SAARC COUNTRIES UNITE TO COMBAT COVID-19
Why in news? The unprecedented coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis has united the SAARC countries as they adopted international travel bans, enforced strict lockdowns, announced special economic packages, set up a joint fund and banned all religious gatherings to battle the pandemic, earning them a praise from the World Bank for their quick response. Throughout South Asia, […]
INDIAN ENVOY CONDEMNS HATE-SPEECH
Why in news? Cautioning Indians in the United Arab Emirates against a spate of religiously derogatory posts, India’s Ambassador to the UAE said any discrimination would not be tolerated. Details India and UAE share the value of non-discrimination on any grounds. Discrimination is against our moral fabric and the Rule of law. Indian nationals in […]
ADDITIONAL TRADE BARRIERS VIOLATE WTO’S PRINCIPLE
Why in news? India’s recently adopted policy to curb opportunistic takeovers of domestic companies goes against the principles of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India said on 20th April 2020. This is the first response from the Chinese side after the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in an April […]
NATIONS OPTING TO TRADE WITH ECONOMIES HAVING POLITICAL TRUST
Context For decades, the West, led by US strategic thinking, bet that full-on engagement with Beijing would alter the opaque nature of Chinese politics, making it more liberal and open. The free and open liberal world order has run into the great political wall of China with deleterious consequences. Many liberal democracies have also adopted […]
AT THE EDGE OF A NEW NUCLEAR ARMS RACE
Why in news? In mid-April, a report issued by the United States State Department on “Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments (Compliance Report)” raised concerns that China might be conducting nuclear tests with low yields at its Lop Nur test site, in violation of its Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty […]
PANDEMIC IS CHINA’S BIGGEST CRISIS SINCE TIANANMEN
Challenges the Party had to face? The global financial crisis in 2008-2009 was a big challenge for China. They got through that through a massive stimulus programme. The COVID-19 Crisis is probably the longest downturn for China post-Tiananmen or maybe since the late seventies. They now have a sort of global political crisis or global […]
FOR BRICS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Why in news? The COVID-19 crisis seems to have put Russia’s Presidency of BRICS (a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to the test. While each BRICS country is busy fighting the pandemic in its own way, Moscow is trying to make sure that it gains from the crisis. A study notes […]
SOUTH ASIA NEEDS A HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
Why in news? The SAARC Secretariat should play an active role in the region’s response to COVID-19, along with “someone in-charge”, according to Sri Lanka’s former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Greater regional cooperation – how can it help? We must treat the COVID-19 crisis as a humanitarian issue and come up with a regional response. […]
JAISHANKAR THANKS SAUDI, OMANI MINISTERS
Why in news? India on 23rd April 2020 thanked Saudi Arabia for looking after the expat Indian community as the world continued to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar spoke with his Saudi Arabia and Oman counterparts as the Gulf region began observing the holy month of Ramadan. Details Appreciated the […]
AUSTRALIA PITCHES FOR TRILATERAL COOPERATION WITH INDIA, INDONESIA
Why in news? India and Australia will face common challenges in the Indo-Pacific as the COVID-19 pandemic is stretching much of the world’s governmental capacity, said Australian High Commissioner-designate. He called for greater cooperation especially stressing on trilateral cooperation between India, Australia and Indonesia. What was said? As a starting point, we should build on […]