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Showing posts from March, 2021

India, UK to strengthen international cooperation against cross-border terrorism

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  India and UK emphasized the demand of strengthening international cooperation in order to combat the global problem of terrorism including cross-border terrorism in South Asia. The 14th meeting of the India-United Kingdom Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was held virtually on January 21-22, 2021, under which both nations strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. During the meeting, India and UK emphasized the demand of strengthening international cooperation in order to combat the global problem of terrorism completely including cross border terrorism in South Asia. The delegations from both sides were led by Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary for Counter-Terrorism in External Affairs of India ministry, and Tom Hurd, Director-General, Office of Security and Counter-Terrorism, UK government. India-UK Joint Working Group: Key Highlights •   During the meeting, the two nations reviewed the threats by the United Nations prescribed terrorist entities and ter

China becomes world's leading destination for foreign direct investment, surpasses US

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  As per UN figures released on January 24, 2021, new investments by overseas businesses into the US, which held the top spot for decades, fell by 49 percent in 2020. China became the world’s top destination for new foreign direct investment in 2020, overtaking the United Statethe wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Though the outbreak began from China, the nation was able to quickly control coronavirus within its borders, which helped its economy rebound relatively quickly. The United States, on the other hand, was among the hardest-hit nations as it struggled to curb the outbreak, which severely impacted its economy and adversely affected its economic output.  Key Highlights  • As per UN figures released on January 24, 2021, new investments by overseas businesses into the US, which held the top spot for decades, fell by 49 percent in 2020. • China, which was since long ranked at the second spot, saw a 4 percent upsurge in direct investments by foreign companies. This was reported by the

India pledges USD 150,000 for UN peacebuilding fund

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  The Indian Ambassador to the United Nations stated that as the world's largest democracy, India is conscious of the need to prioritize the building of governance structure to strengthen democracy and the rule of law.  India has pledged  USD 150,000 this year for UN fund for peacebuilding activities . This was announced by TS Tirumurti, India's permanent representative to the United Nations on January 25, 2021.  TS Tirumurti informed that India has extended its support to the activities of the UN peacebuilding fund and as a token of its engagement, India would like to announce a pledge of USD 150,000 to the fund's activities and program this year. He further stated that the year "2021 provides us with an opportunity to look at peacebuilding with a broader context and in a more focused manner especially in the context of a Covid pandemic which is threatening to eat out the gains we have made over the years." UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed that he

WHO experts to begin investigations into origin of COVID-19 from Wuhan

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  The beginning of the WHO team's investigation in Wuhan has been long-awaited by the rest of the world. Wuhan was the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak last year. The team of 13 experts from the World Health Organization is set to start its investigation on the  origin of the COVID-19 pandemic  in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The WHO team will complete its 14-day quarantine period today, which will finally allow them to begin their field visits and initiate their investigation.  Wuhan was the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak last year. Key Highlights  • The international team of experts from the World Health Organization arrived in China on January 14 to conduct joint research with Chinese scientists to trace the origin of the deadly COVID-19 virus.  • The team comprising 13 experts from 10 countries including the UK, US, Vietnam and Russia flew in from Singapore. • Upon their arrival, the scientists were taken through a bubble-barrier corridor to a bus, which took them to their