Daily Current Affairs for 15th Jan 2024

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GS PAPER: II

Israel strikes south, central Gaza

Why in the news?

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/mcs/media/images/76417000/gif/_76417598_gaza_shejaiya_21.07.14_624map.gif

Impact of Strike

  • Communications and Internet services were down for the third day running, complicating the work of emergency and ambulance crews trying to help people in areas hit by fighting.
  • Fighting was concentrated in the southern city of Khan Younis, where Hamas said its fighters hit an Israeli tank, as well as in Al-Bureij and Al Maghazi in central Gaza, where the military said several militants were killed.
  • The military also said its forces destroyed several rocket pits used by Hamas to fire missiles at Israel.
  • Over the past 24 hours, the Gaza Health Ministry said 125 people had been killed and 265 wounded, bringing the total number confirmed to have been killed since the start of the war to almost 24,000, with more than 60,000 wounded.
  • The Israeli military says it has shifted to a new phase of the war, focused on the southern end of the territory, where almost 2 million people are now sheltering in tents and other temporary accommodation, after the initial phase centred on clearing the northern end including Gaza City.

Constant fire at Lebanon border

  • On Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, where there has been a constant, low-level exchange of fire between troops and fighters from the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, the military said it killed four armed militants trying to cross the border.
  • Several anti-tank missiles were fired into northern Israel, one of which hit a house in the community of Kfar Yuval, killing one person and causing a number of other casualties.
  • The war in Gaza has also stoked violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

 

GS PAPER – II

Ukraine peace talks

Why in the news?

  • More than 80 countries were holding talks seeking common ground on Ukraine’s peace formula, as the Swiss co-hosts admitted that being ready to include Russia remains some way off.

How talks proceeded?

  • National security advisors from 83 countries held a fourth round of discussions based on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s 10-point proposals for a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, nearly two years on from Russia’s 
  • The talks were co-chaired by Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak, who heads Zelensky’s office, and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.
  • Brazil, India and South Africa participated in the talks — countries that sit alongside Russia in the BRICS group.

What was the purpose of talk?

  • “The purpose is to prepare so that we are ready and ripe to launch a process with Russia — when the time comes,” Cassis told a press conference.
  • He said the talks had to find a way to include Russia at some point, but thus far, neither Kyiv nor Moscow was ready to take such a step.

Where was the meeting?

  • The meeting was being held in the luxury ski resort of Davos in eastern Switzerland, on the eve of the five-day World Economic Forum summit of the globe’s business and political elite.

Future concern?

  • There is a need to find a path to include Russia in the process. There will be no peace without Russia having its word to say,”
  • Talks were particularly focused on the criteria to end hostilities, the withdrawal of Russian troops, justice for crimes committed and the prevention of further escalation.

 

GS PAPER – II

Deadline for troop’s withdrawal

Why in news?

  • A day after Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu took an indirect jibe at India for “bullying”; his government set March 15 Aas deadline for India to withdraw its military personnel from the country.

What happened in the meeting?

  • The deadline was announced by a senior official in the Muizzu government on a day the India-Maldives high-level core group held its first meeting in Male.
  • In this meeting, on behalf of President Muizzu, the Maldivian delegation proposed the removal of Indian troops by March 15,” Ahmed Nazim, policy director at the President’s.
  • This date was proposed in the agenda by the government and specifically the President.

Context with India

  • The Maldivian government suspended three Deputy Ministers who are at the centre of controversy.
  • The Indian High commission in the Maldives strongly raised the issue of disrespectful remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • The ministry of external affairs on summoned the Maldivian envoy against the backdrop of ongoing war of words.
  • High commissioner of the Maldives Ibrahim shaheeb was summoned to the MEA.

How problem arises?

  • It started with Maryam shiuna a deputy minister in Ministry of youth affairs had posted on X and referred India tie with Israel and made comments about Mr modi.
  • Her colleagues Malsha shareef and Mahzoom Majid added to her remarks and said that the visit by the Indian prime minister to Lakshdweep was aimed at challenging Maldivian tourism which prides itself on its famous beachside facilities.

Background

  • India Maldives relation has majorly went through turmoil, Abdulla yameen who was the president of Maldives from 2013-18 was also china pro; he even signed FTA with china and gave ultimatum to India to withdraw two helicopters from lammu and Addu tools.
  • India Maldives relation has been on upward trajectory ever since Ibrahim Solih Government in power.
  • But the recent election and Victory of china pro Muizzu and his India out campaign had questioned the bilateral ties in defence and infrastructure investments. This move was supported by Abdulla yameen.
  • The president after winning had told to fulfil his promise of removing Indian military platforms.

Maldives China relation

  • Muizzu in his address said China remains one of the closest allies and developmental partners of Maldives.
  • Belt and Road initiative is promoted for delivering significant infrastructure projects.
  • Free trade agreements signed between Maldives and China is the first trade agreements of Maldives.

 

GS PAPER – II

Fredrik X acceded to the throne in Denmark

Why in news?

  • Denmark’s king Fredrik X acceded to the throne ushering in a new era after his mother queen Margrethe abdicated.

https://c.ndtvimg.com/2024-01/8ke7mak_king-frederik_295x200_14_January_24.jpg

How it followed?

  • Denmark’s Prime Minister proclaimed Frederik X a after his mother Queen Margrethe II formally signed her abdication, with massive crowds turning out to rejoice in the throne passing from a beloved monarch to her popular son.
  • Margrethe signed her abdication during a meeting with the government at the Christiansborg Palace, a vast complex in Copenhagen that has been the seat of Danish power for centuries.
  • It now houses the Royal Reception Rooms and Royal Stables, as well as the Danish Parliament, the prime minister’s office and the Supreme Court.
  • Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen next proclaimed Frederik king from the balcony of the palace before the cheering crowd.

What Fredrik did?

  • Frederiksen read the proclamation three times, which is the tradition, as Frederik stood beside her wearing a ceremonial military uniform adorned with medals.
  • He was then joined on the balcony by the new, Australian-born Queen Mary and the couple’s four children, and the crowd spontaneously sang the national anthem.
  • “My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow,” Frederik said. “It is a task I have approached all my life.”
  • It is the custom for each new sovereign to adopt a royal motto as a guiding principle for their reign, and Frederik’s is: “United, committed, for the kingdom of Denmark.”
  • “I want to return the trust I meet,” the new king said. “I need trust from my beloved wife, you and that which is greater than us.”
  • They then left Christianborg Palace in a horse-drawn coach as church bells rang out, and headed to their Amalienborg residence, where they once again appeared before people cheering and waving the nation’s flag of a white cross on a red background.

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