▼ Denmark leads Corruption Perceptions Index [01-27-16]
Denmark remained atop Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index in the second consecutive year when it was perceived as the least corrupt nation in the world scoring 91 points of 100 while North Korea and Somalia remained at the bottom with a score of 8. US rose to 16th spot with 75as score, tying with Austria.
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▼ India and France uphold pact negotiations for BTIA through FTA [01-27-16]
India and France have expressed strong commitment for early resumption of stopped negotiations for proposed FTA between India and the EU. France and India are committed to bring about continuation of negotiations as quickly as possible. The free trade pact dubbed BTIA or Broad Based Trade and Investment Agreement. has been upheld since May 2013. Both sides failed to bridge substantial gaps on crucial issues.
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▼ China based AIIB launched by President Jingping [01-18-16]
China based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in which India and 56 other nations have joined as founding members was formally launched by President Xi Jingping. Dinesh Sharma leads the Indian delegation for which the US based ADB has identified potential co-financing projects with AIIB in areas such as transport, urban and water, renewable energy etc.
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▼ Tsai Ing-wen wins Taiwanese presidential elections [01-18-16]
Taiwan’s independence leaning opposition leader Tsai Ing-wen has won the island’s presidential election after the ruling party admitted defeat. Tsai will be thrust into Asia’s toughest and most dangerous job after losing Nationalists fled from Mao Zedong’s Communists to Taiwan in the Chinese civil war. Wen will have to balance the superpower interests of China which is the largest trading partner for Taiwan.
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▼ Singapore has inked 4 pacts with MP government [01-18-16]
Singapore has inked 4 pacts with the MP government in numerous sectors including INR 7000 crore to produce 1000 MW of non conventional energy in dual phases. Move has also been made to extend cooperation with the state government in 5 sectors namely food processing, renewable energy, urban planning and smart city as well as skill development and IT. MP government has inked an agreement to generate 540 MW in the first phase and 407 MW in second with investment of INR 7000 crore wind energy with Sembcorp Green Infra Ltd. Besides, the state has also signed MOUs with Singapore in sectors like Urban Planning, Skill Development, Clean Energy and Food Processing Industry.
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▼ PM of Burkina Faso named on 7th January 2016 [01-11-16]
Economist Paul Kaba Thieba has been named the PM of Burkina Faso on 7th January 2016 by president Roch Marc Christian Kabore. Announcement was made after the president was sworn in as the new first leader of the country in three decades following the election in November 2015.
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▼ Sri Lanka new government presents its plan for a fresh constitution [01-11-16]
Sri Lanka’s new government under Maithripala Sirisena has made plans for a new constitution devolving power and preventing ethnic tensions that leading to a long civil war that closed in 2009. Sirisena has aimed at resolving the 26 year conflict between Tamil Tiger rebels and government troops. Shrines unseated former leader Mahindra Rajapaksa in a tightly contested poll in the previous year and made the promise to strengthen democracy and fundamental rights under a new constitution. The fresh constitution will aim for fundamental rights and freedoms for ensuring human dignity and an accountable government.
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▼ Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif announces deepening of bilateral FTA with Sri Lanka [01-6-16]
This would help companies of the two nations to form joint ventures for exports to other nations. When the FTA came into effect in June 2005, Pakistan’s exports to Sri Lanka were to the tune of $150 million. In 2010-11, they went up to $332 million but dropped to $260 million in 2013-14 and 2014-25, according to Rabiya Javeri Agha, Secretary of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan. Under the agreement, Sri Lanka’s exports to Pakistan were valued at about $52 million, accounting for around 70 per cent of the country’s total exports to Pakistan, as per a document of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
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▼ Kuwait cuts off ties with Iran [01-6-16]
Kuwait has recalled its ambassador to Iran over attacks on Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic missions in the Islamic Republic after the latter country cut diplomatic ties following the execution of Shia cleric Al-Nimr. Several Saudi allies have followed the kingdom’s lead and scaled back diplomatic ties to Iran including Bahrain and Sudan.
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▼ Sudan, Bahrain and UAE cut diplomatic ties with Iran [01-5-16]
Following the storming of the embassies of Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Bahrain and UAE have severed ties with Iran. “In response to the barbaric attacks on the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad the government of Sudan announces the immediate severing of ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” a Foreign Ministry statement said. UAE also recalled the envoy from Iran while Bahrain also announced the severing of ties.
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▼ UK Government bans former PMs from staying in embassies for free [01-4-16]
UK government has banned former PMs from staying for free without paying a fee, at taxpayer’s expense at British embassies and using diplomats for carrying out private commercial work. Foreign Office said the move was aimed to prevent use of government staff and resources in an inappropriate manner.
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▼ Saudi Arabia severs diplomatic ties with Iran amid escalating tensions [01-4-16]
Saudi Arabia announced on 3rd January 2015 that it was severing diplomatic relations with Iran following the execution of a prominent Shia cleric by the former country. Demonstrators stormed and set fire to the Saudi Embassy in Tehran in protest over the death of Sheikh al Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric. Mass execution of al-Nimr and 46 others carried out in Saudi Arabia is the largest in decades and has divided West Asia, with protestors from Bahrain to Pakistan protesting the execution.
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▼ China creates new PLA unit to manage, enlarge missile and nuclear strike capabilities [01-4-16]
China has created a new People’s Liberation Army for enlarging missile and nuclear strike capabilities. This will enhance nuclear deterrence and counter strike capacity, medium and long range precision strike ability and strategic check and balance capacity for building a modern rocket force. The new unit will have Wei Fenghe as the commander.
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▼ India, Pakistan exchanged list of nuclear installations under bilateral agreement [01-4-16]
India and Pakistan exchanged a list of nuclear installations under bilateral agreement which prevented them from attacking each other’s atomic facilities. Two countries also exchanged list of nationals including civil prisoners and fishermen of each country in their jails. The agreement pertaining to nuclear installations which was signed on December 31, 1988 and entered into force on January 27, 1991 entails that the two countries should inform each other of nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the Agreement on January 1 every year.
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