May 2020 India and the World

• India should pull out forces from Kalapani
  Nepalese Foreign Minister has said that India should withdraw security forces from the Kalapani region and restore status quo.
  
  He said a solution to the border dispute should be found urgently, even as Indian sources confirmed that they were closely monitoring the debates in Nepal’s Parliament to provide a constitutional guarantee to the new map that shows the disputed region as part of Nepal’s sovereign territory.
  
  The Kalapani Issue has been covered in 21st May 2020 Comprehensive News Analysis. Click here to read.
  
  
• US CDC announces USD 3.6 million to assist Indias fight against coronavirus pandemic
  The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced $3.6 million to assist the Indian government's fight against COVID-19. The fund aims to support prevention, preparedness, and response activities in India.
  
  Highlights:
  The CDC announced that it is to work with local partners to help India to strengthen its public health workforce.
  
  The initial tranche of funding aims to further strengthen and support the efforts taken by the Indian government to increase laboratory capacity for SARS-COV-2 testing, including molecular diagnostics and serology.
  
  The funds will be used to support the development of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) centers of excellence. It is expected to improve the ability of hospital networks to detect COVID-19 and strengthen local health systems through enhanced surveillance and monitoring systems.
  
  The support includes planning for health emergency operations centers to further strengthen public health emergency management capacities.
  
  The CDC India program will provide technical assistance for the government of India's ongoing crisis emergency and risk communication efforts.
  
  
• EAM S Jaishankar participated in the virtual meeting of Foreign Ministers of SCO
  External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar participated in the virtual meeting of Foreign Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member countries on 13th May, 2020. The foreign ministers and diplomats from eight different countries attended the meeting.
  
  Highlights:
  The Meeting aimed to discuss the cooperation to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
  
  Discussion on the global challenges, preparedness, and response to the coronavirus crisis was held.
  
  It focused on developing cooperation within the SCO, tropical regional and global issues, and particularly the spread of the novel coronavirus.
  
  They discussed the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Victory in WWII and the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.
  
  They also discussed the SCO summit in St Petersburg and other events as part of Russia's SCO Presidency that is scheduled to be held on 9-10 June.
  
  The conference was held under the chairmanship of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
  
  
• PM Narendra Modi held talk with PM of Thailand
  Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister of Thailand H.E. Gen (ret) Prayut Chan-o-cha. The two leaders shared information on the steps being taken in their respective countries to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
  
  Highlights:
  Prime Minister Modi discussed the importance of regional and global cooperation to effectively fight the pandemic.
  
  India assured its commitment to support the pharmaceutical requirements of Thailand.
  
  The leaders agreed on the desirability of greater collaboration between researchers, scientists, and innovators of the two countries.
  
  Both the countries agreed to support each other in the time of crisis.
  
  
• USAID announced USD 3 million to support India to fight COVID-19 pandemic
  The US, through its aid agency USAID, has announced to provide an additional $3 million to India, for mitigating the spread of COVID-19. The fund will be used to the Partnerships for Affordable Healthcare Access and Longevity (PAHAL) project.
  
  Highlights:
  The assistance will help India to provide care for the affected and disseminate essential public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  
  Through the PAHAL project, USAID aims to support the National Health Authority (NHA) in establishing a financing facility that can mobilize resources from the private sector to assist over 20,000 health facilities enrolled under the health scheme PradhanMantri Jan ArogyaYojana (PMJAY).
  
  USAID has provided $5.9 million to assist India in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, so far.

Published date : 22 May 2020 12:50PM