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August 2nd Week 2015 Current Affairs
Category : Bilateral Current Affairs
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1) India-US joint military training exercise in Sept

India-US Combined Military Training Exercise YUDH ABHYAS 2015, will be held from 9th of next September at Joint Base Lewis McChord in the USA. This will be the 11th such event in the Yudh Abhyas series, which started in 2004 under US Army Pacific partnership program. It said, the exercise will strengthen and broaden interoperability and cooperation between both the Armies and cooperation between the two armies. 
 
2) Indian govt donates 40 ambulances, eight buses to Nepal
Government of India has gifted 40 ambulances and eight buses to various hospitals, non-profit charitable organization and educational institutions in Nepal. Gifting of ambulances and buses is a part of the larger India-Nepal Development partnership with an overall outlay of over 75 billion Nepali rupee. 
 
3) India, Bangladesh to fight fake currency
Indian and Bangladeshi security agencies have agreed to work in close coordination to curb the smuggling of counterfeit currency notes, posing a threat to national security. They have signed a memorandum of understanding to this effect. At a meeting of the Joint Task Force on Fake Currency Notes in Dhaka on August 12 and 13, the two sides committed themselves to sharing intelligence on a real-time basis. A secure channel will be established for information exchange, for which a standard operating procedure is being developed. 
 
  • The MoU was signed by the Bangladeshi team led by Additional Inspector-General Mohammed Mokhlesur Rahman and the Indian team headed by National Investigation Agency IG Sanjeev Kumar Singh. 

4) PM Modi announces MADAD and e-migrant portal for UAE expats

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a new scheme as part of various measures for the welfare of Indian Diaspora. Addressing a large gathering of Indian expats in International Cricket Stadium at Dubai on 17th August he said, a welfare fund for Diaspora is to be set up for their benefit, to help them legally so that they can deal with problems. 
 
  • He said, Indian mission in UAE has set up an e-migrant portal to help Indian migrant workers and an online platform `MADAD` to assist them. The Prime Minister said he has instructed the Indian embassy in UAE to solve the technical problems faced by the e-migrant portal in one month`s time. Mr. Modi also assured to look into other problems like school admissions. 
 
5) India, UAE to boost defence, security ties
In a significant move, India and the UAE on 17th August decided to establish a “strategic security dialogue” and boost defence ties, besides resolving to work together in counter-terrorism operations, combating money laundering, drug trafficking and trans-national crimes. 
 
  • A joint statement said the two sides agreed to “work together to control, regulate and share information on flow of funds that could have a bearing on radicalisation activities and cooperate in interdicting illegal flows and take action against concerned individuals and organisations”. 
  • To step up cooperation on security related issues, both sides decided to establish a strategic security dialogue to deliberate on major issues. 
  • Both sides decided to establish a strategic security dialogue to deliberate on major issues and agreed to establish a dialogue between their National Security Advisors and their National Security Councils. They also came down heavily on countries sponsoring terrorism and asked all states to dismantle terror infrastructure. 
  • The two sides agreed to strengthen defence relations, including through regular exercises and training of naval, air, land and special forces, and in coastal defence.  
  • The UAE also conveyed to India that it will cooperate in manufacture of defence equipment in India. The joint statement said both sides decided to strengthen cooperation in law enforcement, anti-money laundering, drug trafficking, other trans-national crimes, extradition arrangements, as well as police training. 
  • They also agreed to promote cooperation in cyber security, including "prevention on use of cyber for terrorism, radicalisation and disturbing social harmony." The two sides will also establish points of contact between their security agencies to further improve operational cooperation. 
  • They have also agreed to cooperate to strengthen maritime security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean region, which is vital for the security and prosperity of both countries. 

6) PM offers Rs 65-lakh-cr Investment Avenue to UAE

Inviting investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17th August said India had an immediate investment opportunity of $1 trillion (Rs 65 lakh crore) and the government would take urgent steps to address concerns of businessmen. 
 
7) India, UAE decry state-sponsored terror
India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership and undertook to “co-ordinate efforts to fight radicalisation and misuse of religion by groups and countries for inciting hatred, perpetrating and justifying terrorism or pursuing political aims.” 
 
  • This was announced in a joint statement after bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan 
 
8) Russia backs India’s bid for a permanent UNSC seat
After the United States, Russia too has clarified that it is open to supporting India’s bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). 
 
  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that while Moscow supports the candidature of India and Brazil for permanent membership in the U.N. Security Council, it also feels that the presence of an African country in this structure is also necessary. 
  • Russia’s explanation comes days after it was made known that along with the U.S. and China, Moscow was opposed to negotiations to reform the U.N. body, which would have paved the way for India’s inclusion in the group with the P-5.