vietnam inaugurated the “Ladakh Unveiled” cultural exchange and tourism cooperation initiative with Lam Dong Province and Leh, Ladakh.

• China built its first domestic cruise ship, “Adora Magic City.”

• Kyrgyzstan officially declared the Snow Leopard as its national symbol.

• Nepal signed a long-term agreement to export 10,000 MW of power to India in the next 10 years.

• India signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with Saudi Arabia.

• The US and Qatar agreed to extend their military presence at Al Udeid Air Base for 10 years.

• Tropical Cyclone Alvaro made landfall in Madagascar.

• Nepal banned its citizens from travelling to Russia or Ukraine for employment.

• Sri Lanka declared a moratorium on foreign research ships entering its waters for a year.

• Mukhtar Babayev was named the president-designate for COP29, which will be held in Azerbaijan.

• Kyaukphyu deep-sea port is a proposed infrastructure project in Myanmar.

• Denmark announced the Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI) initiative.

• Canada unveiled plans to connect Calgary and Edmonton with a train called FluxJet, which will run 621 miles per hour.

• South Africa brought a case to the International Court of Justice against Israel for committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

• China launched its “Einstein Probe” satellite mission, and Japan launched the IGS-Optical 8 optical reconnaissance satellite.

• Cabo Verde was certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO).

• Scientists discovered the world’s oldest forest in an abandoned quarry near Cairo in the USA.

• The USA secured first place in the World Gold Council’s list of the top 20 countries with the largest gold reserves [Q3 2023].

• India launched the “Global Good Alliance for Gender Equity and Equality” at the 54th World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

• Iran successfully launched its “Soraya satellite” with the Qaem 100 rocket.

• North Korea conducted a test of its underwater nuclear weapon system ‘Haeil-5-23.’

• India and Switzerland reached a consensus on a free-trade agreement (FTA).

• India sends 40,000 litres of Malathion, a locust control pesticide, to Afghanistan.

• Scientists mapped the largest known deep-sea coral reef off the Atlantic coast of the USA.

• Cameroon launched the world’s first routine malaria vaccine program for children.

• India imported 40,000 bull semen from Brazil to boost milk output via artificial insemination.

• France: Issued the first digital Schengen visas in Europe.

• United Arab Emirates: Became the fifth country to participate in the Lunar Gateway Station, joining the USA, Japan, Canada, and the European Union.

• Japan successfully landed its SLIM spacecraft (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon) on the lunar surface, becoming the fifth country globally to have achieved this feat.

• United Kingdom: Designated as the theme country for the 47th International Kolkata Book Fair 2024.

• India: The stock market has become the fourth-largest equity market globally in terms of market capitalization.

• USA: Currently holds the position of the largest stock market in the world in terms of market capitalization.