India and world
U.N.: India likely to miss MDG on maternal health
“With one maternal death reported every 10 minutes, India is likely to miss the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) related to maternal health, a latest United Nations report says. While there is an improvement from maternal death in every six minutes in 2010 to 10 minutes now, the MDG target in this respect is unlikely to be met, the report said. At present, the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) of India is 212 per one lakh live births, whereas the country’s target is 109 per one lakh live births by 2015.The MDG Report 2012 points out that an estimated 2,87,000 maternal deaths occurred in 2010 worldwide. This represents a decline of 47 per cent from 1990 when the MDGs were set.
Indo-Pak foreign secretary-level talks
Pakistan remains defiant on state actors behind the Mumbai terror attacks, but sought more information on the revelations made by 26/11 handler Abu Jundal. Speaking at a joint press conference after 4,5 July 2012 a two-day talks that concluded at Hyderabad House in New Delhi , India’s Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai stressed that relations between two countries have to be normalized despite serious differences over the terror issue.
India 3rd Most Attractive , says UN Report
India emerged as the third most attractive investment destination after china & US for global companies , a UN report said on 5 July 2012 . Foreign direst Investment flows into India increased by 30% to $32 billion in 2011. While china attracted $124 billion last year. Brazil & Russia attracted $67 billion and $53 billion.
Mauritius Offers India 2 Islands In Its Bid To Preserve Tax Treaty
Mauritius foreign affairs and trade minister Arvin Boolell said that it was up to India to use the Islands to its advantage. ‘Blue Economy’ had great potential . India could use north & South Agalega Islands(which are located 1.100 km north of Mauritius and have an official total area of 70 sq km, for setting up hotels and tourist resorts , for trade, marine studies , or for building strategic presence in the Indian ocean.
Sri Lanka, Indian navies hold maritime boundary talks
“India and Sri Lanka discussed maritime matters, including the issue of fishermen straying in each other’s territorial waters, as they held a crucial annual meeting aimed at strengthening naval relationship. The 21st International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) meeting between SriLanka and India was held onboard the Sri Lanka Naval Ship Sagara at the Indo-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Line off Kankasanthurai on 7 July 2012.
EU Carbon Tax: Us Invites India For Initiative To Create Global Consensus
India is among the 16 countries that have been invited to attend a US-led initiative to decide on what action should be taken at the global against the imposition of European Union-emission trading system. Under the system , which came into effect from January 1 , 27 – member. European Union asked all International airlines flying in and out of the region to meet specific carbon emission requirement , failing which they would have to pay tax.
India Aims To Double Trade with West Africa
Indian has set up a target of $40 billion trade turnover with the West African Nations from the present $20 billion. Mr.Sharma. along with Ghana’s trade & Industry Minister Hanna Tettch, inaugurated the ‘India show’ ACCRA (GHANA) on 9 July 2012. Mr. shrama said that India had also set a target of $90 billion trade with Africa by 2015.The total trade between India & Africa was around 450 billion till last year.
Singapore Prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong visited India
Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Loong visited India on a three day trip. India and Singapore signed three key bilateral agreements and a Memorandum of understanding(MOU) on 11 July. The two countries are working on deepening economic relations even outside south-east Asia, building linkages with companies where India and Singapore were associated. Singapore is not only an important trading partner in ASEAN but also a major source of FDI in flows in India. India is Singapore’s eight largest investor . India – Singapore bilateral trade accelerated to USD 17.44 billion from USD 14.04 in2009-10 . The holistic agreement turned out to be fruitful and both the countries expect to achieve better milestones together.
UK bans Indian Mujahideen
“The UK has banned Indian Mujahideen, citing the “”indiscriminate mass casualty attacks”” carried out by the Lashkar-e-Tayiba-linked terror group in India and the threat it posed to British nationals there.British MPs voted unanimously last night to ban IM, placing it on the list of 47 organisations that have been banned from functioning in the UK.”
India Draws U.S Ire Over Nexavar Row
The U.S administration has accused India of violating WTO norms by allowing Hyderabad based Natco Pharma to make a generic version of cancer drug Nexavar, In march this year, for the first time India had invoked a law permitting natco Pharma to manufacture and sell cancer – treatment drug Nexavar at a price, over 30 times lower than charged y its patent holder bayer corporation under compulsory licensing , the government had allowed . Natco to sell the drug at a price not exceeding Rs.8.880 for a pack of 120 tablets compared to the whopping Rs.2.80 lakh per month charged by Bayer for its patented Nexavar Drug.
8 Indian companies in Fortune 500 List
Eight Indian companies have made the cut in the list of the world’s 500 largest companies compiled by fortune Magazine, with Indian oil & Reliance Industries finding a place in the top 100.American companies have covered 132 places in the list, followed by china 73 seats and Japan 68 seats.
Australia to restart uranium supply to India
Months after reversing its policy of not selling uranium to India, Australia on 11th July, said it was in the process of working out internal arrangements to ensure supply of the yellowcake (Uranium) to New Delhi. In December last year, Australia’s ruling Labor led by Prime Minister Julia Gillard cleared the way for the Australian uranium to be exported to India after a strong debate on the floor of the party’s 46th national conference. Australia has the world’s largest reserves of uranium and its ores are considered to be of superior quality among those found elsewhere across the globe. Currently, Australia exports uranium to China, Japan, Taiwan and the United States. However, it had earlier declined sale to India citing a policy that barred nuclear trade with countries that were not signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Russia, china Votes resolution on Syria , India Votes in favour
Russia and China today vetoed a new UN Security Council resolution that would have slapped new sanctions against President Bashar Al Assad’s regime, while India was among the 11 countries that voted in favour. Pakistan and south Africa abstained.
India Fares Poorly In Child welfare
India fares poorly among middle-income countries when it comes to overall well-being of children even as the world witnessed significant progress in child health, education and nutrition during the last decade. India has slipped by 12 ranks since 1995 and is placed 112th in the global “Child Development Index” released by Save the Children, the world’s leading independent NGO that works for child rights. According to the report, Japan is at present the best place in the world for a child, followed by Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Canada, Switzerland, UK and Norway. The US is ranked 24 in the Index, while Australia is at 16th place and China is at 29th. Somalia is at the bottom.
India bans US-sanctioned Iranian ships to enter its water
India has prohibited US-sanctioned Iranian ships from entering its water as it is hampering crude oil imports from Iran. In early July, the government had allowed crude oil import from Iran in ships arranged by Tehran after European sanctions evaporated insurance cover to domestic shippers. However, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) and other state refiners are allowed to import oil from Iran on cost, insurance and freight (CIF ) basis — wherein Tehran was to arrange for ships and insurance. “We were to import four tankers or cargoes of about 90,000 tonne each from Iran in July. But we could only get one as the CIF approval was withdrawn,” MRPL Managing Director PP Upadhya. US has sanctioned National Iranian Tanker Co and its 58 vessels — some of which have been reflagged in other nations to put off international sanctions.