Headlines at a Glance – 21st January 2022
FDI flows in India decline 26% in 2021: UNCTAD
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows to India dropped 26 per cent in 2021 as compared with the previous year as large mergers and acquisitions deals recorded in 2020 were not repeated, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) data showed. “FDI flows to India were 26 per cent lower, mainly because large M & A deals recorded in 2020 were not repeated,” according to UNCTAD’s Investment Trends Monitor published on 19 January. Global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows showed a strong rebound in 2021, up 77 per cent to an estimated $1.65 trillion, from $929 billion in 2020, surpassing their pre-COVID-19 level.
SOURCE: Business Standard
Global unemployment to reach 207 million in 2022: ILO report
Global unemployment is expected to remain above pre-Covid-19 levels until at least 2023 and is estimated at 207 million this year, almost 21 million more than in 2019, according to a report from the International Labour Organization that gives assessments on how labour market recovery has unfolded worldwide. The Geneva-based United Nations agency has downgraded its forecast for labour market recovery in 2022, projecting a deficit in hours worked globally equivalent to 52 million full-time jobs, relative to the fourth quarter of 2019. The previous full-year estimate in May 2021 projected a deficit of 26 million full-time equivalent jobs. While this latest projection is an improvement on the situation in 2021, it remains almost two per cent below the number of global hours worked pre-pandemic, according to the ILO World Employment and Social Outlook Trends 2022 report.
SOURCE: India Today
SEBI launches mobile app ‘Saa ₹thi’ to create awareness among investors
Amid the growing trend of stock trading through mobiles, capital markets regulator Sebi on Wednesday launched its mobile App — Saa?thi– to create awareness among investors about the basic concepts of securities market. Launching the app, Sebi chairman Ajay Tyagi said, “This mobile App is yet another initiative of Sebi with a view to empowering investors with knowledge about the securities market”. With the recent surge in individual investors entering the market, and more importantly a large proportion of trading being mobile phone based, this App will be helpful in easily accessing the relevant information, he added.
SOURCE: Business Standard
HAL signs contract with Mauritius for export of advanced light helicopter
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a contract with the Government of Mauritius (GoM) for export of one Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH)-MkIII for the Mauritius Police Force, it said on Wednesday. Mauritius already operates a ALH and Dornier Do-228 aircraft built by HAL. The contract was signed by B.K. Tripathy, General Manager, Helicopter Division-HAL and O.K. Dabidin, Secretary of Home Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, Government of Mauritius, recently at HAL’s Transport Aircraft Division, Kanpur. The ALH Mk III is a multi-role, multi-mission helicopter in the 5.5 tonne category in extensive use by the Indian armed forces and has also been exported. More than 335 ALHs have been produced till date logging around 3,40,000 cumulative flying hours. HAL also ensures technical assistance and product support to the customer to ensure healthy serviceability of the helicopter, the statement noted.
SOURCE: The Hindu