NEPAL’S NEW POLITICAL MAP CLAIMS INDIA’S TERRITORIES
Why in news? Nepal’s new official map is “artificial” and unacceptable to India, the Ministry of External Affairs said on 20th May 2020 after Kathmandu unveiled a new political map that claimed Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh of Uttarakhand as part of its sovereign territory. Nepal Releasing the new map escalates the row over territorial claims between […]
INLAND WATER TRANSIT AND TRADE BETWEEN INDIA AND BANGLADESH
Why in news? The Standing Committee on the Protocol and the Shipping Secretary level Talks are the institutional arrangements between the two friendly neighbors to discuss and make the Protocol more effective. During the discussions between India and Bangladesh at these meetings held in October, 2018 in New Delhi and in December, 2019 in Dhaka, […]
INDIA RESUMES IMPORT OF MALAYSIAN PALM OIL
Why in news? Indian buyers have resumed purchases of Malaysian palm oil after a four-month gap following a diplomatic row, with buying spurred by a fall in domestic inventories and discounted prices. The renewed purchases come amid improving trade relations between the two countries after the formation of a new government in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia […]
CHANGED DYNAMIC ALONG INDIA-CHINA BORDER
Why in news? Indian and Chinese troops have been involved in as many as four incidents in recent weeks along the undefined LAC. A greater capability by India to patrol up to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) coupled with an increasingly assertive Chinese posture is fuelling new tensions along the border, according to former […]
REFORM OR FACE PERMANENT FUNDING CUTS, TRUMP TELLS WHO
Why in news? The U.S. President Donald Trump told the World Health Organization (WHO) that the U.S. will make permanent its funding cuts to the organisation and consider leaving it, if it did not commit to “major substantial reform” within the next 30 days. Background on Developments Mr. Trump had temporarily stopped the funding on […]
INDIA, U.S. TO COLLABORATE ON COVID-19 VACCINE TRIALS
Why in news? India and the U.S. plan to work together on vaccine research and testing for COVID-19. U.S. and Indian scientists have been collaborating on key research questions fostering the development and testing of safe, cost-effective vaccines against a range of infectious diseases that could save innumerable lives in India, the United States, and […]
UNODC: COVID-19 UNLIKELY TO AFFECT ILLICIT DRUG SUPPLY
Why in news? A report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says that Movement restrictions owing to the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to an initial statistical reduction in drug seizures, but the Pandemic will not have a real change in terms of supply in the East and Southeast Asia region Details […]
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
When he visits India for the first time later in February 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump can expect thronging crowds in Gujarat and perhaps a substantive discussion on trade policy in New Delhi There will always be areas of untapped potential in bilateral cooperation, things could hardly be better between the two nations at this time of global turbulence, in trade […]
FIRST CALL
Sri Lanka’s new President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, visited India in November, and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, after a five-day tour, visited India. Joint India-Japan proposal for the East Container Terminal at Colombo. Mahinda Rajapaksa has also discussed extending the $400-million Line of Credit and India’s further assistance for nationwide housing.
REFORM WHO
Why in news? With the 73rd World Health Assembly – the decision-making body of WHO- – taking place through Videoconferencing, the Covid-19 pandemic is taking centre stage. Call for Action: Investigate COVID-19 WHA is taking up a motion backed by more than 120 countries, including India, that calls for a “stepwise process of impartial, independent […]