International Issues - IAS EXPRESS

Drug Abuse in India – Everything You Need to Know

Shanoob (IE Staff) October 17, 2020 Diseases / Drugs/Pharmaceuticals / Employment/Human Resources / Health / Organisations/Groupings/Agreements/Conventions / Policies/Plans/Guidelines/Frameworks

Reading Time: 7 mins The COVID-19 crisis has exposed our fragility, with health systems strained and social safety nets stretched to the limit. The economic downturn caused by the global pandemic may drive more people to substance abuse or leave them vulnerable to involvement in drug trafficking and related crime. According to the World Drug Report, 2020 published by UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently, about 269 million people used drugs in 2018, which was 30% more than the 2009 figure, with adolescents and young adults accounting for the largest share of users and also, it has highlighted the possible consequences of COVID-19 on the production, supply and consumption of illicit drugs. An Annual Action Plan for 2020-21 called Nasha Mukt Bharat was e-launched for the 272 Most Affected Districts by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment on the occasion of “International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking”.

Alternative dispute resolution in India

Ravikiran (IE Staff) October 13, 2020 Governance / Judiciary/Justice / Organisations/Groupings/Agreements/Conventions / Policies/Plans/Guidelines/Frameworks

Reading Time: 9 mins The Already burdened courts with a huge pile of cases to be heard along with the current COVID-19 induced break to the justice delivery system has made experts to renew the debate on having a robust alternate dispute resolution system in India. The Coming into force of the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation recently has given a shot in the arm to the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism worldwide.

Supply Chain Resilience Initiative – Need, Challenges, Way Ahead

Karishma (IE Staff) October 3, 2020 Australia / Indo-Pacific / Japan / Organisations/Groupings/Agreements/Conventions

Reading Time: 12 mins With the coronavirus pandemic and the US-China trade tensions threatening the global supply chain, Japan had called for a tripartite Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI), with India and Australia as other two partners. The three countries have decided to launch the initiative to build resilient supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region later this year.

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Italian Marines Case and UNCLOS

Shanoob (IE Staff) September 30, 2020 Diplomacy / Europe / Important Court Verdicts / International Security / Organisations/Groupings/Agreements/Conventions

Reading Time: 6 mins In early July 2020, An extract of the final award of the ad-hoc tribunal constituted to settle disputes related to the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) regarding Italian marines Case between India and Italy was published by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). It has ordered to cease all criminal proceedings against the two Italian Soldiers in Indian courtrooms by rejecting India’s contention that the soldiers, who were accused of killing Indian fishermen, could be trialled in Indian courts. Following the order, Centre has made a plea in Supreme Court seeking the closure of cases against the Italian soldiers. But the Supreme Court has refused to pass any such order without hearing victims’ kin and getting them paid the compensation.

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Djibouti Code of Conduct – Significance and Way Ahead

Karishma (IE Staff) September 29, 2020 Africa / Diplomacy / International Security / Organisations/Groupings/Agreements/Conventions

Reading Time: 8 mins India recently joined the Djibouti Code of Conduct as an Observer, after a high-level meeting held virtually on August 26 this year. This has furthered India’s outreach at the Indian Ocean Region. This opportunity must be utilised, especially amid the current times of crisis to provide various assistances apart from maritime security to the littorals in the Western Indian Ocean Region, which holds global strategic significance.

India-UAE Relations: Significance, Challenges, Way Forward

Shanoob (IE Staff) September 26, 2020 International Security / Middle East / West Asia / Organisations/Groupings/Agreements/Conventions

Reading Time: 7 mins India-UAE relationship can be seen as a bond built for the ages. Starting the diplomatic relations in 1972, both the countries enjoy strong bonds of friendship based on age-old cultural, religious and economic ties between the two nations. Recently, India held a joint commission meeting with UAE on trade, discussed regional, international developments. The Indian side invited further investments from the UAE in key sectors of the Indian economy, such as infrastructure, including logistics, food parks, highways, ports, airports, renewable energy and defence. Moreover, India has welcomed full normalization of ties between the UAE and Israel through the Abraham Accord last month.

Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Ties and Implications on India

Shanoob (IE Staff) September 21, 2020 International Security / Organisations/Groupings/Agreements/Conventions / Pakistan / Saudi Arabia

Reading Time: 6 mins Recently Pakistan has reaffirmed the strength of its relations with Saudi Arabia after a diplomatic spat sparked by apparent inaction by the Gulf kingdom on the issue of Kashmir and also threatened to derail what has been one of the South Asian country’s strongest alliances in the region. The long-time allies seem like drifting apart, with Saudi who prefers to build ties with India instead of criticizing it over Kashmir.

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