TRUMP RENEWS OFFER TO MEDIATE ON KASHMIR, BUT SKIRTS CAA
India and the United States on Tuesday strengthened their partnership with agreements on healthcare and energy, and issued a joint statement that designated the two countries as “Comprehensive Global Strategic partners The statement followed bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump, during which the latter renewed his offer to mediate […]
DONALD TRUMP CALLS MODI A ‘TRUE FRIEND’, LAVISHES PRAISE ON PM
U.S. President Donald Trump, on his maiden visit to India on 24th February 2020, heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a “true friend”, and said his rise from a humble background as a teaseller to India’s Prime Minister “underscores India’s limitless promise”. Mr. Trump’s lavish praise, while addressing a mammoth crowd at […]
ENERGY TO DOMINATE INDIA-U.S. RELATIONS
Why in news? Energy could take over from Defence as the strongest link in the Indo-U.S. relationship – with talks over increasing India’s imports of U.S. oil and gas, a clean energy deal including an MoU on building pipeline infrastructure for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) between American oil company ExxonMobil, gas transportation technology company Chart […]
MOST FEARED MILITARY EQUIPMENT ON OFFER
Why in news? While announcing that defence deals worth around $3 billion would be signed during his visit, Mr. Trump offered a range of high-tech defence equipment to India, on 24th February 2020. Details The deals are for 24 MH-60R Multi-Role Helicopters for the Navy worth $2.2 billion and six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for […]
CHINA FACES ITS BIGGEST HEALTH EMERGENCY SINCE 1949: XI
Why in news? The COVID19 epidemic that has killed over 2,400 people is communist China’s “largest public health emergency” since its founding in 1949, President Xi Jinping COVID and world economy The deadly COVID19 outbreak could put the recovery of an already fragile global economy at risk, the IMF warned on Sunday, as G20 financial […]
PAKISTAN RETAINED IN FATF’S GREY LIST
Why in news? Pakistan has been retained on the “grey list” of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for another four months, with a stern warning from the global watchdog that met in Paris (February 19-21) to complete the 27-point action plan it has been given by June 2020 or face being put on the “black list” […]
USTR TAKES INDIA OFF DEVELOPING COUNTRY LIST
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has published a notice, amending lists of developing and least-developed countries that are eligible for preferential treatment with respect to CVD investigations. The U.S. government has changed an administrative rule making it easier for it to impose countervailing duties (CVDs) on goods from India and certain […]
GOVT. SET TO HOST ANOTHER VISIT BY FOREIGN DIPLOMATS TO J&K
Why in news? The government is making preparations to organise a second visit of diplomats, including several European Ambassadors to visit Srinagar and Jammu next week While all the Ambassadors expressed their concerns about issues like political detentions and Internet restrictions, they were able to see that there was normalcy on the roads, and the […]
INDIA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES RESOLVE TO FIGHT TERROR
Why in news? Lucknow Declaration urges need for stronger international partnership Details? India and several African countries on Thursday pledged to deepen cooperation to combat the growing threat of terrorism and preserve maritime security by sharing information, intelligence and surveillance, in a joint deceleration adopted at the first India Africa Defence Ministers conclave at the […]
INDIA TO STUDY AIR CORRIDORS FOR TRADE WITH CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES
Why in news? India would like to explore setting up “air corridors” between India and five Central Asian nations, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar mentioned Details: The air corridors — similar to what India established in 2018 with Afghanistan — would include regular cargo flights with special clearing and customs facilities to expedite the movement […]