12 Nations Signed Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal
- The Trans-Pacific Partnership, one of the world’s biggest multinational trade deals, was signed by 12 member nations on February 4, 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand. This massive trade pact, a deal which will cover 40% of the world economy, will still require years of tough negotiations before it becomes a reality. It has already taken five years of negotiations to reach this signing stage.
- The TPP will now undergo a two-year ratification period in vvhicli at least six countries (that account for 85% of the combined gross domestic production of the 12 TPP nations) must approve the final text for the deal to be implemented.
- The 12 nations includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam. Given their size, both the United States and Japan would need to ratify the deal, which will set common standards on issues ranging from workers’ rights to intellectual property protection in 12 Pacific nations.
India Ratified Convention to Address Civil Nuclear Liabilities
- India ratified the Convention of Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage on February 4, 2016, marking an important step in addressing matters related to civil nuclear liabilities.
- The move will help establish a worldwide Liability regime of enhanced compensation for nuclear damages.
- In this regard, India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative in Vienna, Austria, Rajiva Misra handed over the Instrument of Ratification to Acting Director General of nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Juan Carlos Lentijo.
- The Convention will come into force in India on May 4, 2016, 90 days from the dale of deposit of the ratification instrument. Clauses under the Civil Liability Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act were major impediments in the progress of building reactors with the USA in India.
India Signed Agreement to be an Associate Member State of EMBO
- The Ministry of Science and Technology signed a Cooperation Agreement to acquire the status of the Associate Member State European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) on February 4, 2016.
- This would strengthen scientific interaction and collaborative research between India and Europe in this field, After the signing of an agreement with Singapore by EMBO in July, 2015, India will now become second such country outside the European region.
- A satellite symposium focusing on research in India has been an integral part ol the annual conference the EMBO Meeting. EMBO is an organisation of more than 1700 leading researchers lhal promotes excellence in the life sciences.
- The major goals of the organisation are to support talented researchers at all stages of their careers, stimulate the exchange of scientific information.
Japan Offered to Set-up Plant in India for US-2 Aircraft
- Japan ShinMayvva Industries, has offered to set-up a plant for US-2 amphibious aircraft at Mew Delhi as per the ‘Make in India’ initiative to cater to international demands. US-2 amphibious aircraft that India is eyeing is manufactured by this ShinMoywa Industries.
- Amphibian aircraft can take-off and land on both land and water Seven of these aircraft are operated as Search and Rescue Amphibians by Japanese military. The move comes as the Navy plans to procure six such aircraft, under a government to government deal, between 2017 and 2022. Six are proposed to be bought in the next phase.
- The aircraft, which can land on choppy waters and have long-range civilian and military applications, are being sought by the Navy to monitor India’s vast coastline, islands and lor use is disaster relief.
- The project has been in the works since 2011 but got a renewed push following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan in 2014 and a return trip by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe December, 2015.
India and Brunei Inked Three Agreements
- Three MoUs were inked on February 2, 2016 between India and Brunei during the Indian high-ranking officials’ visit to Brunei, led by Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari for cooperation in the areas of defence, health, and youth and sports affairs.
- The defence MoU sets the framework for bilateral cooperation, including activities such as exchange visits at official and working levels, training and the conduct of joint military exercises. Cooperation in defence is already existed in the form of naval ship visits, training of senior military officers at staff colleges and exchange of experiences.
- The MoU on health aimed to pool technical scientific, financial and human resources and upgrade healthcare, medical education as well as research between the two countries. The specific areas identified for cooperation includes exchange of doctors, other professionals and experts and exchange of information on health.
- The MoU on youth and sports affairs will see more exchange programmes, promotion of sports facilities and equipment, naming and physicial preparations, coaching and sports management and administration as well as exchange of information in the field of youth affairs.
India and Afghanistan Inked Pact for Visa-free Travel by Envoys
- India and Afghanistan inked a pact for visa-free travel lor diplomatic passport holders on February 1, 2016. Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah’s met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they discussed key bilateral and regional issues including security cooperation.
- Afghanistan CHO Abdullah Abdullah also met External Aflairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during which they discussed the Afghan peace process, internal political situation in the strife-ravaged country’.
- CEO of Afghanistan government is an extra- constitutional post within the gov ernment of Afghanistan created in 2014 following the disputes that arose in the 2014 Presidential election when both Abdullah Abdullah and Ashral Ghani had claimed victory.
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