Current Affairs for UPSC IAS

The United States has urged UN members not to support Cuba’s bid to join the organisation’s Human Rights Council.

After joining the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) as ‘Observer’, India is looking to post Navy Liaison Officers at the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) in Madagascar and also at the European maritime surveillance initiative in the Strait of Hormuz for improved Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged $15 million as India’s contribution to the Gavi, the international vaccine alliance, at the Global Vaccine Summit hosted by United Kingdom.

International Day of UN Peacekeepers is observed on May 29. On this day, tributes are paid to those people who have immensely contributed in the work done by the United Nations.

 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2020 was observed on 17 May to raise awareness about the use of technology and the importance it plays in the current scenario.

Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today participated in the 32nd Commonwealth Health Ministers’ Meeting through Video conference, where he highlighted the timely, graded and pro-active measures taken by India towards COVID-19 management.

The online ASEAN Special Summit and ASEAN+3 Special Summit on Covid-19 response took place in Hanoi, Vietnam, chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, chairman of ASEAN and of ASEAN+3.

The United Nations (UN) released its ‘World Happiness Report’ and India was at a dismal 144 rank of a total 156 nations surveyed, while Pakistan stood at 66 rank.

Leaders across the globe, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, participated in a virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit to discuss strategies to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

India pledged $10 million toward a Covid-19 emergency fund and said it was putting together a rapid response team of doctors and specialists for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.

India ranks 59 on IMD World Talent Ranking Report; Switzerland first

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) recently released Global Liveability Index 2019.